WG 2: ICT Infrastructure Development, Connectivity, Sharing and Digital Inclusion:

Chairperson: Ms. Esther Wanyana, Uganda Communications Commission - UCC

Vice Chairperson: Ms. Imelda Salum, Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority - TCRA

WG 2 ToRs:

• To develop the Regional Broadband Strategy.
• To develop the regional digital economy strategy.
• To review existing interconnect agreements and Legal frameworks.
• To develop a concept note for the establishment of a regional 4 clearing house.
• To prepare project proposal for establishment of a regional clearing house.
• To carry out a situation analysis on existence of Type Approval Labs (TAL) in partner States.
• To develop concept note on the establishment of regional TAL.
• To prepare project proposal for establishment of a regional TAL.
• To Identify and implement mechanisms to enable access and usage of ICTs by Youth, Women and PWDs.

WG 3: ICT Applications, Consumer Protection Issues and Cybersecurity:

Chairperson: Mr. Atupenda Mugisha, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority – RURA

Vice Chairperson: Eng. Unguec Stephen Kang, National Communications Authority - NCA

WG 3 ToRs:

• To develop a harmonised child online protection and safety framework.
• To develop a model guideline for Quality of Service for data.
• To develop a model guideline for consumer protection for digital financial services.
• To develop a framework for assessment of member countries Cybersecurity Capacity Maturity (CCM).
• To develop a regional strategy for coordination and management of Cybersecurity.
• To establish a framework for collaboration among the national CERTs in the region.
• To develop operational procedures for the regional CERT.

WG 4: Postal and Courier Service Development and Regulations:

Chairperson: Mr. Ferdinand Christian Kabyemela. Tanzania Posts Corporation – TPC

Vice Chairperson: Ms. Jolly Sogomo, Communications Authority of Kenya - CA

WG 4 ToRs:

• To develop a Harmonized Model Postal and Courier Policy and Regulatory Framework.
• To develop a model guideline for harmonization of postal and courier security.
• To develop a Universal Postal Service & Access model Framework.
• To develop a Framework for financial inclusion in a modernized post set up.
• To develop a harmonised strategy for Addressing and Post code.
• To develop a postal e-commerce strategy including the cross border facilitation framework.
• To develop a blueprint to transform post offices into ICT hubs for provision of e-Government services.

WG 5: Broadcasting Development, Spectrum Management and Media Services Regulations:

Chairperson: Eng. Dut Acol De Dut, National Communications Authority - NCA-SS

Vice Chairperson: Mr. NUGAME Clovis, Agence de Régulation et de Contrôle des Télécommunications - ARCT

WG 5 ToRs:

• To develop a Telecommunication policy and regulatory frameworks in EAC member States.
• To develop a Harmonized Model Digital Broadcasting Policy and Regulatory Framework.
• Development of harmonized framework on the Authorization and Use of Maritime Frequencies, Maritime Mobile Service Identities (MMSI) and call signs within the region.
• To develop of guidelines on the authorization and use of Meteorological frequencies in the region.
• To develop of guideline on the authorization and use of Aeronautical frequencies in the region.
• Review existing EACO cross-border frequency coordination framework.
• To develop of a regulatory framework for Local Content Development and Management.
• To conduct studies on the impact of emerging technologies on regulation (including spectrum management and broadcasting).
• To coordinate the implementation of mobile cross-border frequency framework.
• To coordinate the implementation of FM Radio cross-border Framework.
• To coordinate preparations for WRC within the region and follow up implementation of its Resolutions.
• To coordinate and follow up the work of the relevant ITU Study Group(s) and facilitate the development of regional recommendations or contributions relating to the work of this ITU Study Group(s) or other relevant international and regional organization.

WG 6: Communications Numbering Plans, IP Addressing, Service Pricing & Industry Analysis:

Chairperson: Ms. Eva Mwasho, Communications Authority of Kenya - CA.

Vice Chairperson: Mr. Jacques Ndagijimana, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority - RURA

WG 6 ToRs:

• To develop guidelines for M2M and IoT Identification.
• Identify best practices for management of numbering resources in the region.
• Identification of numbering resources for additional emergency and common user services.
• To undertake a study on the impact of e-sims on the future of numbering.
• To undertake a study on competition and consumer concerns related to collection, processing, usage, sharing and monetization of consumer digital information within the EAC region.
• Carry out a study on co-regulation of cross border digital financial services.
• Develop a regional tariff tracker for communication services in the region.
• Undertake a study on data/internet pricing in region.
• To coordinate and follow up the work of the relevant ITU Study Group(s) and facilitate the development of regional recommendations or contributions relating to the work of this ITU Study Group(s) or other relevant international and regional organization.

