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Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade opened
the ITU Global Symposium for Regulators
calling for “computers for all, digital for all”
A warm welcome to Senegal
In the broadband world, “a new ladder of regulation” is required to achieve the right balance between service and infrastructure competition. This includes ensuring equal and non-discriminatory access
to networks, and the removal of potential bottlenecks that could prevent users from enjoying the full
benefits of a digital world that is increasingly driven
by speed, ubiquity of access and affordable prices.
This is one of the conclusions of the 10th Global
Symposium for Regulators (GSR-10), organized by
the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
(BDT), in collaboration with Senegal’s Regulatory
Authority for Telecommunications and Post (ARTP).
The Symposium attracted 437 participants, bringing
together regulators, policy-makers and service providers from 81 countries.
Held in Dakar under the auspices of President
Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, the Global Industry
Leaders’ Forum (9 November) and the Global
Symposium for Regulators (10–12 November) provided an important global platform for sharing experiences, building consensus and forging common
approaches to managing the ever more complex
information and communication technology (ICT)
markets. In particular, the meetings focused on the
ongoing development of the mobile and wireless
market; the impact of broadband, not just on the ICT
sector, but also beyond it; and the migration from
analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting and the
allocation of the “digital dividend” — the ultra-high
frequency spectrum (470–862 MHz band) potentially
freed up by the switchover.
Presiding over the opening ceremony of the
Symposium, President Abdoulaye Wade stressed
that everyone should share in the benefits of the
digital dividend, even those who are not aware of
the transition to the digital economy. He said that
Senegal is very satisfied with the achievements of ITU
and the support it provides to developing countries
to move forward in building the information society
and the digital world. He added that he will spare no
effort to assist ITU in its work and to help achieve
the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
He congratulated Dr Hamadoun I. Touré on his reelection as Secretary-General of ITU; commended
ITU News  10 | 2010  December 2010
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Enabling tomorrow’s digital world
Global Symposium for Regulators
National initiatives to bridge
the digital divide
President Wade highlighted some of the national initiatives in Senegal to bridge the digital divide, the latest being the “cyberhuts” (“cybercases”)
project. These cyberhuts will act as hubs for communication and training for villagers and youth. A
cyberhut is a centre equipped with computers and
Internet connection, and will allow villagers across
Senegal to watch television and to communicate via
video telephony with people throughout the world.
A pilot cyberhut is already operating in the town of
Poponguine in Thiés, and funding has been secured
to install 130 more cyberhuts throughout Senegal
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ITU News  10 | 2010  December 2010
— the ultimate aim being to install 350. The plan is
for each cyberhut to train around 500 young people every year in fields as diverse as agriculture and
electronics.
President Wade went on to announce the installation in Senegal of a computer manufacturing plant
that would produce 400 000 computers per year.
Stressing the need to equip Africans with computers and connect Africa to the world, he pointed out
that connectivity means nothing without computers.
He argued that the computer is the fastest route to
knowledge. The computer manufacturing project
will boost the plan he has launched in Senegal for
“a computer for every student, a computer for every
teacher”.
President Wade’s vision is to create an integrated system where, from kindergarten to university, computers are omnipresent in every student’s
education. Implementation of that vision started
with the launch of the Children’s House (Case des
“Case des tout-petits”, Senegal
Comité Lycéen d'Echange Franco Sénégalais
Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, outgoing Director of
BDT, for his contribution to ICT development; and
congratulated BDT Director elect, Brahima Sanou.
President Wade asked all stakeholders (governments, policy-makers, regulators and the private sector) to focus their efforts on one simple challenge:
computers for all, digital for all. The world has down
through history become increasingly divided into two
camps: those who communicate, and those who do
not. Fortunately, he said, the Internet now enables us
to bridge that digital gap, with computers offering
the keys to the most completely democratic realm
that exists. The digital revolution must not leave anyone by the wayside, said the President. A better-balanced, more harmonious information society should
be founded on widespread access to computers. This
will ensure that countries currently lagging behind
in this area will not be permanently marginalized.
Africa, in particular, is making great efforts to equip
its people with modern technology.
Enabling tomorrow’s digital world
Global Symposium for Regulators
ITU/V. Martin
tout-petits) soon after he beNdongo Diao, Directorcame President of Senegal.
General
of
Senegal’s
Under this community-based
Regulatory Authority for
programme, young children
Telecommunications
and
(aged 2–6 years) are introPost, and Chairman of GSR-10,
duced to modern toys, innoted that President Wade,
cluding computer games.
who had founded Senegal’s
Use of the latest technolRegulatory Authority for
ogy will become second naTelecommunications
and
ture to the Children’s House
Post and the Universal Service
generation, offering them a
Development Fund, had albrighter future. Parents and
ready accustomed Africa to
the community also receive
Ndongo Diao
the machinery of the “knowleducation and training at
Director-General of Senegal’s Regulatory
edge economy”, for which
the Children’s House. This
Authority for Telecommunications and Post
and
Chairman
of
GSR-10
electronic
communication
initiative is just one example
networks constituted the baof Senegal’s activities to intesic infrastructure. President
grate ICT into the country’s
Wade had displayed a bold and firm commitment
education system.
Under the Digital Solidarity Fund, which President to foster economic recovery in Africa, which had led
Wade pioneered, one company in France, the AXA him and other African leaders to launch the New
Group, has offered Senegal 30 000 computers for Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Welcoming participants, Mr Diao said “Senegal,
reconditioning.
A national Committee has been set up to speed under the leadership of its President, Maître
up the transition from analogue to digital broadcast- Abdoulaye Wade, Coordinator for the ICT compoing in Senegal in order to meet the 2015 deadline nent of NEPAD, is delighted to be the organizer, in
set by ITU in a digital broadcasting plan, covering collaboration with ITU, of this major global event,
some 116 countries (mainly in Africa and Europe). bringing together all of the regulatory bodies and
President Wade called on regulators to provide the decision-makers from the telecommunication and
right environment for investment and urged the pri- ICT sector.” He called on the global gathering to help
vate sector to continue investing in the ICT sector in bridge the digital divide by defining the future direcAfrica. Regulators faced many challenges, but one tion and scope of regulation.
they should focus on is how to protect personal data
in the digital world.
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11
AFP/Image Source
Can competition repeat the “mobile
miracle” for broadband?
ITU/V. Martin
The theme of the ITU events
regulators to do for the
in Dakar was “Enabling
Internet and broadband
Tomorrow’s Digital World”.
what they have so successGSR-10 examined how regufully achieved with mobile.
lators can stimulate nationDr Touré stressed that two
wide broadband deployment
things need to change if the
through adaptive and targetonline world is to become a
ed regulations and out-ofubiquitous resource for all
the-box thinking. It stressed
Africans. “First, governments
that for markets to thrive,
need to raise broadband to
regulators must keep up with
the top of the development
the pace of convergence and
agenda. Secondly, we need
integration of ubiquitous
to ensure that Internet acDr Hamadoun I. Touré
networks through adapting
cess — and especially broadITU Secretary-General
institutional structures and
band access — becomes
mandates, adopting cuttingvery much more affordable.
edge best practices and embracing new tools such as This is where the GSR can play an important role.
innovative dispute resolution techniques.
Affordability is dramatically improved when competiSpeaking at the opening ceremony, ITU Secretary- tive forces are brought to bear, and when there are
General Hamadoun I. Touré urged the world’s ICT clear incentives to increase capacity.”
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ITU News  10 | 2010  December 2010
Enabling tomorrow’s digital world
Global Symposium for Regulators
ITU/V. Martin
Paying tribute to President
to reach an estimated 5.3 bilAbdoulaye Wade and all the
lion mobile cellular subscripSenegalese authorities for
tions worldwide, including
hosting the event, Dr Touré
940 million subscriptions to
recalled the great actions im3G services at year-end 2010.
plemented by the President
Outlining this progress,
in both Senegal and Africa to
Mr Al Basheer commented
bridge the digital divide and
that regulators have played
to bring the benefits of ICT
a leading role in creating an
to all. He reminded the auenabling environment and
dience that President Wade
fostering innovation and inwas a visionary who had
vestment. However, their
contributed greatly to the
focus must now shift. “Not
Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid
success of the World Summit
only do we need to create
Director of the ITU Telecommunication
on the Information Society
and sustain an enabling enviDevelopment Bureau
(WSIS) with his brilliant inironment for investment, and
tiative to create the Digital
foster market growth, but we
Solidarity Fund. ITU was
must also ensure effective
very proud to honour President Wade with its first- digital inclusion for all. Despite the progress in mobile
ever World Information Society Award in Geneva, on telephony and the Internet, particular efforts need to
17 May 2006.
be made to support the availability of infrastructure
Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, Director of ITU’s and services in underserved and rural areas,” Mr Al
Telecommunication Development Bureau, underlined Basheer added.
that since the first GSR in 2000, the popularity of the
event had grown steadily. “I am glad to have been Industry views taken on board
involved in its success, first as a national regulator
Two sets of recommendations from the Global
and over the last four years as Director of BDT. I am Industry Leaders’ Forum, the first on the topic of “severy pleased to have been able, in this position, to curing a wireless future”, and the second on “creatorganize the GSR in sub-Saharan Africa for the first ing a light touch policy and regulatory environment”
time in the history of the event,” he stated.
