TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS ASSOCIATION OF KENYA

Transcription

1 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS ASSOCIATION OF KENYA (TESPOK)

2 BACKGROUND TESPOK is a professional, non-profit organization representing the interests of telecommunication service providers in Kenya. Established in September 1999 Started by 5 operators Has since grown to a membership of 38 operators

3 OBJECTIVES: Influence ICT Policy and Regulations by engaging government Address challenges faced by Telecommunications Stakeholders and provide guidance on resolution Provide a forum for exchange of ideas amongst stakeholders Deliver services to members in line with international recognized best practices Lobby through the print, television and radio media on issues affecting its members

4 MISSION An Industry voice in Telecommunications, Providing Policy and Direction within the Industry and Government

5 VISION To be a Telecommunications Showcase in Africa.

6 MEMBERSHIP Membership categories are based on service and include: KIXP Members:- ICT Companies with full voting rights and enjoy the benefits of connectivity to the Kenya Internet Exchange Point Ordinary Members:- ICT Companies with full voting rights but not connected to the Exchange Point Associate members:- Enjoy observer status with no voting rights and are ICT related companies that support the aims and objectives of TESPOK

7 MEMBERSHIP CONT. Membership is corporate based and open to any of the following operators: Internet Service Providers Public Data Network Operators Local Loop Operators Data Carrier Network Operators Mobile Service Operators Business Process Outsourcing Operators Premium Rate Service Providers. IT Consultants

8 GORVERNANCE TESPOK is run by a Board of Directors, made up of representatives from member organizations. The Board of Directors elected annually by members at the annual general meeting. Day to day management is by fulltime secretariat staff led by the Chief Executive Officer Auditors: Kimani and Associates Company Secretary: Africa Registrars The establishment of permanent Board Committees Funding is based on Joining Fee (US$ ) and Subscription (US$65-625) Donors

9 SERVICES Formation of strategic partnerships that will contribute to development of the ICT sector Technical Capacity Building Program for the industry Providing guidance on ICT business opportunities and awareness Developing modalities of addressing issues of professional conduct, standards of service and codes of practice

10 ACHEIVEMENTS Establishment of the Kenya Internet Exchange Point Establishment of Kenyan Internet Domain name under the auspices of KENIC, the national registry for.ke in partnership with the regulator (Communications Commission of Kenya) Market liberalization lobbying activities in data operations, VSAT, VOIP etc. Involvement in National ICT Policy drafting and review 1998 and 2008 Amendments

11 ACHEIVEMENTS CONT. Formation of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, a union of Industry Associations from all sectors of the economy set up to engage the government in policy formulation and implementation Involvement in regional Telecommunication initiatives through membership to the East Africa Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Organization Recognition of the Exchange Point as the 3 rd fastest growing in world in 2008 Recognition by EU as an effective private sector Association in 2008

12 PARTNERSHIPS LINX London Internet Exchange Point European Competitive Telecommunications Association European Telecommunications Service providers Association European ISP Association European SME ICT Association Government Ministry of Information and Communication Communications Commission of Kenya Kenya Private Sector Alliance Kenya ICT Action Network

13 AFFILIATIONS Kenya Network Information Center (KENIC) Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Kenya ICT Network (KICTANET) East Africa Regulators of Postal and Telecommunications Organization (EARPTO) Africa Internet Service Providers Association(AfrISPA)

14 CURRENT INITIATIVES The regional policy harmonization framework Based on ongoing research as summarized by Lishan Adam, PhD ICT Consultant and researcher

15 CURRENT STATE OF ICT IN EAC Kenya - Infrastructure and Linkages, Legal and Regulatory framework, Research and Development, Business Development services, Marketing, Human resources development Uganda awareness, infrastructure development, human capacity development, policy and regulation on competition, content and public information, ICT research and development Burundi - Capacity building, improvement of legal and regulatory environment, infrastructure development, governance, private investment, local content and application development

16 CURRENT STATE OF ICT IN EAC Rwanda - human capacity development, infrastructure building, delivery of equipment and content, social development, private sector development, promotion of national security, law and order, harnessing ICT for education and economic development, e-governance and providing access to communities Tanzania - ICT Leadership, ICT Infrastructure, ICT Industry, Human Capital, Legal and Regulatory Framework, Productive Sectors, Service Sectors, Public Service, Local Content and Universal access.

