ICT STANDARDISATION CHALLENGES IN UGANDA Patrick Mwesigwa, Director/Technology, Networks & Services Uganda Communications Commission Email: [email protected]

ICT STANDARDISATION CHALLENGES IN UGANDA

Patrick Mwesigwa,

Director/Technology, Networks & Services Uganda Communications Commission

Email: [email protected]

ITU Regional Standardization Forum for Africa

(Kampala, Uganda, 23-25 June 2014)

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Mandates of standardisation bodies in UgandaStandards enforcement measuresChallengesAddressing the challengesConclusions and recommendations

Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 2


STANDARDISATION BODIES IN UGANDA

Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS)– All standardsNational Information Technology Authority – Uganda (NITA-U) - IT National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)– EnvironmentUganda Communications Commission (UCC)– ICT standards

Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS)

UNBS is responsible for overall standardisation in UgandaUNBS develops standards through Technical committees – TC 6 on electrotechnology standards is responsible for ICT related standardsStandards development is need-based


National Information Technology Authority – Uganda (NITA-U)

NITA-U is mainly responsible for provision of IT services for Government bodies especially e-government services Also mandated to IT standards.Also responsible for - Management of the National Backbone

Infrastructure (NBI) - Cyber security in government operations


National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)

NEMA is responsible for all standards related to environmental protectionIncludes- E-waste management- Built environment (houses, masts etc)- Health and safety, impact of ICT services

on health e.g. electromagnetic radiation


Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)

UCC as regulator of Communications sector is responsible for all standards in the ICT sectorThis includes standards for- Telecommunications - Broadcasting- Postal- Internet including cybersecurity- etc


UCC AREAS OF STANDARDISATION

Quality of service - QoS regulations developed- Monitoring carried out regularly

Quality of equipment- Type approval regulations developed- Minimum specifications for digital

broadcasting equipment developed Research and Development


UCC AREAS OF STANDARDISATION

Number resources usage- Numbering regulations developed- Regulations on unsolicited messages

Tariffs/Interconnection- Reference interconnection rate set

Infrastructure- Infrastructure sharing guidelines

Spectrum Management standards


Standards enforcement measures

Cautioning FiningName and shameConfiscation of offending equipmentClosure of offending stations


CHALLENGES IN UGANDA

Coordination between different standardisation bodies- The need to streamline all mandates

to eliminate overlaps- The need for stronger collaborations- The different levels of advancement in the

collaborating bodies



Inadequate capacity- Limited number of staff that are

knowledgeable about standardisation- Inadequate tools - Rather weak enforcement structures• Limited access to relevant updated

documents on standards• Rather many international Standards

Development Organisations (SDO) to deal with



Inadequate resources• Subscriptions to journals may be

expensiveLong and rather unclear process of legalisation of standards

- In the case of local ICT standards, process involves regulator, ministry, parliament and judicial system.



- At any of these stages, standards are subject to watering down through vested interests

- In the case of standards for UNBS, the process of registering them with the international bodies is lengthy and costly


ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES

The various standardisation bodies need to develop a clear framework for working togetherStandardisation process should be given due importance at highest levelImprove access to current information

Increase funding for standardisation activities


ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES

Streamline the process of national ICT standardisation to remove bottlenecksConsider establishment of Regional Standardisation Bodies such as EAC to address regional requirements


Conclusions and Recommendations

Most of the challenges can be mitigated through stronger collaboration, both at the organisational level within the country and at the regional levelITU should encourage and support standardisation efforts both at regional and national level


THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION!

[email protected]


Documents

ICT STANDARDISATION CHALLENGES IN UGANDA Patrick Mwesigwa, Director/Technology, Networks & Services Uganda Communications Commission Email: [email protected]