ITU Webinar Series - Universal
Access and Services 2.0 for Digital Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa on 10
December 2020 14:00-16:00, East Africa
Time (EAT) and 15 December 2020, 11:00- 14:00 East Africa Time (EAT)
Universal Access and Service measures have risen in importance over time. Despite all the progress made to date, there are still a large number of population centres that either remain unconnected or connected by high-cost unaffordable or unreliable access. Even in areas that do have coverage, there are large segments of populations that are still receiving few benefits because of affordability and demand-side issues ranging from lack of relevant applications, understandable content, digital literacy and electricity supply gaps.
Also, aspirations relating to ICTs have also become much broader. They include economic and social development, as well as the spread of technology and infrastructure and the need for skills to benefit from such tools. ICT markets are dynamic, and new technologies are continually emerging, with new services rapidly become widespread and then indispensable.
Effective ICT/telecommunications strategies, policies and regulations, that reflect the need for wide diffusion of and use of digital networks are needed. Such policies and strategies include the promotion of infrastructure sharing, reduction in interconnection rates, lowering of taxes on services and devices, and flexibility in - and reasonable fees for - the spectrum. Also, measures that aim to help reach disadvantaged groups, and unserved and underserved areas and ensure sound competition through market openness are needed.
International trends point to a need to rethink and reassess Universal Access and Service strategies to make the goals that underlie them more ambitious, more coherent and more integrated with the challenges of the twenty-first century and the need of digital transformation.
In delivering its mandate in Africa, ITU conducted a series of webinars to exchange knowledge on universal access and service strategies and policies as well as innovative financing mechanisms to cover the connectivity gaps, enhance digital skills, and foster widespread, affordable access to telecommunications/ICTs, including Internet access.
The series consisted of two online sessions: with the 1st Session on Thursday, 10 December from 14:00 to 16:00, East Africa Time (EAT), and the 2rd Session on Tuesday, 15 December 2020 from 11:00 to 14:00, East Africa Time (EAT).
