Post on 25-May-2020
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Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk
Reduction Division
ICT and Development Section
Sub-Regional Workshop on E-resilience for the Asia-Pacific
Information Superhighway (AP-IS)
SUMMARY REPORT (DRAFT)
8 December 2016, Thimphu, Bhutan
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Background of the Workshop
1. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has been recognized to be a key
enabler for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs), the goals of
the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), as well as those in the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2030 (SFDRR). Furthermore, as meta-
infrastructure ICT supports a wide range of other infrastructure and activities across the
whole spectrum of human endeavor that promote sustainable development.
Notwithstanding the efforts that each country and sub-region is making towards enhanced
ICT connectivity, the broadband expansion in Asia and the Pacific are still slow with
widening gaps between countries.
2. Based on ESCAP analyses, some of the main causes of digital divide have been identified
as lack of investment in resilient ICT infrastructure; effective Internet traffic and network
management, conducive and enabling regulations for investment, and capacity and
awareness among policy makers and regulators, among others. Recognizing these
connectivity deficits, ESCAP member countries decided to pursue a regional broadband
connectivity initiative, the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS)1, and recently
endorsed the AP-IS Master Plan and Regional Cooperation Framework Document during
the first meeting of the Committee on Information and Communications Technology,
Science, Technology and Innovation2 on 5-7 October 2016 in Bangkok, which outlined
the principles, deliverables, timeline and financing mechanisms towards narrowing the
digital divide and accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).
3. The AP-IS initiative aims to increase the availability, resilience and affordability of
broadband Internet across Asia and the Pacific, by strengthening the underlying Internet
infrastructure in the region; promotion of terrestrial and submarine fibre-optic
connectivity. The AP-IS pillars are (1) Connectivity (promoting fibre-optic network); (2)
Internet traffic and network management (strengthen international traffic and network
management to ensure fast and reliable internet); (3) E-Resilience (boosting ICT network
resilience to support disaster risk management) and (4) Broadband for all (reduce digital
divide and provide affordable broadband access to underserved areas).
1 http://www.unescap.org/our-work/ict-disaster-risk-reduction/asia-pacific-information-superhighway
2http://www.unescap.org/events/committee-information-and-communications-technology-science-
technology-and-innovation-first
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4. E-resilience is one of the four pillars of focus for AP-IS. E-resilience puts emphasis on
how to design and implement more resilient ICT infrastructure from increasing exposure
to damage and losses caused by natural disasters in the region. Resilient ICT
infrastructure and effective use of ICT at all phases of disaster management has the
potential to reduce disaster risks and improve disaster risk reduction as envisioned in the
SFDRR.
5. Based on research and analysis conducted on e-resilience at the national and regional
levels3, an ESCAP study identified that the SPECA
4 countries face particular risks
associated with floods and extreme weather and earthquakes, noting that a seismic risks
are concentrated around populated areas in all these countries. Landlocked developing
countries (LLDC) in other sub-region might be interested in the approach as well as steps
to be taken to deepen an understanding natural hazards and its impact on existing and
planned ICT infrasfructure.
Objectives of the Workshop
6. The Sub-Regional Workshop on E-resilience for the Asia-Pacific Information
Superhighway (AP-IS) (8 December 2016) had the following objectives:
a) To build participant’s knowledge and capacity in enhancing the resilience of ICT
infrastructure for disaster risk management, best practices, lessons learnt and
policy options;
b) Provide an update on the recently endorsed Asia-Pacific Information
Superhighway Master Plan and Regional Cooperation Framework Document and
how this initiative can support countries through e-resilience.
Organization of the meeting
7. Senior government officials attended the workshops from ESCAP member countries
including other regional and international organizations focusing on the South and South-
3 http://www.unescap.org/our-work/ict-disaster-risk-reduction/asia-pacific-information-
superhighway/publications 4 United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) was launched in 1998 to
strengthen subregional cooperation in Central Asia and its integration into the world economy. The countries of
SPECA are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
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West Asia (SSWA) sub-region and LLDCs (Annex 2). The workshop’s agenda is
attached (Annex 1). The workshop was held in Thimphu, Bhutan, on 8 December 2016.
Session 1: Opening and setting the scene: Disaster Risk Reduction in South and South-
West Asia and LLDCs
8. Ms. Atsuko Okuda (ESCAP) and Mr. Sonam Tobgay (Bhutan) opened the workshop on
E-resilience. They welcomed participants to the workshop and outlined the agenda of the
workshop.
