- How would you define the issue “Connecting the Next Billion”?
Technology and internet has developed so much still there is a gap of digital divide and net neutrality. Today's world is the world of internet where basic core values of human rights and equality should exist other than that it would be really hard to manage and overcome. Standardization in policy and mechanism is a must where we lack definitely.
The current fluctuation of technology and power has created a discrimination among the vast divide. For achieving the next billion we need to solve these issues
-Power politics
-Discrimination of region
-Cheap connectivity
-Business prospect and opportunity
- Proper Infrastructure
-Standardized policy mechanism
I think internet has been passed on to the third world and developing countries as a byproduct where the developed nation has been manipulating. It needs to be standardized in terms of its use, security, price, and infrastructure and so on
The issue of connecting the next billion needs proper research and planning in-terms of its management, resources and logistics.
It matters, as it’s not easy to just pass on but to make it worth giving the value of equality.
Especially in the developing countries the quality of standard is the worst
- Have you observed any regional or national specificities regarding connectivity (e.g. Internet industry development)?
Yes, especially in the Asia Pacific there are few monopoly of the giant’s telecoms which manipulate the price and size. If you look at Nepal's practice it very limited I mean to say the government has its infrastructure and bandwidth but it has prioritized it to giant player and its subsidy company. The private ISPs are bound to buy the bandwidth from companies like Airtel and TATA. Due to this there is a huge problem in quality of standard and monopoly. In-fact there is no QoS in Internet in Nepal and the prices are very high.
- Do you know of existing policy measures, and private sector or civil society initiatives addressing connectivity? If yes, was the policy a government policy, industry policy (either collective best practice or corporate policy), technical policy, or did i
There has been policy level mechanism define int he telecom policy but when it comes to practice it dilutes among the measures.
- In your opinion, what worked well in the development of the policy, and what impediments were encountered?
I think these are points that worked while development of policy
-Multistakeholder consultation
-Survey
-Research on existing problem
Hindrance
-Government's interest
-Lack of standardization
-Better policy mechanism
-Action of Policies
- What was the experience with implementation?
Especially in developing countries the problem with implementation is lack of monitoring and awareness.
Mostly if you look at the current situation of Asia pacific and Nepal, the regulators they do not have an idea about the policy. They just lobby it as part of their job without doing proper research
- Did you experience any unintended consequences of policy developments/interventions, good and bad?
Yes personally I have been victim of Human Right violation as being a reporter and journalist I was attacked for reporting news. The policies did not prevent the action from safe guarding my rights. The policies were not made for me the policies were made just for the sake of it
http://www.ifex.org/nepal/2010/12/03/rayamajhi_threats/
- Can you think of unresolved issues where further multistakeholder cooperation is needed?
Yes especially in policy development and QoS a Multistakeholder mechanism is a must. Today's internet is not just part of a local community its a thriving worlds of human achievement.
Unresolved issue
Recently in Nepal a Broadband policy is being developed, in one of the workshops one of the ISPs Representative expressed his dissatisfaction of not being informed. Issues like these are very common. He said he was not informed about the consultation.
The regulators generally by pass the stakeholder with definite strategy of ignorance. Sad but its true
- Did you gain any insight as a result of the experience?
Yes, Multistakeholder is a process of correction where all voices needs to be addressed. Today's world is a dynamic combination of one internet where everything is visible and possible.
So discriminating and manipulating there is no option.
- List proposed steps for further multistakeholder dialogue/actions.
Steps are listed below
1. Identification of sectors (stakeholders)
2. Identification of problems
3. identification of strategy
4. call for dialogue
5. create common understanding
6. policy making
