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World RadioCom Conference: Implications for Mobile Connectivity

Photo Credit: Hongkiat.com

Over 3000 participants from around the world are expected to gather at the CICG Convention Center, Geneva between January 23 – February 17, 2012 for the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC). The outcome of this international treaty-making conference will have worldwide ramifications in the field of communications.

Key issues on the agenda include:

1. Reviewing and revising the international regulatory framework for radiocommunications (RC) to reflect the increasing convergence in radio services arising from the rapid evolution of ICTs.

2. Management of scarce radio-frequency spectrum to provide new opportunities for RC services.

3. Management of satellite orbital slots and associated spectrum resources.

4. The introduction of mobile broadband and other advanced technologies.

At this conference, participants representing nations across the globe will be deciding on issues relating to the sharing of frequency spectrum to allow the deployment or continuous use of all types of radiocommunication services – wireless, broadcasting, satellite, aeronautical etc. Just as any other international conference or world summit, preparations begin several years in advance through regional pre-conferences, presentations of position papers, and the declarations are made at the conference.

Photo Credit: CTIA

Implications for Mobile Technologies and International Development

The interest in spectrum management could receive high attention looking at the potentials that the mobile and wireless industry has for the global economy. In the United States, the President announced a “National Wireless Initiative” in his 2011 State of the Union that will foster the conditions for the next generations of wireless technology, nearly doubling the amount of wireless spectrum available for mobile broadband.

But unfortunately spectrum is a limited and scarce resource that requires careful global, regional and national planning and regulation. To be able to meet the increasing demand of users, the mobile communication industry requires continued availability of radio spectrum in sufficient quantity within suitable bands and arranged in a consistent and harmonized manner.

Even though the sovereignty of individual nations to make domestic allocation and use decisions of spectrum must be respected, it is imperative that the spectrum as a global resource be managed well. Most especially, because of the on-going phenomenon of globalization, harmonization – both national and international could be on top of the agenda. This will ensure that discrete frequency bands are available for a specific use, such as 3G, 4G or wi-fi. Innovative plans such as auctions that would allow the current owners of the spectrum to share in the proceeds could be attractive both nationally and internationally.

The World Radiocommunication Conference, held every three to four years, is mandated to review and revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. WRC-12 will facilitate the management of scarce orbit/spectrum resources in the interest of end-users, with global implications for both policy-makers and the industry.

January 9, 2012/by actualize

Business Enabling Environment, Economic Growth & Trade, Enterprise Development, Originally posted on the GBI Portal, Workforce Development

Planting CEEDs of Growth in Moldova with ICTs

The ICT sector is one of the most dynamic in Moldova’s economy. Recording a vibrant growth over the past years, today it represents nearly 10% of the national GDP, on par with agriculture production.

There are about 40,000 people employed directly and indirectly in ICT, making the ICT sector one of the major employers in Moldova. It is also one of the highest paying industries, as jobs in ICT pay on par with those in the financial sector, historically the best paying jobs in the country. Most importantly, the ICT industry employs the young generation, offering an exciting, fast-growing and rewarding career for the next generation.

Moldova has already chosen the pathway of ICT. All players – the Government, the business community, the citizens and the ICT industry itself – have acknowledged the importance of information technology as a catalyst for growth, and as a tool of growth enhancement in all other economic sectors.

Technical assistance from USAID Moldova through the Competitiveness Enhancement and Enterprise Development (CEED) project over the past five and a half years has enhanced the competitiveness of the ICT sector through initiatives meant to consolidate the quality of companies, to strengthen ICT education so that it meets the needs of business, and to align the industry towards common goals.

Just last month, USAID Moldova sponsored the Moldova ICT Summit 2011, featuring the Association of Private ICT Companies in Moldova, as well as the recently launched national E- Government Center. The event focused on the e-transformation of the Moldovan economy, and the importance of e-transparency, among other topics.

Since the initiation of the first phase of the CEED project, USAID Moldova has been involved in numerous efforts. They facilitated the formation of the Association of Private ICT Companies in Moldova, established relationships between the national government and the private companies in the ICT sector, helped private firms to become IT-Mark certified ICT companies under CMMI methodology (encouraging foreign investment and trade), and set up talks respecting the formation of a “Cloud-Moldova” e-government system.

Additionally, a need for more trained and educated IT professionals in Moldova has arisen. To meet this need, USAID Moldova connected the Moldovan Minister of Education with large ICT firms. The ministry signed memorandums with Microsoft, Cisco, and i-Carnegie (Carnegie Mellon University). New IT focused courses and degrees are being offered in the Moldovan education system, providing the ICT industry with the professional staff it requires.

A man and a woman watch as a man repairs a computer.

Photo: Sergiu Botezatu

Despite these advancements, a few large boulders block continued development of the ICT sector in Moldova. The national government’s telecommunications company, Moldtelecom, still controls the majority of the market. Additionally, Moldova is unknown in the region as a destination of IT, this holding back investment. Thankfully, however, steps are in place to remove these barriers. The national government is beginning to investigate selling Moldtelecom and a strategy for ICT sector positioning and promotion is underway, which is intended to put Moldova on the regional and global ICT map.

June 29, 2011/by actualize

GBI Highlights, Originally posted on the GBI Portal

Asian USF Leaders Meet in Jakarta

Conference participants listen as David Townsed presents at the Asia Leaders USF Forum

Photo credit: Eric White

Last week in Jakarta GBI co-sponsored and participated in the “Universal Service Fund Asia Leaders Forum,” a two-day workshop that brought together administrators of Universal Service Funds (USFs) throughout the Asia/Pacific and Middle East regions. Attendees had the opportunity to interact with other USF administrators and learn about how other countries had found unique solutions to common problems. The workshop consisted of presentations by advanced USF as well as panel discussions by USF administrators that were moderated by GBI’s USF expert, Mr. David Townsend. Great interest was sparked by Turkey’s presentation of the “Fatih” school computing program, as well as Malaysia’s “Wireless Village” project. The CEO of Pakistan’s USF, Mr. Parvez Iftikhar, described his country’s policy of subsidizing service, rather that infrastructure, and detailed how he enforces this requirement through a unique scheme that employs government liens on infrastructure. A number of countries expressed interest in trying to copy the model.

David Townsend presents to the Asia Leaders USF Forum in Jakarta, Indonesia

Photo Credit: Eric White

The workshop was officially opened by Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, H.E. Hatta Rajasa, who declared Indonesia to have a strong interest in the expansion of broadband access while committing his government to a target of 30% broadband penetration by 2014. It closed with a discussion of the tools that countries needed to achieve such aggressive broadband penetration targets. In the interim discussions ranged from how to create strategic and operational plans for USFs to the particular benefits of providing broadband access as opposed to other forms of communication.

In the end all participants left satisfied that they had contributed to a worthwhile discussion, and many left with ideas for how to improve broadband operations in their own country. Mr. P. Choesin, of Indonesia’s Chamber of Commerce (KADIN) was so impressed with the conference that he suggested expanding it to include a worldwide audience and conducting it at a ministerial level.

The forum was the second in a worldwide series that is being sponsored by GBI in association with Intel Corporation.

June 15, 2011/by actualize