Icts for the Benefit of All

34th Annual Conference

Luanda, Angola

30th April – 2nd May 2014

FINAL MINUTES

ICTs for the Benefit of All

Transforming our Society through Broadband and ICTs Developments

FINAL MINUTES

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS’ MEETING

2nd May 2014

ÓSATA2014

POLICY AND STRATEGY

1. NEW PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES FROM MATTERS ARISING FROM THE 33RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE

POLICY ISSUES

1.1 NON-PARTICIPATING MEMBERS IN SATA PROGRAMMES

NOTED 1:

SATA Secretariat has been communicating with all those SATA Members who are not effectively participating in SATA Events includingAfricom Zimbabwe, Angola Telecom,Movicelof Angola, Société Congolaise des Postes et Télécommunications (SCPT) of DRC, and Telecom Malagasy (TELMA) of Madagascar.

NOTED 2:

The Société Congolaise des Postes et Télécommunications (SCPT) of the Democratic Republic of Congo is now on board and managed to send a high level delegation to attend the SATA Regional Workshop on Terrestrial Backhaul and Submarine Networks in September 2013 in Maun, Botswana.

NOTED 3:

It is through this communication that Angola Telecom accepted to host the 34th SATA Annual Conference. Also Movicel of Angola was approached and demonstrated its commitment to honour its obligations as member and is participating in this conference.

AGREED 1:

It is recommended to the Chief Executive Officers to strongly encourage all Members to attend SATA approved and organised events.

The Chief Executive Officers considered and approved the above recommendation.

1.2 MARKETING AND BRANDING OF SATA

NOTED 4:

A Marketing and Branding Task Team chaired by Econet Telecom Lesotho was established by the SATA Chief Executive Officers at the 32nd SATA Annual Conference in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania in 2012. The members included Telkom South Africa, TTCL, TDM, MTL and Tel•One. During the 33rd SATA Annual Conference in Livingstone, Zambia in 2013, it was agreed to add two more members to the Team namely ZAMTEL and Angola Telecom and the Team’s mandate was extended to 30th November 2013.

NOTED 5:

Until now, the Task Team on Marketing and Branding has not yet come up with the Branding and Marketing Strategy as directed.

AGREED 2:

It is recommended to the Chief Executive Officers to reconstitute the Team and extend its mandate to 31st March 2015.

AGREED 3:

It is further recommended that the task team be chaired by the host of the conferencewhere all members will participate and will come up with their terms of reference which shall be premised on and not limited to looking at general incentives for being a Member of SATA to attract new membership.

The Chief Executive Officers considered and approved the above recommendations.

1.3 SATA – SAPP PARTNERSHIP

NOTED 6:

SATA Secretariat was mandated by the Chief Executive Officers of SATA to formalise the relationship with Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the guidelines and partnership of sharing of infrastructure. SATA drafted the MoU and sent to SAPP Secretariat in August 2013.

NOTED 7:

The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) is to provide their comments and responseto the Draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

AGREED 4:

It is recommended to the Chief Executive Officers to extend the Secretariat’s mandate to continue negotiating with Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) on infrastructure sharing for backbone capacity and access, and finalise the Memorandum of Understanding during the financial year 2014/2015.

AGREED 5:

It is recommended to the Chief Executive Officers that SATA Secretariat should participate in the next SAPP infrastructure meeting and make a presentation on the benefits of sharing capacity and get feedback regarding the signing of the MoU.

The Chief Executive Officers considered and approved the above recommendations.

1.4 LAND – LINKED/LOCKED BACKHAUL TASK TEAM

NOTED 8:

At the 32nd SATA Conference in 2012 in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania; a Land-linked/Locked Backhaul Task Team chaired by SPTC to look at the connectivity challenges for the land-linked/locked countries to Submarine Cable Landing stations was established. The other members of this group included BTCL, TelOne, ZAMTEL, MTL,ETL,TTCL, Telecom Namibia, Telkom South Africa and TDM.

NOTED 9:

The Backhaul Task Team has not yet developed the Guidelines on Land-linked countries’ connectivity to the submarine cable landing stations.

NOTED 10:

At their meeting in May 2013 in Maseru, Lesotho, the SADC ICTs Ministers directed the SADC Secretariat in conjunction with SATA and CRASA to work on the development of Guidelines on Access to Submarine Cables by the Land-linked (formerly called landlocked) countries. The Ministers urged the SADC Secretariat to make sure that the Guidelines are ready for approval at their next meeting in May/June 2014.

