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country-profiles:guide [2019/05/01 05:45] – [National Policy] carloscountry-profiles:guide [2019/05/29 11:56] (current) – [Gender] renamed to Inclusion otd_wiki
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 The page is organised according to the categories that are expected within each country profile.  In each category you will find key questions you should be seeking answers to, suggestions of where to find information, and examples of good practice in the various categories from around the world. The page is organised according to the categories that are expected within each country profile.  In each category you will find key questions you should be seeking answers to, suggestions of where to find information, and examples of good practice in the various categories from around the world.
  
-The wiki is also designed to capture some of the information as fields in a database that will allow for some comparative analysis across countries. These fields are entered below the wiki in the form fields and are displayed in the wiki page as a variable. Items highlighted like <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">this</btn> below represent structured data stored in a database field. Database fields can be exported to spreadsheet, CSV, or JSON format.  +The wiki is also designed to capture some of the information as fields in a database that will allow for some comparative analysis across countries. These fields are entered below the wiki in the form fields and are displayed in the wiki page as a variable. Items captured in the database are displayed in a table, as in the above. Database fields can be exported to spreadsheet, CSV, or JSON format.  
  
 <callout type="question" icon="true">In each section below, you will see questions you should be asking to find out more</callout> <callout type="question" icon="true">In each section below, you will see questions you should be asking to find out more</callout>
 <callout type="success" icon="true">Examples of good practice are identified with a checkmark like this</callout> <callout type="success" icon="true">Examples of good practice are identified with a checkmark like this</callout>
- 
-^                ^ Name                       ^ Acronym                          ^ URL                     ^ Contact ^ Twitter ^ 
-| **Regulator**  | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">Name of Regulator</btn>  | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">Acronym</btn> | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">website</btn> | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">contact email</btn>   | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">twitter account</btn>  | 
-| **Ministry**   | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">Name of Ministry</btn>  | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">Acronym</btn>  | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">website</btn> | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">contact email</btn>   | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">twitter account</btn>  | 
-| **Universal Service**   | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">Name of USAF</btn>  | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">Acronym</btn>  | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">website</btn> | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">contact email</btn>   | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">twitter account</btn>  | 
-| **Spectrum Agency**   | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">Name (if different)</btn>  | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">Acronym</btn>  | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">website</btn> | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">contact email</btn>   | <btn size="sm" icon="glyphicon glyphicon-edit">twitter account</btn>  | 
  
 ===== National Policy ===== ===== National Policy =====
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 </callout> </callout>
 ===== Access to Spectrum ===== ===== Access to Spectrum =====
 +The electromagnetic spectrum is the medium used by wireless technologies to transmit and receive information. Different parts of this spectrum are defined to be used for specific purposes. This decisions are made at the World Radio Conference (WRC) which is organised by ITU-R and which happens every four years. The outcome of the WRC is the ITU Radio Regulations which is a binding international treaty governing the use of the radio spectrum. 
  
-==== Technical and Administrative Requirements ====+(Maybe something about regions?)
  
-Point to the spectrum allocation framework.  +Governments incorporate those regulations into their National Frequency Allocation Tables or National Frequency Plans, which is the first document to consult in order to understand which services can be used in each band. In most cases, for each band governments include both the reference to the Radio Regulation which describe the specific of this band, as well as the National Regulation describing the details of the use of that band in the country. 
-// Agree first thing here is the National Frequency Plan, some generalities about the nature of spectrum (shorter wave lengths travel shorter distances, wider band more data can be transmitted) and maybe a guide on how to read it... cause the columns for each sub-band normally lead to the info that is required below.  //+
  
-// then an intro about the regulated nature of the use of spectrum, and the different ways it may take: licence exempt vs licensed, but also the different ways that  licencing may happen both in the process (auction, vs application/registration vs other) and in the scope (national, regional, point to point). //+(Maybe an example of this?)
  
