1
Doc No. WG - 8
REPORT OF WORKING GROUP 8: COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
PRICING AND INDUSTRY ANALYSIS
1.0 Introduction
On 2
nd– 04
thDecember 2013, the EACO Working Group 8 held its first meeting at the EACO
headquarters in Kigali Rwanda.
2.0 Summary of Decisions
2.1 Review of Terms of Reference of the Working Group
Members reviewed the Terms of Reference for the working group as prescribed by the 20
thEACO Congress and noted the following:
1. Members agreed that the scope of their study would focus on the communications
services in the area of Telecommunications, Broadcasting, Postal and Courier.
2.
Members agreed to reorganize the ToRs into three key thematic areas, namely; (i) Studies
and Market Analysis (ii) Reporting and (iii) Coordination. All items in the working group
8 ToRs were therefore reorganized and captured under the above three key thematic
areas.
3.
The secretariat proposed that Regional Roaming be incorporated in the ToRs of the
working group 8. This proposal follows the findings and recommendations of EALA
(November 2013) on the high roaming prices in the region. The proposal was adopted by
the working group.
4.
Proposed removal of elements related to Network Security and Privacy which were
included in the ToR item IV from the scope of the work of the working group. It was
observed that the working group 5 is best suited to deal with these elements as they fall
under its scope. A liaison will be sent to working group 5 regarding this matter.
2
2.2 Action Plan
An action plan was prepared for the work of the working group as per the attached Annexure.
3.0 Conclusion
1. The EACO secretariat should sensitize member states and operators to have greater
participation in the working group meetings.
2. EACO secretariat should consider; while sending invitations for the working group
meetings; to copy individual members of the working groups.
3.
The elements related to Network Security and Privacy, which were included in the ToR
item IV, are removed from the scope of the work of this group.
4. EACO secretariat to involve the working group 8 during the design and planning stage of
the development of the databank at EACO headquarters
5. Based on the concerns raised by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)
members, the EACO secretariat should initiate deliberate efforts to conduct a study on
regional roaming charges.
As the Assemblies would be meeting in Tanzania in June 2014, the next physical meeting of this
working group will take place before the assemblies. The exact date will be communicated to all
members
4.0 Decision Expected/Request
That the Executive Committee takes note of the deliberations of working group 8 and the agreed
action plan of the group.
Mr. Matano M. Ndaro
3
ANNEX 1: THE ACTION PLAN FOR WORKING GROUP 8 – COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES PRICING AND INDUSTRY ANALYSIS POLICY AND REGULATORY HARMONIZATION
No. TERM OF
REFERENCE
ACTIVITIES DELIVERABLE TIME FRAME RESPONSIBLE
PERSON/PARTY
1 Studies and
market analysis
Conduct studies and analysis on the communications market/industry in the EA region in order to establish the following;
i. Regional connectivity, roaming pricing and their impact on communication services.
a. Regional
interconnectivity framework
Priority 1 June 2014 Mr. Lucas O. Mwalongo - TCRA
Mr. Protais Kanyankore - RURA
b. Regional roaming pricing framework
Priority 1 June 2014 Dr. Twinemanzi T – UCC
Mr. Abdul Musoke – UCC Ms. Nizeye Euphemie - ARCT
c. Broadband pricing framework Priority 1 September 2014 Mr. Ntahondi Jean-Christian – ARCT d. Framework for determining tariffs for infrastructure sharing
Priority 1 September 2014
Dr. Twinemanzi T – UCC Mr. Abdul Musoke - UCC ii. Spectrum pricing (telecom
and broadcasting)
a. Harmonized spectrum pricing framework
Priority 2 December 2014
Mr. Victor Nkya – TCRA Ms. Lilian Mwangoka – TCRA Ms. Nizeye Euphemie - ARCT iii. Pricing of broadcasting
signal distribution services
a. Harmonized signal distribution pricing
4
framework 2014 Mr. Lukas Musembi – CCK
iv. Competition issues within the communications sector
a. Evaluation of the feasibility for a regional competition body b. Harmonized competition
framework
Priority 3 March 2015 Dr. Twinemanzi T – UCC Mr. Abdul Musoke - UCC
v. Use of tele-traffic
monitoring / management systems
a. Impact on pricing and competition of the use of tele-traffic monitoring / management systems
Priority 1 September 2014
Mr Sunday Richard – TCRA Mr. Mathieu Ntegano – RURA Ms. Mercy Ndegwa – Safaricom Kenya
Mr. Sainath Naidu - SGS Ms. Barbra Sayuni - SGS Ms. Sayyida Mohamed - TCRA vi. Over the Top Technologies
(OTT)
a. Impact of over the top technologies and application in
communication industry
Priority 3 March 2015 Ms. Mercy Ndegwa – Safaricom Kenya
Ms. Lilian Mwangoka – TCRA Mr. Jean de Dieu Imanishimwe - RURA
vii. Costing and pricing models for basic postal services
a. Harmonized costing and pricing models for basic postal services
Priority 3 February 2015
Mr. Matano Ndaro - CCK Ms. Sayyida Mohamed – TCRA Mr. Ntahondi Jean-Christian – ARCT
5
viii. Progressive opening up of exclusivity areas of postal services (physical, electrical, financial) operation for private sector participation
a. Framework for the gradual elimination of exclusivity of postal services provision Priority 3 February 2015 Mr. Matano Ndaro - CCK Ms. Sayyida Mohamed – TCRA Mr. Ntahondi Jean-Christian – ARCT
Mr. Richard Tonui - CCK
2 Reporting Develop a framework for
collection, analysis and
reporting/dissemination of regional Key Performance Indicators and statistics on the communication sector in East Africa.
a. EAC communications
data collection and
reporting framework b. Databank
Priority 1st March 2014
Mr. Mathieu Ntegano – RURA
3 Coordination Coordinate, recommend and follow
up the work of the relevant communication sector organisations.
a. Draft recommendations and positions to specific organizations
Continuous Mr. Matano Ndaro - CCK
