February 2008 - Mongolia Universal Access Tenders.

Intelecon is currently assisting the Mongolian Universal Service Obligation Fund to conclude three tenders comprising the main 2008 roll-out of its universal access program supported under the World Bank’s Infrastructure & Communications Infrastructure Project (ICIDP). The program comprises three projects, namely 1) mobile base stations and voice telephony services in 90 soum (district) centres; 2) Broadband Internet POPs, with public access centres and school Internet connections, in 30 Soum Centres; and 3) Semi-fixed satellite-based public access telephones in the very remote nomadic herder communities of 76 soums. Tender closing for the mobile base stations was on 13th February 2008, and the two other projects will follow on early in the Spring.

A paper describing the successful pilot projects which initiated the program and were implemented last year has just been published by the Global Partnership on Output based Aid (GPOBA) and is available on the GPOBA website at http://www.gpoba.org/news/news.asp?id=85

October 2007 - Intelecon supporting m-banking in Pakistan

Intelecon and Fincon Services, Canada are technical advisors to the Government of Pakistan on an Asian Development Bank (ADB) project to support the the improvement of m-banking in Pakistan. This is part of a TA being implemented by FINCON for improving access to financial services for the poor.  Intelecon and FINCON are investigating appropriate m-banking applications, regulatory frameworks for mobile technologies, and partnerships for financial service delivery and business opportunities. Specific focus is on analyses of systems and options for promising technology applications and innovations that include mobile money transfer, Point of Sale (POS) terminals and VSAT applications.

May 2007 - Intelecon developing Module 4 of ICT Regulation Toolkit

Intelecon has been retained to develop Module 4 for the online ICT Regulation Toolkit—a web-based tool being produced by infoDev in cooperation with the ITU.

The goal of the Toolkit is to assist ICT policy makers and regulators, primarily in developing countries, and the focus of Module 4 is Universal Access (UA), a central area of Intelecon’s expertise.  Specifically, Module 4 will provide guidance in the design, assessment, and implementation of universal service, access or coverage initiatives. Aside from defining and outlining the key elements of UA, Intelecon will, among other things, highlight the key role that regulatory reform plays in promoting UA and describe the impact made upon UA by such factors as licensing, interconnection, tariff regulation and spectrum management practices. 

Gallatin Communications has reported on this project in their ICT Standardization report: article20070513

November 2006 - Intelecon providing support for Mongolia UA Program

Intelecon has been retained by the World Bank, through competitive tender, to provide the technical, economic and legal support for rolling out Mongolia’s Universal Access (UA) program. Intelecon previously carried out a thorough sector review and helped to develop the country’s UA Policy, investment strategy and the regulatory design of the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). The UA program involves a two-pronged communications approach: a nation-wide public voice telephony network to provide communications access for the nomadic herder communities who inhabit areas which are largely remote from the existing telecommunications networks; and a prioritised program of integrated broadband and private voice access networks in district (“soum”) centres. The latter includes public access to the Internet as well as Internet access for schools in all soum centres served. Intelecon also provided management services to implement three pilot projects designed to prove the viability of the UA program. The program support consultancy now requires Intelecon to assist with finalisation of the UA targets, the development of the UA projects, the subsidy tender program and monitoring the implementation of the program.

October 2006 - Intelecon completes GSMA Universal Access study

Intelecon Research & Consultancy Ltd. has completed a benchmarking study commissioned by  the GSM Association on the contributions of GSM operators around the world to Universal Access (UA) and Universal Service (US). The objective was to place the current GSM coverage levels, and the services provided, within the context of UA and US policy targets. The analysis included a sophisticated GIS based model in which Intelecon superimposed GSM coverage data published by the operators onto highly accurate population distribution data. The study benchmarked the entire world for population and geographic mobile coverage, as well as subscriber penetration. A sample of 92 emerging market and developing countries from all regions was then used for further analysis, as well as twelve detailed country case profiles.

The study demonstrated that GSM operators currently cover more than 80% of the world’s population and that this will reach 90% commercially by the end of the decade. Intelecon created a set of graphics illustrating the achievements country by country and region by region.