WG 7: E-Waste Management and Green ICTs:

Chairperson: Ms. Anita Batamuliza, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority - RURA

Vice Chairperson: Ms. Beatrice Lema, Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority - TCRA

WG 7 ToRs:

• To analyze the level of e-waste in the region and its impact on humans and the environment.
• To harmonize policies, strategies and regulations on e-waste management in the region.
• To recommend adoption of green ICT best practices by stakeholders in the communications sector.
• To recommend national and regional environmentally sound e waste management systems for the EAC region.
• To develop strategies for public awareness on issues relating to e-waste.
• To recommend strategies for collaboration/cooperation between National ICT Regulators, National Environmental Management Authorities and other environmental management Agencies with a view to establishing and strengthening the e-waste management systems within the region.
• To coordinate and follow up the work of the relevant ITU Study Group(s) and facilitate the development of regional recommendations or contributions relating to the work of this ITU Study Group(s) or other relevant international and regional organization.

Communication Service Pricing and Industry Analysis

• To carry out regular studies and analysis of the communications industry/market in EAC region.
• To develop and recommend a framework for collection, analysis and reporting/dissemination of regional Key Performance Indicators and statistics on the communication sector in East Africa.
• To identify essential services and costing methodologies for communication services
• To study and recommend a cost-oriented costing model for pricing of telecommunications, postal and broadcasting services
• To carry out a study and recommend relevant regulatory tools for traffic monitoring/management systems
• To consider and analyse the impact of the use of such regulatory tools on cost of services, network security, privacy and the level of traffic fraud (grey route) within the entire networks
• To recommend solutions to policy, legal, regulatory and technical issues relating to the use of traffic monitoring/management systems
• To identify costs, benefits and related challenges in the implementation of the proposed tools by the member states
• To review and consider competition issues within the communication sector and make appropriate recommendations to Congress
• To liaise develop of a framework for determining tariffs for infrastructure sharing/transmission fee in relation to digital broadcasting
• To coordinate and follow up the work of the relevant ITU Study Group(s) and facilitate the development of regional recommendations or contributions relating to the work of this ITU Study Group(s) or other relevant international and regional organization

Completed Works

1. EACO Communication data collection and reporting framework (DATAFRAME) approved by the 21st EACO Congress in June 2015.
2. A regional roaming pricing framework, “the One Network Area” adopted by Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan.
3. Evaluation of feasibility for regional competition body; a proposal for gap analysis on the existing law and set up of the EAC competition authority with respect to competition related issues in the ICT sector.
4. A concept note on Impact of pricing and competition of the use of Traffic Monitoring Systems (TTMS) in the region.
5. (v) Initial steps in the establishment of the EACO DATABANK including installation of the sever hardware for the database.

Quality of Service and Consumer Affairs

• To identify the basic consumer rights and obligations in the communication sector.
• To identify parameters for Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Efficience (QoE) as per ITU/International standards.
• To harmonize QoS and QoE parameters of various networks (including mobile networks, legacy PSTN networks, IP networks) within the EAC region.
• To identify and develop parameters for measurement of network performance and monitoring for quality of service purposes within EAC region.
• To coordinate participation, follow up and implementation of ITU-T Recommendations and guidelines relating to quality of service.
• To develop Guidelines for both Consumer Education as well as Consumer Complaints handling procedures in the region.
• To develop and recommend a framework for combating the importation, supply and use of counterfeit terminals within the region.
• To develop strategies for consumers’ empowerment and enhanced involvement of Consumer Associations in the regulation of the communication sector in the region
• To coordinate and follow up the work of the relevant ITU Study Group(s) and facilitate the development of regional recommendations or contributions relating to the work of this ITU Study Group(s) or other relevant international and regional organization.

