Diversifying Participation in Network Development

The WDR research and dialogue theme for 2004/05, Diversifying Participation in Network Development, was selected to build on and expand the focus of 2003's theme on Stimulating Investment in Network Development. It is becoming increasingly evident that the infrastructure for internet and e-economy services networks will have to be developed with a diverse array of investors and service providers if universal access to the Internet and multimedia services is to be seriously pursued. Yet, there are significant barriers and investment risks associated with each of the diversified possibilities for participation, not the least of which are increasing interdependence with network elements provided by other entities, dependence on effective regulation of interconnection, shortages of essential skills (human capital), and other matters. The range of possible sources of investment for network development, the opportunities they provide and the barriers they must overcome, have not been comprehensively documented or systematically examined. The WDR research and dialogue for 2004-05 will do that. >>more>>

WDR Expert Forum in Sri Lanka in September

An expert forum on the 2003-04 World Dialogue on Regulation (WDR) theme Stimulating investment in network development: Roles for regulators will be held in Sri Lanka 17-19 September 2004. The Asian Expert Forum follows a highly successful African Forum held in Cairo in May 2004. Over 35 participants from 20 countries are invited, in addition to more than 30 local participants. The meeting is being made possible by the generous support of IDRC Canada. If you are interested in participating, please contact Sabina Fernando prasaby@ sltnet.lk as soon as possible.

New WDR Centre: LIRNEasia to be launched September 17

The LIRNE.NET and WDR networks are expanding to Asia with the official launch of LIRNEasia on September 17, during the WDR expert forum in Sri Lanka. LIRNEasia, an Asian Regional ICT policy and regulatory capacity building initiative, will serve as the operational arm of LIRNE.NET in Asia, undertaking - among other things - an extensive research and dissemination program that will contribute to the 2004-05 WDR theme Diversifying participation in network development. LIRNE.NET is a collaboration among leading universities in Denmark, the Netherlands, South Africa and the United Kingdom and the managing body for the World Dialogue on Regulation.

A LIRNEasia planning session will take place in Sri Lanka on 19 September. International and local participants will respond to a draft work plan and contribute their ideas on how best we can build a regionally anchored, ICT enabled virtual organization and on program priorities for 2004-05 and beyond. LIRNEasia and the planning meeting are made possible with support from IDRC Canada and the World Bank's infoDev programme. >>more>>

Participating in the World Dialogue on Regulation

WDR and LIRNE.NET are expanding into developing regions. How will this affect the research and other activities? How will centres and individuals who are not part of the WDR and LIRNE.NET collaboration participate?

In his answer, William Melody, Managing Director of WDR & LIRNE.NET, recalls that the network began with European universities but has now an established presence in South Africa, a centre to be launched in Asia in September, and is working to establish a direct and permanent link to Latin America. He also notes that "the growth of both LIRNE.NET and WDR has followed the growth in interest and capabilities of the centres that have joined." Rather than limit possibilities for participation, this interest-driven growth makes the network open to new centres and new individuals. "The best place to start is with the WDR Dialogue, which can then lead to whatever level of participation individual people wish to take up. A new WDR website, to be launched in September, will offer more information and more opportunities for interested individuals and centres to get involved. We are doing our best to keep the barriers to participation minimized." >>Read the full text>>

IDRC Supports WDR and LIRNE.NET expansion

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, has become increasingly involved in supporting LIRNE.NET and WDR activities.

Among their many activities supporting ICT development and applications in Africa in recent years have been projects at the LINK Centre, Wits University, Johannesburg. This year IDRC is playing a significant role in helping to establish LIRNEasia in Sri Lanka by sponsoring a WDR Expert Forum, planning workshop and Centre launch, 17-19 September 2004. In addition, IDRC is engaging in discussions with other donors about additional support for essential research and training program support for our developing country centres and their regional networks. >>more>>

infoDev renews WDR support

WDR was initiated by infoDev with a 3 year grant, which terminated in June 2004. It has been one of infoDev's Flagship projects. With infoDev now under the leadership of Mostafa Terrab, the programme has been under review in light of a more focused vision on integrating and synthesizing practical information delivered in timely fashion to ICT policymakers, regulators and those involved with applications and implementation.