Intelecon also investigated and demonstrated the extent to which the mobile operators, GSM in particular, are making commercially available private access affordable to virtually whole populations. The report found that they are reaching close to the universal service targets that have been established in many developing countries, including the options for data transmission in many urban markets. Intelecon also documented and addressed the multiple challenges both operators and regulators face in reaching the most rural areas. Business models and commercial and regulatory barrier-removal measures for achieving further progress were investigated and presented. The issues and available technical options for Internet service provision and public access were also investigated and summarised. 

Finally, Intelecon thoroughly investigated the experience with universal access policy and universal service funding mechanisms. Based on the research, we summarised the unacceptably low level of success in re-distributing UA levies back to the sector to subsidise targeted UA projects and programs. We also studied and presented the lessons learned from the best and worst case examples. While considering the potential of mobile operators to make a significant contribution to the achievement of universal access, the report emphasised the role of UA policy and the various strategic approaches and measures which should be considered in the future by Governments, regulators and operators.

The full consulting report, together with an executive summary produced by the GSMA, were presented at the GSMA World Congress Asia 2006 in Singapore in October 2006. Both documents are available for download at http://www.gsmworld.com/universalaccess/index.shtml.

The GSMA is a global trade association representing more than 690 GSM mobile phone operators across 214 territories and countries of the world. In addition, more than 180 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association’s initiatives as associate members

October 2006 - Intelecon partners in E3 Project to develop eGovernment in the Philippines
Intelecon is a joint partner with BearingPoint Canada in the five-year Electronic Governance for Efficiency and Effectiveness (E3) Project in the Philippines. Funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the goal of the E3 is to increase the awareness of the national government about the value and use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in the social services sector. Intelecon’s Sonja Oestmann, the project’s ICT Infrastructure and Market Specialist, and Scott McConnell, the Rural ICT Development Specialist, completed a two-week inception mission to the Philippines in October as part of the initial four month Project Inception Phase.

September 2006 - Intelecon retained for regulatory development in Mongolia

Intelecon has been retained by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Government of Mongolia to provide wide-ranging policy and regulatory support on the implementation of the country’s new telecommunications sector policy and privatisation strategy. The project includes a major training program for the national regulator, the Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC), which has already been completed; the drafting of new regulations and regulatory decision-making procedures and tools; the drawing up of the country’s detailed regulatory policy and implementation strategy; the provision of support tariff and interconnection regulation; and the drafting of all relevant legal revisions and regulatory instruments. The project also includes a complete review of the CRC’s internal management, structure, human resources, revenue sources and budget, and the preparation of recommendations for change and development in the context of the new demands on CRC to oversee Mongolia’s new sector policy.

Intelecon has assembled and is leading a team which includes, in addition to its own internal resources, a number of associates who are senior, internationally recognised experts. The project duration is approximately twelve months. The project will involve many client and public workshops, building consensus at all stages of the project.     

September 2006 - Intelecon advises on UA Policy in Malawi

Intelecon was awarded a World Bank competitive tender to provide expertise to the Government of Malawi for the project, Creating the Enabling Policy, Legal, Regulatory and Institutional Environment for Improved Access to ICT services in under-served Areas in Malawi. Intelecon, with its local associate, New Horizon Consultancy (NHC) of Blantyre, is providing consultancy services to develop a Universal Access Policy and prepare the required legal and regulatory documents to support a pilot project that is to be funded in part by a proposed Rural Telecommunications Development Fund. While Malawi has a mobile population coverage of 85-90%, penetration is at only 4.1%.

August 2006 - Intelecon assesses the Rural Telephone Project of Nigeria

Intelecon was contracted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to assess the overall program plans of a micro-credit based telecommunications network in Nigeria, to determine its suitability for investment. The Rural Telephone Project (RTP) is proposed as a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by Africa’s largest GSM operator, MTN Nigeria. Intelecon participated in a project scoping mission to Nigeria and provided the IFC with strategic operational recommendations for the RTP and a detailed financial model to help determine its viability and sustainability.

Intelecon supports UA pilot projects in Mongolia
Intelecon is working with the Government of Mongolia (GOM) to support the implementation of two Universal Access pilot projects in Arkhangai and Bayankhongor aimags (provinces). Intelecon's responsibilities in this initiative include conducting a Cost/Benefit Analysis of the pilot programs; and supporting the Subsidy bidding process, including finalization of tender dossiers, evaluating bids, and developing and implementing the monitoring and certification process. This World Bank funded project is an extension of a previous project completed for the GOM by Intelecon in 2004, which involved the creation of a UA strategy and institution to manage that country's Universal Service Funds program.