also helped shape the GSR-10 debate. Mahfoudh
Recalling that there are 156 ICT regulators in Ould Brahim, Deputy Director-General of mobile
the world today, Mr Al Basheer said that thanks to operator Expresso, Senegal, who chaired the Forum
their efforts, access to Internet services is open to presented these recommendations, along with a recompetition in 93 per cent of markets and competi- port (see story on pages 20–25).
tion in the provision of basic services is the norm in
more than 66 per cent of markets. The ICT sector
has experienced tremendous growth in recent years
ITU News  10 | 2010  December 2010
13
Enabling tomorrow’s digital world
Global Symposium for Regulators
GSR-10 also heard a report from the meeting of
regional regulatory associations, held in Dakar on
9 November, and where experiences were shared
and discussion focused on ways to further intraregional cooperation, as well as on the status and
challenges of regulatory harmonization, regional
experiences with regard to international mobile
roaming, and the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. This report was presented by Alagi
B. Gaye, Director General of Gambia’s Public Utilities
Regulatory Authority, and Vice Chairman of the West
Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly
(WATRA), who chaired the meeting of regional regulatory associations.
Interactive sessions and workshops
In eight interactive sessions, GSR-10 covered such
topics as building tomorrow’s digital world today:
the impact of broadband on the economy; 21st century regulation; spectrum in transition: the digital
dividend; dispute resolution in the ICT sector; ICT and
climate change: what role for regulators?; addressing cyberthreats; living the information society; and
measuring regulatory efficiency. Discussion Papers on
these topics were issued for the global gathering enriching the debate.
* The GSR-10 Chairman’s Report provides a
comprehensive summary of all the sessions and
workshops (and is available at www.itu.int/ITUD/
treg/Events/Seminars/GSR/GSR10/documents/
GSRChairman_report.pdf).
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ITU News  10 | 2010  December 2010
In addition to these sessions, two workshops were held on “Connect a School, Connect a
Community” and on “National School Connectivity
Plans ” featuring ITU’s flagship initiative “Connect a
School, Connect a Community”, along with country
projects. A final session of the GSR discussed “the
way forward”.
10th Anniversary Edition of the
Telecommunications Regulation
Handbook launched
GSR-10 also saw the launch of a special 10th
Anniversary Edition of the Telecommunications
Regulation Handbook, which has been jointly developed by ITU’s Telecommunication Development
Bureau and infoDev (World Bank). Complementing
the ICT Regulation Toolkit, the handbook provides
regulators with a solid basis on which to develop
national strategies to foster the growth of digital
economies.
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Regional Regulatory Associations
AFP
Regulators worldwide embrace principles
of open networks, open access
Open access to networks calls for a rethinking of
regulation to anchor national broadband strategies.
The aim is to allow for effective competition while
ensuring accessible, affordable and reliable services
for consumers.
A key outcome of GSR-10 is a set of “Best Practice
Guidelines for Enabling Open Access”. These guidelines encourage regulatory frameworks that foster
innovation, investment and affordable access to
broadband and other services in markets worldwide,
through a set of core principles all regulators can
adopt and then adapt to local market conditions.
The guidelines underscore the importance of a
clear and transparent regulatory process, including enforceable rules governing service provision, a
technology-neutral approach, and competitive network and service provision. They call on regulators
to embrace forward-looking regimes that are subject
to regular review, to remove any new or emerging
regulatory barriers to competition and innovation.
Defining open access
From a service provider’s perspective, open access
means the possibility for third parties to use an existing network infrastructure. And every user (consumer) should have access to all services and applications
carried over these networks, as long as those services and applications are public and lawful. The user’s
range of choices should not be unduly constrained by
the inability of competitors to obtain access to services, especially over last-mile infrastructure.
Open access to networks
Policy and regulatory tools are needed to open up
access to network facilities without harming investment and innovation.
In order to encourage broadband deployment,
and to preserve and promote the open and interconnected nature of the public Internet, regulators
should consider mandating dominant providers
of national broadband networks, including cable
ITU News  10 | 2010  December 2010
15
Enabling tomorrow’s digital world
Global Symposium for Regulators
landing stations, to provide open access on a fair
and non-discriminatory basis to their networks and
essential facilities for competitors at different levels
of the networks.
In countries where fibre-to-the-building is deployed, regulators should set rules that ensure shared
and equal access, to prevent discriminatory behaviour or a monopoly by the first infrastructure operator in the building.
A centralized record of infrastructures that can
be shared, whether held by public bodies, electronic
communications operators or other public utilities,
should be established for the benefit of all market
players. Operators should make available information
regarding passive infrastructure (such as ducts and
towers) that can be shared.
