Broadband Internet infrastructure and international connectivity: status and future plan
Manohar K Bhattarai Snr Advisor, Computer Association of Nepal
1 [email protected] Presentation Summary
Nepal's ICT scenario Regional connectivity Issues and conclusion Vital Stats:
Around 15 000. sq. km. in size (15 %snow-cover, 68 % mountain, and 17 % plain ) Popln 27.47 million Nepal's ICT scenario
.. Ever increasing telecom penetration..
- 92.68 %, Predominantly mobile, only 3.19 fixed - Internet penetration: 33.15%, predominantly wireless-
(GPRS,EDGE,WCDMA CDMA 1X, EVDO , 4G WiMAX IEEE 802.16e 18 hotspots)
- Adoption of wireless broadband on the rise - Mobile predominantly a device of choice>> fostering innovation, creating value.. Nepal's ICT scenario...
Increasing level of eReadiness › Telecom penetration >> mobile 3G › Enhanced pace of ICT uptake across agencies • eGovernment initiative underway • Cloud computing/ shared infrastructure • Increasing volume of local content Current Status (Policy, legal and regulatory framework)
IT Policy Electronic Transaction Act Nepal Telecom Act and Regulations Some key milestones.... Wireless broadband masterplan rolled out
– economic and social importance of broadband and its role in improving productivity and providing information and services;
– structure of the telecommunications market and the current regulatory framework;
– broadband access targets and future spectrum requirements;
– examining the case for regulatory change including amendments to the Radio Act 1957 as well as the current applicable licencing regime; and
– key technologies, including GSM, W-CDMA, WiMAX, satellite and LTE.
– All districts to be covered by FO backbone by 2015 Challenges remain....
Broadband penetration
– International connectivity – room for improvement (25+Gbps)
– Affordability and availability >> high IP transit costs (45-50 US$/Mbits), 17.8% of GNI/P (cf 1.7% monthly income in developed nations) for basic, entry level fixed BB conn
– Regulatory issues
• Unified licensing
• Overall investment climate
• Spectrum management
– eg. Sound spectrum management policy and planning, including road maps for transition from analog to digital broadcasting
Geographical determinism
• Landlocked country Initiatives in the area of regional connectivity... The broader SASEC IH framework
I ) a SASEC regional network with fiber- optic and data interchange capacity, directly connecting the four SASEC countries;
II) a SASEC village network expanding broadband ICT access to 110 rural communities in the SASEC countries; and
III) a SASEC research and training network to build technical and business skills in developing local ICT content and e- applications Issues/Conclusion
Need to improve international connectivity and secure
– Supply side policy measures to accelerate BB deployment
– legal and regulatory reforms that establish an effective interconnection/open access regime
– lowered International transit costs, enhanced
redundancy
Gearing broadband towards policy outcomes
– Content and services aligned with development imperatives
– Promote innovation – cloud and mobile computing space Issues/Conclusion
Promote open access regime: fixed and mob acc n/w, backbone and backhaul n/w, undersea cable and IXPs
– Foster facilties based competition and
infra sharing
Promote infrastructural synergies and expand frontier of commercial viability
Need to strengthen regional connectivity and integration
– Expedite SASEC initiative
Enhnace readiness to be an effective partner in Asian Info Highway Initiative
Promote PPP >> best practices... Thank you
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