Cooperation represents a key facet of ICP-ANACOM's international work, in particular as regards cooperation with European countries, with South America and the Mediterranean, and with other Portuguese-speaking countries.
Given the responsibilities underlying ICP-ANACOM's mission with regards to co-operation, there remained a clear focus on initiatives of a technical nature, centred primarily on helping to build open and competitive markets.
The NRA of CPLP members remained a priority as a focus of the activities developed.
8.1.1. Multilateral cooperation
8.1.1.1. Public partnership training
The concentration of synergies and coordination of cooperative multilateral and bilateral actions, with an emphasis on the advantages resulting from public partnerships, enable, training courses to be conducted under the aegis of ARCTEL-CPLP, pursuant to the cooperation protocol concluded between the Instituto Nacional de Administração (INA) (National Institute of Administration) and ICP-ANACOM in December 2009.
With this partnership, certified training was provided, targeting technical staff and directors of CPLP regulators, with broad and diversified content extending beyond the regulatory activity. These courses included different thematic areas such as radio spectrum management, regulation in electronic communications and postal services, consumer protection, public accounting, innovation, evaluation and/or negotiation.
This new training model, in addition to being valued in terms of quality and efficiency, also enables the optimization of resources, including financial resources, so that in 2011, a significant reduction in the costs associated with this type of training was achieved compared to previous years.
Two courses were staged in 2011: advanced course for the leadership of regulators (CADISC) and advanced courses for technicians in the communications sector (CATESC). Both courses saw the involvement of participants from Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique and Sao Tome and Principe.
A cooperation protocol was concluded between ICP-ANACOM, Instituto Nacional das Comunicações de Moçambique (INCM) (National Communications Institute of Mozambique) and Portugal's Associação Empresarial de Telecomunicações (Telecommunications Business Association), to provide staff training in information technologies, with a special focus on new regimes suited to the installation of fibre optics in telecommunications infrastructure in buildings and urban developments.
8.1.1.2. II Lusophone Forum of Communications and I Technological exhibition (ARCTEL-CPLP)
As referred to above, ARCTEL's II Lusophone Forum of Communications took place in Portugal in April 2011, centred on the theme of Challenges and Opportunities, and was attended by over 120 participants from the CPLP various countries.
In parallel, the first Technology Exhibition was held, attended by more than 20 sector companies, including manufacturers and operators in the various countries of the CPLP. The Exhibition’s goal was to demonstrate the quality and accomplishments of the sector in the Portuguese-speaking world, and to foster contacts. Besides the private sector, the exhibition was also attended by institutions linked to cooperation and development in the CPLP countries.
8.1.1.3. Association of Postal and Telecommunications Operators of the Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Territories (AICEP)
In 2011, ICP-ANACOM participated in the Annual General Meeting of AICEP, at which approval was given to the budget and management plan and to an amendment to the statutes, whereby AICEP was renamed Associação Internacional das Comunicações de Expressão Portuguesa (International Association of Portuguese Language Communications).
ICP-ANACOM likewise participated in the Regulation Seminar held in Cape Verde.
8.1.1.4. Centre of Excellence for Portuguese and Spanish speaking countries in Africa (ITU CoE)
Following the decisions taken at the meeting of the Standing Committee, held in December in Cape Verde, the 3rd Sub-committee meeting took place in Lisbon, with detailed discussion of the 2011 activities plan.
ICP-ANACOM took an active part in the management and coordination of the project in 2011, with 10 seminars/workshops held, involving 20 national trainers (six from ICP-ANACOM). Over 330 technicians from the PALOP electronic communications sector received training in 2011. Accordingly, by the end of 2011, more than 1,000 technicians received training under this programme.
The following courses took place in 2011: quality of service; consumer protection and regulation in telecommunications; conflict management; operations of Internet service providers; vsats; submarine cables; management and marketing strategy; interconnection; costs and tariffs; management of scarce resources.
8.1.2. Bilateral cooperation
ICP-ANACOM's bilateral relations were also naturally focused on relationships with the member countries of CPLP (important from the strategic standpoint of Portugal's relationships with third countries). Specific cooperation mechanisms have been established with these countries, based on indicative cooperation programmes (ICP) and annual cooperation plans (ACP); With these plans, it was again possible to obtain synergies with other projects to make ICP-ANACOM's efforts more effective.
Within the framework of ICP-ANACOM's bilateral relations with other NRA, a number of activities took place in 2011 within the framework of sector policy.
- Cape Verde (ANAC - Agência Nacional de Comunicações)
In 2011, ICP-ANACOM and ANAC developed the following bilateral actions:
- Island cooperation
Cooperation action involving representatives from the islands of the Azores and Madeira, aimed at the exchange of information and experiences for closer mutual knowledge. The two NRA noted the similarities of approach and common problems and solutions associated with spectrum monitoring in the particular geography of archipelagos, where there is a need for the installation of fixed or transportable remote stations linked to a command and control centre.
