internet policy day 3 - workshop session no. 6 internet specific policy issues prepared for cto by...

Internet PolicyDay 3 - Workshop Session No. 6

Internet specific policy issues

Prepared for CTO by Link Centre, Witwatersrand University, South Africa

CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002

Sessions Summary Day 1

– Session 1History and technical background– Session 2Market structure

Day 2– Session 3Interconnection, IXPs and voice over IP– Session 4Governance and domain names

Day 3– Session 5The impact of telecommunications regulation– Session 6 Internet specific policy issues

Day 4– Session 7Content on the Internet – Session 8E-commerce issues

Day 5– Session 9Internet tools for regulators– Session 10 Conclusion, review and evaluation


Topics of discussion

How costs of infrastructure and access are determined– International bandwidth costs – Regional bandwidth and backbone costs– National bandwidth and backbone costs– Local loop & and end-user bandwidth costs

Impact of Internet on PSTN network Convergence Internet access in rural areas

– Telecentres– Case studies


Review of issues so far...

What Internet issues could require regulatory intervention?– Protecting ISPs from incumbents

(or other dominant players)– Interconnection/establishment of an IXP– Voice over the Internet– Licensing– ccTLDs– Others?


International bandwidth costs

Charges for International telecom infrastructure are usually the most expensive. Especially for ISPs who must pay for both sides of the link– Up to 60% of ISPs costs can be international bandwidth– Developing countries cannot quickly achieve economies of

scale The new fibre and satellite bandwidth now available

is pushing down prices dramatically in competitive markets

Internet access charges are not significantly affected by being 'International' - the Net doesn't know about distance - traffic volumes are the key issue.


Regional bandwidth costs

Most international telecom links from developing countries follow historical colonial patterns, with limited neighbouring country connectivity.

As a result developed countries are paid substantial amounts for traffic transiting within developing country regions.

New telecom projects to create regional linkages should reduce these charges.


National bandwidth costs

Also highly dependant on level of diversity and competition in telecom sector.

As well as on the size and capacity of the players, and their willingness to adopt arrangements such as peering, splitting revenues on local call minutes and colocation.

Access to domestic VSAT may be key in provision of Internet access in rural areas in developing countries.


Local loop/end-user bandwidth costs

Similar to national costs Dialup and leased line users suffer the same

problems - high cost and limited infrastructure. Unbundling of local loop not yet common Other co-location arrangements are possible Wireless access has potential to cut costs and

increase speeds. Increasing popularity of 802.11


Optimising the network

Improving access and speed means making more efficient use of bandwidth, for example– Keeping local traffic local (IXP, private

peering)– Keeping international traffic local (caching)– Optimising streaming multimedia traffic


Impact of the Internet on PSTN

Demand for bandwidth has increased load on PSTN– PSTN design for 3 minute calls– Internet calls last an average of 20 minutes– Can tie-up inter-exchange capacity

Solutions– Local exchange interconnection– Reducing dependence on fixed line telephone access

for Internet use -- encourage other access technologies Use of VoIP From data over voice towards voice over data


Convergence

What does convergence mean?:– Info technology convergence - mobile

phone/PDA/laptop– Infrastructure convergence - any link

can carry voice, data and broadcast material

– Mobile vs fixed convergence - fixed cell phones.

– What are the regulatory implications


Convergence

Examples– IP Telephony (VOIP)– Video conferencing– Internet radio and Internet TV– Internet on a TV (WebTV/set top boxes)– TV on the Internet

And in the future...– The wired fridge– Chips in people– Reality laws


Rural areas

Problems specific to remote locations– lack of access to phone lines due to remote area– lack of basic computer skills– lack of experienced people to provide skills

education– low income, therefore computers unaffordable– no credit facilities– unfamiliarity with new technology may stall its

adoption and even prevent it from being used altogether


Solutions Available – Solution must include dialogue with

community from the start– Wireless solutions such as HF radio or

VSAT are an option when there are no phone lines

– Facilities such as phones, faxes, computers are essential additions to a network connection.

– Telecentres

Rural areas


Telecentres– Centres which provide communities with access to

Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) go by a number of names:

– for example: Multipurpose Community Centres (MCC) Community Technology Centres (CTC) Technology Access Community Centres. (TACC)

– Telecentres emerged in last 10 years– Started Northern Europe– Ranging in number from 50 000 to 150 000 world-wide

depending on definition– Telecentres provide solutions to a host of development

problems concerned with the digital divide

Rural areas


Telecentres– Multipurpose Community Centres (MCCs), are an

efficient means for meeting a community’s needs for human resource development, through the provision of information and communication by community-shared facilities

– Anyone in community can make use of services– Train the trainer method of education

every two people trained go out and train another two, who in turn train another two and so on

– Telecentres may be privately owned, community run, or sponsored entirely

Rural areas


Case Study: Gasaleka, South Africa

Gasaleka: first Universal Service Agency telecentre when it was opened by Minister Jay Naidoo in March 1998.