-In all the sections below, it would be interesting to look for special dispositions in terms of spectrum planning or spectrum assignment for community networks, small operators, or those operating in rural and remote areas.+In addition, for most of the spectrum governments assign the use of an entire band or blocks of it to particular organizations. This assignment can be of national, regional, or even smaller scope (for a given are or a point to point link), and tend to be for a particular period of time. There also different ways of assigning parts of the spectrum. This can be done via auctions, where the best bidder wins; reservation, where the interested party requests the government its use. In both cases the organization usually pays fees to access this spectrum which vary from country to country, and, in most cases, from band to band. The payment of these fees grants the organization exclusive use of that spectrum and, in exchange the authorities must ensure other organizations do not interfere with them in that block. We will referred to this spectrum in the sections below as Licensed Spectrum. 
  
-I think the sections below should cover E.I.R.P., band sizes, and other technical requests (DFS?, geolocation database), from an spectrum assignment point of view. I guess there is something similar to Licensing... Technical vs Administrative characteristics of using spectrum. +There are bands which are not assigned to a particular organization for a period of time, and access to them is more adhoc, with organizations interested in using it organized themselves via technological means, or otherwise. There are two main ways in which this takes place and we go into them in more details below, referring to them as License-exempt and Secondary Use, respectively. 
 + 
 +In all cases above, the spectrum can be used for two very distinctive purposes, regardless of the mechanism used to access it: access and transport. The first one refers to the use of the spectrum for users or end devices to communicate; and the latter for its use by the devices carrying those communications to the other end. Often times, the same spectrum can be used for both, but in the classification used in this wiki refers to its most common use. There are cases where its use is common for both access and transport, and so the band will appear twice, as in these cases the technical, and even administrative requirements, will vary for each of them.  
 + 
 +==== Technical and Administrative Requirements ==== 
 + 
 +The technical and administrative requirements for each modality of accessing spectrum (licensed spectrum, license-exempt spectrum, and secondary use) as well as for each of the uses it can have (access and transport) will vary and should be included in detail below. As a departing point, this section should include a reference to the most up to date National Frequency Allocation Tables or National Frequency Plans (they get renewed almost every year in most countries). 
  
 === Licensed === === Licensed ===
  
-// I would call this category licensed, and i would talk about it in terms of backhaul (11GHz, 7 GHz, not all of them, just the most common ones) and access (all the IMT), I know the IMT can be used for backhaul as well... but they are mainly an access technology, measured in terms of existence and volume of end-user devices. We can make a note about it. Each of the band, may be licensed differently, see intro above. Maybe here we can dig a bit deeper in terms of secondary access, trading, etc... //+Something about interference here... and the need to regulate! 
  
-  * URL for spectrum assignments for mobile operators 
-  * List major operators and their spectrum assignments 
-  * Point to coverage maps 
 == Access Networks == == Access Networks ==
  
-^ **Operator**  ^ **800MHz**  ^ **900MHz**  ^ **1800MHz**  ^ **2100MHz**  ^ **2600MHz**  ^ **3500MHz** ^  +Most of the licensed spectrum that is available for access it is used for mobile telephony and data, and tends to be referred to as International Mobile Telephony (IMT) bands.  
-| XYZcom        | None        |  2x10       |  2x15        |  2x10        |  None        |  None       |+ 
 +The main reason to understand how access to IMT spectrum takes place in your country is because we acknowledge that the best way for universal access to occur is for communities to operate this spectrum where available.  
 + 
 +In some cases a band is not fully allocated and we could convince the government to create set-asides for social use. Other times the band is fully assigned to operators but unused in given areas (normally rural and sparsely populated ones). In yet other cases, the band has not been yet assigned which allows for engagement with the authorities for set-asides earlier on. The aim for this section is to provide a view on the possibilities available in that regard.  
 + 
 +For some countries, we have been collecting some of this information, and it is available in this website: https://opentelecomdata.org/spectrum-chart/. For your country the idea is to enable a link each of the bands in the table below, so when clicking it shows the chart with the information.  
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +^ **Issues**  ^ **800MHz**  ^ **900MHz**  ^ **1800MHz**  ^ **2100MHz**  ^ **2600MHz**  ^ **3500MHz** ^  
 +| Band assigned?      |         |        |       |          |          |         | 
 +| Assignment method      |         |        |       |          |          |         | 
 +| Fully assigned      |         |        |       |          |          |         | 
 +| Primary use by CN?      |         |        |       |          |          |         | 
 +| Secondary use by CN?      |         |        |       |          |          |         | 
 + 
 +Rows in the table: 
 +  * Has this band being assigned in your country?: Yes/No 
 +  * Method of assignment?: Auction / Reservation / D.N.A. 
 +  * Is there spectrum yet to be assigned is this band: Yes / No / D.N.A.  
 +  * Are there reports of spectrum assigned but not used in an area? Yes / No / D.N.A. 
 +  * Can it be used by community networks and small operators? Yes / No / D.N.A. 
 +  * Indicate the community networks and small operators using them? Org name / D.N.A 
 + 
 +[For each of the answers where the answer is yes, please provide a link] 
 + 
 +[In the case there are community networks using it, please describe the process followed to do so by others] 
 + 
 +[There are different mechanisms to “provide evidence” to answer question 4, if you have the knowledge that this is the case. One is by checking the maps provided by the operators, another one is by reports that you may find in the news. You can also conduct spectrum measurements yourself (a description on how to do this to follow)] 
 +Once this spectrum is assigned to one organization, there are technical and administrative requirements associated to it. For instance, the need to meet some universal service obligations as well as some minimum services to be delivered to the final users. Please include here any information you may have here in that regard (even if it comes from a mobile network operator) for reference.  
 + 
 +(I can share the ones from Vodacom, MTN, Cell, other in SA for 900 MHz and 1800MHz) 
  
