TELEPHARE programme launched

The PHARE regional telecommunications training programme, TELEPHARE, was launched in Budapest, Hungary on 21 February 1994. The aim of this programme is to introduce training to key people in the participating countries and to provide them with an opportunity to exchange infor...

The PHARE regional telecommunications training programme, TELEPHARE, was launched in Budapest, Hungary on 21 February 1994. The aim of this programme is to introduce training to key people in the participating countries and to provide them with an opportunity to exchange information and know-how with the view of developing a strategic direction for the future of their organizations and preparing concrete projects to achieve their goals.

In telecommunications, studies have highlighted the importance of establishing adequate services. Research has also shown that to provide the necessary back-up for a functioning telecommunications structure new legal and regulatory frameworks need to be established. There is also the need for a coherent sector development strategy which can respond to a developing competitive environment. In each of the ten countries participating in the PHARE programme there are similar needs which can be addressed by a single telecommunications development plan.

Before the programme was launched, five key objectives for each of the participating PHARE countries were identified;
- To upgrade and strengthen the knowledge and practical experience of the staff of the ten countries so that they can handle the operational and regulatory aspects of improved telecommunications systems;
- To assist the transformation of internal telecommunications systems, while keeping an eye on areas of common regional interest;
- To exchange information between the beneficiary countries and the European Community in order to promote a harmonized regional approach;
- To provide support for identifying, preparing and, in some cases, implementing investment projects at regional level;
- To produce concrete results with the help of specially chosen national staff.

This programme comprises six modules:

- Regulation and Liberalisation:
The establishment of an independent regulatory body which can develop specific telecoms legislation and licence conditions is a high priority. This body will also be responsible for setting up quality and performance standards for operators and for installing monitoring arrangements. Tariff policy and the preparation of a tariff plan are also key objectives.

- Managing a Telecommunications Company:
Training will be necessary for national operators in telecommunications company management with a focus on the production of strategic and business plans.

- Human Resources:
An initial step will be to prepare a staffing plan linked to the strategic plan. This will include a system of staff appraisal and a training strategy.

- Marketing and Selling of Products and Services:
These projects will start with market research in each key market segment - large, medium, small and residential businesses. A plan will be developed to create an effective customer account management organization. Tariffs for services would be set as part of the project.

- New Technology and Managing Telecommunications Networks:
These projects would involve preparing and carrying out an action plan to identify and tackle specific problems of network performance and reliability including finding ways to improve network capacity and producing a network management and administration strategy.

- Managing Computer Systems for Telecommunications:
An information technology strategy linked to the business strategy is necessary. New procedures for controlling information technology expenditure will have to be set up and user requirements for specific application development will be defined.

Countries

Albania, Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia