Distinguished Permanent Representatives and delegates of OAS Permanent Missions
Mr. Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid – Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, International Telecommunication Union
Mr. Pedro Pablo Quirós Cortés – Chair of the Permanent Executive Committee of CITEL
Executive Committee of CITEL,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed a pleasure for me to welcome the participants of Joint ITU/CITEL Forum on “Enabling an ICT business environment in the Americas Region” to this historical building of the Organization of American States.

The convening of today’s event is a consequence of the longstanding cooperation and collaboration between the Organization of American States, through the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission, and the International Telecommunications Union, for the benefit of the peoples of Americas.

I tell you no new news when I say that telecommunication plays a critical role in our day-to-day lives. We believe at the OAS that no modern economy can compete or participate in global markets without access to modern, effective and secure information networks.

The availability of an appropriate telecommunications infrastructure is essential for economic growth in any region and, particularly, in the Americas. Access to information and communication technologies continues to increase in terms of mobile subscribers, fixed telephone lines and Internet users, but there are still major differences in terms of ICT use and, as newer technologies emerge, such as 3G and broadband, many countries are falling behind. The digital divide is an evolving concept and, despite the exciting technological innovations, large ICT gaps remain. We all know that many rural areas in the Region remain without access or they have outdated legacy networks or, if access is available, prices are so high that access is limited.






The critical questions are: How do we do seize the opportunities brought by modern technologies? What is necessary and how do we create the future so that we can build success for the region?

The changing environment of telecommunications is characterized by technological changes that allow for added values and new sources of revenues; market change, in particular, the liberalization of infrastructure competition; and the growth in the availability of digital content. Today consumers have more choices than ever before. ICTs have the potential to ensure that everyone everywhere can provide their contributions to the society.

In ICT, the innovation cycle is extremely fast. New technologies are appearing all the time and each new technology raises new issues for regulators and policy-makers making their tasks more difficult. That is why collaboration between regulators, administrations and industry need to be promoted, because it will ensure the timeliness and relevance of the program of activities of organizations in today’s business and social environment. We can accomplish far more in partnership than we could in isolation.

In the three themes of this Forum “Stimulating ICT Development”, “Enabling Investment and New Opportunities” and “Innovation and Partnership Opportunities in the Americas” each stakeholder has its role to play. It is by sharing views and experiences that the best policies can be put in place to encourage investment and ensure that new technologies are put to the best use. When the market conditions are right, business comes in, investments are made and new enterprises are formed.












The large-scale introduction of broadband access can promote a fully connected world through the offer of innovative and high-speed broadband services to consumers. Also, in the future connected world, broadcasting, which is undergoing a digital revolution, is vital, for the distribution of content and the preservation of cultural values. Convergence is blurring the boundaries of telecommunications, information and broadcasting services and requires that each country properly addresses policy and regulatory issues posed by the existence of multiple platforms for the delivery of digital content and applications. We ought to consider how these technological changes could favor competition between different market players.

I have stated on numerous occasions that the OAS must continue to work with its Member States to promote an integral, integrated and action oriented approach to development, which combines economic, technological, social, security and cultural aspects among some issues.

New technology and the globalization of markets are rapidly increasing productivity. However, as productivity rises, so does the opportunity cost of leaving millions of young people unemployed. The OAS General Assembly of 2008 will have young people as the main subject and we want to make a commitment and get deliverables as soon as possible, also in the area of ICT.

We are therefore pleased to note that member states are taking steps towards the adoption of specific policies in terms of regulations, policies, trade, small and medium-sized enterprise development and training. But there are still many things to be done.













We need to guarantee that accessibility to telecommunication services is available throughout each country’s territory, expanding the concept of universal access so that there will be access not only to telephone service but also to Internet, television and other services. In this regard, the provision of useful applications for the activities of the area and for guiding and educating citizens to use these applications need to be provided through telecenters. Education, disease and pest prevention, poverty abatement and the fight against drug addiction, cultural entertainment, sports and other campaigns must take place in these telecenters managed by specialized entities such as national health systems, ministries of education, culture, sports, and tourism, and other government and private stakeholders. In addition, we need to explore the use of alternative energy to solve various problematic situations that, for lack of energy, prevent access to telecommunications.

The OAS through the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission - CITEL is a catalyst that has traditionally provided a forum for the Americas where administrations, network operators, equipment manufacturers, application providers and other stakeholders can raise issues of common concern, address the development of new market opportunities and learn from each other’s experience.

CITEL’s Strategic Plan provides an agenda reflective of the region’s most critical issues that is also mindful of the tremendous opportunities brought by the most innovative technologies, and the challenges posed before all of us by complex issues such as interconnection, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, convergence, standards coordination, integration and interoperability of different network platforms, emergency telecommunications and allocation of spectrum, just to name a few.









This is an unprecedented opportunity for us to learn from your reflections from experience and your visions of the road ahead; I leave here some questions for your consideration on the debates that will follow.

 How do we create mechanisms to influence positive change in society by building partnerships amongst the private sector, civil society and member states to promote economic progress and opportunity for all?
 How can innovation in ICTs help us to address the need of the poorest?
 How to build, in developing countries, a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the ICT sector so that we can stimulate the creation of local producers of ICT applications and services?
 Which are the critical aspects of the telecommunications sector where we need to focus?
 How can we provide the environment in which individuals, entrepreneurs, and institutions can adapt to the changes around them, while gaining from them and forging the changes of the future?
 How we can create the right environment for businesses to develop and adopt new technologies?


To help bridge the digital divide and bring improved connectivity to unconnected areas, a genuine partnership is needed, where organizations such as the OAS and the ITU, other sub-regional ICT institutions, governments and the private sector can continue to work together to help achieve the goals.

I have every confidence that together we can seize the great opportunities available to us, and that we can do so for the benefit of the world. Forums like this one today, through dialogue and the exchange of ideas, will go a long way toward achieving endless opportunities for innovation and cooperation.

Again, I wish you all a warm welcome and I look forward to seeing the ongoing results of these important initiatives in the years ahead.

Thank you very much for your attention.