Policies

a) Increase awareness among policy makers

The objective is to increase the awareness of policy makers and of key decision-makers in government, the private sector and in civil society of the role and importance of ICTs for economic, social and human development.

Action items

i. Identify key policy makers 

ii. Communicate and share information about ICT development worldwide and in Asia especially with policy makers. Develop mechanisms such as focused electronic mailing lists, to keep all concerned appraised and to encourage information exchange.

b) Encourage ICT development

The objective is to create a policy environment that will encourage the development of the use ICTs by all sectors of the economy and of society across the country.

Action items

i. Undertake an economic analysis of the costs and benefits of investing in ICTs in Mongolia (ICT Advisory Council)

ii. In close consultation with existing policy makers and others, develop the outline of the policy regime that will best support ICT Vision 2010. 

iii. Review existing policies and undertake a comparative analysis of ICT policy developments worldwide and in Asia especially (a task for the ICT Advisory Council) in respect of the outcomes i. and ii. 

iv. Track and examine business models for ICT deployment and commercialization (ICT Advisory Council in collaboration with the Government of Mongolia, the Chamber of Commerce and others). Examine and analyze the policy environment under which these models were deployed.

v. Collaborate and exchange information and experiences with other policy makers and researchers, as well as key international organizations working in this area (Asian research organizations, ITU, the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Bank, ICT industry groups,  private companies, NGOs and donors) to examine the options available (ICT Advisory Council)

vi. Recommend policy options to the Government of Mongolia 

vii. Seek support from the international community (ITU, donors, researchers and research networks) to gain access to this information and relevant expertise (ICT Advisory Council).

viii. Network with other policy research organizations in Asia and elsewhere.

c) Promote investment in ICTs

In collaboration with existing agencies and government departments, examine and propose policies and other mechanisms to encourage investment in and the deployment of more bandwidth for IP data communications, with particular attention given to high-speed technologies such as cable, DSL, fiber and wireless, and with a view to increasing access to computers. 

Action items

i. Examine the pros and cons of providing tax incentives and even subsidies to encourage local firms, local community groups and others to acquire and install these technologies (ICT Advisory Council to help draft proposals in collaboration with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and others)

ii. Research and track developments in this area in countries around the world. Use the Internet and supplement by collaborating and networking with partners around the world examining these issues

iii. Examine policies used in other countries to encourage and incite private and community based investment in ICT deployment. For example, look at what Canada is doing here via its ‘Community Access Program ’

iv. Plan, develop and implement projects to deploy these technologies

v. Monitor the market for ICT goods and services and share results via the Internet. 

d) Strengthen and entrench telecommunications liberalization

Liberalization is ongoing in Mongolia. However the way forward to liberalization and the examples from other countries can always be useful and can anyway influence access to the Internet and ICTs in general. This is more so the case because Mongolia is landlocked and dependant on its two neighbours for overland trade and access to the Internet backbone and major Asian Internet hubs.

Action items

i. Document the advantages and disadvantages of liberalization. Show why it is needed

ii. Track developments in this area, especially in the international arena and in Asia, where policy changes will have a major influence on Mongolian access to the Internet. Countries of particular concern are China and Russia.

iii. Work closely with the Mongolian Telecommunications Authority and others who have in depth knowledge and expertise in this area

iv. Track developments at the ITU and in other international venues

v. Recommend appropriate interventions based on consultation, research and analysis

vi. Make recommendations to the Government of Mongolia and to the Parliament as appropriate.

e) Ensure that the national regulatory authority is independent. 

The national regulator should also be vigilant to ensure that prices, especially those of access to and use of backbone Internet networks reflect costs as much as possible .

Action items

i. Separate the ICT regulatory agency from the ICT operators. This appears to be ongoing.

f) Adopt policies that will create an enabling environment

Action items

i. Continue the reform of the banking and financial services sector to encourage SMEs and investment

ii. Create a level playing field for foreign investors

iii. Create incentives for local investors (foreign investors already have tax incentives)

iv. Maintain a liberal market place for access to and for reselling ICT goods and services, including the market for access to international telecommunications circuits. Avoid the market and central controls imposed by other countries: China, India and Singapore

v. Remove or reduce import duties and VAT on PCs, network hardware and software.