asia-pacific information superhighway as a way forward.pdf · asia-pacific information superhighway...

IMPROVING REGIONAL BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY THROUGH THE

ASIA-PACIFIC INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY


MASTER PLAN INITIATIVES AND WAY FORWARD

ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division

ESCAP

Thimphu, Bhutan, 7 December 2016



Presentation Outline

2

1. AP-IS Master Plan

2. Regional Cooperation Framework Document

3. The Way Forward



Information & Communications Technology (ICT)

• ICT is increasingly seen as efficient and effective solution to overcoming

physical barriers, lack of resources and infrastructure, and access to

information, knowledge, and services worldwide;

• ICT is a foundation for promoting sustainable development, while being a

growth sector that contributes to economic growth;

• ICT-enabled financial, transport and trade facilitation infrastructure will be

essential to encouraging innovations and developing an inclusive digital

economy in the region;

• ICT plays an important role in modernizing government services and

enhancing the quality of interactions and accountability between public

administrations, businesses and citizens.

ICT has emerged as an indispensable development enabler that

contributes to and accelerates achievement of Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs).

3



Regional Broadband Backbone Connectivity • Well-developed and market-driven

submarine backbone connectivity

• Underdeveloped cross-border/sub-

regional terrestrial connectivity: Missing,

Insufficient, not-integrated links

• Poor network redundancy, poor resilience

Well-balanced

terrestrial & submarine

4



Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway Map

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Interactive Map, visit <http://www.itu.int/itu-d/tnd-map-public/>



What is the Asia-Pacific information

superhighway (AP-IS)?

• A regional Initiative supported by ESCAP;

• A regional broadband network covering ESCAP Member

countries and associate Member countries from Turkey to Kiribati;

• A pillar in ESCAP’s regional connectivity initiatives (together

with transport and energy), which aims to facilitate movement of

people, goods, money, information and knowledge for sustainable

socioeconomic development in the region;

• …which addresses the causes of digital divides, develops

Internet ecosystem which supports the implementation of the

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), goals of the World

Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and stimulates digital

economy.

6



• Bridging digital divides

• Promoting affordable access

to underserved areas

• Policy and technical support

to Governments

• Ensuring efficient and effective

Internet traffic and network

management at regional, sub-

regional and national levels

• Resilient ICT networks

• Support to disaster

management systems

• Ensuring last-mile disaster

communication

Four Pillars of AP-IS

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• Physical network design,

development, management

at regional level

• Intergovernmental negotiation

• Improving regulations based

on open access CONNECTIVITY

E-RESILIENCE

TRAFFIC /

NETWORK

MANAGEMENT

BROADBAND

FOR ALL



AP-IS Initiatives

8

Identification, coordination, deployment, expansion and

integration of the regional backbone network

Establish a sufficient number of IXPs at the national and

sub-regional levels and set out common principles on

Internet traffic exchange

Regional social and economic studies

Enhancing ICT infrastructure resilience

Policy and regulations for leveraging existing

infrastructure, technology and inclusive broadband

initiatives

Capacity-building

AP-IS funding mechanism based on public-private

partnerships

Strategic Initiatives 2016-2018

1

2

3

4

5

6

7



Endorsed by Member States AP-IS Master Plan (MP) and Regional Cooperation Framework (RCF)

endorsed by ESCAP member States during the 1st meeting of the

Committee on Information and Communications Technology & Science,

Technology and Innovation (CICTSTI) from 5 to 7 October 2016

9



AP-IS Governance Structure 1/3

ESCAP Commission

ESCAP CICTSTI

AP-IS Steering Committee

IDD/IDS

Support

10




Steering Committee

Regional

Pillar 1

Online

Pillar 2

Online

Pillar 3

Online

Pillar 4

Online

SG/IG

Sub-regional

11




12

Sub-regional (PS)

