ITU takes regulators on tomorrow’s digital world

Global telecommunication regulator, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has concluded plans to host the 2010 worldwide-based Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) and Industry Leaders Forum on “Unique platform for private and public sectors: Building tomorrow’s digital world.”

A press statement from ITU made available to ITRealms Online, last weekend, indicated that the forum has been scheduled to hold between November 10 and 12, this year, in Hotel Le Méridien Président, Dakar, Senegal.

ITRealms Online gathered that since its launch in 2000, ITU’s annual Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) has provided a unique venue for regulators and policy-makers to meet and debate the key topics facing the ICT sector.

“GSR is the only global platform for the world’s regulators. The event is a unique platform designed to foster an open dialogue between government, the private sector, investors and consumers,” an official said.

The three-day event would be presided over by the Director General, Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post (ARTP) of Senegal, Mr. Ndongo Diao.

The twin events organized by ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) in collaboration with the ARTP, would facilitate a meeting of Regulatory Associations to be held in the afternoon of 9 November under the chairmanship of by Mr. Sylvanus Kla, Director General, ATCI (Côte d’Ivoire), and Chairman of the West African Telecommunication Regulation Association (WATRA).

On the Global Industry Leaders Forum (GILF), the organizers said, it’s an annual event which provides a neutral platform for members of ITU’s Development Sector to share their views with policy makers and regulators on major issues facing the ICT sector.

Particularly, GILF would emphasis on how to reduce barriers to ICT investment in developing and least developed countries.

Also, the Global Industry Leaders’ Forum and the Global Symposium for Regulators would examine the challenges for regulators to stimulate nationwide broadband deployment through adaptive and targeted regulations and out-of-the-box tools.

Just as discussions would cover the impact of broadband on and beyond the ICT sector as well as the driving forces of today’s and tomorrow’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) markets, notably the migration from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting and the allocation of the digital dividend.

Further, GSR would focuses on new regulatory models taking into account the need to keep up with the pace of convergence and integration of ubiquitous networks, in particular through adapting institutional structure and mandates, adopting cutting-edge best practices and embracing new tools such as innovative dispute resolution techniques.

In addition to the panel discussions and presentations, two interactive workshops would be held on ‘Building on broadband and National School Connectivity Plans’ featuring the ITU flagship initiative Connect a School, Connect a Community.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D