Intelecon advises Nigeria on Universal Access routes.
Intelecon has completed work for Nigeria's telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), creating a short list of potential transmission route candidates to receive financial support under the pilot program, Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF). Utilizing a financial model to investigate the feasibility of 24 potential projects, Intelecon determined how to select the best candidates for piloting under the USPF program. This work will lead to the tendering of two pilot projects to operators in 2006. Intelecon's experience with Nigeria's regulatory environment dates back to 2003. Nigeria is Africa's most dynamic telecommunications market, with approximately 19.8 million phone users and teledensity levels that rank among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.

Intelecon designs network strategy in Iran.
Intelecon is assisting Monenco Iran Consulting Engineers with the development of a comprehensive telecommunications network plan for the Khouzestan Regional Electric Company (KZREC) in Iran. The network will handle both control and communications for the electrical distribution system, as well as the potential provision of telecommunications carrier and corporate network backhaul services.

Intelecon completes rural demand study in Mozambique.

Intelecon completed a detailed telecommunications and ICT demand study in 27 rural and semi-urban localities across six districts in Zambézia province, Mozambique. The month-long study was part of Intelecon's work with its local partner, Austral Consultoria e Projectos, Lda (Austral), to provide consulting services to the Government of Mozambique (GoM) in the development of a strategy for universal access (UA) to telecommunications in the rural areas of the country. Researchers visited the districts of Gurue, Mocuba, Alto Molocue, Namacurra, Pebane and Namarroi. In addition to the demand study, the World Bank funded project includes drafting a Universal Access policy and strategy; and managing the launch a pilot project that will introduce a competitive tendering process for operators to receive a subsidy for the provision of UA services.

The study was designed and managed by Intelecon, and conducted in partnership with Austral. Zambézia province was selected by the GOM as the pilot project region based on the recommendations of Intelecon, which had created a dynamic financial model to identify those areas in the country that would require a one-time subsidy to ensure the delivery of telecommunications infrastructure and services. Following the completion of the study, the data outputs would provide even more detailed information to further enhance the accuracy of the financial model.

Three categories of localities were targeted during the study:

• Rural Administrative Posts and villages without access to any telephone services;
• District Centres which did not have any private telephone services available; and
• Administrative posts and villages with access to public and private telephony, and, in some cases, Internet services.

Intelecon led a comprehensive training program with nine Austral researchers in Zambézia's provincial capital, Quelimane, located 1,500 km north of Maputo. Following a thorough review of the questionnaires and other survey tools by the research team, pre-testing was conducted in two localities outside of Quelimane. Following this, Intelecon reviewed the outputs of the pre-tests, held discussions with the researchers made the necessary changes that were required prior to departing for the pilot zone area. The study began in the District Centre of Pebane, located approximately 300 km to the north of Quelimane.

A total of 640 household and business/institution questionnaires were conducted during the course of the study, with representation from areas without any phone services (15 localities); those without private phones (6 localities); and those with existing public and private telephone services (6 localities). Respondents represented a cross section of individuals from household and business/institutions in each community.

Among the many interesting results from the surveys in the pilot zone were the following:

• 38.5% of the respondents in areas with existing public and private telecommunications access reported that they had used a telephone before; 7% of the same sample reported owning their own mobile phone;
• 36% of household respondents in areas with access to phone services reported having previously used a computer. Of that group, 17% reported having used the Internet, and 25% reported having previously used email;
• 53% of business/institution respondents in areas with access to phone services reported having previously used a computer. 46% of that group reported having used the Internet, while 50% had reportedly used email; and
• Just 2.6% of business respondents in rural areas without access to telecommunication services reported owning their own mobile phone that they would use in areas with cellular coverage; less than 1% of rural household respondents reported the same.

Overall, those respondents who reported using the telephone reported that they currently spend approximately 11% of their income on phone calls. When respondents living in areas without telecom services were asked how much they would be willing to spend each month in the future if such services were installed in their communities, the average response amounted to approximately 10% of their income. International research conducted by Intelecon and others has found that the range of percentage of income reportedly spent by phone users can range anywhere from 2% to 15% and more.

