SECTOR 2 Growth Strategy (SCA). These instruments are directly aligned with regional and sub-regional policies in this domain (NICI plans of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); Additional Act and Directive of ECOWAS relating to the harmonisation of ICT policies, etc.). In June 2010 the government and players from the media, communications and telecommunications set up a consultative framework with a view to the digital switchover in the broadcasting sector.18 This national commission produced a national strategy whose operationalisation – in preparation for the switchover in 2015 – should commence in July 2013, according to one of the panellists. The broadcasting standard and the compression standard have already been chosen. Regarding the practical measure aiming to facilitate access to technology, services and information, particularly for the benefit of marginalised or disadvantaged populations and communities, the government set up a fund – under the supervision of the Agency for Telecommunications and Postal Regulation (ARTP). This fund, which had started to be side-tracked seems to have returned once more to its initial purpose. At the University of Dakar, the Regulator is also trying to promote free access to the Internet for students. Moreover, a universal licence has been granted to a private operator in the Matam region. Similarly, the Ecological Monitoring Centre has developed an application enabling easier access for users to meteorological information in the Thiès area. For one of the panellists, however, these “scattered and disparate” initiatives cannot be taken for a coherent and concerted policy as part of an inclusive approach. On the one hand, players demand that the sector be managed by a dedicated ministry and not within a department that includes it with communication and telecommunications; on the other hand, many young people are attracted to the sector but do not find work, for lack of an integration framework and a clear government policy in this field. Much still needs to be done with regard to the orientation and guidance of students towards the knowledge, know-how and skills of tomorrow. In the contribution of another panel member, the design and launching of the governmental Intranet by the state ICT Agency (ADIE) is singled out as one of the symptoms of the incoherence of government ICT policies. This is true also of the digital switchover strategy; two years from migration, conservative measures such as the cessation of analogue radio frequency allocation or the monitoring of imported equipment have not yet been taken. A panel member wonders whether households are ready for this revolution, particularly in terms of replacing or upgrading their receivers. As for television operators, one of them created a test platform, but not on the right frequency, it would appear. 18 DVBT2 for the broadcasting standard, MPEG4 for the compression standard http://www.lesoleil.sn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31092:telecommunications-la-cedeao-enroute-pour-la-transition-numerique&catid=41:-internet&Itemid=94 / http://www.lesoleil.sn/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=18082:audiovisuel-luemoa-prepare-le-passage-au-numerique-pour-les-radios-et-les-televis ions&catid=44:movies&Itemid=109 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SENEGAL 2013 97