It continues to be one of the most successful centres. Rural area with nearest town 70km away Serves 34 villages Approximate population 85 000 Some travel 20km by foot to access the centre High unemployment rate in the area 4 telephones, fax and copier, 4 Pentium computers and

4 older computers



Run by two women who were trained in the first course offered Open 07:00 - 18:00 weekdays Open 07:00 - 13:00 Saturdays Computer course brings in 55% of revenue In 1999, thirty six people graduated

– learnt to type, use Word and Excel, and basic computer operation The Telecentre has very close links with the community.

– Run by the local SANCO (South African national Civic Organisation).– The centre is also supported by the 3 local chiefs.– Close links are maintained with the local government– Water and electricity of the centre are donated by the local

government Telecentre in very healthy financial position with good turnover



Telecentre is a monopoly in the area Works closely with local schools and businesses Aims to be multipurpose centre and develop new services Will become a post office too Plans to set-up community newspaper and provide

business services Problems though

– Difficult to get spare parts– Technician 70km away, 15km being dirt road– Area hot and dusty, and no aircon. Computers need to be

covered– Lightening strikes have damaged fax machine and computer


Case Study: Peru

Peruvian Scientific Network (RCP) has established telecentres to provide access to computers and the Internet

Franchise model– ‘Mother Infocentres’– Telecentre franchises– ‘Monocabinas

The network as a whole develops information for all the telecentres to use - such as health and education content from the ministries and business opportunities.


Case Study: TARAhaat.com

India Objectives: Promoting sustainable livelihood generation

in India through Internet access. 25 employees divided between the Delhi and Jhansi

offices making up the core team, and a number of outside contributors and consultants providing content and advice in all areas.

Goal to connect rural India to the Internet and promote livelihood generation through e-commerce and access to information

Uses VSAT technology



VSAT supports Internet, data, voice, fax calls Required technology partner to cover costs Partnership allowed for initial 10 computers in 6 rural

villages to be connected Many challenges still had to be overcome, such as

location and power issues for VSAT equipment



TARAhaat has had to overcome many challenges without the benefit of previous experience

Their success in the six small villages in the Bundelkhand will serve as a reminder that rural connectivity with VSATs in India can be achieved.

The complete case study is available at: http://sdgateway.net/webworks/management/vsat_da1.htm


Success / Failure of Telecentres

Factors of Success:– Good manager – imported phones,

cellular technology, wireless Internet connections

– Ability to develop new services

– External linkages & networks, knowledge of other telecentres in the area

Factors of Failure:– Equipment problems

(phones, DECT, call cutters)

– Excessive phone bills in regions where Telco has monopoly

– Poor management & community conflict

– Security, many thefts occur in some of the developing countries


From infrastructure to infostructure

Most of the telecentres provide basic use of equipment, such as phones and copiers.

Most do not offer higher ‘information services’ The next stage in the life-cycle of a telecentre is provide

additional services for the community, and to link up to other telecentres in the area:– Community newsletters– Community directory– Government information– Tv services, distance education– Post office, welfare paypoint, development bank, clinic


Internet access for people with disabilities

What can be done?– Introduce legislation or accessibility guidelines– Promote education of disadvantaged needs– Provide technology education to disadvantaged groups– Provide support to existing efforts– Encourage new efforts

Accessibility guidelines– Provide guidelines, legislation or framework– Research requirements of disadvantaged groups– Suggest compatibility– Enforce guidelines– Welcome feedback


Example legislation: USA

USA: Section 508 All federal agencies and government departments are prohibited

from procuring, developing, maintaining or using technology that inaccessible to people with disabilities

This includes (subject to undue burden):– websites– telecommunications– software– hardware– printers– fax machines– copiers– information kiosks

"Undue Burden" means a significant difficulty or expense


Summary

Costs– International– Regional– National– Local loop/end-user– Optimising the network

Impact of the Internet on the PSTN Convergence Internet access in rural areas Disabilities

internet policy day 3 - workshop session no. 6 internet specific policy issues prepared for cto by...

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