17 ICT emphasis varies Kenya focuses on the potential for Business Process Outsourcing services Burundi emphasized infrastructure and regulatory capacity development Rwanda focused on public sector connectivity and human capacity Uganda emphasized e-government applications and services Tanzania focus on backbone network development

18 Proposed Vision Enhance universal access to ICTs so as to establish a fully integrated, prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united East Africa.

19 Priority action areas: Drawn from priorities in Partner States Align with national ICT priorities Adhere to the global consensus like WSIS

20 WSIS action lines Enhancing the roles of government and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development Information and communication infrastructure Access to information and knowledge Capacity building Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs Enabling policy and regulatory environment ICT applications for benefits in all aspects of life Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content Media Ethical dimension of the Information Society Promotion of international and regional cooperation

21 Priority areas 1. Broadband Infrastructure development; 2. Securing affordable, universal access to ICTs; 3. Developing human resources; 4. Establishing legal, regulatory and policy frameworks; 5. Promoting cross-sectoral priority programmes and activities: e- government; e-business; e-learning; e-health; etc; 6. Creating entrepreneurships and jobs; 7. Ensuring the security in online environment and addressing policy issues of transactional content 8. Supporting the caucusing and engagement at regional and international levels. 9. Promote ICT leadership 10. ICT for gender, youth and disadvantaged 11. Measuring the progress towards regional policy harmonization 12. Promoting Public and private participation

22 Governance issues Increasing the frequency of meeting of the Council of Ministers Committee Introduction of a standing conference of Permanent Secretaries Establishment of formal working groups in priority areas Enhancing the capacity of the EAC legislative Assembly

23 Building the capacities of the EAC to: Provide analytical functions, Develop medium and long term ICT sector strategies, Convene the meetings of ministers of information and communication technology, Hold annual meeting of Permanent Secretaries, Support the work of various Working Groups, Gather evidence and assess the ICT sector on ongoing basis.

24 Strengthening EARPTO formal relationships with the Council Committee, the Annual General Meeting of Permanent Secretaries, Working Groups and the EAC Secretariat. financial resources

25 National implementation Revise national policies in order to achieve consistency in policy processes and develop policies that reflect the changes in technologies, markets and user expectations; Synchronize the policy review process and exchange information ( by involving other countries in their national policy review and consultation process); and Launch consultation processes to improve the understanding of the challenges to the sector at national levels and feed into regional development agenda.

26 Regional implementation Adopt the regional ICT policy harmonization framework; Organize annual forum on information society exchange to engage in consultation with key stakeholder (civil society, private sector, consumers) at national and regional levels; Develop a binding protocol for the communications sector and identify appropriate enforcement mechanisms; and Hold capacity building workshops on specific policy issues.

27 EAC level implementation Strengthen its ICT unit in order to facilitate the implementation of the policy harmonization framework; Play an active role in design of flagship programmes that provide a platform for collaboration and mobilize resources for their implementation; Gather data and resources on ICTs and provide ongoing analysis and dissemination; Convene the meetings of Ministerial Council Committee and Permanent Secretaries; Facilitate the activities of special working groups on ICT issues; and Enhance the awareness of ICT issues by the Ministries responsible for EAC affairs and the EAC legislative assembly.

28 Current Achievements 1. ICANN March st time ever in East Africa Showcase East Africa Business Opportunities East Africa ICT Skills

29 CONCLUSION The strength of TESPOK as an association rests on its ability to make use of all available resources to be truly representative of the Telecommunications industry as a whole and add value to it s members.

30 Thank you! 14th Floor, Bruce House Standard Street P.O Box NAIROBI Contact: Fiona Asonga