[kictanet] Day 10 of 10: Reconciling Stakeholder Interests

[Lucy Kimani]

Walu:


"What are the top three things, each Stakeholder (Operators, Regulators,
Consumers and Govt) should do in order to provide a win-win situation for
everybody in the new OFC dispensation?"

In my humble opinion and this is of course from a consumer perspective I
would list priorities as follows:

1)As was pointed out the Operators, Regulators and Govt have been working
closely for the past 4 years, clearly missing was the consumer in this
relationship, and this needs to change.  I am glad the current discussions
have highlighted the need to include the consumer as an important
stakeholder in all policy making etc.
2)The consumer association that is yet to be registered for reasons not
clear to me needs to be a reality -- The consumer needs a face, so there
is an entity to negotiate, partner, and hold the various bodies
accountable on behalf of consumers, and the consumers need to know they
have an entity that will address their concerns.
3)I am confident I speak for many consumers when I say that we are all
looking for quality and affordable telecommunciation services so whatever
model the OFC adopts needs to ensure the consumer gets closer to achieving
these objectives.

LK

> <<<I must stay that the previous theme 'Projected Impact of
> OFC on Stakeholders' has been quite turbulent. We did
> recieve about 20 postings on this theme(during 4 calender
> days) and it has been a challenge trying to sieve through
> them in order to create a brief and reasonable account of
> the issues, proposals and predictions. In the interest of
> moving forward, I would wish to introduce the next theme
> and but will provide the summary of issues in the final
> report.>>>.
>
> In general, the Operators have an obligation to maximize
> profit for their shareholders by virtue of having taken a
> risk and committed funds into a particular line of business
> (OFC included).  The Consumer on the other hand will always
> want services at the lowest cost possible (including free
> services).  The Regulator is mandated - in part - to
> provide a level playing field for the Operators and a
> protection mechanism for Consumers. Finally, the
> Government's main role would be to improve the livelihoods
> of its citizens e.g. providing essential services,
> conducive policy, legislative and regulatory environment
> for all the stakeholders.
>
> Indeed, the above brings out the automatic tensions that
> come to play because each stakeholder wants to pursue their
> interests which in most cases would be in conflict.  E.g.
> Private sector would naturally follow the lowest path to
> profit e.g. charge highly, concentrate in high-income zones
> and recoup their investments in the shortest time possible.
>  Nothing illegal with that, but if the Government
> intervention is lacking in such a situtation, then certain
> parts of society (citizenry) would be excluded from
> accessing some of the (essential) services provided by the
> Businesses.  On the other hand, forcing Business to provide
> these services to low income communities, or forcing them
> to under-price without compensatory schemes (incentives)
> would be the quickest way to run down the business (denying
> Govts Tax Revenues).
>
>>From the previous theme, it was evident that the current
> status and relationships, particularly between Consumers
> and Operators is not too healthy. Similarly, the existing
> relationship between Govt and the Regulator came into
> question and various models and frameworks for improving on
> these was proposed. Infact, if all things remain constant
> and the OFC was delivered tomorrow, I suspect that the
> tensions between the stakeholders may go a notch higher,
> possibly compouded by intense Operator(with OFC access) vs
> Operator(without OFC access) wars.
>
> How then can these wars be pre-empted? What are the top
> three things, each Stakeholder (Operators, Regulators,
> Consumers and Govt) should do in order to provide a win-win
> situation for everybody in the new OFC dispensation?  Two
> days on this conclusive phase...start talking along this
> theme keeping in mind some Netiquette as recommended by the
> list administrator.
>
> walu.
>
>
>
>
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