GMS Sector Activities
Telecommunications
| YEAR |
DATE |
ACTIVITY |
| 2006 |
30-31 March 2006 |
Seventh Meeting of the Subregional Telecommunications Forum (STCF-7) |
| 2005 |
25-26 April |
Special TFWG-Action Plan for Trade and Investment Facilitation |
| |
12-27 April |
Telecom Training Program for Telecommunications Officials from the GMS Countries (Phase II) |
| 2004 |
November |
Telecom Training Program for Telecommunications Officials from the GMS Countries (Phase I) |
| |
October |
GMS Countries Discuss Ways to Enhance ICT Applications to Promote Socio-Economic Development, Hanoi, 27-28 October 2004 |
| 2001 |
February |
Subregional Telecommunications Forum Adopts Three-Phase Implementation Plan for the GMS Backbone Project Phase I (February 2001) |
| 2000 |
December |
Steering Committee Meeting for the Regional Technical Assistance on the Establishment of the Backbone Telecommunications Project for the Greater Mekong Subregion - Phase 1 (RETA 5915), 18 December 2000, Bangkok, Thailand |
| 1999 |
November |
Fourth Meeting, 25-26 November 1999, Vientiane, Lao PDR |
| 1997 |
July |
Third Meeting, 2-4 July 1997, Pattaya, Thailand |
| 1996 |
July |
Second Meeting, 3-4 July 1996, Phnom Penh, Cambodia |
| 1995 |
November |
Senior Officials' Meeting, 6-7 November 1995, ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines |
View other GMS sectors.
The 7th meeting of the Subregional Telecommunications Forum (STCF-7) was held in Guilin, PRC on 30-31 March 2006 and co-hosted by the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) of the Government of PRC, and the ADB.
On the ISN, the meeting discussed the timeline of activities of the Steering Group (SG) and Implementation Group (IG) established by the GMS countries to advance the ISN, and the identification of the missing links in the ISN for which financing should be actively sought by the GMS countries. The meeting also took note of what the GMS countries have accomplished in ICT development, particularly in enhancing rural ICT applications.
Country presentations focused on the GMS countries’ respective telecoms sector reforms/ policies and investment requirements for both ISN and ICT development. ADB support was requested in the conduct of SG meetings to move ISN programs forward, and in seeking funds for development of sustainable rural ICT applications. ADB noted that a prerequisite for considering such request is for the GMS countries to develop clear work plans for both ISN and ICT development.
On capacity building, various modes of training were discussed in order to build the subregion’s capacity in telecoms operations and bridge the digital divide in the GMS; these included
- setting-up new training centers
- utilizing existing telecoms centers
- fielding experts where these are needed.
In considering support for telecoms training, ADB called for
- a review of earlier joint PRC-ADB programs to derive lessons for future programs
- coordination of training assistance provided by other partners (APT, ITU, World Bank and JBIC) for better efficiency
- the conduct of consultations among GMS countries to identify and structure their priority training needs.
Among priority training areas identified early on are the piloting of ICT applications and ISN network operation and maintenance. The meeting succeeded in laying the groundwork for deeper telecoms cooperation in the subregion, and resolved that subsequent priority GMS telecoms initiatives would have to be regularly reported to ADB and reflected in the development matrix for the GMS Telecoms flagship program.
More information:
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The 6TH meeting of the Subregional Telecommunications Forum (STCF-6) was held in Hanoi, Viet Nam on 27-28 October 2004 and co-hosted by the Ministry of Posts and Telematics of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and the ADB.
The meeting discussed the progress of GMS countries in sector policy and regulatory reform, institutional restructuring, and telecoms network investments. The meeting also discussed the outcomes of activities under the GMS Telecommunications Flagship program, which includes development of optic fiber cable (OFC) backbone transmission links (Phases I and II), the technical assistance for sector policy formulation and capacity building, the joint ADB- International Telecommunications Union (ITU) training program, and the demand study for ICT-based basic service delivery.
The PRC delegation spearheaded the proposal for development of the GMS Information Highway (GMS IH), focusing on the principles of cooperation for various services such as voice, internet, international bandwidth and e-government/ e-commerce applications. The applicable Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the GMS IH was reported to be under final review by each country prior to signing by end of 2004.
The meeting reflected the strong commitment of the GMS countries and development partners to telecoms infrastructure development and reforms, thereby helping to enhance effectiveness of development efforts through ICT applications.
Read the summary of proceedings of the meeting.
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The Fifth Meeting of the Subregional Telecommunications Forum (the STCF) was held at the Montien Riverside Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand on 21-22 February 2001. The Meeting was jointly organized by ADB and the Post and Telegraph Department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (PTD). The objectives of the Meeting were as follows: (i) to discuss the proposed GMS: Telecoms Backbone Project Phase I, which is one of the high priority projects in the GMS; (ii) to facilitate the implementation of STCF Work Plan; and (iii) to discuss the relationship between poverty reduction and information and communications technology (ICT). Participants included officials from the telecommunications agencies, telecommunications operators, and agencies responsible for public investment in the GMS countries. The Meeting was chaired by Mr. Sethaporn Cusripituck, Director General, PTD, and co-chaired by Mr. Preben Nielsen, Deputy Director, Infrastructure, Energy, and Financial Sectors Department (West), ADB.
A major outcome of the meeting was the adoption by the STCF of the three-phase implementation plan for the proposed Phase I of the telecommunications backbone network for the GMS. The implementation plan involves:: (i) the conduct of an ADB regional technical assistance for a telecommunications policy sector study for Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam; (ii) provision of an ADB program loan to mitigate possible fiscal burden arising from the implementation of the telecommunications sector policy reform program; and (iii) provision of an ADB project loan to implement the Phase I telecommunications backbone project. The meeting also endorsed the final report of the feasibility study update of the GMS Phase I telecommunications project (RETA 5915), which recommends a phased approach to the construction of the backbone network and the implementation of the appropriate "soft issues" studies.
Resource persons from the Governments of Thailand and Korea shared the experiences of their respective countries in the liberalization of the telecommunications sector. A resource person from a private sector telecommunications company made a presentation on various modalities for public-private partnerships in financing telecommunications projects. In one presentation, a resource person from an international organization involved in the Internet and economic development emphasized the need for a coordinated approach to leverage ICT and the Internet to foster economic development and reduce poverty.
View the entire proceedings.
Regions and Countries 