Talk:Bridging the urban-rural digital gap – a commercial or community effort? – PL 01 2018

Date of the Zoom call: Friday, April 20, 2018

Participants:

· Kristina Olausson, Policy Officer, ETNO

· Melle Tiel Groenestege, Digital Policy Advisor, VEON

· Mariam Sulaberidze, International Relations and Project Management Office, Georgian National Communications Commission

· Giorgi Dapkviashvili, Head of ICT Development Division, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

· Maarit Palovirta, Senior Manager, Regional Affairs Europe, Internet Society

· Ucha Seturi, Executive Director, Small and Medium Operators Association of Georgia

· Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond, Subject Matter Expert

· Sandro Karumidze, Focal Point

Link to the recording;

https://zoom.us/recording/share/pgyrEsSKoq7Rpfj6HjzpHX_Yb5tC4tnrjziHtUJgklCwIumekTziMw

Minutes of the discussion:

Maarit

Connectivity officially is maybe available everywhere in EU, but in rural bandwidth sometimes is not good – in some areas connectivity is provided via mobile or satellite.

With 5G it is going to be the same story –coverage will be firstly provided to the cities and highways

Need to talk about issues related to all EU and Europe

No immediate cure

Need to focus on rural areas

Melle

There is broadband plan for Ukraine

EU gave money to Armenia for concavity in remote areas

Need to discuss supply and Demand issue

3G coverage in most parts of Ukraine and 4G rolling from February 2018. Internet use is 50%. Infrastructure not used fully.

In some countries there are government owned fiber optic

VEON supports infrastructure sharing.

Ucha

Update from Georgia:

1) Regulation of Internet Service Quality by the regulator (Georgian National Communication Commission - comment by S.K. )

2) Broadband Strategy Development for Georgia is going to be supported by World bank

3) Internet Exchange Point problem still exist – affects ISPs in ISPs in remote areas

Giorgi

It is important to know what are the challenges in EU so we learn from that experience ein Georgia?

EU is going support broadband strategy for Georgia

Maarit:

Need to focus on rural – remote area coverage. How to provide access to everybody there.

Government, business, community –what are their roles and how can they coordinate efforts - cooperate

Would be interesting to have speaker form European Commission – to hear about EU picture but also about Eastern Partnership Programs - including regulatory harmonization process

Since it is going to be first panel will be pressure to have high-ranking panelist

Will be pressure on moderator to keep order

Sandro

It is Important to define goals – objectives for connectivity strategy. Need to define short term and long term goals. E.g – do you want to certain broadband concavity immediately or to solve connectivity problem for many years ahead by building fiber optic backbone.

Also how you define sustainability – for how long project should run before, as an option, it is overtaken by. commercial ISP.

Maarit

Sustainability is important for community and government built networks as well

ISO is working on case paper of sustainability and plan to launch it at EuroDIG.

So there will be some new information from ISOC side – some lessons learned base on previous experience

Sandro

The session will start with Tusheti Project presentation, which will lead into discussion

Melle

Will check if there is cases of cooperation between VEOM and community

Sandro

Georgian experience is that larger ISPs went against state fiber optic backbone network in Georgia.

Kristina

Can share ETNO perceptive – CN good complement

There is demand aggregation

But it should not distort competition

Different business models should compete on same condition

Though they have different quality requirements, completion should not be unfair

It should be technology neutral and business model neutral.

Kristna

Will check if there are example of cooperation between ETNO members and governments on broadband strategy implementation and with CN.

Maarit

Wil be nice to follow Tusheti presentation with some examples where commercial ISPs, CN or governments have solved remote area connectivity issues.

EU/EC representative will talk about policy framework and funding perspectives

Businesses about their approach

ISOC about community network experience

But what do we want to solve, what is the objective of the session? What are the biggest challenges?

Sandro

For me it is how to build broadband strategy for rural areas in Georgia. What is the way forward.

Melle

To structure discussion:

Connectivity for un connected

What are typical challenges:

1) Money and how to make projects sustainable

2) Competitive element / technology neutrality – how to ensure that

3) Policies and programs ( e.g. World bank program, Easter partnership, connectivity for All)

4) Regularity hurdles

Can have different angles on this from different panelists

Ucha

Readiness of community is also important on demand side

Melle

So maybe it can be the forth point (and Regularity issue be part of the third point).

Kristina

Need to discuss - what are the community role in providing internet access. Are CN still relevant? Need to start questioning this and see what comes out of the discussion.

Melle

Regulatory issues could be regulation related to network sharing – towers, spectrum etc.

Policies – could mean funding, but also if there are coherent strategy for providing connectivity for all policies e.g. national broadband strategy

Maarit

Likes four pillars

Olivier

Need to talk about regularity issues since there are countries prohibiting CN that are not related to incumbent telecoms or the require licensing to carry services through third party

Ucha

IoT could be important in rural areas - can generate demand. Can provide government with services.

Melle

This can generate demand – like this idea

Olivier

There are technical solution for different environments/condition. Prohibitive regulation is often an issue.

Would be nice if Tusheti project is followed by description of regulatory environment that made this project possible and how cooperation between different parties supported this project.

Ucha

would be nice to have high ranking speaker from Georgia.

Olivier

would be nice to have Deputy Minster – this will attract other high ranking speakers.

But he need to be able familiar with the subject, what are regulations and policies in Georgia that supported Tusheti, what are the challenges and plans. Need to be able to engage into discussion.