AGREED 6:

As the mandate to work on the development of the Guidelines on Land-linked countries’ connectivity to the submarine cable landing stations is now with the SADC Secretariat and its Institutions, it is recommended to the Chief Executive Officers to dissolve the Land-linked Backhaul Task Team and its mandate with immediate effect.

AGREED 7:

It is also recommended to the Chief Executive Officersto urge the SATA Secretariat to fully be involved in the development of the Guidelines on Land-linked countries’ connectivity to the submarine cable landing stations as directed by the Ministers.

AGREED 8:

It is further recommended to the Chief Executive Officers that upon completion, submission to the Ministers and approval of the Guidelines for the Land-linked countries’ connectivity to the submarine cable landing stations, the SATA Secretariat shouldcirculate the approved Guidelines to the SATA Members.

The Chief Executive Officers considered and approved the above recommendations.

1.5 SATA – SAPOA MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

NOTED 11:

The aim of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is to jointly promote initiatives for the development programmes serving both SATA and SAPOA and their members within the scope pertaining to the activities of the two Parties. This MoU further seeks to promote and develop collaborative training programmes run by SATA and SAPOA within their areas of competences.

NOTED 12:

The Southern African Postal Operators Association (SAPOA) is a Regional Association of postal operators and couriers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The main objective of SAPOA is to coordinate the development of the Postal Sector. The headquarters of SAPOA is in Pretoria, South Africa.

NOTED 13:

Considering the historical background of Posts and Telecommunications that they have been a tool of the utmost importance in both the electronic and physical communication between peoples and the development of societies within the atmosphere of not only progress but also their well-being, the two parties decided that there was need to have a guiding document on cooperation. The MoU was signed in August 2013.

AGREED 9:

It is recommended to the Chief Executive Officers to commend SATA Secretariat for this realisation and urge it to observe the terms of the SATA – SAPOA Memorandum of Understanding and implement them accordingly.

The Chief Executive Officers considered and approved the above recommendation.

1.6 ICT TECHNOLOGY PARK PROJECT

NOTED 14:

During the 33rd SATA Conference in Livingstone, Zambia in 2013, the Chief Executive Officers approved the establishment and construction of a SATA ICT Technology Park. Also at the same venue, it was agreed that a Task Team be appointed to spearhead this project. However, the Task Team has not yet had been appointed.

AGREED 10:

It is recommended to the Chief Executive Officers to appoint a task team comprising of one representative from each of the SATA Member Operators to spearhead this proposal following a phased growth plan taking into account existing or planned national ICTs Parks. The task team will be chaired by the host of this Annual Conference.

The Chief Executive Officers considered and approved the above recommendation.

2. NEW PROGRAMMES AND ACTITIVIES FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN 2013/2014– POLICY ISSUES

These new programmes are the outcomes of the Annual Action Plan for the year 2013/2014 as approved by the Chief Executive Officers of SATA. The Outcomes, Action Plan and Recommendations are drawn from the discussions of the various sessions as well as documents, presentations and contributions made during the plenary sessions of the meetings and workshops.

2.1 SADC MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS, POSTAL AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES MEETING

The objective of this meeting of ministers is to consider, note and make common decisions on matters pertaining to telecommunications, information and communication technologies and postal services in the SADC Region as presented by SADC Senior Officialscompiled from reports by SADC Secretariat and SADC Specialised Institutions namely SATA, CRASA and SAPOA.

NOTED 15:

2.1.1 The meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for telecommunications, postal and information and communication technologies (ICTs) took place at Lesotho Sun Hotel in Maseru, Lesotho from 20th – 24th May 2013.

NOTED 16:

2.1.2 Opening Remarks were given by the Chairman of the National Communications Regulatory Body of Mozambique (INCM) and the Director of Infrastructure and Services of the SADC Secretariat.

2.1.3 Following the opening remarks, the meeting of the Senior Officials was officially opened by the acting Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology of the Government of Lesotho.

2.1.4 Following the official opening, a Vote of Thanks was given by Malawi, the DeputyChairperson of SADC.

NOTED 17:

2.1.5 The meeting of ministers was preceded by a three day meeting of SADC Senior Officials who went through and discussed the draft annotated agenda submitted by the SADC Secretariat. The final Annotated Agenda was prepared and submitted to the Ministers for their noting, consideration and decision making.

2.1.6 The SADC Senior Officials comprise of experts from Member States drawn from the sector ministry and national regulatory bodies and SADC Policy and Infrastructure Implementing Agencies/Institutions namely SATA, CRASA and SAPOA.

