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ITU 
ITU-EKIP REGIONAL REGULATORY FORUM FOR EUROPE 2020 
10:00 A.M. CET
NOVEMBER 30, 2020

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     >> JULIAN:  Good morning, dear Delegates, we'll wait a couple more minutes to allow everyone to join before we will start.  
     >> JAROSLAW PONDER: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the ITU Regional Regulatory Forum for Europe.  This year, we are meeting in the online environment.  With one objective, to discuss the regulation supporting Digital Transformation.  This meeting is being held within the ITU initiative framework for Europe.  And immediate follow up to the discussions of the globe symposium for regulator.  Before we kickoff, we have the great pleasure to invite our moderator and provide few technical details which will facilitate the way we will proceed with the meeting.  I'm handing over the floor.  
     >> ELIND:  Thank you.  Welcome remote participants to ITU Regional Regulatory Forum for Europe.  Regulation supporting the Digital Transformation.  My name is Elind.  I am the remote participation moderator for the event.  I remain available throughout the session to assist you with any Zoom related aspects.  You may reach me in the chat for any technical questions or comments.  Before starting we would like to remind you this session will be recorded and published to watch at any moment.  Just a gentle reminder about our guidelines for a smooth running of the session.  If you want to take the floor raise your hand with the Zoom hand.  For the panelists, be reminded we will control the slides from our facility.
Say next slide to proceed.  Some moderators will call your name to indicate you can take the floor.  Use headset to avoid background noise and improve the quality of the audio.  I will hand it over to Mr. Jaroslaw Ponder, the Chair of this event. 
     >> JAROSLAW PONDER: Thank you for this introduction.  Ladies and gentlemen, this is my great pleasure and honor to welcome with us the distinguished colleagues, Ms. Doreen Bogdan‑Martin, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU.  And Mr. Vladan Djukanovic, the board member of EKIP, who will deliver the opening remarks. 
First, I invite Madam Bogdan to take over.
     >> DOREEN BOGDAN‑MARTIN: Thank you, Jaroslaw, Mr. Djukanovic, member of the board of the agency of Electronic Communications and Postal Services, EKIP, Montenegro.  Colleagues from across the European Region, good morning, good afternoon, and good evening to some.  I'm pleased indeed to welcome you all to the Regional Regulatory Forum for Europe on regulations supporting Digital Transformation organized by the ITU with the support of the agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services of Montenegro.  It has been a longstanding tradition in the European Region to get together every year in Montenegro and take stock of the important decisions that the ITU global symposium for regulators and look at key regional trends and challenges that require our joint action. 
      The constraints imposed by the pandemic have moved our gathering, of course, online but I am very happy that we are able to maintain our tradition of meeting, at least in a virtual format.  I want to thank EKIP for their support in making this happen. 
      Ladies and gentlemen, this Region includes some of the most advanced economies in the world as well as some of the most connected countries.  It is also a pioneer in the field of ICT regulation and policymaking and has been responsible for some of the most significant recent developments in digital public policy through the work of the European Commission, regional organizations like BEREC, and national regulatory agencies adopting rapid, the regulatory Best Practices.  While other Regions are making headway, I think Europe can be justly proud of having consistently notched up the highest annual average scores of excellence for more than 10 years now.  That is according to ITU's global ICT outlook.  The regulatory tracker shows the 83% of the countries in the Region have achieved G4.  That is our fourth-generation integrated regulation, which is led by economic and social policy goals.  Or our gold standard called G5 is collaborative regulation, which is inclusive dialogue with other sectors.  This is backed up by data which shows Region averaging the highest Internet usage rates globally with over 82% of individuals that are actively connected.  Mobile broadband subscriptions tracked at close to 80 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.  Europe's mix of enabling regulatory environments, robust connectivity infrastructure and the lively ecosystem of digital technology providers is fueling the Region's transformation and proven critical in the resilience during the COVID‑19 pandemic.  I would say I'm delighted to see in the face of COVID‑19, Europe did not just rely on general network resilience.  When the pandemic hit, European stakeholders took very swift, specific measures to ensure that crucial telecommunication services remained resilient and available to everyone.  