Page 7 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

FEATURED SAMENA TRENDS

towards the SDGs. Some countries have successfully implemented a number of policy reforms echoed by the Broadband Commission.
However, opportunity remains for countries, including in the SA-ME-NA region to further their efforts to improve the broadband
ecosystem in their countries by continuing to adopt more of the recommendations put forth by the Commission, with a focus on
implementation.

The following Policy Recommendations are the range of unique messaging adapted from the contribution from Commissioner Bocar
BA in his proposed advocacy plan for the Broadband Commission.

1. Implement new approaches and digital opportunities 22. Support efforts to provide broadband
frameworks for spectrum allocation 12. Consider and, if appropriate, connectivity to refugees and
and licensing apply open access approaches to displaced individuals
2. Use of universal service funds to infrastructure 23. Include in broadband plans efforts
develop broadband 13. Undertake public consultations on on digital inclusion, measures to
3. Update ICT regulations to promote policy and regulation protect children online, a focus on
more investment and market 14. Incentivize and accelerate broadband limiting environmental impacts
approaches for sustainability investment and addressing climate, and public
4. Merge regulation and convergent 15. Foster digital innovation by access initiatives
services preserving intellectual property (IP) 24. Expand initiatives to map network
5. Lower taxations and duties rights coverage and infrastructure needs, to
6. Make broadband affordable by 16. Improve IoT and Smart City policy develop priority lists for investment
adopting appropriate policy and frameworks 25. Integrate gender in national
regulation 17. Incentivize PPP broadband plans and strategies
7. Foster locally relevant content 18. Promote advanced market commit- and undertake action plans to
creation and local hosting ments for rural broadband access advance gender equality in access to
8. Promote free flow of data 19. Identify champions or leaders in broadband
9. Implement e-government initiatives broadband to mobilize political and 26. Boost affordability and usability of
broadband-enabled products and
10. Monitor and collect reliable ICT data technology support services, with a focus on addressing
11. Build human digital capacity and 20. Improve right-of-way regulations barriers faced by those at risk of
skills to help users, SMEs and public 21. Encourage e-business and being left behind
sector agencies make the most of entrepreneurship

While 174 countries now have a national Ensuring that national broadband universal service funds, direct government
broadband plan, more work must be done plans are designed to increase network subsidies and grants, government equity
to monitor and evaluate the current state availability, affordability, safety and and debts to public-private partnerships. It
of implementation of these national plans. broadband adoption requires plans that will also be essential to look into the next
In some cases, even after publishing and are multifaceted, incorporating many, century financing and funding models for
endorsing a national plan, government if not all, of the recommendations that infrastructure development, and also to
transitions and competing priorities lead the Commission has been advocating. look into Artificial Intelligence as a catalyst
to situations where national plans are To implement the above Policy for broadband development, particularly in
no longer effectively being implemented Recommendations, countries will need to the provision of healthcare solutions.
and/or targets need to be revised in order adopt various approaches to funding these
to have impact on broadband adoption. plans ranging from dedicated funds, to

View Report:
https://www.samenacouncil.org/broadband-decade-of-action

7 SEP-OCT 2020