ITU and infoDev Bring Digital World Custodians Together for First Time

Executive Level Workshop connects regulators and policy-makers prior to ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006

Hong Kong, 3 December 2006 - Seismic changes affecting the way we inhabit the Digital World create new challenges for the national regulators and policy-makers that govern each citizen's access to ICTs.

In recognition of the responsibilities these new challenges bring to the custodians of the Digital World, ITU and infoDev are jointly organizing a two-day workshop immediately prior to ITU TELECOM WORLD 06. As well as benefiting from the expert-led workshop sessions, participants will also make valuable connections with peers in the regulatory and policy field.

Organized in cooperation with the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA), Hong Kong, China, and designed for the heads of national regulatory authorities and senior executives of national policy-makers, the Executive Level Training workshop is held at the Hotel Kowloon Shangri-La, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China on 2-3 December 2006.

In recognition of the forces of change sweeping the ICT industries, the theme of ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006 is "Living the Digital World". 35 000 to 50 000 expected trade visitors from 160 countries will see a vista of exciting possibilities unraveling before them, made possible by the new technologies and services showcased by more than 695 exhibitors from 37 countries.

To deliver their promise, these new ICT developments call for new thinking and informed and sound policy and regulatory decisions. Based on the joint ITU-infoDev ICT Regulation Toolkit, (www.ictregulationtoolkit.org) the workshop will provide regulators and policy-makers with the tools they need to create an enabling environment that will ensure a digital world for all.

Susan Schorr, ITU Regulatory Officer, comments: "Regulators and policy-makers can promote the growth of our Digital World by implementing effective regulatory practices. This Executive Level training has been designed to identify solutions to the real-world challenges faced by regulators and policy makers as they move from regulatory frameworks designed for an earlier era of ICT development. The deployment of IP networks, convergence of fixed and mobile networks and services, the launching of triple play services and IPTV, and the advent of next generation networks, are giving rise to the need for new regulatory thinking, which requires cooperation among senior level regulators and policy makers. The Executive Level Training Workshop held jointly with infoDev enables them to make the connections they need to achieve this cooperation."

The Toolkit consists of a series of modules, including Competition, Interconnection and Price Regulation, Legal and Institutional Framework, Radio Spectrum Management and the impact of New Technologies on regulatory practices. The authors of these modules will facilitate the training. The two-day workshop will be introduced by Mr. H. Au, Director-General, Office of Telecommunications (OFTA), Hong Kong, China; Dr. H. I. Touré, Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau and Secretary General elect, and Ms. V. D'Costa, infoDev Programme Manager designate.

A broad range of countries are represented by senior panelists, including COFETEL, Mexico; Industry Canada; OFTA, Hong Kong, China; Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI), India; the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Egypt; the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), Jamaica and the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority, Albania.

Experts, including figures from ITU and InfoDev, moderate the sessions and lead the participants through the testing modules. Simulation exercises and a variety of case studies on topics such as spectrum trading and assigning spectrum for wireless broadband form the basis of the workshop's second day's sessions.

For more information, please contact:

S. Acharya
Chief, Media relations and public information
International Telecommunication Union
Mobile: +852 66 23 43 99
E-mail: pressinfo

Lucy George
Tel: +852 66 23 43 63

USA
Kalindi Multani
Tel: +1 212 453 2147

South America
Evelyn Zapata
Tel: +1 305 520 9029

Asia-Pacific
Carl Wong
Tel: +852 25 30 04 07

France
Odile Bibollet
Tel: +33 1 47 42 92 82

Germany
Ortrud Wenzel
Tel: +49 89 230 31683

UK
Lucy Meacher
Tel: +852 66 23 43 64

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