9. Mr. Pujiano Pujiano (ESCAP), delivered a presentation on E-resilience (video-recorded
presentation available from ESCAP’s ‘IDD & DRR gateway website’
http://www.drrgateway.net/). He defined e-resilience as “the ability of ICT systems to
withstand, recover from and change in the face of an external disturbance such as natural
disasters” and noted that e-resilience is contributing to SDG 9: building resilient
infrastructure (Target 9.c seeks to considerably increase access to ICT and provide
universal access to the internet in LDCs by 2020). He added that ICT is a growth sector as
well as a key enabler for sustainable development and stated that ICT can accelerate the
implementation of SDGs in the region, and therefore essential for sustainable
development.
10. Mr. Pujiano explained that some of the critical factors for e-resilience in the context of the
Asia-Pacific information superhighway include:
a) shortening the time needed for restoration after a disaster;
b) knowing disaster risks and designing for resilience;
c) ensuring last-mile connectivity; promoting mobile and other communication
means for redundancy and emergency communications; and
d) exploring innovative mobile, geographic information system (GIS) and space
applications and big data.
11. He stated that possible measures for enhancing e-resilience include:
a) promote the use of existing and innovative technology for connectivity and
disaster preparedness and response;
b) mainstream DRR and resilient ICT into national policies and plans; and
c) build regional cooperation for knowledge sharing and capacity building.
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12. Mr. Bill Ho, (ADPC) began his presentation by asking why DRR focuses on
development. He stated that disasters set back development programming by destroying
years of development initiatives. Development programmes can be designed to decrease
the susceptibility of countries to disasters and their negative consequences. Rebuilding
after a disaster provides significant opportunities to initiate development programmes.
13. Mr. Bill Ho noted that priorities on e-resilience and DRR need to look at the following;
a) Improving understanding of disaster risk
b) Providing access to risk information
c) Strengthening the ability of governments and institutions to manage disaster risk
d) Capacity building of sub-national level officials
e) Ensuring greater gender inclusivity
f) Improving coordination among relevant domestic and regional agencies
g) Allocating more financial resources to ensure long-term sustainability of
initiatives
h) Fostering greater private sector engagement
14. Following the presentation, the representative of Nepal suggested that ESCAP could
come up with a toolkit for e-resilience and noted that the University of Manchester
developed a toolkit to assess the resilience of infrastructure in Nepal and neighboring
countries. He also suggested that technical capacity on working with GIS data needs to be
enhanced in the Asia-Pacific region.
15. Mr. David Butcher (David Butcher and Associates) noted the importance of working
closely with the private telecom operators in times of disaster. In particular, advice on use
of SMS text messages instead of voice and the need for this information to be
mainstreamed and disseminated to online and media platforms.
16. The discussion also highlighted the need to establish and maintain a national emergency
call number. The meeting noted that in some countries, these emergency call numbers
either have limited capacity to handle mass communications or they are not free. The
meeting also recognized the need for ESCAP and regional partners such as APT to look
into this area of the existing capacity and effectiveness of national emergency call
numbers in the region.
17. The representative of APT agreed that APT will assist in the implementation of the Asia-
Pacific Information Superhighway Master Plan pillar on ‘E-resilience’.
Session 2: E-resilience - Opportunities and Challenge
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18. Mr. David Butcher began his presentation by sharing New Zealand’s experience on the
impact of the recent earthquake that struck parts of the country. He noted that even
quality ICT infrastructure can be destroyed and be vulnerable to natural disasters. He
therefore emphasized that DRR should be focused on ensuring the safety of the general
public during a natural disaster and immediately afterwards. In particular, the use of back-
up technologies (such as VSAT and emergency generators) and the important role of an
evacuation plan where stressed along with the for alternative routes and technologies to
provide timely backup.
19. Mr. Butcher further stated that resilient ICT infrastructure investment and appropriate
market policies including the introduction of competition which promotes efficient
investment are particularly key. In terms of shared infrastructure, some countries have co-
sharing with different types of systems, ranging from a commercial basis, to almost free
access. This implies more towers and overall better quality of services. Co-location and
managing capacity substantially reduces costs, and easement of right of way (which is
one of the most costly processes of laying the fibre) highlighting that the use of co-
location saved cost in the case of Rwanda. He also stated that redundancy was critical
with alternative routes for access to backbone networks which also increases e-resilience
as in the case of Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Lao PDR and Cambodia. He concluded that
shared infrastructure reduces cost of broadband. Roads and easements open to all
operators are also critical in shared infrastructure due that such are the first and most
common types of public undertakings where savings can increase quality of services and
increase redundancy; networks must be able to withstand modest movement of traffic,
ease of repair, thus an additional benefit of co-location.
