I NTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
TELECOMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT BUREAU
Document 71-E
23 February 1998
Original: English
WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT
CONFERENCE (WTDC-98)
Valletta, Malta, 23 March - 1 April 1998
For action
Agenda item: 2.3
PLENARY MEETING
Report on preparatory activities
DRAFT PRIORITIES FOR THE ITU DEVELOPMENT SECTOR
The preparation process of the World Telecommunication Development Conference 98 has been
carried out through two Regional Telecommunication Development Conferences (Abidjan 1996 for
Africa and Beirut 1996 for the Arab States), regional meetings (Manila for Asia and the Pacific,
Margarita Island for the Americas, Geneva for Europe and St. Petersburg for the CIS countries), and
two global preparatory meetings in Geneva (May 1997 and October 1997). Concerning financing,
economics and private sector development, activities and priorities were identified as a result of the
series of regional finance colloquia (1996/1997) which are reported separately.
The major objective was to identify priorities for ITU-D activities in the next cycle (1999-2003).
These priorities, if confirmed by the Valletta Conference, should ultimately be reflected in the work
programme and the Strategic Plan for ITU-D.
The following priorities have been identified by the above-mentioned conferences and meetings. In
the table below, they have been regrouped by broad categories which could be used as a basis for the
ITU-D strategic planning.
A. Laouyane
Director BDT
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Africa
Americas
Update the African Green Additions to the Blue
Paper
Book
Arab States
Asia
and Pacific
Assist with updating of
the Arab Book
Europe
Fair competition
Fair competition
Reform, regulation and
legislation
Policies, strategies and
Sector reform
Licensing
Licensing
Annual meetings of the
Region's regulatory bodies
Interconnection and
numbering
Interconnection
Interconnection
Sector reform, regulation
and legislation
Sector restructuring
including privatization
Creation of a regulatory
body
Plans for rural
Rural development and
development, universal universal service
service,
telecommunications as a
social service
Implementation of
computerized subscriber
maintenance system
Proposed
follow-up
Programme on
Implementation of the
concept of "the right to
communicate"
Rural development and
universal service
CIS
countries
Integrated rural
development
Integrated rural
development
Development of a
Improvement of
computerized subscriber maintenance
maintenance system
Integrated rural
development and
universal service
Programme on
Rural development and
universal service
Development of new
services
Programme on
Implementation of
telemedicine trials
Telemedicine in the Arab
countries
Spectrum management
Spectrum management
Public service
broadcasting
Protection of the
environment
Use of telecommuniProtection of the
cations for the
environment
preservation of human life
and public safety in case
of disasters
Applied research and
transfer of technologies
Technologies and
applications
Frequency management
Frequency management
Frequency management
Quality of service
Quality of service
Workshops on
technologies
Access to new
technologies
Assistance to African
Technology development, Information infrastructure Technologies, GII,
Development of GII
information infrastructure GII application, GMPCS for the Arab States
multimedia, GMPCS and
and Internet
Internet
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Africa
Americas
Arab States
Asia
and Pacific
Alternative calling
procedures
Assistance on GATS
matters
Formulation of financial
strategies and policies
Tendering procedures
Inventory of relevant
information
Multilateral code of
investment
Sources of financing
Support transition in
accounting rates
Tariffs
Accounting rates
Finance and economics Tariff restructuring
including pricing, revenue
sharing etc.
Financing strategies and Implementation of WTO Information about WTO
policies
Agreements
issues
Partnerships with the
private sector
Development, private
sector cooperation and
partnership
Human resources
management and
development
Global university for
distance education
Distance education
Distance learning
Development and
management of human
resources
Improvement of
HRM/HRD in the Arab
States
Centers of excellence
Centres of excellence
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CIS
countries
Proposed
follow-up
Tendering procedures
Programme on
Financing and economy, General agreement on
including matters of
trade in services
interest to WTO
Telecommunications
resource centres
Europe
Accounting rates
Finance and economics
Tariff restructuring
Information about WTO
issues
Strengthening economic Networking
cooperation and
development
Networking
Programme on
Models for partnership
arrangements
Development partnerships
with the private sector
Distance learning
facilities
Analysis of training needs Analysis of training needs
Human resources
management and
development -business
culture and marketing
New management culture New management culture HRD/M
and skills
and skills
Service product
development and
marketing
Tele-education
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Africa
Americas
Arab States
Information collection and Development of
dissemination
information sharing
Data bank
Asia
and Pacific
Europe
CIS
countries
Proposed
follow-up
Data bank for
telecommunication
development
Information sharing
Information exchange
system
National and regional
information
infrastructures
Implementation of
Setting up of an ITU data Implementation of
management information bank
management information
systems
systems
Special measures for
LDCs
Support to PANAFTEL
and to RASCOM
Special measures for
LDCs
Framework for Action
Regional projects and
pilot projects
LDC action plan and
country programmes
Assistance to newlyprivatized entities
Implementation of
regional projects
User forum
Financing of projects
Consultancy
Special assistance to
Palestinian Authority
Regional project
Direct assistance
Strengthened Regional
presence
Regional Working Group Regional cooperation
meetings for Study Group
work
Regional cooperation
Improvement of ITU-D
functioning and structure
Regional
telecommunication
development conference
for the ASP Region
Monitoring of conference
resolutions
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Regional project
Regional programme
Increased participation in
TDAB
Regional
telecommunication
development conference
for the Americas
Assistance to newlyprivatized entities
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