 == PtP Networks == == PtP Networks ==
 +In most scenarios the use of ISM bands for broadband transport links is sufficient and has all the advantages related to it: license exempt spectrum, highly available low-cost gear, etc. However, there might be places, specially in links going through nodes in crowded highsites, where the use of those bands may be good alternative.
 +
 +The band considered below, 7GHz and 11 GHz are the most common ones and it below we would like to determine the requirements to using them. 
 +
 +^ **Issues**  ^ **7GHz**  ^ **11GHz**  ^ **24GHz**  ^ **60GHz**  ^
 +| Band assigned?      |         |        |       |          |     
 +| Assignment method      |         |        |       |          |   
 +| Fully assigned      |         |        |       |          |      
 +| Primary use by CN?      |         |        |       |          |  
 +| Secondary use by CN?      |         |        |       |          |
 +
 +
 +Rows in the table:
 +  * Has this band being assigned in your country?: Yes/No
 +  * Method of assignment?: Auction / Reservation / D.N.A.
 +  * Is there spectrum yet to be assigned is this band: Yes / No / D.N.A. 
 +  * Are there reports of spectrum assigned but not used in an area? Yes / No / D.N.A.
 +  * Can it be used by community networks and small operators? Yes / No / D.N.A.
 +  * Indicate the community networks and small operators using them? Org name / D.N.A
 +
 +[For each of the answers where the answer is yes, please provide a link]
 +
 +Once this spectrum is assigned to one organization, there are technical and administrative requirements associated to it. For instance, the need to meet some universal service obligations as well as some minimum services to be delivered to the final users. Please include here any information you may have here in that regard (even if it comes from a mobile network operator) for reference. 
  
 === License-Exempt === === License-Exempt ===
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 == Access Networks == == Access Networks ==
 ^ **Frequency**      ^ **Power Limit**  ^ **Transmit Power**  ^ ^ **Frequency**      ^ **Power Limit**  ^ **Transmit Power**  ^
 +| //900MHz//         |   Region 2 only              ||
 +| 902 – 928 MHz  | ''2.4EIRP''     ||
 | //2.4GHz//         |                 || | //2.4GHz//         |                 ||
 | 2400 – 2483.5 MHz  | ''2.4EIRP''     || | 2400 – 2483.5 MHz  | ''2.4EIRP''     ||
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 ===== Backhaul =====  ===== Backhaul ===== 
  
-// This is a 4th category for me: 1. National Policy, 2. Licensing Framework, 3. Wireless Spectrum Regulation, 4. This. I believe there might be a 5th one about interconnection and the like? and another one about funding opportunities/reources. Other infrastructure sharing, transparency OTD, and the like . Other one about Gender, Other about SMMEs...  //+Backhaul refers to the source of connectivity for a network.  This may be a fibre optic network, a wireless microwave connection, or even a direct connection to a peering point such as an Internet Exchange Point (IXP).  While it is not essential for a network to connect to the rest of the internet (community networks can offer local network services), it is the most common scenario.
  
