Economic Development and Inclusion through Local Broadband Access Networks

Transcription

1 Economic Development and Inclusion through Local Broadband Access Networks Milan, Italy 1

2 Project Description The theme of the study financed by Inter American Development Bank (IADB) is the recent experience of community based initiatives driven by municipal governments, community organizations, local entrepreneurs associations, NGOs that have deployed sustainable local broadband connectivity services. The objectives of the assignment were: Provide a mapping of best practices for broadband networks sustainability Perform a detailed analysis of the telecommunications scenario in four countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region (Brazil, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Peru were selected by the team) in order to provide a detailed scenario of the enabling environment (telecommunications regulation and policy, competition and price regulation, licensing regime and spectrum management, universal access funds and programs, existing infrastructure, identification of bottlenecks and public and private sector players) Identify three network initiatives for IADB financing and develop network concept projects Provide recommendations and guidelines for reforms in the telecommunications sector at Country level. Multiple approaches were used to carry out the assignment. WiART followed a five step process: 1. Desk review 2. Phone interviews with stakeholders WiART conducted fifteen phone interviews with local experts, public officials, and business stakeholders, to gather additional insights on service requirements, understand barriers, test reactions to potential solutions and models, and explore attitudes toward existing service needs and available solutions. 3. Mapping of existing best practices 4. Assessment of the telecommunications sector in through Country visits to Brazil, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Peru 5. Identification of network concept projects This process was designed to produce insights going beyond publically available information and identify all key issues involved in the deployment of local access networks. In addition, the process allowed WiART to identify three network concept projects for IADB with high demonstration effect that could act as catalysts for larger reforms in the telecommunications sector. We provide below a summary of the main capabilities deployed for the project. Mapping of Best Practices A cross selection of relevant studies and business cases was analyzed with particular attention paid to network models that are suitable for urban, remote rural and noninfo@wiart.it 2

3 remote rural environments. An initial mapping of best practices, based exclusively on the desk review, was prepared. WiART provided a then detailed mapping of best practices identified through the desk review based on the information from stakeholders. This effort combined with WiART s knowledge of network models and their performance, led to: Explore challenges and solutions in five key areas for network feasibility: (i) network technology, (ii) business models, (iii) value added services, (iv) funding and financing, and (v) regulation and legislative policies. For each key area of network feasibility and strategic choices (i.e., technology, business model, financing, services), WiART characterized the basic issues, analyze existing best practices and how recent innovations and new models may affect network roll out and sustainability, especially where traditional approaches failed. Provide an analysis of worldwide best practices in the deployment of sustainable local broadband access networks. Assessment of the telecommunications sector A framework was developed by WiART in order to assess the enabling environment at national and local level for the implementation of sustainable broadband networks. The framework of analysis was divided into modules clustered around key themes: Assessment of the broadband scenario at national level: incumbent operators, delivered services Regulation in the telecommunications sector Legal and institutional framework Competition and price regulation Backbone infrastructure availability Radio spectrum management Universal Service/Access Funds programs and track record in broadband deployments Identification of relevant stakeholders in the telecommunications sector Broadband based services demand and supply issues Structural, demographic, and geographic characteristics of the network implementation scenario During Country visits WiART worked sequentially on the assessment of the enabling environment at national and local level based on the framework developed, and on the identification and development of country specific local access network projects for MIF. info@wiart.it 3

4 Interviews and field visits Interviews were designed by WiART for meetings during Country visits with the senior staff of Regulator, Universal Service Funds and Ministry of Transport and Communications, major private and public sector players, Universities, Research Institutions and NGOs. Further activities have included the assessment of existing network initiatives through field engineering visits to installations and meetings with local representatives in order to evaluate the configurations of existing broadband systems and assess the economic activity in the surrounding areas. Recommendations As an output of the desk review and sharing of lessons learnt during the four field visits, WiART provided a series of recommendations on: Implementation of sustainable local broadband access networks. Design of Universal Access programs and funds, Improvements to telecommunications Regulation and policy Role of donors and investors Although these recommendations were made in the context of Brazil, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Peru, they may be applicable to other locations, as most are built on best practice. Identification of network concept projects Country visits and the analysis of the enabling environment led to the identification of three wireless network concept projects in the following countries: Brazil The beneficiaries of identified project are 12,000 landowners who will have universal access to telecommunications services and distance learning for professional development and vertical and horizontal value chain integration, unemployed young people over 2,800 SMEs that will be benefit from connection to the Internet. Dominican Republic Beneficiaries of the projects are mainly smallholder farmers at the bottom of the pyramid in terms of income, literacy, and access to information and services that may have an opportunity to enhance their skills and get connected to the various players in the value chain so they can conduct commerce more efficiently Peru identified project is particularly focused on supporting rural communities in the Andes through: online collaboration to share best practices in mountain farming; remote distance learning to teach health care practices and other subjects. The following criteria drove the choice: Project goal related to the promotion of private sector development Replicability and scalability High demonstration effect with the potential to act as catalyst for larger reforms in the telecommunications sector Institutional commitment info@wiart.it 4

5 The project taps into Universal Access funds or facilitates a new mechanism for exploiting universal access funds Non for profit (public or private) executing agency. Main areas of activities in developing the three project concepts were: Design of the partnership arrangements High level network design Estimate of project costs info@wiart.it 5