Page 7 - SAMENA Trends - February 2022

SAMENA COUNCIL ACTIVITY SAMENA TRENDS

The Working Group for of Telecommunications and Information to address the challenges of speeding
21st Century Financing Society of Ecuador gave an overview up the world’s digital transformation in a
sustainable, more predictable, equitable
and Funding Models for of its more recent far-reaching reforms and structured manner to achieve the 2030
of its telecommunications regulatory
Sustainable Broadband environment, and Sunil Mittal of Bharti UN Agenda and the SDGs.
Development was estab- Enterprises urged the broadening of the The Working Group for 21st Century
base of contributions and contributors to
lished as a cross-sector ensure that digital infrastructure can be Financing and Funding Models for
group of thought-leaders expanded. The panel discussion delved Sustainable Broadband Development was
established as a cross-sector group of
into the recommendations of the report,
with representation from with Digicel urging a reduction in sector- thought-leaders with representation from
national regulatory author- specific taxes and the creation of a level national regulatory authorities,
ities, telecommunications playing field calling into responsibility telecommunications operators, financial
institutions, trade associations, academics
Internet platforms, which was mirrored
operators, financial insti- by Smart Africa emphasizing on the need and not-for-profit development
tutions, trade associations, for concerted and structured ways of organizations operating under the
contributions by all beneficiaries of digital
auspices of the Broadband Commission
academics and not-for- infrastructure and Google highlighting its for Sustainable Development. Its objective
profit development organi- various ways that it already contributes to was to explore and identify new and
funding,
innovative
expanding infrastructure.
and
financing,
zations operating under the investment strategies to address the
auspices of the Broadband BA also pressed on the need to reflect and challenge of extending broadband
Commission for Sustain- acknowledge that now is the right time connectivity and services to the 3.7 billion
to adopt the right strategies and funding
people who remain unconnected today,
able Development. and financing approaches that support particularly in Africa, Asia, South America
the spirit of collaboration, multi-literalism, and the Pacific Islands. The Working Group
OECD outlined the key aspects of its 2021 mutual responsibility sharing and creativity. was co-chaired by Scott Gegenheimer,
Council Recommendation on Broadband There is an urgent need to work together former CEO – Operations of Zain Group,
Connectivity, highlighting that a sound very closely and leverage the large pool and Bocar A. BB, CEO of SAMENA
regulatory framework is key. The Minister of insights, recommendations, and ideas Telecommunications Council.

The Executive Summary of the aforementioend
report can be downloaded from the UN BBCom’s
website here:

https://www.broadbandcommission.org/
publication/21st-century-financing-models/

https://www.samenacouncil.org/initiatives/
industryissues/BBCOM-Broadband_Report-
Executive_Summary_1709-1.pdf

7 FEBRUARY 2022