20. The meeting’s discussions that followed focused on infrastructure sharing between ICT
and other utility sectors such as electricity. The representative of the Bhutan Power
Corporation explained that in the case of Bhutan, the electricity grid has been deployed to
the majority of the population, co-shared with more than 3000 kilometers of fibre-optic
cable. He moved on to explain that the government of Bhutan engaged the Bhutan Power
Corporation in a public contract of which the power company is to maintain the co-shared
infrastructure but government is the owner. The government is to pay 2.5 per cent of the
asset fund, to the power company for maintenance. The representative of Bangladesh
stated that his country in 1997 used co-location of fibre-optic cables along railway, with
the Russian Federation reporting a similar arrangement using railways.
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21. The meeting also discussed and identified the following issues as important towards e-
resilience in the region:
a) The need for ESCAP to examine the operational and policy challenges faced by
infrastructure deployment companies in laying fibre-optic cables.
b) The need for ESCAP to develop an online-community platform to share information
of good practices before disasters strike. The members of the general public who do
not access to ICT, are digitally illiterate or unable to afford smart phones needs to be
explored in order to ensure that critical information is received by all.
c) The importance for regional cooperation between sub-regions sharing similar
geographical features and challenges. In particular, international cooperation through
policy dialogue and capacity building to be facilitated by ESCAP for sharing
experiences and enhancing capacity of policy makers, operators, and emergency
response teams.
d) Recognized that cyber security is critical for resilient ICT infrastructure, some
countries may need capacity development assistance.
Session 3: E-resilience and Way Forward
22. Mr. Sangye Rinchhen, Director ENB (SAARC Secretariat) updated the meeting on the
work of SARRC in disaster risk management. He explained that the SAARC charter in
particular promoted regional cooperation, and noted that one of the areas of cooperation
was ICT. He moved to explain his organization’s work in the region and stated that his
organization continues to work with countries in the region in the area of ICT
development.
23. Mr. Santosh Sigdel, Senior Vice-President, (ISOC Nepal Chapter) delivered his
presentation by stating that major disasters in Nepal included flooding and earthquakes
and noted that the vulnerability disaster risk index showed that Katmandu is one of the
most vulnerable cities in the world. He moved on to discuss the destructive impact of the
powerful and catastrophic (7.8 Richter scale) earthquake in 2015 for Nepal where 8000+
people lost their lives, 23000+ people were injured, half million private houses were fully
destroyed, and 8 million people affected. The last mile connectivity was affected while
the international gateway was intact. Post disaster national assessment (PDNA)
undertaken after the disaster quoted damages at US$36 million and US$50 million
economic losses.
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24. Mr. Sigdel stressed that ICT played an important role during the disaster, in particular, for
search and rescue. He explained that the disaster relief efforts relied heavily on
telecommunications, Internet and broadcasting. In particular, ICT helped to keep the
general population informed during and after the disaster. The general public used Radio
Nepal and social media (Twitter/Facebook), and open street maps (printed maps shared
with rescuers). He stated that his organization went out into the community with
emergency power generators to help charge mobile phones in three communities.
25. Mr. Jiang Hua, Director of the Emergency Communication Center, Ministry of Industry
and Information Technology (China) noted that the Nepal earthquake also affected parts
of China dramatically, including three neighboring counties where fibre-optic lines were
damaged and disconnected. Emergency telecommunications was deployed through
satellite phone.
26. The representative of Pakistan noted that the resilience of electricity and
telecommunication grids are critical for ICT connectivity especially when disaster
response operations are in place.
27. Mr. Jiang Hua updated the meeting on the experience of his country in using ICT during
and after natural disasters, in particular, the use of satellite-based emergency
communications for disaster risk management. He stated that regional cooperation is
essential for e-resilience and disaster relief activities, especially when economies in the
sub-region have similar challenges, closer socio-economic relationships and geographical
locations.
28. Mr. Hua proposed that the following initiatives under the AP-IS e-resilience framework
could be explored taking into the need to find the balance of development-oriented goals
of ‘broadband affordability’ and the sustainability of commercial ICT operators;
a) exchange of country experiences through workshops to identify best-practices in
the region;
b) capacity building programmes on specific e-resilience aspects;
c) establishment of a regional resource sharing mechanism;
d) mobilization of e-resilience ICT technologies, products and solutions in the
region/sub-region;
e) development of national communication emergency preparedness plan;
f) Enhanced satellite based emergency communications methods, especially in terms
of mobile satellite based systems and the improvement in the deployment of
emergency communications equipment.
