Is Liberalisation the Answer

1
Is Liberalisation the Answer?

• Yes?
• No?
• Maybe?
• If?

2
Liberalisation Defined

• Trade liberalisation
• The process of systematically reducing and
  eventually eliminating all tariff and non-tariff
  barriers between countries as trading partners.
• Telecommunications liberalisation
• The process of systematically reducing and
  eventually eliminating all tariff and non-tariff
  barriers across the communications sector

Getting Government out of business ?
3
Yes, liberalisation is the answer
A Phased Approach to Liberalisation
4
Yes, liberalisation is the answer

• Technology is developing exponentially (Moore's
  Law)
• Africans' needs and demands for greater, better,
  faster services have increased
• Legacy, monopoly systems are not scalable to meet
  demands
• Need for modern, scalable, future-proof
  infrastructure/services
• Liberalised market has the potential to move fast
  enough to meet demand

5
No, Liberalisation is not the answer

• If not handled right, liberalisation can lead to
  bigger, badder problems

6
No, liberalisation is not the answer
Share of backbone connections to countries with
less than 5 ISPs Source OECD via Netcraft
7
Maybe liberalisation is the answer

• When the process is undertaken as a result of
  consultation between government, consumers, and
  the private sector
• When national resources are protected, instead of
  permitted to become a hole through which vital
  capital leaks to other nations
• When emphasis is placed on the development of
  in-country capacity e.g. Technology transfer
  components on International tenders

8
Liberalisation is the answer if

• Continuous review of goals/objectives with
  adjustments according to changes in the
  marketplace
• Neighboring countries harmonise policy on a
  regional/continental basis
• Weight and incidence of regulation is adjusted
  according to the stage of liberalisation

9
Thank You

• Brian Longwe
• Sp. Manager, AFRISPA
• brian_at_pch.net