Expression of Interest For Consultancy Services For The Development Of The Broadband Policy And Strategy

Expression Of Interest Are Invited For Consultancy Services For The Development Of The Broadband Policy And Strategy The Consulting Services (The Services) Include: Undertake An Assessment Of The Current Ict Status Of Saint Lucia, Using Ict Development Index (Idi), Which Includes, Among Others, Indicators On Fixed Telephone Lines, Mobile Subscriptions, Internet Users, Broadband Penetration, International Internet Bandwidth, And Percentage Of Households With An Electronic Device. Other Relevant Factors To Be Taken Into Account, Such As Ict Affordability (Ict Price Basket), World Summit On Information Society (Wsis) / Sustainable Development Goals (Sdg) Targets, Economic And Geographic Parameters; Summarize An Assessment Of Existing Policy And Regulatory Frameworks With A View To Facilitating Deployment Of Broadband Technologies, Both Fixed And Wireless; Taking Into Account Convergence Trends; Conduct A Comprehensive Swot (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities And Threats) Of Relevant Market And Sector Structures And, Based On This Analysis, Identify Options For Enhancing Broadband Development, Taking Into Consideration Local Market Context And International Trends, Legal, Regulatory, Financial And Operational Aspects. Review The Existing Network Architectures, Coverage Maps And Identify Any Broadband Gaps And Propose Potential Interventions, Such As Investment Costs, Service Provider Taxation, And Propose Possible Funding Options, To Support Broadband Deployment For The Gaps And Last Mile Connectivity; Coordinate Closely With The National Consultant Team Working In Parallel, To Provide Regulatory Advisory Services With Regard To The New Legislation Affecting Icts. Assess Key Current And Foreseeable Economic And Social Determinant Issues With Respect To Broadband Demand And Its Uptake For Broadband Applications. Assess Demand Estimation Methodologies, Which May Include Or Combine Comparative Benchmarks, Sustainable Affordability, And Adoption/Attractiveness, Content And Services And Identify Policies, Regulations And Actions Plans To Stimulate Supply And Demand Among Others; Coordinate With Ectel And The Ntrc To Identify Key Policy And Regulatory Instruments Including Licensing, Spectrum Access/Interconnection, Deployment Of New Technologies, Rollout Of Obligations, Incentive Based Regulation, Infrastructure Sharing, Universal Service Obligations And Provide Concrete Recommendations To Promote Broadband Wireless Services Vis-À-Vis Identified National Priorities And International Best Practices; In Consultation With Ntrc And Ectel, Define Policy Objectives For Broadband Development, Strategic Initiatives, Key Performance Indicators And Targets Including A Roadmap With Established Timeframes, Resource Requirements (With Clearly Defined Roles And Responsibilities Of Stakeholders), A Budget And A Monitoring And Evaluation Framework Aimed At Achieving Affordable Broadband Access And Improving Broadband Coverage With Clear Targets And Metrics (E.G. Coverage, Scorecards And Geographical Approach); Examine The Opportunity For Saint Lucia To Fully Capitalize On The Broadband And Ict Era, By Leveraging Modern Technological Options And Infrastructure, Government Support, Investment Incentives, Competition, And Highlight The Potential For Policy Makers, Regulators And Other Stakeholders, To Foster The Development And Adoption Of Broadband In Saint Lucia; Monitoring And Reporting The Impact Of Broadband On Economic Activity; Develop A Roadmap For Broadband Development That Includes, But Not Limited To The Following: Provision Of Wi-Fi To Fill In Access Gaps For Desirous Individuals In All Communities; Address Data Security And Privacy, As Well As Cyber & Information Security / Secure Broadband (Provider & User Levels); Ability To Track Internet Protocol (Ip) Addresses To Geographic Locations To Assist In The Prevention Of Cybercrime; Sustainability Of Internet Exchange Points (Ixp); And Recommendations On The Implementation Of Broadband Technologies In Key Priority Sectors Identified In The Digital Strategy Develop Instruments To Seek Input From Stakeholders In Saint Lucia On The Requisites For A National Broadband Strategic Policy And Action Plan, Especially Regarding The Current And Future Regulatory Framework And The Policy Initiatives Related To Broadband; And Conduct A National Workshop Aimed At Informing, Educating, Gathering Information From The Stakeholders And Sharing Proposals.