Executive Summary The Rural Telecommunications Program was conceived to address challenges faced in the provision of telecommunications service in the rural areas. The program is intended to assist in integrating the rural population into the economic and social development of the country by affording the affected communities access to telecommunications services comparable to urban areas. Whilst this program has been in existence for more than ten years, the issues and challenges encountered in the implementation of the program has prompted the government to formulate a forward looking strategy that will serve the current market demands. The strategy should be able to bear the evolution of technology and markets in ensuring the provision of essential telecommunications services to the rural population is done in an effective and efficient manner. The Rural Telecommunications Strategy has defined specific objectives to meet the demand for telecommunication services in the rural areas. The strategy also recommends the development of the Rollout Plan. The Plan addresses the need for stakeholder consultation and the importance of discussing requirements with key stakeholders such as government, parastatals and the private sector has been emphasised. The plan also addresses the critical need to consult with the communities themselves. In addition it recognizes the evaluation of the villages to determine the eligibility and priority for service provisioning under the rural program. It is important to mention that periodic review of the plan is necessary to ensure it remains relevant and up to date. One of the most critical aspects of the strategy is the acknowledgment of the significance of an appropriate enabling environment. This is in recognition of the pivotal role that a favourable environment plays in enhancing and supporting efficient and effective provision of service. The government is required to continuously assess, coordinate and review the program in order to provide enabling environment for service provision. The government is also responsible to monitor the regulator and operators in order to make sure that the program meets its stated goals and objectives. The role of the regulator in ensuring the program is executed in a fair and non discriminatory manner cannot be overemphasised. Regulatory intervention is also required to establish and manage a monitoring process. This process must ensure consumers are protected from unfair trade practices and unreasonable costs. The strategy also affirms the requirement of an equitable and efficient regime for management of interconnection, quality of service, and the allocation of limited resources such as frequency spectrum, numbering and rights of way. It is universally acknowledged that competition is the hallmark of modern procurement practice. The elimination of operator monopoly in the telecommunications sector has also opened new opportunities for innovative procurement methodologies in the delivery of telecommunications services. The implementation of the rural telecommunications program should be subjected to competition and must be in line with the envisaged Rural Telecommunications Strategy 26 October 2006 4