-    * links to backhaul service providers +Increasing demand from internet users for access to streaming media content can dramatically increase the backhaul requirements for a community network or small-scale operator.  Whereas a 64kbps could serve an entire network 20 years ago, now network operators may require access to hundreds of megabits per second.  This can quickly become the single biggest operational expense for a small network.
-    * Open Access policies +
-    * infrastructure sharing policy and regulation+
  
 +Accordingly, it is essential to understand all of the options for access to backhaul networks.  A start to this is to find maps of terrestrial fibre optic infrastructure in your country.  This includes both the routes of the network as well as the Points of Presence (PoPs) for the network.  Fibre optic networks are only accessibly through their PoPs. Accessing this information can be a challenge. Some [[good-practice:fibre|countries and operators are transparent about their network]] but they are often more the exception than the rule. Wherever possible include links to or images of maps of backhaul infrastructure and the locations of IXPs in this section.  
 +
 +Fibre optic infrastructure is not the only option for backhaul.  Microwave networks are less and less common but also offer an option.  Satellite services, while typically the most expensive option, may be the only option for backhaul in remote areas.
 +
 +In this section of the profile you will also be looking for policies and regulations related to backhaul infrastructure.  This may include stated positions by the government or regulator on [[https://muninetworks.org/content/open-access | Open Access]].  It may include regulations with regard to infrastructure sharing.
 +
 +Finally, public information on backhaul pricing is [[good-practice:backhaul|available in some countries]] and it is worth investigating the availability of backhaul pricing information. 
  
 <callout type="success" icon="true"> <callout type="success" icon="true">
   * [[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/700/pdfs/uksi_20160700_en.pdf|UK Infrastructure sharing]]   * [[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/700/pdfs/uksi_20160700_en.pdf|UK Infrastructure sharing]]
-  * [[http://www.ift.org.mx/sites/default/files/industria/temasrelevantes/9472/documentos/telmexorci.pdf|Mexico regulations on infrastructure sharing]]  +  * [[http://www.ift.org.mx/sites/default/files/industria/temasrelevantes/9472/documentos/telmexorci.pdf|Mexico regulations on infrastructure sharing]]  
 +  * [[http://icta.go.ke/nofbi-transmission-network/ | Kenya - National Optic Fibre Backbone Network Map]] 
 </callout> </callout>
  
-===== Gender ===== +===== Inclusion ===== 
-  * links to national gender and ICT policies and initiatives +to be re-drafted
-  * gender at the regulator  +
-    *  number of men in senior management at regulator  ''regMen'' +
-    *  number of women in senior management at regulator ''regWomen''+
  
 +<del>Internet access is an effect magnifier that can amplify access to education, markets for business, and strengthen and increase social connection.  Unfortunately that same magnifying power can amplify negative outcomes.  Care needs to be take to understand how access to communication is changing society and in particular gender relations.  Any network initiative should take into account disparities in access to, design of, participation in, and control of communication networks. 
  
-<callout type="success" icon="true">[[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/what-is-ofcom/corporate-responsibility/diversity-and-equality|OFCOM's policy on Gender and Diversity]]</callout>+Some places to start with this include looking for gender-disaggregated national statistics on communication network access as well as any research into gender and ICTs in your country. 
 + 
 +It is also worth looking directly at the communication regulator.  Are women equally represented in senior management?  Does the regulator have a gender policy and/or strategy? 
 + 
 +  *  number of men in senior management at regulator  ''regMen'' 
 +  *  number of women in senior management at regulator ''regWomen'' 
 +</del> 
 +<callout type="success" icon="true"> 
 +  * [[https://www.apc.org/sites/default/files/uganda-s-ict-laws-from-a-gender-perspective.pdf | Uganda's ICT Laws and Policies from a Gender Perspective, 2016]] 
 +  * [[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/what-is-ofcom/corporate-responsibility/diversity-and-equality|UK regulator's policy on Gender and Diversity]] 
 + 
 +</callout>
  
