Internet Governance Impact over BB access for all

1
Internet GovernanceImpact over BB access for all

• Ibaa Oueichek
• Syrian Telecom Est.
• Min. of Communications and Technology

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What is IG ?

• The Term Internet Governance (IG) is not easily
  defined.
• A safe definition a la WGIG is
• Internet governance is the development and
  application by Governments, the private sector
  and civil society, in their respective roles, of
  shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making
  procedures, and programs that shape the evolution
  and use of the Internet.
• IGF is a forum which was set to talk about IG
  after the WSIS (should we say failure of IG
  efforts in WSIS known as WGIG?).

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Motivation

• Internet today IS broadband
• Most interesting applications need broadband
• Is it a coincidence that countries who have high
  penetration of BB enjoy high economic growth ?
• National policies DO have a major role to play
• GOAL Deployment of large scale BB Internet
  AND transforming this into a social and
  economic development tool.
• Question Could this be reached ONLY through
  technological means ?
• First response No !!
• ?? ???? ??? ??????? gt ?? ???? ??? ??????? !!

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Provocation

• Several issues related to BB development
  Technology, business model, national policy,
  applications, PRICE, etc.
• Even in advanced countries, national policies
  plays a major role in developing BB access
• BUT, what about developing countries (US) ?
• Even if we have the best technology, best
  business model , and best national policy, this
  may not be enough to make the breakthrough
• Global IG issues, if unsolved, will remain a
  major obstacle into limiting bb access in
  developing countries.

5
IG vacuum

• Some areas in the Internet are over governed.
  Mainly those which are under ICANN responsibility
• Internet Domains Impossible to create a new
  domain w/o ICANN agreement.
• IP addresses IPv4 _at_ are getting more and more
  scarce. ICANN/IANA/RIR (Go figure !!) are
  enforcing more and more restrictive measures for
  IP allocation.
• Main problem ICANN is private sector led,
  governments have only advisory role (GAC).

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IG Crisis

• Some areas are not covered by ANY governance
• Content No way to block inappropriate content
  (NOT only related to cultural values, grey market
  VOIP could be considered as undesirable content,
  skype is simply SCARY and cannot even be blocked
  !!).
• Security No real consensus on cyber crime
  definition and how to fight against it. Example
  currently there is no efficient way to block DDOS
  attacks, even US CERT suffered !!
• Some people see this is good for Internet to stay
  w/o governance.
• They are simply WRONG !!

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Access

• High cost for Internet Infrastructure
• Mainly due by the long distance of cables to
  hook to the Internet.
• But also by high Internet feed cost (we pay to
  connect with them, and they use the net to send
  us content we cannot control grey market VOIP,
  SPAM, etc).
• A new form of embargo from new world order
  restricting Internet access to countries which
  they dont like !!

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Components of solution

• Make the case clear in forums, ask for
  preferential prices for Internet connectivity
  (after all, developed countries need also to
  expand the Internet).
• Encourage local hosting of content. Needs real
  efforts in terms of reliability, performance, and
  price (local IXP). National policies and
  initiatives are to be encouraged.
• Build huge pipes to the Internet to negotiate
  better prices (e.g Regional NAPs in the Arab
  world).
• Try to enforce better accounting rules where cost
  is shared by both sides of the connection.
• Encourage peering between Arab countries and
  friends.

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Multilingualism

• The possibility to use the Internet in the native
  language of the user.
• The Internet IS changing, no more an overwhelming
  majority of English speakers.
• South Asian countries are leading the trend.
• Two issues here
• Content
• Internationalized domain names (IDN)
• What is the use of a wonderful website if the
  user cannot type the URL easily ?

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Multilingualism
Source http//www.internetworldstats.com/ 2nd Q
2008
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IDN

• Several years of battle, finally ICANN approved
  plans for IDN.
• Two types of IDN fast track for ccTLD, and
  full fledged procedure for gTLD IDNs.
• Problem and concerns (will be sent to ICANN
  during public comments period)
• The gTLD process is open competition, too open !!
• Published process doesnt give rights to
  governments to object.
• Definition of community is vague.
• IDN is not tested enough to be deployed in gTLD
  several problems identified within Arabic script
  (NOT language !!).
• Fast track success is threatened by IDN gTLDs.
• We talk about IDN but the whole process docs are
  in English
• Public comments period is too short (45 days !!).

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Recommendation on Domains

• Regarding new TLDs, including IDN
• Use the current public period comments to ask
  ICANN for a clear right of governments to claim
  domains which represent national symbols (such as
  .arab, .????).
• Go for it, make a request and let us have this
  domain. Ongoing effort, led by the LAS.
• Work for a standard version of Arabic characters
  which could be SAFELY used to register domains.
  Ongoing effort, IETF information document,
  hopefully ITU standard, more to come !!

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Critical resources

• IPv4 _at_ space is almost depleted
• Emerging countries facing enormous difficulties
  obtaining new _at_
• Routing tables are getting HUGE !! Mainly due to
  legacy distribution of _at_
• Process will get even more difficult with the
  last /8 being put under strict rationing
• Worse rumors that some entities which have a
  lot of IP addresses plan on auctioning them !!

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Recommendation on addresses

• Accelerate migration to IPv6, unfortunately there
  is no real Arab initiative in this side.
• Lobby for a higher share of IPv4 _at_, dare we say
  ask for ArabNIC, esp. important for Asian Arab
  countries.
• Lobby against auctioning current IPv4 _at_ by those
  who own them !!
• Lobby for a faire share of IPv6 _at_ (there no such
  thing as infinite) !!
• Support other developing countries in their claim
  for a better share of resources.

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Conclusion

• No doubt that large development of BB Internet is
  one of the major targets of any country.
• IG issues should be addressed and not neglected
  because they impact seriously this development
• Arab countries are trying to have a unified
  position heading to Cairo IGF in 2009. Building
  a common position in front of (not against)
  ICANN. Working with other International
  organizations (ITU).

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Thank you