…places Nigeria behind Kenya, Egypt, Uganda, Congo Democratic Republic in telecom regulation
By MKPE ABANG
The International Telecommunication Union, ITU, has ranked Nigeria 13th in telecom regulation in Africa, behind Morocco, Ghana, Kenya and Egypt. This is in spite of the runaway successes recorded in telecom regulation in Nigeria in the last 16 years.
Other countries the ITU ranked ahead of Nigeria in the ‘ICT Regulatory Tracker 2017’ include Malawi, Uganda, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Tanzania, Congo Democratic Republic and Namibia.
In the ranking for 2017 under the ‘ICT Regulatory Tracker 2017’ just released, the ITU rated Morocco highest in Africa with a cumulative total score of 88.50 points on ratings spread across four clusters namely Regulatory Authority (18), Regulatory Mandate (19.50), Regulatory Regime (24) and Competition Framework (27).
Nigeria received the following scores on rating: Regulatory Authority (17), Regulatory Mandate (20), Regulatory Regime (20) and Competition Framework (21.33).
ITU is the United Nations specialised agency responsible for setting policy and guiding regulatory direction for the information and communication technologies globally. The agency is focused on “connecting all the world’s people – wherever they live and whatever their means” through its work, which it states protects and supports “everyone’s fundamental right to communicate.”
In the ranking, the 193-member agency scored Ghana 88.33 points to place in second position in Africa behind Morocco, while Kenya stood at third place with 87.50 points. Malawi and Uganda both garnered 86 points each, placing fourth and fifth, though equal points. Egypt scored 84.33 to place sixth while Botswana, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde scored 84 points to place seventh, eight and ninth, while Tanzania placed tenth with 80 points; even Congo Democratic Republic placed 11th with 79.33 points while Namibia placed 12th place in ranking with 79 points.
Nigeria placed 13th position with 78.33 points.
Senegal, Zambia, Mauritius, Gambia, Mauritania, Sudan and Zimbabwe were rated 77.67, 77.67, 76.33, 75.67, 75.00, 73.67 and 73.00 respectively, all ahead of South Africa, which received rating score of 70.67 points. The rating comes out of the ICT Regulatory Tracker used by the ITU to gauge the level of regulatory trends in the world.
The ITU stated that the “ICT Regulatory Tracker is an evidence-based tool to help decision-makers and regulators make sense of the rapid evolution of ICT regulation.”
It said the Tracker enables various analytical features to pinpoint the changes taking place in the CT regulatory environment. Using both quantitative and qualitative data, the Tracker makes possible benchmarking and the identification of trends in ICT legal and regulatory frameworks.
It likewise helps identify the gaps in existing regulatory frameworks, making the case for further regulatory reform towards achieving a vibrant and inclusive ICT sector.
The scope the ICT Regulatory Tracker is composed of a total of 50 indicators (11 composite, see full list below) grouped into four clusters, namely the regulatory authority (focusing on the functioning of the separate regulator), regulatory mandates (who regulates what), the regulatory regime (what regulation exists in major areas) and the competition framework in the ICT sector (level of competition in the main market segments).
The Tracker covers between 187 and 190 ITU Member States over the period 2007 – 2017.
In the overall global rating, the highest scorers from 90 points and above are Italy 97.33, Ireland 97.00, Finland 95.00, Lithuania 95.00, Malta 95.00, Portugal 95.00, Romania 95.00, Australia 94.00, Norway 94.00, Greece 93.33, Croatia 93.00, Montenegro 93.00, Dominican Republic 92.67, Hungary 92.50, Switzerland 92.50, Mexico 92.00, Poland 92.00 Latvia 91.50, France 90.50, Germany 90.50, Oman 90.33, Georgia 90.00, Malaysia 90.00, Moldova 90.00, Saudi Arabia 90.00, Slovakia 90.00.
The United Kingdom and the United States managed to rate 89.33 and 88.50 respectively.