2009年-世界发展银行全球_Djibouti_-_Telecommunications_and_ICT_Diagnosis_and_Advocacy_Policy_Note___Mitigating_the_Opportunity_Cost_of_Status_Quo_25页_729kb

Summary of the Telecommunications and ICT Diagnosis and Advocacy Policy Note for Djibouti

Core Content

This document outlines the challenges and opportunities facing Djibouti's telecommunications and ICT sector, emphasizing the need for policy and regulatory reforms to enhance the sector's efficiency and competitiveness. It highlights the country's strategic position as a regional hub and the potential for growth through improved infrastructure and market liberalization.

Main Viewpoints

• Strategic Position: Djibouti's location as a gateway to the Red Sea and a key transit point for neighboring countries positions it as a potential regional ICT hub.
• Monopolistic Control: Djibouti Telecom (DT) holds a monopoly over all segments of the telecom sector (fixed, mobile, and internet), leading to inefficiencies and high costs.
• High Costs and Inefficiency: The sector suffers from high prices, poor quality of service, and inefficient resource management, which negatively impact social welfare and economic development.
• Infrastructure Development: Djibouti is investing in fiber optic and submarine cable projects, which could significantly enhance its position as an international ICT gateway.
• Need for Reform: The status quo is expected to result in substantial opportunity costs, including reduced fiscal revenues, inefficient use of resources, and the growth of illegal activities such as grey traffic and cybercrime.

Key Information

Current Status of the Sector

• Fixed Lines: 14,600 fixed lines as of June 30, 2008, with a fixed teledensity of 2.086%.
• Mobile Subscribers: 94,874 mobile phone subscribers, leading to a mobile teledensity of 13.553%.
• Internet Users: 3,869 narrowband and 1,517 broadband internet users, representing 0.553% and 0.217% of the population, respectively.
• Revenue: DT's turnover for 2007/2008 was 5,844 million FDJ, with a net result of 897 million FDJ (15% of turnover).
• ARPU: Average revenue per user (ARPU) was 9 USD for mobile and 26 USD for all services (fixed + mobile + internet).
• Debt: The state owes DT approximately 11 months of turnover, and debt service is estimated at 6 million USD annually from 2008 to 2015.

Challenges

• Monopoly and Inefficiency: DT's monopolistic behavior results in high prices, poor service quality, and low operational efficiency.
• Tariff Issues: Despite some tariff reductions, prices remain high compared to regional standards.
• Network Congestion: Operational bottlenecks, including poor spectrum management and limited numbering resources, have led to network saturation and congestion.
• Lack of Institutional Reform: The reform process has stalled, with no progress in privatization or regulatory independence.
• Regulatory Weakness: The Directorate of Posts and Telecommunications (DGCPT) is not functioning as an effective regulatory body.

Strategic Recommendations

1. Promote Competition

   • Open the mobile sector to competition to stimulate market growth, reduce prices, and improve service quality.
   • Address concerns of the government and DT regarding the removal of mobile monopoly by offering solutions for empowerment and fiscal revenue preservation.

2. Reinforce the Regulatory Body

   • Strengthen the DGCPT within the Ministry of Communication and Culture (MCCPT) to ensure effective regulation and monitoring.
   • Implement a new numbering plan and manage the frequency spectrum efficiently.
   • Initiate a national discussion to eliminate grey traffic and reduce illegal call termination.

3. Create an IXP and a POP

   • Establish an International Internet Exchange Point (IXP) and a Point of Presence (POP) to leverage the benefits of fiber optic infrastructure.
   • This will help in reducing costs, avoiding full international connectivity expenses, and enhancing security and fiscal oversight.

Opportunity Costs of the Status Quo

• Fiscal Revenues: Stranded revenues from licensing and taxes due to lack of competition.
• Sovereignty and Resources: Loss of state sovereignty over the Hertzian domain and inefficient use of scarce national resources.
• Security and Legal Issues: Rise in illegal VoIP (grey traffic) and cybercrime due to unregulated market practices.
• Market Development: Network saturation and congestion inhibit market growth and reduce the potential of the sector.
• Investor Attraction: The lack of a competitive environment reduces the country's attractiveness for private investment.

Conclusion

The document stresses that without significant reforms, Djibouti will not be able to fully capitalize on its strategic location and infrastructure investments. It advocates for a shift from monopolistic control to a competitive market structure, improved regulatory oversight, and the establishment of an IXP and POP to support the country's ambitions as an international ICT hub.