Developed and developing worlds gather in South Africa to discuss communications

The most recent conference of the International Institute of Communications (IIC) provided a great opportunity for developed and developing nations to learn from each other, the president of the global body reports. Bernard Courtois, executive counsel for BCE Inc. and Bell Canada, is serving a one-year term as head of the group. This year’s session took place in Johannesburg, South Africa from September 28-October 3, the first time it has been held on the continent. The variety of participants pleased Courtois. "The conference worked very well because it had people from at least 33 countries, developed countries and developing countries," he notes. "You find that in the world of communications the issues are quite similar across different countries and across the developed and developing world but they may be at very different time points in dealing with a given issue." The mandate of the conference was quite broad, delving into issues concerning wireline telecom, wireless carriers and broadcasters. CRTC commissioner Joan Pennefather delivered a keynote speech one day, David Fransen, associate assistant deputy minister of spectrum, information technologies & telecommunications at Industry Canada, offered a presentation, and Courtois moderated a plenary on regulation, as well as handling duties in his role as president of the IIC. Fransen presented the Canadian perspective on the work of the Group of Eight nations and their commitment to improving the telecom structure in Africa (NL, Oct. 8/02). Fransen explained how the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is offering entrepreneurs a chance to thrive in the region, instead of just tossing aid money at countries. Courtois found that Canada’s leadership in the fight against apartheid is bringing rewards in the new atmosphere in the nation. "There’s great empathy and sympathy and positive views of Canada in South Africa and in those countries and a real willingness of people to do business with Canadians," he states. "So if Canadian enterprises in the communications field want to do business in Africa and in South Africa, they’re going to be welcomed with open arms." Canadian expertise was front and centre in many areas, he reports. Other dele-gates were interested in how Canada has managed to open up markets to competition and what the role of the regulator is in this country. Canadians were able to contribute to a session on the rollout of broadband networks. Canada not on broadband listBut a follow-up presentation proved to Courtois that more work needs to be done in promoting Canada’s presence at these conferences. Scott Beardsley of the McKinsey Consulting Company spoke to delegates about network readiness. His accompanying charts depicted broadband penetration in various countries. Canada was not on the list. "If we’re not there, they don’t think of us," Courtois says. "They think of the U.S., they think of the U.K., some of them will think of Australia before they think of Canada." Courtois was impressed by the strides South Africa has made in its communications structure, especially since the advent of majority rule. It continues to support a public broadcaster and has created private outlets as well. There are now three major wireless service providers in the country, with the licences having been awarded on a flexible system that considered social and policy concerns instead of strictly monetary issues. South Africa is currently mulling over the idea of opening the wireline sector to competition. The government is weighing how to expand the market, even as international investors are wary of the telecom sector.

Developed and developing worlds gather in South Africa to discuss communications

News | 10/21/2002 4:00 am EDT

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