[kictanet] EAC members to draft a ICT policy

[Mike Theuri]

http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=51512

EAC members to draft a ICT policy
Written By:KNA   , Posted: Mon, Jul 28, 2008

Member states of the East African Community (EAC) have resolved to come up
with a harmonized Information Communication technology (ICT) policy to
promote regional integration to yield effective business investment
opportunities.

Participants at the EAC National Workshop for ICT Policy Review at a Nairobi
hotel were Monday told that it was important for them to come up with a
common policy for five member countries; Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and
Burundi.

Information and Communication Permanent Secretary Dr. Bitange Ndemo in his
address speech in opening the seminar said the community was looking towards
deepening political, social, economic and cultural integration in order to
improve the quality of life of people through increased competitiveness,
value added production, trade and investment.

"As you already know we have made a lot of progress towards integration of
Customs Union in East Africa and our aim when we bring the five partner
countries together is to establish a common market of at least 120 million
people," he said.

The PS said once the policy becomes synchronized East Africa residents would
enjoy the benefit of sending data across the borders without hitches, as the
ultimate outcome of the policy would ensure a level playing field for member
countries.

Dr. Ndemo said as the stakeholders discuss on the harmonization of the
policy they needed to focus on issues such as market structures and
regulations, effects a single market on consumers, political, economic and
social considerations, institutional arrangements and prioritization areas.

Kenya's Policy Review Framework he said was centered on the importance of
ICT policy environment, interconnection costs, innovative technology and
Finance, Internet Governance, Open access, ICT and violence against women,
participation in international bodies and ICT and environment (E-waste).

He said the Government has had problems with innovative technologies like
the M-PESA as a lot of people in the financial sector complained of
encroachment in banking sector while the region generally lacked adequate
representation in international bodies for failing to sponsor somebody to
represent the countries at the international organizations.

He announced that the ICT Bill already has been published, was currently
under review, and told the EAC stakeholders that the parliamentary committee
on Information and Communication would invite them to discuss the bill in
the next three weeks.

He said the bill covers E-transaction and broadcasting with a broadcasting
law that would lead to proper regulation of radio and television content.

He also said the Freedom of Information Bill had reached advanced stages
while the Government was also working on a new Bill called Data Protection
Bill not covered in the ICT Bill.

And the EAC Secretary General who was represented at the meeting by Philip
Wambugu, Director of Planning and Infrastructure at the EAC secretariat said
there was need to develop a policy that would lead to creation of an
environment to foster massive expansion in coverage and capacity of
information infrastructure network.

He said that even though the region has witnessed growth of the mobile
industry there was still limited improvement in broadband networks thus
killing opportunities for development.

"The universal access to ICT network and service as an indicator is still
far from being a reality," said he.
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