<html><head><style type='text/css'>body { font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; }p { margin: 0; }</style></head><body>+1 to Sala's input<div><br></div><div><br>-- <br><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Sonigitu Ekpe </font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>Project Support Officer[Agriculturist]</b> </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Cross River Farm Credit Scheme </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">3 Barracks Road P.M.B. 1119 </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Calabar - Cross River State, Nigeria. </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Mobile +234 805 0232 469 Office + 234 802 751 0179 </font></div><div> <b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#ff6600"><i>"LIFE is all about love and thanksgiving" </i></font></b></div><div><b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#ff6600"><i><br></i></font></b></div><div><b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#ff6600"><i><br></i></font></b></div>Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro wrote:<br><blockquote style="margin-left: 8px; padding-left: 8px; border-left: 1px solid lightgrey">
My personal view is that each context is different and has unique challenges. In this instance, Ethiopia Telecommunication Corporation is licensed to provide the following:-<div>
<div>Public Switched Telecommunication ServiceGSM 900 MHz Mobile Telecommunication ServiceInternet ServiceDigital Data Communication
<div>Of the 153 countries ranked in the 2011 IDI ranks as 151 which is very low. Ethiopia is also classified as a low income economy. Ethiopia is considered as the second most populous country in Africa and this affects issues of "accessibility" and teledensity. They are also dealing with their Financial Crisis and there is a Study on the Impact on Human Development by the UNFPA.</div>
</div></div><div><br></div><div>The World Bank Ethiopia Director, Ken Ohashi is reported by Bloomberg in 2011 to have said that Ethiopia's dependence on foreign capital to finance budget deficits and a five year investment plan is unsustainable.</div>
<div><br></div><div>According to the Bloomberg article, telecommunications is owned by the State, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-08/ethiopia-s-investment-plan-may-be-unsustainable-world-bank-official-says.html.</div>
<div><br></div><div>The challenges of having a sole provider of telecommunications. Is the market liberalised? Are there incentives for liberalisation.</div><div>
<br></div><div>Liberalisation of markets aside - if VOIP is banned, the first thing that comes to mind is the inference that the conflict lies between providing affordable access and operating a business where the bottom line helps to increase "access".</div>
<div><br></div><div>The Internet Governance Forum is an excellent place that allows developing countries like Ethiopia who rank very poorly on the IDI to be able to mingle and discuss history of growth of telecommunications with others from around the world who are at different stages in development. They may be inspired to figure our creative and innovative ways and means to advance access and also give room for innovation and sustainability of business models.</div>
<div><br></div><div>This is why collaboration and the rich sharing of information and resources through dialogue. It is normal and usual for people to be in their comfortable cliques at some of these forums. The rich diversity of the global landscape and terrain and its challenges truly make the world a diverse place.</div>
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