As part of this new mission, WDR support has been renewed for another three years, and a closer working relationship between WDR and infoDev has been initiated. >>more>>

RIA! developing E-usage Index for Africa

Research ICT Africa! (RIA!), a collaborative network of 12 African research institutions coordinated by WDR's African partner, the LINK Centre has embarked on an ambitious project to understand demand and access strategies of consumers for fixed, mobile and Internet services in various developing country contexts. For this project RIA! is developing an E-usage Index that will cover Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia,Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique Nambia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. >>more>>

Books...

How to Build Open Information Societies: A collection of best practices and know-how - edited by LIRNE.NET researcher Amy Mahan & Yuri Misnikov. UNDP 2004.

This book presents a collection of knowledge-based best practices accumulated by UNDP in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Its main purpose is to identify and share UNDP’s know-how in this rapidly emerging area, by showing how ICT can promote socio-economic development and good governance.

Case studies and examples from 19 countries illustrate different e-governance programmes and applications – from a diverse range of initiatives including support for policy formulation, customs reform, youth sexual education, rural deployment of ICTs and training, country database building, and others.

The book is divided into country sections, each begining with an ICTD country profile, summarizing basic country indicators, ICTD partners and current and planned e-governance activities. Chapters conclude with a list of lessons learned, important for strategising new initiatives.

The book is available from UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre and will soon be posted online for download.

Regulatory News

Uganda: Operators raise funds for rural communications project

16 August 2004 – According to a report from the Xinhua News Agency, MTN, UTL and CELTEL have contributed 3.3 billion shillings (US$ 1.9 million) to the Uganda Communications Commission's (UCC) Rural Communications Development Fund (RCDF). >>more>>

Indonesia: Government to resume rural phone development

According to a report from the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies, the Indonesian government will roll-out a rural telecommunications service using funds from the universal service obligation (USO) scheme beginning this August, an official said here Tuesday. >>more>>

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The WDR
Keep informed of changes and additions to the site via the WDR e-Brief, a monthly bulletin with news and highlights from WDR and the regulatory community. To subscribe, send an email message to ebrief@regulateonline.org or type your email address in the form below. You can also read the e-Brief archives.

What's new?

WDR e-Brief Vol 3, #3 was distributed Thursday 19 August. For all the latest news about WDR and LIRNE.NET, subscribe to receive the e-Brief by email. You can also read the archives online. To subscribe, send an email to ebrief@regulateonline.org with wdr e-brief list as the subject line

Robin Mansell elected as IAMCR Presidency
Professor Robin Mansell, who heads up WDR's programme at the London School of Economics, is the new President of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR). She took office at the end of the IAMCR Conference in July in Porto Alegre, Brazil and will serve for four years. >>more>>

New LIRNE.NET website

The LIRNE.NET website has been redesigned. The new site offers easier access to LIRNE.NET resources and information and more news about the research and training activities of LIRNE.NET partners. >>Visit site>>

Seminar & conference at CICT

The Center for Information and Communication Technologies (CICT), a WDR partner, is organising a public seminar on digital radio. DAB Day: Visions of digital terrestrial radio and data transmission will be held on 2 September at the Technical University of Denmark. In November CICT will host a conference on VoIP: Potentials and Challenges; Drivers and Barriers.

TU Delft Economics of Infrastructures 7th Annual conference: 27-28 May 2004

The theme of this year's conference was Network Modernization: The impact of telecom and energy reform on investments and innovation in networks. Many of the conference papers are available for download from the conference website.

The World Dialogue on Regulation facilitates the transformation of regulation to provide a foundation of support and a catalyst for development of network economies in both developing and developed countries. This requires research, dialogue, discussions among experts, and distribution of papers, reports and other relevant information. This website is the centerpiece of the international dialogue. We welcome your contributions. >>more>>

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