Completed Works

1. Developed the EACO Guidelines on Child online Protection
2. Developed the EACO Guidelines for Collaboration with Consumer Associations
3. EACO Guidelines for Consumer Education
4. EACO Guidelines on Consumer Complaints
5. EACO Consumer Rights and Obligations.
6. EACO Guideline of Quality of Service for Voice Service in Mobile and Fixed Networks
7. EACO Guideline of Quality of Service of Data Services in Mobile Networks
8. EACO Guideline of Non-Technical Quality of Service Parameters for supporting ICT Services aspects
9. Framework for combating the importation, supply and use of counterfeit / substandard terminals in the EACO member states

Environmental and e-Waste Management

• To analyse the level of e-waste in the region and its impact on humans and the environment
• To harmonize policies, strategies and regulations on e-waste management in the region.
• To recommend adoption of green ICT best practices by stakeholders in the communications sector
• To recommend national and regional environmentally sound e-waste management systems for the EAC region
• To develop strategies for public awareness on issues relating to e-waste
• To recommend strategies for collaboration/cooperation between National ICT Regulators, National Environmental Management Authorities and other environmental management Agencies with a view to establishing and strengthening the e-waste management systems within the region.
• To coordinate and follow up the work of the relevant ITU Study Group(s) and facilitate the development of regional recommendations or contributions relating to the work of this ITU Study Group(s) or other relevant international and regional organization.

Completed Works

1. Completed establishment of the East African Steering e-Waste Committee for the Region
2. Coordinated the established National Steering Committees in every Partner States including capacity building and sensitizations during the period.
3. (iii) Conducted capacity building Green ICT training by Consultants from Makerere University who work in collaboration with RanLab in Kampala during the month of March 2017.
4. increased awareness on e-waste management with a workshop in Kampala 19 – 21 July 2017 to validate the E-waste Strategy and to create awareness.
Recommendations from WG10 for future Activities to include:-
1. EACO shares the EACO model framework with the EAC Forum of ICT regulators at an appropriate time.
2. EACO to continues funding the activities of the Regional Steering Committee in the short-term, to consolidate the achieved results so far.
3. That, the next awareness workshop on e-waste management constraints to be held in Kigali, Rwanda in March 2018.

Spectrum Management

• To analyse the allocation, usage and management of resources in the region and recommend strategies for optimal usage of the scarce resources necessary for the provision of communications services.
• To develop harmonized Guidelines for the management and allocation of spectrum, numbers, CCtlD and other resources.
• To coordinate implementation of harmonised short codes within the EAC region
• To coordinate adoption and utilisation of rescue operations short code 110 for Maritime Communication for Safety on Lake Victoria (MCSLV)
• To establish mechanism for the mobile operators’ sharing of data on blacklisted handsets within the region.
• To make recommendations on the assignment of colour codes to mobile cellular operators at the EAC Members States border points
• To develop harmonized Regulations and Guidelines for the implementation of Mobile Number Portability within the region
• To follow up and coordinate activities relating to IP Numbers with ICANN and other relevant international and regional bodies
• To recommend a regional strategy for migration from IPV4 to IPV6
• To coordinate preparations for WRC within the region and follow up implementation of its Resolutions
• To coordinate, follow up and disseminate information, recommendations from ITU and other international organizations on the above issues
• To ensure implementation of ITU recommendations and best practice on resource management and/ allocations
• To coordinate and follow up the work of the relevant ITU Study Group(s) and facilitate the development of regional recommendations or contributions relating to the work of this ITU Study Group(s) or other relevant international and regional organization.

Completed Works

1. Organized a cross border frequency coordination exercise for mobile services and broadcasting services.
2. Conducted a joint session with WG7 on telecom numbering and internet resources planning, allocation and governance on the implementation progress of Network Colour Codes within EACO countries to avoid cross - border interference for mobile services.
3. Evaluated contributions from member state on spectrum policy and thereby developed the harmonized spectrum policy guidelines to be considered as a reference by EACO members.
4. Developed the mechanism for cross border coordination for specific services and a separate cross-border frequency coordination mechanism for mobile services.
5. Developed the EACO informative report on licensing of the digital dividend spectrum for broadband services in view to assist EACO Members to have informed decision on the procedure to follow on making available and licensing digital dividend spectrum for Broadband Services
6. Developed the EACO informative report on licensing of the digital dividend spectrum for broadband services in view to assist EACO Members to have informed decision on the procedure to follow on making available and licensing digital dividend spectrum for Broadband Services
7. Coordinated a training/workshop on Satellite regulatory issue with facilitation of experts from ITU pertaining to protection of satellites orbital slots and efficient use of associated frequency spectrum