Macro Environment

and
Telecommunications
 Course Overview
Scope of the course
It provides a basic links to other courses in the program

It provides a theoretical grounding allows students to confident ly deal with

more complex and technical telecommunications issues in the future.

It supplies an overview of the nature and scope of the telecoms sector and
pays particular attention to the factors that contribute to its tremendous
growth and increasing importance.

The course explores the various cause-and-effect relationships that exist

between telecommunications and the political, social, and economic
environments.
 Overview of Course
Scope of the course Glo
bal
and
Loc
al a
Macro Envir & Telecom ren
Po as
litic
al Theoretical background of ICT
En
vir
on The Basics of Regulations
me
nt
ICT Technologies

ICT Applications

So International Trends in the ICT sector

en cio -
viro eco
nm no ICT and Development
en mic
t l
ica
echn ment
Cultural environment T iron
env
 Course Overview
Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the course learners should be able to

Display knowledge of the developments in the information and

communication sector

Draft regulatory suggestions to tackle telecommunications problems

Recognize the roles of telecommunication in socio-economic

development and locate these to the domestic telecommunications
sector

Demonstrate an understanding of the major telecommunications

regulation concepts
 Course Overview
Learning outcomes

Conduct cross -country analysis of telecommunications issues

Identify the policies made by international organisations with

concerns in telecommunications and implications on domestic
telecom sector

Identify and understand the relationship between

telecommunications and socio-economic development
 Course Overview
Structure of the Course

TR 501

Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4

Two learning activities per module

Four essays questions, learners write an essay on one

 Module 1
The Information and Communication Technology revolution
and the growth of the information sector

Information and Information Revolution

Critique of the Information Revolution

The Impacts of the Information Revolution

Information Society

Meaning and Scope of ICTs

The Potential Uses of ICTs

The Telecommunication Revolution

Factors Responsible for the Growth of the Telecommunications

Sector
 Module 1
The Information and Communication Technology revolution
and the growth of the information sector

Telecommunications Systems

Wire and Cable Technology

Wireless Technologies

Telecommunications in Africa

The Internet

The Fundamental Concept of the World Wide Web

Internet Use in Africa

 Module 2:
Basic principles and scope of regulations

Why Regulate? Reasons for the regulation in the ICT sector

Two Types of Regulators

Good Governance by Regulators

The Role of the Telecommunications Ombudsman

Regulatory Structures in the Telecommunications and/or ICT Sector

Regulatory Processes

Case Studies to Demonstrate Regulatory processes

International Telecommunications and/or ICT Regulation

Models or Types of Regulation

 Module 3:

Global trends and the Telecommunications sector

Global Trends In the ICT sector

The Role of International Organizations in Telecommunications

The International Telecommunications Union

The World Trade Organization

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

The World Bank and The International Monetary Fund

 Module 3:
Global trends and the Telecommunications sector

Telecommunications Regulators ‘ Association of Southern Africa

(TRASA)

West African Telecommunications Regulators Association (WATRA)

African Telecommunications Union (ATU)

COMESA

Regional African Satellite Communications Organization (RASCOM)

 Module 4: Telecommunications and Socio -
Economic Development

The Role of ICTs and Telecommunications in Development

The Meaning of Development, Sustainable Development and Rural

Development

Telecommunications, Gender and Development

Information Communication Technologies (ICTs ) and Development

Social Constraints to the Ownership and Use of ICT

Telecommunications, Developed Countries and Development of

LDCs
Module 4: Telecommunications and Socio-Economic
Development

Role of ICTs in Economic Development

Direct Effects of Telecommunications on Economic Development

Indirect Effects of Telecommunications on Economic Development

Theoretical Approaches to the Role of Telecommunications in

Development

Theoretical Perspective to the Internet and Community Development

ICTs and Development Support Communication