Sub-regional (Gov.) Regional

SC

SG IG

SG IG

SG IG

SG IG

SG IG



AP-IS Governance Structure by Sub-region

13

Asia-Pacific information superhighway

steering committee

North and

Central

Asia

steering

group

East and

North-East

Asia

steering

group

South and

South-

West Asia

steering

group

South-East

Asia

steering

group

Pacific

Islands

steering

group

Implemen-

tation group

Implemen-

tation group

Implemen-

tation group

Implemen-

tation group

Implemen-

tation group




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3. The Way Forward



Objectives of the RCF a) Fostering partnership and collaboration between the member countries and various

organizations at the regional and sub-regional levels in order to improve seamless regional

connectivity in Asia and the Pacific;

b) Identifying areas of synergy between stakeholders’ ICT initiatives and plans by

conducting in-depth analytical studies on feasibility, demand forecasts and network

resilience, as well as harmonization of policies and regulations wherever appropriate;

c) Raising awareness on the importance of regional cooperation for regional connectivity

and enhancing capacity of LLDCs, LDCs and SIDS through regional cooperation;

d) Encouraging participation of the private sector in developing the cross-border broadband

infrastructure, especially among LLDCs, LDCs, SIDS and in areas where commercial

viability has not yet been established;

e) Ensuring the contribution to the achievement of regional and international development

goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the World Summit on the

Information Society (WSIS) and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed

Countries for the Decade 2011-2020;

f) Capitalizing on intergovernmental platforms such as the Commission and Committee on

Information and Communications Technology & Science, Technology and Innovation for

setting norms and principles and building regional consensus, while promoting good

practices and lessons learned.

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Norms and Principles guiding the RCF

a) The strategic initiatives for the Asia-Pacific information

superhighway promote open and non-discriminatory access

to network infrastructure at fair and reasonable wholesale

prices and service terms and conditions, in particular passive

infrastructure, and promote competition with a view to enhancing

affordability and encouraging innovation;

b) The RCF recognizes the importance in creating synergies

between national, sub-regional and regional ICT initiatives;

c) The RCF promotes cross-sectoral collaboration, such as co-

deployment of optical fibre cables along Asian highways and

railways, and adds value to existing mechanisms and

partnerships in the area of ICT for development in general and

ICT connectivity in particular.

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17



3. The Way Forward




Pre-feasibility study for each sub-region

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Objectives Scope

Partners Expected outcomes

• To provide a high-level overview of

the sub-region’s ICT connectivity

development and digital divide

• To identify gaps, challenges and

opportunities

• To identify synergies with existing

initiatives

• To prepare for a feasibility study

• Geographic (for each sub-region)

• Covering 4 Pillars

• Focuses on affordability, resilience,

digital divide and digital economy

• Quality of networks could be tested

wherever available and possible

• Sponsored by any member country

or organization

• Implemented together with sub-

regional organization or member

countries

• Involve SG and IG members,

including financial institutions

• Gaps in physical links, Internet traffic

management, e-resilience and inclusive

broadband identified

• Contributes to the implementation of the

MP

• Leads to overall consensus on the way

forward



Feasibility study

19

Objectives Scope

Partners Expected outcomes

• To present a specific project based on

the pre-feasibility study findings

• To identify solutions in the form of a

project

• To facilitate the implementation and

partnerships

• To align with priorities determined

by SG

• Geographic (site specific)

• Specific (physical infrastructure etc.)

• Includes detailed design and topology,

costing, resource requirements

(including capacity), policy and

regulatory updates, technology options,

duration, financing and implementing

partners

• Developed and implemented by SG

and IG members, including think

tanks, research institutes and

financial institutions

• Encourage a wider sub-regional,

national and local partners, such as

media and academia

• Concrete fundable projects mapped

out for the implementation of AP-IS MP

• Partnerships forged and expanded

• Deepened understanding and

knowledge

• ROI estimated



AP-IS Main Deliverables

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AP-IS MP Pre-

feasibility Study

Feasibility Study

SC SG IG



Asia-Pacific ICT & DRR Gateway

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Providing policymakers and

relevant stakeholders with an

accessible gateway containing

a spectrum of resources with

regard to Information and

Communications Technology

and Disaster Risk Reduction



Navigate to the ICT & DRR Gateway

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Access the Gateway on

www.drrgateway.net



Online Communities

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Communities on Unite platform facilitating dialogue on 4 pillars:

1. Infrastructure and connectivity

2. Internet traffic and network management

3. E-resilience

4. Broadband for all



Thank you very much Email: [email protected]

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