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29. The representative of ADB suggested that there are other alternatives for emergency
communications including Google balloon and social media platforms. The representative
of LIRNEAsia added that new technology such as Google and Facebook, are still running
on experimental cost, and therefore there is also a case for proven technology such as
high frequency (HF) telecommunication technology, which is affordable and available in
developing countries. He noted that satellite phones for emergency communications are
still expensive to maintain. The representative of China added that the balloon technology
may not be quick enough for deployment in emergency cases since it could take 24 hours
before it can be launched.
30. Mr. Karma Jamyang, Telecom Division, Department of Information Technology &
Telecom, Ministry of Information and Communications (Bhutan) shared his country’s
connectivity status and challenges on e-resilience. He stated that the Bhutan Power
Corporation has a number of transmission towers has laid fibre optic cables connecting 20
districts, 205 blocks, and has connected 187 community centres. Bhutan has two
international gateways and Thimphu is in the process of establishing an Internet exchange
point. He stated that the challenges encountered included the need for increasing Internet
redundancy, the lack of which resulted in the high cost of bandwidth and limited last mile
connectivity.
31. Mr. Muhammad Yousaf Sheikh (Pakistan) updated the meeting on his country’s work
related to e-resilience. He stated that the National Disaster Management Authority
(NDMA) act as secretariat for DRR during times of disasters. He added that an online
platform used for disaster risk education is made available online for the general public.
As a way forward, he stated that it was important to share technical expertise and local
knowledge; make available spectrum for emergency communication; and stressed the
important role of satellite communication and other technologies such as FM/ AM Radio;
and assistance for online social platforms for emergency communications.
32. Mr. Banamali Bhowmick (Bangladesh) updated the meeting on his country’s national
ICT policies addressing disaster management. He stated that the major objective of these
policy measures is to protect citizens from natural disasters through ICT-based disaster
warning and management technologies. This included:
a) utilization of remote sensing technologies for disaster management and mitigation
and web-based environmental clearance certification system;
b) promotion of cell phone/SMS-based disaster warning systems targeted at the
population likely to be affected;
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c) utilization of GIS-based systems to monitor flood and cyclone shelters (including
equitable distribution in vulnerable areas), and to ensure equitable distribution of
relief goods with special focus on the hard-to-reach areas;
d) promotion of efficient relief management and post-disaster activities monitoring;
and
e) combating flood damage to agricultural food stock, sharing that agricultural
research institutes have introduced saline and drought tolerant cereal varieties for
farmers to grow.
Session 4: Wrap Up
33. Ms. Atsuko Okuda (ESCAP) and Mr. Sonam Tobgay (Bhutan) closed the workshop on e-
resilience with Mr. Tobgay thanking speakers and participants for the fruitful discussions.
Ms. Okuda invited participants to continue engagement of sharing experiences,
information and guidance on e-resilience issues in the region through ESCAP’s online
communities developed by ESCAP.
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Annex 2: Agenda - Sub-Regional Workshop on E-resilience for the Asia-Pacific
Information Superhighway (AP-IS)
Day 2 Thursday 8 December 2016
09:00 – 10:30
Facilitator – Representative of DIIT, Bhutan.
Session 1: Opening and setting the scene: Disaster Risk Reduction in South and
South-West Asia and LLDCs
Opening Remarks by Representative of DITT
E-resilience for Sustainable Development (recorded video presentation):
Mr. Puji Pujiano, Regional Advisor, Disaster Risk Reduction, ESCAP
The use of ICT for better risk informed decision making process for
resilient development’. Mr. Bill Ho, Head of ICT, Asia Disaster Preparedness
Centre (ADPC)
Followed by open discussions
10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:45 – 12:00
Facilitator – Mr. Bill Ho, ADPC
Session 2: E-resilience - Opportunities and Challenge
Shared resilient infrastructure and redundancy. Mr. David Butcher,
Principal Consultant, David Butcher and Associates.
Open discussions E-resilience and Way Forward (experiences from the
region)
(i). How to protect ICT infrastructure?
(ii). How to coordinate disaster response during and after disaster?
ESCAP ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Gateway Online Platform
12:00 – 13:15 Lunch
13:15 – 15:30
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Facilitator – Dr. Yeong Ro Lee, NIA
Session 3: E-resilience and Way Forward
Disaster Risk Reduction and the role of ICT, Mr. Sangye Rinchhen, Director
ENB, SAARC Secretariat.
