Rural Connectivity and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity

Dr. Somsak Pipoppinyo

Director of Finance, Industry and Infrastructure Directorate

ASEAN Secretariat

Rural Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Connectivity needs to be promoted in rural areas by increasing access, improvement of quality of services, and availability of applications, which will help in narrowing the digital gaps between urban and rural areas, and offering more digital opportunities for development.

A holistic approach for Rural ICT Connectivity includes (i) ICT infrastructure in rural areas, (ii) relevant contents to utilise the infrastructure, (iii) finance, (iv) capacity development, and (v) alignment of ICT with sector policies and objectives.

Rural ICT Connectivity

ASEAN Leaders on 28 October 2010 ratified a Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) which encompasses the three key elements of: physical connectivity (energy, ICT and transport), institutional connectivity, and people-to-people connectivity.

MPAC contains 19 key strategies and 84 key actions. For ASEAN ICT Connectivity, two key projects are on “Establish an ASEAN Broadband Corridor” and “Develop ICT Skill Standards”.

ASEAN Connectivity

MPAC in the ASEAN Community Building

ASEAN CommunityAPSC AEC ASCC

Enhance rules and

good governance for

ASEAN

Enhance integration

and competitiveness

of ASEAN

Enhance the well-

being and livelihood

of ASEAN peoples

Narrowing the Development Gaps

People-to-

People

Connectivity

Physical

Connectivity

Institutional

Connectivity

Resource Mobilisation

ASEAN Connectivity

Evolution of the ASEAN Connectivity

Implementation of the ASEAN Connectivity

ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating

Committee(comprising the

Permanent

Representatives to

ASEAN, other special

representatives appointed

by AMS)

ASEAN Sectoral Bodies(TELMIN, etc.)

National Coordinators for Implementation

ASEAN Secretariat

(dedicated ASEAN

Connectivity unit

at the ASEAN

Secretariat)

ASEAN Coordinating Council/ASEAN

Community Councils

ASEAN Summit

Sub-regional Arrangements

related to ASEAN Connectivity

Traditional Funding Sources

New and Innovative Sources:

• Private individuals and businesses

• ASEAN Infrastructure Fund (AIF) financed by ASEAN Member States and ADB

Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs)

Regional & Domestic Capital Markets

Modality to engage External Parties

Financing the ASEAN Connectivity

To support the MPAC implementation Since 2009, series of meetings: representation by

Ministry of Finance and Central Bank and ADB Structure and design: significant milestones achieved

• Capital structure – Equity of USD million 485 & Hybrid capital of USD million 162 & bonds

• Governance – corporate entity, Board of Directors (BOD), agreements on voting rights/power

• Domicile – Malaysia• To be administered by ABD on behalf of AMSs and also co-

finance the AIF projects

ASEAN Infrastructure Fund

Agreement reached on key principles for project selection

Indicative project pipeline:- transport and energy projects (subject to review by Member States)

Next Steps

• Signing of Shareholders Agreement-September 2011- to start operation of AIF

ASEAN Infrastructure Fund

• Prioritize and select projects

• Coordination with National Coordinators

• Coordination with other Sub-Regional Group

• Mobilise the resources

• Good governance

• Promotion of MPAC

Other Issues and Concerns

Thrusts of the ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2015

http://www.aseansec.org/documents/ASEAN%20ICT%20Masterplan%202015.pdf

ICT Infrastructure in the MPAC and AIM2015

Action Description

Establish an ASEAN Broadband Corridor

• Identify and develop locations in each ASEAN Member State which offer quality broadband connectivity

• Enable seamless usage of broadband services and applications across ASEAN to further connect and enhance the development of ICT and other sectors

• Promote the diversity of international connectivity among ASEAN Member States

Establish an ASEAN Internet Exchange Network

• Establish a regulator-operator forum to develop a platform to facilitate intra-ASEAN internet traffic

• Facilitate peering amongst ASEAN internet access providers to improve latency and speeds as well as lower costs

ASEAN Broadband Corridor & Improve Broadband Connectivity

ICT and Digital Contents in the AIM2015

Ensure affordable and seamless e-services, content and applications

Action Description

Survey and study to identify gaps and determine e-services to be developed

• Identify relevant e-services to be developed, considering in particular the cost of such e-services and location of content

• Nurture an environment to facilitate the development of affordable e-services

• Promote e-services that can be adapted for local usageProvide incentives or grants to promote e-services and content development

• Develop criteria to provide incentives to develop ASEAN-wide e-services and content

• Provide incentives to individuals and businesses to engage in e-services and content development

ICT HRD in MPAC & AIM2015

Building capacity & developing skills upgrading and certificationAction Description

Develop a registry of experts and innovators

• Establish database of ICT experts and innovators within ASEAN

• Forecast ICT manpower demand

Create ASEAN ICT Scholarship Programme

• Develop scholarship criteria and identify funding sources

• Encourage and attract ASEAN talents to make ICT their career of choice

• Support individuals with strong aptitude for ICT

Establish MRA for skills certification

• Develop ICT skill standards for ASEAN to ensure quality of ICT talents

• Promote movement of ICT human capital within ASEAN

Develop ICT certification and skills upgrading programme

• Adopt certification of ICT skill sets (e.g. certification of cyber-security experts and trainers)

• Promote marketability of certified ICT experts • Develop a competitive ICT workforce through skills upgrading

to meet the demand for ICT resources

Bridging the Digital Divide and Connecting Schools

Connect schools and advocate early ICT education

Action Description

Review of USO or similar policies

• Review USO or similar policies with a view to include IT components and training as part of USO funding

• Ensure that infrastructure covered under USO or similar programmes should be broadband internet capable

Prioritise roll-out to schools

• Establish collaboration between ICT and education sectors to provide broadband internet access to schools within ASEAN

• Include ICT as part of ASEAN school curricula to promote early ICT education

Collaborate between ICT and education sectorswithin ASEAN

• Provide comprehensive ICT training to teachers to encourage the use of ICT in education

• Establish ICT exchange programmes for teachers and students• Promote joint collaboration activities to raise awareness of ICT

Promote ASEAN integration through exposure to different cultures within ASEAN at an early age

• Replicate the ASEAN Cyberkids Camp across ASEAN• Educate children to use ICT creatively and effectively beyond the

school environment in an interactive manner • Encourage the positive use of internet • Create similar camps for teachers

• It is important to align cross-sectoral priorities and policies to synergise resources and efforts in the infrastructure development, adoption and localisation of contents for rural communities

• There is a need to work out the strategies for the improvement of services delivery in the rural communities

• To identify and diversify the financing opportunities and resources for ICT, the digital contents and applications

• To continue this kind of effort (conference) in a multi-stakeholders environment for exchanging best practices and policies workable for rural connectivity

• To collaborate with private sectors and service providers to deliver services and provide new services to rural areas in the new technology platforms (e.g. internet, mobile connectivity)

Conclusions