July 2005 – Results from the largest demand survey in Nigeria


          A household interview in a village             A small business interview in an urban centre

Partners for the nation-wide                   Group photo with NCC senior staff, Intelecon's
demand study: Sonja Oestmann              Sonja Oestmann, Fola Odufuwa, the MD of e-Shekels
(Intelecon) & Fola Odufuwa                     & the entire Nigerian demand research team
(e-Shekels)

In the country which most symbolizes Africa’s growing telecommunications market, Intelecon has completed the largest survey of telecommunications demand in unserved urban and rural locations ever undertaken in Africa. The results will be used by Intelecon, in consultation with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to help refine the design of the country’s universal access program and to identify further pilot investment projects for the Universal Service Provision Fund. The study is part of a World Bank sponsored technical assistance project. The study covers 24 of the country’s 36 states, in every region of the country. The survey team has conducted more than 5,000 interviews, both household and business/institutions, in 24 urban and 48 semi-urban locations and 72 rural villages. Intelecon designed the survey to identify demand, affordability and user preferences, and it was executed with the assistance of its local associate, the country’s leading market research firm, eShekels Limited.
Brief report of result highlights.

July 2005 – Intelecon completes Project Review of Village Phone concept for the IFC
Intelecon has completed a Project Review of the MTN Uganda villagePhone program for the Small and Medium Enterprise Department (SME) of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The six week project involved a review of the progress of the VP program in Uganda since its inception in 2003, and the identification of recommendations and strategies which the IFC could use to replicate the VP brand across Africa and other developing regions of the world. The Project Review was conducted as an internal process for the IFC, which was a financial contributor to the Grameen Foundation USA (GFUSA)’s VP replication program.

The VP model is based upon the now famous program in Bangladesh that linked the Grameen Bank’s micro-credit approaches to development with GrameenPhone, a sister company of the Bank, that had an interest in expanding its rural network throughout the country. The VP program in Bangladesh began in 1997 and has grown to over 125,000 village phone operators (VPOs), 99% of whom are women. Each VPO is drawn from the Grameen Bank membership, and agrees to accept a small loan which is used to buy VP equipment kits, which consist of a GSM handset, a car battery to act as a power source, a yagi antenna to enable the phone to capture the mobile signals from the nearest transmission tower, and advertising signage. With these kits, the women become VPOs in their communities and earn revenue from their clientele making phone calls. This revenue is used to pay down their loans and support their families. The VP model established in Bangladesh has been attempted In Uganda and Nigeria in recent years.

Intelecon’s recommendations for the IFC focused on the need to champion VP proponents across Africa and elsewhere in order to facilitate external support and funding for these initiatives. Intelecon also concluded that the experience in Uganda has brought to light many differences between the original Bangladesh model and models more suited for Africa. Intelecon has proposed a number of alternative models for consideration apart from the models already in place in Bangladesh and Uganda. These alternative models would provide a greater choice of operational styles, VPO selection criteria and objectives to match the diverse and highly competitive telecom environments found across the continent and in other parts of the developing world.

June 2005 – Intelecon shares perspectives of Village Phone experiences at World Bank seminar
Andy Dymond and Scott McConnell recently participated in a World Bank seminar held in Washington, D.C., on the topic of the Grameen Village Phone model in Africa. The June 22 event was sponsored by a number of organizations within the World Bank, including the IFC Capacity Building Facility, infoDev, GICT and CGAP. Intelecon’s presentation followed a VP program overview delivered by Mr. David Keogh, the Technical Manager for Grameen Technology Center, which oversees the operations of the VP operations in Uganda. Intelecon presented its perspectives on the Village Phone rural telephony model currently being deployed in Uganda, and the opportunities and challenges for replicating the model in other parts of the world.