- ITED/ITUR regulation
ANAC organised a seminar, which took place in Praia in September, where ICP-ANACOM made a presentation on the roles of the regulator, the legal framework, ITED and ITUR manuals and the advantages of cost savings in next generation networks.
- Costing
In November the topic of costing was discussed jointly, covering issues related to the analysis of markets and imposition of obligations, LRIC costing models and regulation of VoIP services, with a focus on price control as a regulatory tool, separation of accounts, cross subsidization, rebalancing, theory and practice of price regulation and regulatory costing systems.
- Online Knowledge Library (B-on)
A protocol signed in 2009 between ICP-ANACOM, UMIC, FCCN and UniCV, related to access to B-on and financing of access to new publications, was renewed with ANAC.
- Guinea-Bissau (ARN - Autoridade Reguladora Nacional)
Staff from ARN took part in CADISC and CATESC courses as well as in activities undertaken in parallel, particularly in terms of training on the universal service and financial administration.
ICP-ANACOM donated computer equipment to ARN, in the context of bilateral cooperation between the two institutions and pursuant to the respective ACP; and at the request of the ARN, made an offer of books related to the communications sector.
As regards the 2011 ACP, ARN identified action priority areas comprising spectrum management and US, with ARN warranting support and accompaniment over an extended period of time. In this context, ICP-ANACOM contacted the World Bank in order to evaluate the possibility of developing joint cooperation activities. A first joint project is expected to start in 2012.
At the request of ARN, ICP-ANACOM issued an opinion on the quality of monitoring equipment at ARN and, in December, an ICP-ANACOM mission was sent to Bissau, subsidized by the ITU, in the context of the radio spectrum management.
- Sao Tome and Principe (Autoridade Geral de Regulação - AGER)
Following the annual cooperation plan with AGER defined for 2011, four AGER staff missions went to ICP-ANACOM with a view to developing knowledge in areas of Management Board support, administrative management of human resources, management skills and radio oversight.
- Mozambique (Instituto Nacional das Comunicações de Moçambique - INCM)
Pursuant to the protocol signed between INCM, ICP-ANACOM and ACIST-AET with a view to conducting training activities in the area of ITED and ITUR, three courses took place to instil and update knowledge among ITED/ITUR installers.
Following the annual cooperation plan with INCM defined for 2011, specifically in the area of staff missions, two members of the regulator received training administered by ICP-ANACOM in Portugal on Management Board support. Another five INCM staff were at ICP-ANACOM for training on management and financial analysis, competency management and purchasing management and external procurement.
- Angola (Instituto Angolano das Comunicações - INACOM)
Note is made of the participation of INACOM staff on CADISC and CATESC courses, as well as the actions performed in parallel and the mission conducted on sector legislative reforms.
- Brazil (Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações - ANATEL)
The 14th meeting of the ANACOM-ANATEL Coordination Commission took place in Portugal, with discussion of matters related to network security, regulation of competition, broadband and international cooperation.
- Cooperation with other NRA
Albeit with less extensive expression in ICP-ANACOM'S bilateral relations, a set of activities took place in 2011 that, while not significant in budgetary terms, are important from the point of view of Portugal’s strategic relations with third countries in the context of sector policy. The following actions are of note in this context:
- Spain
Regular bilateral contacts were continued in the context of coordinating frequencies, with a meeting held between SETSI (Secretary of State for Telecommunications and the Information Society) and ICP-ANACOM, in which agreements were reached for the LMS in bands above 470 MHz, as well as on the coordination of space service earth stations.
Following the meeting, and after a series of contacts, an agreement was reached on the preferential distribution in each country of the 160 MHz band, for the LMS.
The process of frequency coordination was also continued in the context of radio and television broadcasting as well as in the context of satellite services.
- Ecuador
In the context of the Cooperation Agreement signed between the ANP (National Post Agency) and ICP-ANACOM, a bilateral meeting took place with increased bilateral exchanges of information, while a technical mission of ANP to Portugal was prepared for early 2012.
- Ukraine
A Cooperation Protocol was concluded between ICP-ANACOM and the Ukrainian regulator, CNRC (National Commission for Communications Regulation of Ukraine), in order to support the country’s ongoing sector reform.
- Lebanon
A Cooperation Protocol was concluded between ANACOM and TRA (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority), which was followed by a TRA technical mission to Portugal, to discuss issues related to the sharing of infrastructure and access to ducts.
- Cooperation with Georgia
A Memorandum of Cooperation was established between ICP-ANACOM and CNCG (National Commission of Communications of Georgia) with a view to the development of the electronic communications sector.
