Perspectives on ITRs
Thomas Wilson
Chief Executive & Executive Managing Director
CEO & Founder
April 2012
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International Telecommunications Regulations – 1988 (ITRs)
 Being reviewed after more than two and a half decades
 Have catalyzed unforeseen participation (and collaboration) on ICT matters
 Substantial work has been done
 Regional perspectives provided
 Multiple schools of thought
Key questions being asked relate to:
1. ITRs existence, scope, impact, and consequences
2. Business freedom and sustainability of investments
3. Fulfillment of government agendas
4. Realization or hindrance of greater PPP initiatives in ICT proliferation
5. Management of the Internet
6. Impact on the development of the Cloud
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ITRs Under-Amendment Process
ITRs Created/Adopted
1988
The need to revise ITRs
communicated (Expert
Group meeting)
The need to revise ITRs
reinforced (Expert Group
meeting)
2009
2010
ITRs came into force
1990
Agreement reached to
conduct a review of the
ITRs
2006
Discussion on
amendments in ITRs
began
1998
Working Group (WG-ITR)
established
2002
Expert Group's first
meeting
Group A: Developing
countries' standpoint
Group B: Current and future
needs in liberalized markets
1999
Report on the work of
Expert Group, presented
in ITU Council session
Revisions and actions
planned; agenda for WCIT
set
2011
WCIT to Amend ITRs
(Dubai)
December 2012
Multiple pre-WCIT
ITRs review meetings
and workshops in
2011 - 2012; SAMENA
Council participated
Recommendations to be
issued
2000
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Perceived Impact of the to-be-Amended ITRs
General
Perspectives
Scope
Issues
Regulation & Reduced
Flexibility
Perceived Intrusiveness
toward Inter-Operator
Matters
International
Mobile
Roaming
Traffic
Termination
Internet
Peering
Internet's
Sustainability
under
International
Control
Cyber
Security
Data Privacy
Existing
Mechanisms
given lower
priority
Potential of
ITRs
Exceeding
Scope
De-Incentivization of
Investment &
Innovation
4
What Should be the Ideal Impact of the ITRs Treaty post 2012?
Minimal - if any
- regulation of
the Internet
Technology
neutrality
maintained
Natural
investment
incentives
ITRs Scope
Boundaries
Support for
ongoing
industry
transformation
Promote
cooperation
and
collaboration
National
Sovereignty of
rights
maintained
New Challenges
posed by todays
ICT
Environment
Ideal
Impact
of ITRs
Stability –
Flexibility –
Built on
Principle
5
Considerations Proposed by SAMENA Provide:
 Recognition of the sovereign right of each Member State
 Focus on addressable areas at an international treaty level only
 Ensure longevity through technology-neutral, high-level principles and guidance
 Free from controversy and confrontation
 No conflict with, overlap or repeat the provision of CS, CV and RRs
 Incentivize investment across the telecom sector and encouraging expansion of
sustainable networks
 Exclude areas, definitions, concepts, needs or proposals not related directly to
telecommunications
 Exclude issues relating to Internet/digital content, national safety and security
 Allow private bilateral or multilateral trade agreements between Commercial
organizations
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Focus of SAMENA’s Position on the ITRs
 Transformation of the ICT Industry
 Open Market Practices
 International Cooperation in the ICT Industry
 Operators’ Commercial Settlements / Dispute Resolution
 Market Dynamics that aid Internet Growth
 The ICT Operation Model
 Scope of ITRs
 Technology Neutrality
 The Need for Addressing High-Impact Issues
 Status of the ITRs and Implications
 Maintaining the Stability of the ITRs while providing Flexibility
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Desired Goals, Communicated in SAMENA’s Position
 Goal 1: Support the transformation in the industry through lighter regulations
 Goal 2: Promote the growth of the ICT industry in a sustainable manner
 Goal 3: Facilitate international cooperation on Telecommunications matters
 Goal 4: Allow operators to conduct commercial matters themselves
 Goal 5: Foster independence in dispute resolution
 Goal 6: Ensure and preserve the Internet’s openness
 Goal 7: Adopt Internet “self-governance” strategies
 Goal 8: Safeguard the ITRs from being a catalyst for adverse, unintended change, and avoid
undue complexities in the text of the ITRs Treaty
 Goal 9: Maintain technology neutrality on all dimensions of the treaty
 Goal 10: Safeguard the ITRs Treaty against frequent amendments and ensure its future
applicability
 Goal 11: Establish guidelines for governments on setting investment incentives
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