ICTs for Development

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ICTs for Development

• Yoshio Utsumi
• ex-Secretary General
• International Telecommunication Union

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Personal Profile

• Born in 1942
• Academic Background
• Univ. of Tokyo LLB
• Univ. of Chicago MA Political Science
• Worked for Japanese Gov. Mostly engaged in
  telecommunication policy and regulation
• Postmaster General
• Deputy Minister of Ministry of Posts Telecom
• Secretary General of ITU (1999-2006)
• President of JTEC (at present)

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ITU

• A United Nations specialized agency
• The oldest international organization established
  in 1865
• Allocate global radio spectrum and satellite
  orbits
• Develop the technical standards that ensure
  networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect
  
• Strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved
  communities worldwide

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1856 International Telegraph Convention
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History of ITU

• 1856 International Telegraph Convention
• 1906 International Radiotelegraph Convention
• 1932 International Telecommunication Union
• 1947 a Specialized Agency of UN
• 1999-2006 Secretary General /Yoshio Utsumi

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UN Specialized Agencies

• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 1945
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
  1947
• International Fund for Agricultural Development
  (IFAD) 1977
• International Labour Organization (ILO) 1917
• International Maritime Organization (IMO) 1948
• International Monetary Fund (IMF) 1946
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 1865
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and
  Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 1946
• United Nations Industrial Development
  Organization (UNIDO) 1967
• Universal Postal Union (UPU) 1874
• World Bank Group 1946
• International Bank for Reconstruction and
  Development (IBRD)
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• International Development Association (IDA)
• World Health Organization (WHO) 1948
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  1892
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 1873
• World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 1925

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What I was involved in

• In Japan
• Liberalization of Telecommunication Market
• Introduction of competition
• Privatization of NTT public corporation
• Promotion of ICTs
• Creation of tax incentives
• Creation of low interest rate public loans
• Creation of local ICT projects
• Creation of a research institution (ATR), etc

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What I was involved in

• In the World
• Agreement of WTO basic telecom negotiation
• Agreement of 3G
• Advancement of IP Telephony
• Agreement of Digitalization of TV by 2015
• Organization of WSIS
• Commitment by the world leaders for the
  Information Society
• Internationalization and democratization of the
  management of Internet

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Why WSIS?

• ICTs are
• Prerequisites for the modern life
• Means to leapfrog the development process
• Means for self-help development
• Of no need of big investments
• Eco friendly

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WSIS Objectives

• Enlightenment
• Draw attention of the world top leaders
• Commitments by the world leaders
• Multi-stakeholders approach
• Stock-taking

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WSISWorld Summit on the Information society
Thematic Meeting
Tunis Summit
Thematic Meeting
Thematic Meeting
Regional Meeting
Prep-com
Geneva Summit
Regional Meeting
Prep-com
Prep-com
Prep-com
Prep-com
Prep-com
Prep-com
Prep-com
Prep-com
Regional Meeting
Regional Meeting
Regional Meeting
Regional Meeting
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WSIS Geneva
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What I have witnessed

• Development of cell phones only in urban areas
• Widely established policies are easily chosen
  without taking into consideration of the
  specificity of a community.
• Interests of the people are ranked lower.
• The best policies for the people are rarely
  taken.

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Policies of WB for Telecom

• Liberalization of telecom is the best, and only
  way for the development of telephone in
  developing countries.
• WB urges developing countries to follow the
  policy.
• Not the best result, however, highly appreciated

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Failures of Africa

• Urged competition in urban areas
• ? Poor services for rural areas
• ? No development of local industry
• Urged regulation by an independent commission
• ? A commission for everything
• ? No expertise

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Cases of Latin America

• Experienced policy makers
• Good examples of neighboring countries
• ? Moderate introduction of competition
• ? Creation of universal service fund

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Expected Objectives

• Early penetration of telecommunications
• By liberalization of market
• By foreign capital
• Low tariff
• By competition
• By regulation
• Development of telecom in rural areas
• By universal fund
• Development of local related industries
• By controlling of foreign capitals
• By incentives, education, etc.

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Reasons for Japans Telecom Liberalization

• Finished the construction of the network
• To support the restructuring of corrupted
  National Railway
• Abuses of the monopoly, NTT
• For the utilization of computers
• For new comers
• For lower tariffs
• For the varieties of services

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Reasons for wrong policies

• Interests of big states and global enterprises
• ? Laissez-faire and free competition
• Lack of knowledge and expertise
• ? Use of consultants
• Personal interests
• ? Follow visible and invisible big powers

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Lessons

• Learn experiences of other countries
• Not follow the advice of consultants
• Not easily follow the advice of WB
• Enlighten decision makers, get followers

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Advice for High Gov. Officials

• Power is only the beginning.
• No good causes, no good works.
• A man alone can do nothing.
• Ask yourself, Which is the best for the people?
  
• Your life is only once.

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Thank you very much
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