"Technological innovations and market developments are forcing telecommunication regulators to rethink their regulatory practices," said Hamadoun I. Touré, Director of the ITU Development Bureau. "The reality is that with a full range of ICT services and devices available on different networks – regulators must face the question of whether licences that limit operators to specific services or technologies still makes sense."

The information and communication technology (ICT) sector is undergoing a radical transformation from one based on "plain old telephone service" (POTS) to one that provides voice, data and multimedia applications. At the same time, countries around the world are in the process of updating their licensing and regulatory frameworks to address this convergence and to better promote affordable Internet and broadband access.

ITU’s Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) brought together the heads of 54 national regulatory authorities from both developed and developing countries, with representatives from 106 countries, to achieve consensus on the best ways to address the challenges of convergence and to achieve the shared goal of affordable access. The GSR, which attracted 350 participants, has a reputation as the most important global venue for regulators to share views and experiences by fostering an open dialogue amongst themselves and with key stakeholders, including the private sector, investors and consumers.

The need for regulators from both the developed and the developing world to agree on such best practices for broadband access was viewed as essential to achieve the objective of global connectivity by 2015, as outlined in the Plan of Action endorsed by 175 countries at the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva last year. Broadband technologies are seen as a particularly efficient way to achieve the connectivity goal because of their ability to overcome distance, open up markets, and create employment while reducing costs.

"Broadband networks are the key to maximizing the promise of an evolving and converging ICT sector," said Ms Kathleen Abernathy, Commissioner of the US Federal Communications Commission and Chairman of the GSR, who also noted that "new wireless and converging technologies that are sure to follow can revolutionize our societies and help to close the broadband divide that exists within and among our countries."

The regulators stressed however, that in order to achieve global connectivity and to reap the social and economic benefits this will bring, would only be possible if there is fair and reasonable access for competitive broadband services, including Internet connectivity. Mr Touré applauded the work of regulators from the developing world in this area, saying that, "in many ways they are pioneering innovative uses of technologies such as broadband and the regulatory frameworks needed to support those innovations."

As well during the GSR, the 2004 edition of the annual ITU publication "Trends in Telecommunication Reform" was released. The report focuses on the global trend to reduce licensing requirements and to adopt converged licensing regimes that will enable service providers to offer any and all services using the technology of their choice. More information about the publication is available here.

This year’s GSR also showcased technology demonstrations by equipment vendors and service providers to showcase new, low cost broadband and Internet telecommunications equipment. Exhibitors included Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Intel Corp., Intrado, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Midas Communication Technologies Pvt, Nortel Networks Corp., Qualcomm Inc., TE Data, Texas Instruments and Vivato.

The regulators closed their annual meeting by endorsing the "Best Practice Guidelines for the Promotion of Low Cost Broadband and Internet Connectivity", which outlines a common understanding of what is necessary to create an information society that is more effective and equitable.

The complete text of the "Best Practice Guidelines for the Promotion of Low Cost Broadband and Internet Connectivity" can be found here.

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