Chapter 1: Course Guide and Outline

General Information

Course Times

Students will "attend" class for at least 3 hours a week, every week. Attendance in this class is classified as "logged-on or otherwise connected to this digital learning environment and actively engaged in productive learning."

Contact Information

Please use e-mail to contact instructors. If necessary, you can attempt contacting the instructors via telephone. Please keep in mind that the Instructors live and work in the +2 GMT zone.

The instructors will respond to email within 48 hours. Your email must include TR503 and your name in the subject line.

Course Description

This course is organised into three modules. Below, topics for each module are described. This course will incorporate a three week simulation. This will be at the end of the module in interconnection. This simulation is designed to allow you to apply the material from the course in a negotiation environment. Each participant will be cast in the role of one of the participants in a telecommunications interconnection negotiation, and will work to craft an agreement that will determine the future structure of the industry in this nation. The simulation is not based on any specific country and the participants are all hypothetical parties that might be interested in negotiations of this type. However, you will have the opportunity to be part of a negotiation similar to one that might occur anywhere that telecommunications interconnection conflicts arise.

Fair Trade and Competition Policy: Topics to be covered in Module One include: competition policy, mergers and acquisitions, market dominance, discriminatory / predatory practices, and the options available to the sector regulator to deal with these infringements.

Licensing and Approvals: Topics to be covered in Module Two include: telecommunications licenses, licensing objectives, multilateral trade rules, the EU licensing directive, types of licensing regimes, the licensing processes, licensing practices, and contents of licenses.

Interconnection: Topics to be covered in Module Three include: introduction to interconnection and inter-operability, motivation for network interconnection, regulatory policies in interconnection, economic terms in interconnection, and interconnection principles.

Prerequisite: Students are expected to have previously earned a Bachelor's degree in a subject relevant to IT regulation and policy-making.

Simulation Scenario

Within the course topics, scenarios for the simulation are set. The simulation will be done at the end of the course, but bear in mind
that the issues concerning the simulations are randomly distributed in modules according to which topic fit the role. The roles are simulation specific and thus each participant or group is supposed to keep their specific information to their group to ensure the effective implementation of the simulation.

The roles are divided into; National Communication Commission (NCC), National Telecommunications Company (Nattel), Domestic Cellular Provider (DomCell), International Mobile Network (IMN) and finally consumers.

The interconnection issues for simulation are; pricing, access and technology.

Course Objectives

Learners will explore the importance of fair competition to create an efficient, cost effective market including the need for discriminatory regulation in some circumstances. Learners will acquire basic knowledge on competition as it relates to market structure and performance, licensing, approvals in market order, and access development. This course will cover the basic technical and economic principles and the contemporary issues of interconnection.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of TR503, the learner will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the effective role of regulators in a competitive telecommunication market
2. Define the roles of various stakeholders (i.e., consumer advocates, private sector operators, regulators, and government) in facilitating competition the ICT industry and markets
3. Analyse the relationship between the principles of interconnection, competition and licensing
4. Analyse the implications of competition policy on interconnection, licensing, and the ICT industry and markets
5. Respond in a non-discriminatory manner to issues of licensing (i.e. spectrum, equipment and providers)
6. Assess the state of ICT industry and markets in a region of Africa in terms of competition, licensing, and interconnection

Course Structure

This course will be taught using the following teaching & learning methods:

• Provision of resource packets and self-study packages.
  
• On-line learning support system.
  
• Learners will be expected to utilise references and on-line resources for self-study purposes.
  
• Peer seminars and discussion groups.
  

This course will be offered as a Web-based course. Self-study packages are designed as online references that are provided in the material. Individual and group student assignments require you to explore online references and other databases referred to in the text. Group discussions allow you to assess and condense understanding. Students are expected to compare how the regulatory issues explored in this course relate to those in their own countries.

Assessment (Grading)

Using an outcome-based education strategy, this course will assess the following types of learning activities:

• Individual assignments 30%
  
• Group assignments 20%
  
• Group discussions 20%
  
• Examination 30%

Class Discussions

You can access the class discussions by clicking the Discussions icon () at the bottom of any page in KEWL. Then open the particular discussion you wish to read or post to.

The procedure for class discussion is as follows:

• To get full marks for participation in Class discussions, you must make meaningful contributions to at least 80% of the opportunities to contribute. For each class discussion, you have two opportunities to contribute: an original posting and a reply posting. (You may make more than one original posting and more than one reply posting to any discussion, but you only receive credit for the first original posting and the first reply.)
  
  
• A meaningful contribution is defined as an original posting of at least 200 words, which is on topic and is supported by credible sources/references and is made within 7 days of the beginning of the discussion.
  
  
• A meaningful contribution can also be a posting in reply to another student of at least 100 words supported by rational arguments and made within 7 days of that student's original posting.
  
  
• You can only get credit for a reply if you have already made an original posting to the same discussion.

Class Discussion 1 Instructor Introduction Click the image to hear instructor’s introductory words
Student Introduction Introduce your self to your classmates. Include your name, your country of origin, your current location, your background in the subject matter of this course, and your reasons for taking this course.

Required Reading and Other Learning Materials

Required Reading

Intven, H. , Oliver, J. and Sepu'lveda, E. (2000). Telecommunications Regulation Handbook
link: http://www.infodev.org/projects/314regulationhandbook/

International Telecommunication Union. (2001). Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2000-2001 - Interconnection Regulation.

Melody, W (2001). Telecom reform: Principles, policies and regulatory practice.
link: http://www.infodev.org/projects/314regulationhandbook/

Hill, R. and Watkinson, J. eds. (1999). International Forum on Dispute resolution in Telecommunications.

White paper - Telecommunications Disputes: Specificities, Problems, Solutions. (17 June 1999)
link: http://www.icc-uk.com/rhill.html

Other On-line Resources:

Interconnection & Interoperability of services over telephony networks.
[PDF download]

Networks and services interoperability in the infocom era.
[PDF download]