Experience on ICT and DRR (earthquake), Mr. Santosh Sigdel, Senior Vice-
President, ISOC Nepal Chapter
Country Updates
Followed by open discussions
15:30 - 15:45 Break
15:45 – 16:15
Facilitator – Representative of DIIT, Bhutan.
Session 4: Wrap Up
Ms. Atsuko Okuda, Chief, ICT and Development Section, ICT and Disaster
Risk Reduction Division, ESCAP
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Annex 3: List of Participants
BANGLADESH
Mr. Banamali Bhowmick, Director General, Department of ICT, ICT Division, Ministry of Posts,
Telecommunications & Information Technology
BHUTAN
Mr. Jigme Namgyal, Director, Department of Information Technology & Telecom, Ministry of Information and
Communications
Mr. Sonam Phuntsho, Chief of Telecom Division, Department of Information Technology & Telecom, Ministry
of Information and Communications
Mr. Jigme Tenzing, Chief of Application Division, Department of Information Technology & Telecom,
Ministry of Information and Communications
Mr. Pemba Tshering, Chief of ICT Management Division, Department of Information Technology & Telecom,
Ministry of Information and Communications
Mr. Karma Jamyang, ICTO, Telecom Division, Department of Information Technology & Telecom, Ministry of
Information and Communications
Mr. Phub Gyeltshen, Dy. Chief PO, PPD MoIC, Planning and Program Division, Ministry of Information and
Communications
Mr. Sonam Tobgay, Senior ICT Officer, Department of Information Technology & Telecom, Ministry of
Information and Communications
Mr. Jigme Chogyal, DDM, Department of Disaster Management
Ms. Lotey Pem, ICT Officer, Department of Disaster Management
Mr. Rinchen Jangsem, ICTA, Road Safety and Transport Authority
Mr. Leki Choda, Assistant Planning Officer, Road Safety and Transport Authority
CHINA
Mr. Jiang Hua, Director of the Emergency Communication Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information
Technology
LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
Mr. Souliya Sengdalavong, Deputy Director General, Information Technology Department, Ministry of Science
and Technology
MONGOLIA
Mr. Odkhuu Tsolmondelger, Officer of Communications and Postal Development, Communications and
Information Technology Authority
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NEPAL
Mr. Manohar K. Bhattarai, Senior Advisor, Computer Association of Nepal
PAKISTAN
Mr. Muhammad Yousaf Sheikh, Assistant Director (Wireline), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
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SPECIALIZED AGENCIES AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Mr. Seok Yong Yoon
Senior Public Management Specialist (e-Governance),
Sustainable Development and Climate Change
Department
Manila, Philippines
SAARC Secretariat Mr. Sangye Rinchhen
Director ENB
Kathmandu, Nepal
OTHER ENTITIES
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) Mr. Chang I Ho
Department Head
Information Technology and Communication
Bangkok, Thailand
Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Mr. Masanori Kondo
Deputy Secretary General
Bangkok, Thailand
Mr. MD Forhadul Parvez
Project Coordinator, Radiocommunication
Bangkok, Thailand
Bhutan Power Corporation Mr. Namgay Wangchuk
General Manager, ICD
Thimphu, Bhutan
Mr. Sonam Dendup
Manager, ICD
Thimphu, Bhutan
Bhutan Telecom Mr. Tshering Dhendup
Manager, Internet & IT section
Thimphu, Bhutan
Ms. Sonam Lhamo
Engineer, Internet and IT section
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Thimphu, Bhutan
David Butcher and Associates Mr. David Butcher
Principal Consultant
Wellington, New Zealand
Internet Society Mr. Santosh Sigdel
Senior Vice President
Kathmandu, Nepal
LIRNEasia Mr. Abu Saeed Khan
Senior Policy Fellow
Dhaka, Bangladesh
National Information Society Agency (NIA)
Mr. Yeong Ro Lee
Research Fellow/Special Advisor, Multilateral
Cooperation Division
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Thimphu City Corporation Mr. Pasang Dorji
Executive Secretary
Thimphu, Bhutan
Mr. Oma Pati Luitel
ICT Officer
Thimphu, Bhutan
World Wide Web Foundation Mr. Basheerhamad Shadrach
Asia Coordinator
Alliance for Affordable Internet
New Delhi, India
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SECRETARIAT
United Nations Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific
Ms. Atsuko Okuda
Chief
ICT and Development Section
ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division
Mr. Siope Vakataki 'Ofa
Economic Affairs Officer
ICT and Development Section
ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division
Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia Mr. Nyingtob Pema Norbu
Associate Economic Affairs Officer
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