6 Rollout Plan The Rollout Plan shall present a master plan for the deployment of telecommunications services across the entire country that covers a wide variety of geographical areas and related demographics. The development of this plan shall strike a balance between the issues and concerns that had been identified during the previous programs and the variety of views and opinions expressed by different stakeholders. The plan shall also identify equitably what is required in each community so as to ensure the infrastructure that will be deployed can accommodate the current and near future demand for services. The Rollout Plan shall therefore provide critical information on the potential market demand so that an assessment of the business potential can be made. To ensure there is maximum public buy-in at all times, the rollout plan shall be reviewed after each and every implementation. The following issues shall be addressed as part of the development of the rollout plan. 6.1 Community Consultations The consultations of key stakeholders such as public, government and the private sector are necessary to ensure that the various demand components driving the requirement for telecommunications in the rural areas are identified and addressed. This discussion ensures that different perspectives, needs, and positions are carefully considered before making decisions. This also ensures that the process used to make decisions and take action is done in an open and transparent manner. To better understand the situation faced by rural communities, visits must be conducted to consult communities. The consultations will afford an opportunity for the communities to share their ideas and needs in terms of telecommunication services. The community visits must also collect data that will provide an “on the ground” assessment of current telecommunication requirements in the communities. 6.2 Development of the Criteria The criteria for selecting the localities to be included in the Rural Telecommunications Program as well as for determining the priority for providing services are a critical aspect of ensuring an open and transparent process. The criteria assist to meet the objectives of the rural telecommunications program and allow it to be implemented in an effective way. The criteria also address issues and concerns that have been identified in earlier rural programs. Rural Telecommunications Strategy 26 October 2006 15