proposed initiatives by -...
TRANSCRIPT
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY
OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
MENABLING SUMMIT MOBILE ACCESSIBILITY POLICIES: DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION AND
RESULTS
PROPOSED INITIATIVES BY TATT
7TH JUNE, 2013
PRESENTED BY: ANNIE BALDEO
Background
• Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) is a converged regulator responsible for the regulation of telecommunications, broadcasting and the management of spectrum in Trinidad and Tobago
• Relevant Legislation:
– Telecommunications Act No. 4 of 2001
– Telecommunications Act No. 17 of 2004
• TATT became operational on 1st July 2004
Objects of the Telecommunications Act
To Create an Open Telecommunications Market
• With Conditions for Fair Competition
To Promote the Orderly Development of Telecommunications
• To safeguard, enrich and strengthen society’s social, cultural and economic well being
To Protect and Promote the Public Interest
• Accessibility
• Affordability
• Quality of Service
To Facilitate Universal Access to Telecommunications
To Promote the Telecommunications industry in Trinidad and Tobago
To Regulate Broadcasting Services 22-Jun-13 3
22-Jun-13 4
CURRENT MARKET ENVIRONMENT
Current Market Environment
22-Jun-13 5
Network Category Service Provided Authorised Concessionaires
Operational Concessionaires
International Telecommunications
Network only
1 1
Network and Services
9 8
Mobile Telecommunications
Mobile voice and Internet services
2 2
Fixed Telecommunications Fixed Telephony 14
2
Fixed Internet 7
Subscription TV (Pay TV) 10 9
Free to Air Radio Broadcasting
38 38
Free to Air Television Broadcasting
9 9
TV Broadcasting via Cable 2 1
Total 87 77
[1] Concessions are granted to persons or companies to provide telecommunications and/ or broadcasting services. [2] One concession is granted for the provision of both fixed telephony and fixed Internet services and/or networks
Impact of Liberalization
138.0 141.1
143.8 138.6 142.2
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Mobile Penetration Rate
22-Jun-13 6
Mobile Voice Penetration
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
47.5
52.3 52.1 54.0
48.2
Subscription TV Penetration per 100 households
Pay TV Household Penetration
Internet Penetration
21.4
40.1
46.6
52.8 52.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Household Fixed Internet Penetration
22-Jun-13 7
Fixed Internet Household Penetration
22-Jun-13 8
SECTION 28 OF ACT: UNIVERSAL SERVICE
Mandate of the Authority
• Section 28 of the Telecommunications Act states: – 28. (1) In accordance with the policy established by the Minister,
the Authority shall determine the public telecommunications services in respect of which the requirement of universal service shall apply.
• The following instruments have been developed: – Universal Service Framework
– Universal Service Regulations
What is Universal Service?
• The availability and accessibility of affordable basic telecommunications services to all persons within Trinidad and Tobago
• Basic services prescribed in the Universal
Service Framework: – affordable fixed and mobile voice services for the purpose of
domestic and international call origination and termination;
– affordable broadband Internet services of throughput no less than
5 Mbps by 2015;
– access to directory assistance from both fixed and mobile phones;
– free 24-hour access to emergency call service from both fixed and
mobile phones;
– free itemised billing for all telecommunications services, upon
request
Contents of Universal Service
Framework
• Provision of basic telecommunications services to all
citizens of Trinidad and Tobago
• Initiatives to bridge the Digital Divide:
– Community based initiatives
– Population group based initiatives
• Universal Service Obligations to be met by service
providers
– Mandatory Obligations
– Contractual Obligations
Universal Service Initiatives: Differently-Abled
Population
• Key Initiatives for 2013/2014 – to provide Universal
Service to the differently-abled community:
– Assistive Technologies for the differently-abled
– Assistive Services for the differently-abled
– Initial focus on – visually impaired, blind, hearing impaired,
deaf and limited mobility
– Obligations to be placed on the service providers and
subsidised through the Universal Service Fund established by
the Authority
Universal Service Initiatives: Differently-Abled
Population
• Ensuring Access by Differently-abled Persons - Assistive Technologies:
– Supplying subsidised basic assistive technology devices
Talking caller ID, Text telephone (TTY) capabilities,
Hearing aid compatible handset
• Ensuring Access by Differently-abled Persons - Customer Support Assistive Services:
– Mobile credit balance information via text and voice
– Access to billing information online
– Caller ID display services
– Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)
Digital Divide Survey
• Assessment of the digital divide: – To identify un-served and underserved communities in
Trinidad and Tobago
– To identify the needs of the differently-abled community in accessing basic telecommunications services
• National survey currently being implemented (previous survey conducted in 2007)
• Results will identify the assistive technologies to be provided and the affordability of such technologies
Future Initiatives
• Implementation of initiatives focused on the
differently-abled
• Working hand in hand with the Differently-
abled organisations in T&T
• Information obtained at this Summit will assist
in selecting the types of equipment and
assistive technologies for implementation