 ===== Universal Service ===== ===== Universal Service =====
  
-  * Point to universal service policies and obligations. +Universal Service in telecommunications refers to the policy of providing some level of service to all citizens.  Recognising that the private sector cannot be relied to provide services in remote, low-income, and/or sparsely populated areas that may not generate sufficient turnover to match their business models, universal service initiatives were designed to incentivise / subsidence the build-out of telecommunications infrastructure in underserved regions.  This usually takes them form of a fund which is created through a levy on existing national network operators as some percentage of their turnover.  This fund is sometimes operated by the regulator, or by government or by a semi-independent entity.  In particular it would be useful to detail the processes and timing and qualification criteria for accessing universal service funds.
-  * Have Universal Services funds been used to support community networks?  How?+
  
-Does  your Country offer support for local entrepreneurs that are  implementing sustainable business models for the development of rural communications, either through the Universal Service Fund or other initiatives?+Another way in which universal service policies may manifest themselves is in coverage obligations attached to operator licenses, often to spectrum licenses purchased at auction. You may wish to list them here or in the spectrum licensing section and provide a link/pointer here.
  
-// As said, not sure about this... I would add them in different parts of the document... //+In this part of the profile, you should point to national universal service policies and obligations.  In particular, it would be worth investigating whether universal services funds been used to support community networks in your country.  If so, how.
  
- * Obligations where they belong, (in the case of SA they are part of the spectrum licensing framework, I would add them to "administrative requirements" +Does your Country offer support for local entrepreneurs that are implementing sustainable business models for the development of rural communications, either through the Universal Service Fund or other initiatives?
- * contributions to the fund where they belong, (In the case of SA they are part of the licensing framework, I would add them in "other administrative costs" +
- * opportunities to apply for them, where they belong. (as mentioned, it would be interesting to list some sort of potential sources of funding) +
  
-If you want to keep this section, maybe just an introduction on the top about their nature, and the agency, agencies that manage each of the different aspects about, and then refer to the potential sections where they might be included. +<callout type="success" icon="true"> 
 +  * [[http://www.usaasa.org.za/about/index.html | Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA)]] 
 + 
 +</callout>
  
 ===== Cooperatives ===== ===== Cooperatives =====
 +
 +The [[https://www.ica.coop/en/cooperatives/cooperative-identity | International Cooperative Alliance defines cooperatives]] as an “autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.”  Cooperatives can be a powerful organisation model for telecommunications networks, especially in underserved regions.  In this section, you should identify cooperative legislation and any associated documentation or resources available to cooperatives.  Also, if there are existing telecommunications and/or broadband cooperatives in your country, please link to them here.
  
 <callout type="question" icon="true"> <callout type="question" icon="true">
-  * Does cooperative legislation exist? +  * [[http://www.kenyalaw.org/kl/fileadmin/pdfdownloads/Acts/Co-operativeSocietiesActCap490.pdf | Kenya Co-operatives Societies Act]]  
-  * Are there tax relief / incentives available for cooperatives? +  * [[https://b4rn.org.uk/ | Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN)]] in Lancaschire, UK 
-  * Are there any limitations on cooperatives providing telecom/internet?+  * [[http://zenzeleni.net/ | Zenzeleni Co-operative]] in the Eastern Cape of South Africa
 </callout> </callout>
  
 ===== Resources / References ===== ===== Resources / References =====
  
-  * Other relevant web resources, reports, analysis.+This last section is optional and can be used to point to additional national resources or information that is relevant to community networks and/or small-scale operators that is not captured in the above categories.
  
 ---- ----
 == Coding examples == == Coding examples ==
  
-This could be used to frame specific questions that should be asked+Within the wiki you can use this special formatting comments to highlight particularly important information, relevant examples or questions that should be asked.  
  
 <callout type="tip" icon="true">This could be for hints / tips / tricks on finding information, what to look for etc.</callout> <callout type="tip" icon="true">This could be for hints / tips / tricks on finding information, what to look for etc.</callout>
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 ---- struct data ---- ---- struct data ----
 +countryprofile.regName : 
 +countryprofile.regAcronym : 
 +countryprofile.regUrl : 
 +countryprofile.regTwitter : 
 +countryprofile.regEmail : 
 +countryprofile.minName : 
 +countryprofile.minAcronym : 
 +countryprofile.minUrl : 
 +countryprofile.minTwitter : 
 +countryprofile.minEmail : 
 ---- ----