Open networks
Efficient allocation and assignment of the digital
dividend spectrum will result in social and economic
benefits that could stimulate innovation for the provision of lower-cost communications and services,
especially in rural and remote areas.
Governments should update the definition of universal service as needs evolve to ensure technology
neutrality and the inclusion of broadband access.
Governments should put in place national plans
and strategies to stimulate the deployment of broadband networks, particularly in developing countries.
Such strategies might include public–private partnerships and promoting the involvement of municipalities or cities.
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ITU News  10 | 2010  December 2010
Open and neutral Internet
There should be fair rules for Internet traffic management. Any differences in the way in which various data streams are treated should be objectively
justifiable, whether according to the type of content,
the service, application, device or the address of the
stream’s origin or destination.
When Internet service providers (ISPs) employ traffic management mechanisms for ensuring access to
the Internet at any point of the network, they should
comply with the general principles of relevance, proportionality, efficiency, non-discrimination between
parties and transparency.
To ensure reasonable traffic management practices, regulators should take measures such as:
 obliging ISPs to disclose information concerning
network management, quality of service and other practices;
 allowing clients to quickly end their contracts
without high switching costs;
 prescribing minimum quality of service for
Internet access;
 giving consumers the right to access any lawful content, applications, and services over their
Internet connections.
These principles must not supersede any obligation an ISP may have — or limit its ability — to deliver emergency communications or to address the
needs of law enforcement, public safety, or national
or homeland security authorities, consistent with applicable law.
Regulators might consider facilitating the creation of local content and of local Internet exchange
points (IXP) to complement and ease international
data flow.
Enabling tomorrow’s digital world
Global Symposium for Regulators
Regulators should ensure broadband connectivity to schools, health centres and hospitals, so that
citizens can benefit when connecting through high
bandwidth to these services.
Governments should create awareness among
consumers about the risks associated with technological progress, and take the necessary measures
for data protection, privacy, consumer rights, and
the protection of minors and vulnerable segments of
society.
Challenges to open networks
Open networks pose challenges in terms of network stability, business continuity, resilience, critical
infrastructure protection, data privacy and crime prevention. Internet Protocol networks, based as they
are on an open architecture and well-known protocols, are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Preventing attacks by patching vulnerable systems, implementing
firewalls or other access control technologies, monitoring through intrusion detection systems, and responding to the threats in real time, have become
crucial to effective network operation.
A harmonized regulatory framework should be
developed within regions and a broader dialogue established between all stakeholders so that this central issue of open access networks can be further discussed and the appropriate measures taken.
Service providers should exercise reasonable network management practices with respect to outbound as well as inbound traffic. Such practices can
help stamp out attacks at the source and thus stop
them from spreading.
Regulators should implement measures to prevent Internet service providers from connecting unlawful user devices to the networks.
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Open access to content
ITU News  10 | 2010  December 2010
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Enabling tomorrow’s digital world
Global Symposium for Regulators
Closing time
ITU/V. Martin
discuss and share their experiences. She recognized
Director-General
Diao
expressed satisfaction that
the importance of ITU in
the North and the South
strengthening human capacwere examining the future
ity building and in improving
together. “We are linked by
regulatory frameworks. “We
common objectives”, he said,
all depend on ICT because
noting that the South has exwe are living in the era of
pertise that it can contribute
the ’knowledge’ economy”,
to the North. He stressed that
she said. Sami Al Basheer
telecommunications are the
Al Morshid expressed his
present and the future, and
pride in the outcome of the
that without a vision we can2010 GSR and extended his
Aminata Tall
not move forward.
best wishes to his successor,
Senegal’s Minister of State and SecretaryClosing the Symposium,
Brahima Sanou.
General in the Office of the President
Aminata
Tall,
Senegal’s
Colombia’s
invitation
Minister of State and
to host the next Global
Secretary-General in the Office of the President com- Symposium for Regulators in 2011 was warmly acmended ITU for bringing together, in collaboration claimed by all GSR-10 participants.
with ARTP, a group of eminent experts to think,
The full text of the “Best Practice Guidelines for
Enabling Open Access” are contained in the GSR-10
Chairman’s Report available at: www.itu.int/ITU-D/treg/
Events/Seminars/GSR/GSR10/documents/GSRChairman_
report.pdf
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ITU News  10 | 2010  December 2010
ITU/V. Martin
Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General, and Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, Director of the ITU Telecommunication
Development Bureau welcome Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade at the opening ceremony of GSR-10 in Dakar
ITU/V. Martin
Brahima Sanou, Director Elect of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (second left); Dr Hamadoun I. Touré,
ITU Secretary-General; and Mr Sami Al Basheer, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
pictured here with Senegalese dignitaries
ITU News  10 | 2010  December 2010
19