In-Depth National Study on ICT Infrastructure Co-Deployment with Road Transport and Electricity Infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan
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In-depth national study on ICT infrastructure co-deployment with road transport and electricity infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan In-depth national study on ICT infrastructure co-deployment with road transport and electricity infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan September 2019 In-depth national study on ICT infrastructure co-deployment with road transport and electricity infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) serves as the United Nations’ regional hub promoting cooperation among countries to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. The largest regional intergovernmental platform with 53 Member States and 9 associate members, ESCAP has emerged as a strong regional think-tank offering countries sound analytical products that shed insight into the evolving economic, social and environmental dynamics of the region. The Commission’s strategic focus is to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which it does by reinforcing and deepening regional cooperation and integration to advance connectivity, financial cooperation and market integration. ESCAP’s research and analysis coupled with its policy advisory services, capacity building and technical assistance to governments aims to support countries’ sustainable and inclusive development ambitions. The shaded areas of the map indicate ESCAP members and associate members. Disclaimer: The Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS) Working Papers provide policy-relevant analysis on regional trends and challenges in support of the development of the AP-IS and inclusive development. The findings should not be reported as representing the views of the United Nations. The views expressed herein are those of the authors. This working paper has been issued without formal editing, and the designations employed and material presented do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Correspondence concerning this working paper should be addressed to the email: [email protected]. Contact: Information and Communications Technology and Development Section Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific United Nations Building RajadamnernNok Avenue Bangkok 10200, Thailand Email: [email protected] 2 In-depth national study on ICT infrastructure co-deployment with road transport and electricity infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan Acknowledgements This Report was prepared by Dr Vadym Kaptur, Vice-Rector on Scientific Work of A.S. Popov Odessa National Academy of Telecommunications (ONAT), Ukraine. The Document was developed with the assistance of the following scientific and technical consultants from A.S. Popov ONAT: Dr Olena Kniazieva, Dr Volodymir Baliar, Ms Iryna Tymchenko, Ms Elena Mazurkiewicz, Ms Lubov Terletska, Ms Maryna Demianchuk and Ms Bohdana Yamniuk. Substantive comments were provided by Mr Channarith Meng, Ms Elena Dyakonova and Mr Bekhzod Rakhmatov from UN ESCAP, by Mr Almaz Tilenbaev from Kyrgyzstan and by Dr. Doug Hall, PCVL, of the United State Peace Corps. September 2019 3 In-depth national study on ICT infrastructure co-deployment with road transport and electricity infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan Executive Summary Telecommunications of Kyrgyzstan are at the stage of development and formation of a market for modern telecommunication services. The country has formed the conceptual legislative framework for the development of the telecommunications sector and digital technologies. The telecommunications market of Kyrgyzstan is gradually developing competition in all segments. The number of Internet and mobile users is constantly increasing with a decrease in fixed-line telephony traffic. The Internet penetration in the country is quite low and is characterized by significant unevenness in the regions. In the world ratings of telecommunications development, Kyrgyzstan does not occupy the best positions. The average cost of telecommunication services is lower than the average for the Central Asia region, but quite high relative to the standard of living and quality of services. The main FOCLs are located, in most cases, along the main transport corridors. The main market trends: the growth of Internet services; reduction of traditional television and radio broadcasting; significant decrease in demand for fixed international and long-distance services; growth in the volume of cellular services; fierce competition between telecom operators and the resulting “price war”. The peculiarities of the geographical position, as well as the historical past of the country, when Kyrgyzstan was part of the Soviet Union as one of the Republics, dictate the features of the development of the country's transport infrastructure. The dominant position of road traffic reinforce the economic value of the road infrastructure development. However, there are still lack of quality road maintenance and often road paving is insufficient. The railway network of Kyrgyzstan is being left far behind over road infrastructure and demonstrates the infrastructure facilities regression. The only operator of the railways is the government company “Kyrgyz Railways”. The electrical power market of Kyrgyzstan uses predominantly clear energy and has huge potential to develop international transit energy market. Despite, large hydro resources and electrical market positive potential, electrical grid infrastructure achieve small improvements. Strategic development of hydroelectric power of Kyrgyzstan may receive a stronger international focus and it may be good to provide co-deployment framework for the potential investment projects. Due to the mountain geography of Kyrgyzstan, gas transportation infrastructure is represented only on a several areas and is poor indeed. Kyrgyzstan does not have the developed oil pipeline system. Kyrgyzstan has completely no experience in ICT infrastructure co-deployment with the new road transport or electricity infrastructure. Existing international and internal road routes became a platform for the FOCL network development. The main obstacles, which affect the ICT infrastructure co-deployment is the absence of transparent regulatory mechanisms and the lack strategical understanding of the benefits of such co-deployment. There is no known plans of governmental, and private related companies to implement ICT co-deployment. Despite the lack of strategic interest in co-deployment, Kyrgyzstan has conceptual framework, which could clarify understanding and lay the foundation of ICT co- deployment. 4 In-depth national study on ICT infrastructure co-deployment with road transport and electricity infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan There is no information from available investment railway projects relatively perspective ICT co- deployment with future railway lines. In the electrical grid area, there are significant lack of regulatory support and implementation mechanisms that allow performing ICT co-deployment with telecom operators in full. There is no information from available resources about possible ICT co-deployment projects with the electrical grid infrastructure. There is no past or future ICT co-deployment projects with gas transportation system due to the extremely poor development of the last one. The main state bodies of Kyrgyzstan, which are responsible for state policy in the areas of ICT, transport and electricity, are: – The State Committee for Information Technologies and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic is responsible for coordination in the field of informatization, electric communications. – The Ministry of Transport and Roads of the Kyrgyz Republic implements state policy in the field of automobile, railway, electric and transport infrastructure; – The State Committee for Industry, Energy and Subsoil Use of the Kyrgyz Republic is the central executive body for energy complex. In the process of analyzing the activities of the Kyrgyzstan’s regulatory authorities in the areas of ICT, transport and electricity, it was revealed that no one is directly responsible for the ICT infrastructure co-deployment with road transport and electricity infrastructure, but no obstacles were identified. Permission for ICT infrastructure co-deployment and sharing with road transport and electricity infrastructure is described by legislation of many countries. The legislative framework of Kyrgyzstan does not contain provisions that would regulate the activities of the ICT infrastructure co-deployment and sharing with other infrastructure networks of the country. The conditions of placement, use and access to telecommunications are described in the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On Electric and Postal Communication”. Telecommunication operators and service providers can build, install and operate pillars, lines and other structures on the ground, in buildings, on bridges, pipelines, on roads, in sewers, railway tunnels and other places, having previously sent a notification and, if necessary, by entering into an agreement with the owners or other persons having rights to such land. Operators of public telecommunication networks are obliged to provide other telecommunication operators, cable television system operators and other media services with access to cable ducts, collectors, pillars and other facilities where it is technically possible.