Objectives The objectives for the development of an enabling and regulatory framework are to • Promote the establishment of a fully competitive market • Establish a harmonized legal and regulatory framework that takes into account converging communications technologies, services and delivery platforms. • Protect intellectual property and copyrights, privacy, data protection and on-line security without unduly restricting public access to information. • Promote investment and innovation within the ICT sector in order to improve access, affordability and quality of services. • Reduce the economic and non-economic cost of doing business in Lesotho to enable the private sector to flourish. • Encourage a transparent regulatory environment that provides for open processes and access to information. Strategies • Promote universal access to ICT services for all Basotho. • To put in place a legal and regulatory framework that recognises converged technologies. • Establish cost effective regulation mechanisms. • Develop mechanisms to improve the accountability and transparency of the regulatory function • Promote the adoption of regional and international standards and best practices in the development of rules, guidelines and regulations for the sector. 3.3.2 Policy Measures, Instruments and Initiatives To create an enabling legal and regulatory environment that balances the needs of both ICT Policy for Lesotho 33