Regulatory Environment in Pacific countries Muhammad Aslam Hayat Director PIRRC PIRRC – An Introduction • PIRRC is an ICT Resource Centre for the Pacific • It is established to: • encourage sharing of information and industry data, • provide direct assistance to ICT policymakers and regulators • collaborate with NRA, policymakers, regional institutions • Funded by World Bank & ADB and housed in USP • Only ICT regulatory organization with 100% focus on Pacific Steering Committee of PIRRC • Tepu • Elizabeth • Charles • Criden Appi • Donnie • Alan Horne • Kazuyuki Hunter Powell Punaha Defreitas Tsuzuki Cook FIJI PNG Nauru Samoa Vanuatu USP Island All Pacific Island countries & territories are eligible to draw upon resources of PIRRC Pacific is a challenging region Level of Various levels of competition varies Availability of regulatory from monopolies indicators maturity exist to full competition Numbering plans QoS parameters Spectrum are still being especially management developed in most broadband are in expertise PICs infancy Competition & Universal Access Limited content schemes are being international regulations need considered connectivity to be worked on PIRRC is working on overcoming these challenges by assisting Population is yet another challenge Small states Cook Islands Kiribati Marshall Islands Nauru Niue Palau Tuvalu 17,791 99,546 54,038 10,255 1,647 20,472 9,827 Larger states Solomon Fiji FSM PNG Samoa Tonga Vanuatu Islands 860,623 111,064 6,858,266 183,081 538,148 101,991 239,651 Sources: National statistic bodies, ITU, PIRRC, World Bank Monopolies Vs Competition Monopolies Competition • Cook Islands • Fiji • FSM • Nauru* • Kiribati • Palau** • Niue • PNG • RMI • Samoa • Tuvalu • Solomon Islands • Tonga • Vanuatu * Nauru has Rontel (fixed) & Digicel (mobile) ** No interconnection between PNCC & Palau Mobile Separate Regulator No separate regulator Separate regulator • Cook Islands • Fiji • FSM • Kiribati • Nauru • PNG • Niue • Samoa • Palau • Solomon Islands • RMI • Vanuatu • Tonga* • Tuvalu * Tonga is working on creating a separate regulator Divergence in licensing • Broadcasting License • Network License • Telecommunications • GSM License • Application License services license • ISP License • Content License • Radio spectrum • IGW License license • Calling Card License Service specific Converged Unified licenses licensing licensing PIRRC is working on harmonization of regulations across region based on best practices ICT penetration as of Dec 2010 140% Competition made a positive impact on growth of mobile 119% 120% 100% 91% 84% 80% 71% 68% Fixed Telephony 65% 60% 59% Mobile Phone 60% Internet 51% 40% 36% 34% 35% 35% 32% 27% 25% 22% 19% 20% 15% 15% 11% 11% 9% 8% 7% 8% 7% 6% 6.1% 4% 4.6% 2% 2% 1% 1% 0% 0% 0.1% 0.1% 2% 0.5% 0.1% 0% Cook Fiji FSM Kiribati Marshall Nauru Niue Palau PNG Samoa Solomon Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu Islands Islands Islands * TRR Vanuatu is revising mobile penetration Sources: PIRRC, ITU PIRRC, Sources: Major ICT programs in region World Bank ADB ITU • Regulatory reforms (RMI, • Submarine cable: (1) • ICT Policies FSM, Kiribati, Palau, Tonga-Fiji connectivity • Cybercrime legislation Solomon Islands, Tonga) (co-financed with WB, (2) • Broadband Policies • Pacific Regional FSM/Palau: under connectivity: (1) Tonga- consideration) Fiji connectivity, (2) Samoa, Palau/FSM: under consideration APT SPC PIRRC • Policy Regulation • ICT Outreach • International best Forum practices & benchmarking • Direct assistance to policy makers & regulators • Sharing of information and data collection Snapshot of PIRRC activities Thank You For more information please visit: www.pirrc.org .