Al-Zu'bi opens first meeting of the Arab ICT Regulators’ Network
22 Mar 2004Under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, Dr. Fawaz Al-Zu'bi, the Minister of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), has inaugurated the proceedings for the first meeting of the Arab ICT Regulators’ Network, held between 21-22 of this month entitled "Partnership for Development". The event was organized by the Jordanian Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) in cooperation with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
During the meeting, the Algerian chairmanship of the network was transferred to TRC-Jordan in the presence of representatives from 16 Arab regulatory authorities and entities as well as a delegation from the Iraqi telecommunication industry.
Mrs. Muna Nejim, CEO of TRC thanked His Majesty King Abdullah in her speech for his patronage of the event and interest in the ICT sector as well as his continuous support for holding similar meetings that aim to develop the ICT sector in the Arab world.
Nejim noted that the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has dealt with some of the challenges facing the Arab World today in its annual report. In light of these challenges, she said that the reality and capacity of goals each require ICT regulatory authorities to have a solid partnership amongst each other through the set up of an independent Arab entity that would represent them and from thereon evolve into a network. She added that a strategic plan that identifies the main goals of the network and its program was developed which centers on making it the main reference to all that is related to regulating the sector in the Arab world.
The TRC head also mentioned that the number of telephone lines in Arab countries, does not exceed one fifth of their counterparts in the developed world, noting that there are less than 18 computers for every 1000 individual in the region in comparison to 78 for each 1000 individual in the developed world, not to mention the limited number of internet users which only amounts to 1.6% of the Arab world population.
She added that these statistics confirm the importance of efforts that that should be exerted by the Network to regulate the ICT sector for the provision of basic services from telephone lines, PCs and internet to Arab citizens in order to enable them to ride the information and technology wave and catch up their counterparts in the developed world.
Mr. Mohammed Bolfadhel, head of Algeria's Regulatory Authority said the network's efforts focused on its foundation and infrastructure. At the same time, he added that the network had a presence in the Global ICT Forum, convened in Geneva, Switzerland on the 8th and 9th of December of last year.
Bolfadhel said that the Algerian Regulatory Authority is in the process of setting up a website for the permanent security of the network, where the exchange of information can be made between members of the network. He also spoke about the Algerian experience in regulating the sector which he described as successful and could be used as an example.
The ITU's Secretary General, Mr. Hamdoun Toure, spoke of the event as an opportunity to meet with ICT regulators to discuss the future of this sector in the Arab region.
He confirmed the importance of the Network's role in providing a unified and clear Arab vision to come up with a specified perception on the ICT sector in the region that can be introduced at the WSIS meeting to be convened next year in Tunisia.
On his part, Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Vice Chair of the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UN ICT TF), said that competition is the only way to guarantee access to reliable and affordable networks, adding that such a competition will work on encouraging the private sector to make the necessary investment to guarantee the productive usage of the network's infrastructure and revive the manufacture of products and services that the business sector needs.
Abu-Ghazaleh noted that it is not possible to achieve the desired competition without the existence of a free market open to all local and international participants for them to proceed with their practices in a legitimate and politically stable environment. He added that the best mechanism to achieve this kind of openness is through the World Trade Organisation (WTO). "Such a group work will lead to the global economy's embrace of all Arab countries through its active membership in the WTO which will supervise its organization," Abu-Ghazaleh remarked.
He added that competition and international investments are considered important sources of capital, investment, employment and technology that work to activate the movement of business and local trade. He provided the participants with examples of the benefits that countries enjoyed from having free markets which include new investments, advanced infrastructure, alleviation in the standard of professionalism and productivity, creation of new employment opportunities and better capabilities of connecting to the world as well as more advanced services.
He also revealed that many Arab countries are currently working on liberating their telecommunication markets. Such a matter requires extensive preparation the goals of which should be aimed towards full liberalization by a set date whereby all restrictions on foreign ownership could be lifted as well as the existence of a regulatory framework that encourages competition and agrees with the principles established by the WTO in a document specific to telecommunications. He brought attention to the fact that around 50% of Arab countries have an independent regulatory authority.
He added that the existence of a regulatory structure, well-prepared for competition, is an important matter to the telecommunication market during its transitional period to the stage of being globally competitive, noting that it is important that such a transition should not inherit regulations and restrictions on new technologies and enhanced services. He noted that these new technologies provide for another platform for competition, which will result in lower costs and increased innovation in the developed world.
He noted new telecom technologies including the WiFi and Internet Voiceover which represent astonishing tools to their users in the business sector. The flourishing of such tools should be supported without burdening it with unnecessary regulations. Moreover, a system should only be imposed when gap in the market is identified.
Abu-Ghazaleh discussed the requirements for setting up an IT infrastructure which will involve the cancellation of custom duties and all quota restrictions on IT products, be it devices or programs to guarantee access to the best products at the most affordable prices and the complete liberalization of computer services including applications that assist the infrastructure in performing its tasks effectively and professionally which would allow for using the internet for trade issues.
The meeting will showcase the latest developments related to regulating the ICT sector and methods for developing this sector in the Arab countries through capacity building, exchanging information and experiences and adopting the best global regulatory practices.
It is worth noting that the main principles of the basic law of this network was agreed on during the meeting and was presented to the general assembly of the network. TRC was assigned the task of preparing the draft law and internal structure of the network which was discussed by members of the general assembly during the meeting's first session.
To reach this goal, the network's main duties were identified which include working to exchange opinions and experiences over ICT issues, unifying regulatory practices in the Arab world, make available examples for systems, policies and joint procedures characterized with a high-level of transparency, and are aimed to encourage development and modernization of networks and ICT services, in addition to guaranteeing the provision of those services to the Arab consumer at the best price and highest level of standard.
The draft Network's strategic plan which will also include the identification of financial resources and the supporting parties of the Network will be announced at the end of the meeting later on today.
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