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Effective ICT regulation is critical to economic growth
New ITU report positive on global regulatory
trends in an
ever-more connected world
Geneva, 31 March 2011 – The 11th edition of ITU’s flagship ICT regulatory report Trends in
Telecommunication Reform takes an in-depth look at one of the most
significant social trends of the past ten years: the increasingly pervasive
presence of ICTs in virtually every facet of modern life.
The report reveals an increasingly robust yet complex regulatory
landscape which has emerged in response to the tremendous influence ICTs now
have on the shape and growth of other economic sectors.
At the beginning of 2011, more than 80 per cent of markets worldwide have
separate ICT regulatory agencies, making for a total of 158 ICT regulators
worldwide – up from 106 just one decade ago.
Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2010-2011 confirms that ICT markets around the world are becoming
more competitive in just about every respect, from international gateway
services to wireless local loop and 3G. In 2010, more than 93 per cent of
countries worldwide allowed competition in the provision of Internet services,
and 90 per cent in the provision of mobile cellular services. A further 92 per
cent have competitive 3G mobile broadband markets.
Worldwide, mobile cellular subscriptions now total over 5.3 billion,
including 940 million subscriptions to mobile broadband services – a figure
which is expected to reach one billion before mid-2011. Access to mobile
networks is now available to 90% of the world’s population overall. Of people
living in rural areas, 80% now have mobile cellular coverage.
In terms of applications,
at the end of 2010, Facebook
alone counted 600 million active users, representing more than one third of
Internet users worldwide. Forty per cent of active Facebook users accessed the
platform through their mobile devices.
Micro-blogging site Twitter now
has over 200 million registered users, and 37 per cent of active Twitter
users use their mobile device to tweet. Data also show that
two billion videos are watched
every day on YouTube, while five billion photos are now hosted on Flickr.
“ICTs are truly at the heart of everything we do,” said ITU
Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré. “Technology is reshaping the lives of
everyone – even those who still lack direct access themselves.”
As effective regulation becomes crucial to economic growth across all
sectors, two broad themes emerge in the report: the ubiquity of ICTs, and the
critical role of telecom/ICT regulators in creating an enabling digital
environment. From climate change to health, to education and personal security;
no discussion of major social issues is complete without close examination of
the role of ICTs in creating, managing, and resolving these issues.
“Because ICTs touch all aspects of society, when setting sound policies
and regulation the link between ICTs and major social issues like climate
change, economic growth and digital lifestyles has to be taken into account,”
said Mr Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau.
“More than ever, it is vital to consider the appropriate scope of the ICT
regulator’s mandate in creating an enabling digital world, a world where no
citizen should be left out of the digital society.”
The report
confirms the huge potential for ICTs to make positive contributions to major
social challenges. For example, like every other industry, ICTs contribute to
greenhouse gas emissions. They are, however, also uniquely positioned to enable
the reduction of emissions through ‘smart’ energy management systems.
But while
the benefits of the Information Society are manifest, the broadband revolution
has raised new issues and challenges. Consumers of all ages are very much
pioneers in the Information Society, reaping the benefits of their new world,
but also exposing themselves to the risks if the right measures are not taken.
The
interconnectedness of ICTs facilitates the distribution of viruses and malware
on a global basis and makes it easier to perpetrate various forms of cybercrime,
while at the same time making it difficult to track, investigate, and prosecute
cybercriminals. In the broadband ecosystem, does the telecom/ICT regulator have
a role to play in the battle against cybercrime?
The key role of broadband
Trends in
Telecommunication Reform 2010-2011 also contends that broadband
access is no longer a luxury, but a necessity that will be crucial to every
country’s economic, social, and political growth. With broadband a powerful
potential accelerator towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which are
now nearing their 2015 target, the report particularly highlights the need for
proactive national broadband planning by every government.
An effective national broadband policy will examine the
options for stimulating the deployment of broadband and for maximizing the
positive economic impact of the technology. It will include strategic spectrum management that encompasses managing the transition
from analogue to digital radio and television broadcasting, and the laying of a
solid foundation for the rollout of Next Generation Networks.
However,
the advent of high-speed networks and new kinds of content also puts emphasis on
the importance of the role of government and ICT regulators in stimulating the
demand for broadband and in promoting investment in infrastructure.
Resolving
disputes expeditiously in a competitive, complex and converged environment is
another challenge for regulators.
The new report is available for purchase from the ITU website at:
www.itu.int/pub/D-REG-TTR.12-2010.
For
more information, please contact:
Sarah Parkes
Chief Media Relations and Public Information
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