Transcript Internet specific policy issues

Internet Policy
Day 3 - Workshop Session No. 6
Internet specific policy issues
Prepared for CTO by Link Centre, Witwatersrand
University, South Africa
Sessions Summary
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Day 1
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Interconnection, IXPs and voice over IP
Governance and domain names
Session 5
Session 6
The impact of telecommunications regulation
Internet specific policy issues
Day 4
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Session 3
Session 4
Day 3
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History and technical background
Market structure
Day 2
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Session 1
Session 2
Session 7
Session 8
Content on the Internet
E-commerce issues
Day 5
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Session 9
Session 10
Internet tools for regulators
Conclusion, review and evaluation
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Topics of discussion
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How costs of infrastructure and access are determined
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Review of issues so far...
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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?
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
International bandwidth costs
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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
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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.
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
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.
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CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
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.
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CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Local loop/end-user bandwidth costs
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Optimising the network
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Impact of the Internet on PSTN
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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
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Solutions
– Local exchange interconnection
– Reducing dependence on fixed line telephone access for Internet
use -- encourage other access technologies
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Use of VoIP
From data over voice towards voice over data
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Convergence
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Examples
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Rural areas
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Problems specific to remote locations
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Rural areas
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Rural areas
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Telecentres
– Centres which provide communities with access to Information and
Communications Technologies (ICTs) go by a number of names:
– for example:
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Rural areas
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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
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Case Study: Gasaleka, South Africa
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Case Study: Gasaleka, South Africa
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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
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The Telecentre has very close links with the community.
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Case Study: Gasaleka, South Africa
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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
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Case Study: Peru
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Peruvian Scientific Network (RCP) has established telecentres to
provide access to computers and the Internet
Franchise model
– ‘Mother Infocentres’
– Telecentre franchises
– ‘Monocabinas
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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.
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Case Study: TARAhaat.com
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Case Study: TARAhaat.com
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Case Study: TARAhaat.com
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Success / Failure of Telecentres
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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
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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
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
From infrastructure to infostructure
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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:
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Community newsletters
Community directory
Government information
Tv services, distance education
Post office, welfare paypoint, development bank, clinic
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Internet access for people with disabilities
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What can be done?
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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
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Provide guidelines, legislation or framework
Research requirements of disadvantaged groups
Suggest compatibility
Enforce guidelines
Welcome feedback
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Example legislation: USA
USA: Section 508
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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):
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websites
telecommunications
software
hardware
printers
fax machines
copiers
information kiosks
"Undue Burden" means a significant difficulty or expense
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002
Summary
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Costs
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International
Regional
National
Local loop/end-user
Optimising the network
Impact of the Internet on the PSTN
Convergence
Internet access in rural areas
Disabilities
CTO / DFID Internet Policy workshop, Jamaica, 22-26 April 2002