Regulation, access and connectivity in Pacific Island states

Abstract

This chapter explores one of the essential pre-conditions of successful e-government implementation, a reliable and affordable telecommunications market, and considers whether an independent regulatory body overseeing a competitive telecommunications market is essential to achieving that outcome. The chapter discusses the primary regulatory principles that are necessary to support e-government and the functions of a telecommunications regulatory regime: price regulation, spectrum management, licensing, universal services and access, cybersecurity, competition and consumer protection. Based on these principles, national ICT policy areas that should be given priority are identified. The chapter then focuses on the economic situation facing Pacific Island countries (PICs) and its impact on telecommunications markets. It includes a simple study of the cost of supporting an independent ICT regulator indexed against population and gross domestic product. A number of other key issues emerge from this discussion: the affordability of regulation; connectivity (also a critical market issue for PICs); the management of international telecommunications gateways; and some issues related to regulations and markets affecting PICs. The chapter concludes with some comment on possible solutions that would assist PICs to develop robust telecommunications markets to support e-government and economic growth.