2.1.7 In line with the decision of Council relating to the Institutional Structures to implement the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP) and the Ministers’ decisions, the SADC ICTs SCOM will be structured to review and monitor the implementation of the ICTs Short Term Action Plan (STAP) and report to the Ministers on the progress made. As such the SADC ICTs SCOM would meet twice a year.

NOTED 18:

2.1.8 The meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for Telecommunications, Postal and ICTs was officially opened by the Honourable Minister of Communications, Science and Technology of the Government of Lesotho.

2.1.9 Salient issues submitted to the meetingand discussed by the SADC ICTs Ministers included:

2.1.9.1 SADC Framework for Home and Away Roaming;

2.1.9.2 Spectrum, Radio Planning, Management and Allocation;

2.1.9.3 Review of SADC Frequency Allocation Plan;

2.1.9.4 Frequency Spectrum for Mobile and Fixed Broadband Services;

2.1.9.5 Status of Implementation of the SADC Digital Broadcasting Migration;

2.1.9.6 SADC Digital TV Bouquet Channel;

2.1.9.7 SADC Harmonised Cyber-Security Legal Frame;

2.1.9.8 SADC Region Information Infrastructure (SRII) Project;

2.1.9.9 SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP)-ICTs Chapter;

2.1.9.10 Digital Connecting SADC Broadband Investment Facility (DCSBIF);

2.1.9.11 Establishment of the SADC Conformity and Interoperability Test Centre; and

2.1.9.12 SADC Regional Postal Services Development.

NOTED 19:

2.1.10 The SADC Guidelines on Transparency in the implementation of the SADC Home and Away Roaming Project were endorsed by the ministers at this meeting.

2.1.11 Regarding facilitation of migration to Digital Terrestrial Transmission (DTT) the Ministers approved the setting up of a Project Management Office (PMO) whose experts are seconded from Angola, Botswana and South Africa. The funding is provided by these seconding Member States. The PMO will exist until December 2015 for the purpose of advising, monitoring, evaluation, coordination and reporting.

NOTED 20:

2.1.12 The Ministers further approved the setting up of SADC ICTs Observatory which will be supported financially by UNECA. The Ministers also approved the Terms of Reference pertaining to the establishment of this Unit.

2.1.13 The Ministers directed the SADC Secretariat in conjunction with SATA and CRASA to work on the development of Guidelines on Access to Submarine Cable Landing Stations by the Land-linked (formerly called landlocked) countries. The Ministers urged the SADC Secretariat to make sure that the Guidelines are ready for approval at their next meeting in May/June 2014.

NOTED 21:

2.1.14 An extraordinary meeting of SADC ICTs Ministers was held in November 2013 to discuss on salient issues including affordability of ICTs infrastructure and services. The extraordinary meeting was held back-to-back with the SADC Postal Strategy Conference in 2013 in South Africa.

NOTED 22:

2.1.15 The Ministers observed with concerns on open ended “good” initiatives and directed the SADC Secretariat to ensure that all initiatives are given a milestone i.e. implementation timeframe.

NOTED 23:

2.1.16 The Ministers approved the setting up of Digital Connecting SADC Broadband Investment Facility (DCSBIF).

NOTED 24:

2.1.17 The next meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for telecommunications, postal and ICTs will take place in Malawi in May/June 2014 at the kind invitation of the Government of Malawi.

AGREED 11:

The Chief Executive Officers are invited to note and urge the SATA Secretariat to make a follow up in the interest of its members on the processes and outcomes of the SADC Guidelines on Transparency in the implementation of the SADC Home and Away Roaming Project as endorsed by the Ministers in Maseru in May 2013.

AGREED12:

It is further recommended to the Chief Executive Officersto note and urge SATA Secretariat and the whole membership to ensure that all actionable items are given an implementation timeframe as directed by the Ministers in Maseru in May 2013.

AGREED 13:

It is also recommended to the Chief Executive Officers to urge SATA Members that those people appointed to implement the various tasks and action items do so and deliver the required outcomes within the timeframe of the action item.

AGREED 14:

It is further recommended to the Chief Executive Officers to commend SATA Secretariat on its contribution made to the Ministers’ meeting and urge the Secretariat to continue attending these meetings and making contributions as and when necessary in the interest of its members.

The Chief Executive Officers considered and approved the above recommendations

2.2 THE SADC COORDINATION MEETING FOR THE GENEVA AGREEMENT OF 2006 (GE06) ON FREQUENCY PLAN MODIFICATION