In his presentation, Andy Dymond, the Managing Director of Intelecon, identified a number of potential issues and challenges to be considered under the guise of a wider replication of the program across several African countries. Among the issues raised were:

1. Recognising the uniqueness of each potential VP environment. The importance of recreating and adapting the VP model to fit the radically different telecom and socio-economic environments that exist from country to country was empasized as a key first step towards the growth of the VP market;
2. Recognising that the scenario of telecom monopoly environments in Bangladesh will not be found in Africa. Uganda’s competitive marketplace has posed significant challenges for the sustainability and viability of the VP business model. If VP is to be a brand that can be launched across Africa, its future proponents countries must be prepared to adapt and modify their model to other similarly dynamic marketplaces throughout Africa and other developing nations;
3. Need for substantial funding support. In its current form, the VP model requires significant investor funds to replicate the program on a country-by-country basis. A challenge for the model will be to identify the donors and investors willing to support the program in the future, both in terms of funding for country assessments and pre-deployment activities, and return on investment funding for the operational side of the VP program; and
4. Time sensitivity of future replication program. Intelecon emphasized that the opportunities for VP replication across the African continent are extremely time sensitive owing to a number of factors, including:

• private sector operators will not wait for the donor community to organize itself for rural telecom investments; and
• the telecom environments in African countries are developing rapidly and becoming more competitive, thereby reducing the likelihood that operators would be willing control their rural customer growth to one particular clientele only (i.e. rural women, or rural MFI members, etc.).

Intelecon’s participation in the World Bank seminar coincided with a separate presentation made to the IFC of their preliminary findings of a Project Review of the Uganda VP program. The study assessed current practices in the Uganda business model and identified potential replication models that could be deployed in the future in Africa and other developing countries.

May 2005 – Burkina Faso rural demand study

Intelecon is finalizing the results of a rural demand study that was concluded in mid-April in 12 localities in the South-west region of Burkina Faso. A team of five researchers worked in the region for approximately 2 weeks conducting interviews using the Intelecon designed survey tools and methodology. The team was led by local ICT NGO, Yam Pukri, which is charged with executing the field work for Intelecon. Scott McConnell joined the team in the field for the first week to supervise their overall progress.

A total of 319 household and small business interviews were conducted in as many as four different local languages to assess citizens’ demands for telecommunication services. Eight localities were based in areas that were outside of telecommunication coverage, and four were in areas where telephone access was available. The results of the study will be used to refine the strategy for the nationwide competitive tender for issuing Universal Access (UA) authorizations in rural areas of the country. The South-west region will not only be the first region to test the new UA strategy, but it is also the first project to be funded by the Government’s Universal Service Fund. Intelecon is partnered with legal firm McCarthy Tétrault on this World Bank funded project.

February 2005 – Mongolian team visits Peru for learning experience

Intelecon has worked with both the Governments of Peru and Mongolia to assist with the countries’ universal access and rural communications’ program. The Peruvian regulator, OSIPTEL, now has more than five years experience with the planning and implementation of rural communications services through its FITEL Telecommunications Investment Fund. The Mongolian Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) will soon implement its first pilot projects with the help of World Bank financial support. As part of its assistance to Mongolia, Intelecon organized a study tour during February to Peru. An eight person team, including a Parliamentarian who is a member of the national ICT committee, three senior Government officials, and the Chairman of the Communications Regulatory Commission were hosted by OSIPTEL President, Sr. Edwin San Roman and his staff. In addition to meetings in Lima, the team visited several rural sites, including Andean village payphones, telecentres and schools served by satellite VSAT terminals, as well as rural agricultural information centres connected together by a Wi-Fi wireless network. Intelecon’s Managing Director, Andrew Dymond, was also present for the one week visit. In summary, Sr. San Roman stated: “It was a pleasure to receive the Mongolian Delegation and we hope that our experience can help them to build a very successful universal access program in Mongolia.”

January saw the commencement of the universal access consultancy project in Africa. Mozambique has a Universal Service Fund established in its new Law on Telecommunications. In December 2004, the Government negotiated a contact with Intelecon to assist with refining its policy and strategy for universal access to ICT and rural telecommunications development. The assistance will include development of a pilot project to commence the Universal Service Fund’s investment activities. Two of our senior consultants visited Mozambique in January to carry out the initial study of existing structures, the current situation with the telecommunications infrastructure and services, and the opportunities for service provision in rural areas. The first report was delivered March 10th. A first draft strategy will be produced in April, with a seminar involving the Government’s policy group, followed by a stakeholder workshop. Field demand studies in at least one regional area and rural communities will be carried out in May and June.