At the time of course when lockdowns and social distancing measures made us all dependent on such services to be able to continue our professional as well as personal lives.  Our global network resiliency platform that we call reg for COVID includes more than 70 measures that were taken by European stakeholders in this regard.  Some of the measures span from increasing network capacity, releasing additional spectrum to cater for this increase in traffic.  Dedicated quality of service monitoring.  Providing regulatory clarification of traffic management rule, classifying telecommunication workers as essential so they could continue to maintain our networks.  Other measures included providing relief to customers that were not able to pay their bills, removing data caps or increasing data allowances.  Implementing traffic prioritization for emergency services, as well as setting up dedicated help lines and online resources, distributing crucial information by SMS messages.  Addressing disinformation.  We saw a lot of that during COVID‑19.  They zero rated educational and health information sites using broadband to deliver health education material or providing free Internet access to students.  Overall, on the connectivity front Europe did both well, before and during the pandemic.  I would say before we get too complacent, I think it is important to remind ourselves that Europe is a Region of many contrasts, hosting many hype connected cities and large, sparsely populated and poorly served rural areas.  Right now, almost 90 million European dwellers remain unconnected to the power of the Internet.  ITU's recent connecting humanity study estimates that bringing the remaining unconnected individuals in Europe and central Asia online will cost over 33 billion over the next 10 years. 
      Of course, with the need for network equipment upgrades to support new technologies like 5G as well as simple routine maintenance, that number is likely to climb even higher.  
      We have done some in‑depth analysis of 5G implementation dynamics across 18 non‑EU countries.  That analysis indicates massive investment requirements that can only be addressed through careful adjustment of the regulatory environment and the creation of new investment incentives.  And the countries concerned are already working actively towards this end.  And I would cite one good example, which is the recent Tehran declaration that was issued by the Balkan states, expressing their commitment to accelerate rollout of 5G as a prerequisite to a gigabyte society development.  
      Ladies and gentlemen, during this event we will have a discussion including Broadband Mapping System and services.  This is included in the G5 regulatory benchmarks.  Our research shows mapping is an essential element of efficient and effective cross‑sector collaboration.  It is the data‑driven approach to regulation that we think will be increasingly important in making the most efficient use of public sector resources to increase connectivity and also to sustain Europe's Digital Transformation.  
      Our Interactive Transmission Maps, you will hear about that, provides members and global community with a unique snapshot of global infrastructure. 
Mapping is a key part of the launch last year with UNICEF, called GIGA.  This is a project to connect every school on the planet to the Internet and every young person to information opportunity and choice. 
      This year, we launched a project to support countries in South Eastern Europe including all western Balkan nations to develop Broadband Mapping System capabilities.  This initiative will support administrations in the regulatory efforts by providing them with the tools to facilitate investment and promote co‑deployment of infrastructure to connect the unconnected.  
      Ladies and gentlemen, before concluding let me note that the outcomes of this Forum will be of paramount importance as we advance toward next year's World Telecommunication s development conference.  The WTDC will be held in Ethiopia, 2021.  And the WTDC falls at a particularly critical juncture when the importance of connectivity has never been so apparent nor the need to connect the 3.6 billion unconnected so urgent.  I hope that as the Region that is really leading the world in terms of connectivity, that Europe will continue not only to engage with ITU on matters important within the continent, but also provide leadership in helping connect everyone around the world.  In this regard, I would like to specifically note the second pillar the European Union's new strategy with Africa launched this year, which aims to develop an intercontinental partnership for Digital Transformation.  It is our hope, with your support, we can continue to play a role in helping strengthen this partnership, building on initiatives such as PRIDA and building on a broader collaborative agenda including the newest Connect2Recover initiative, which in the wake of COVID‑19 seeks to expand to affordable connectivity in lesser connected countries, in particular Africa.  I believe we have a once in a generation opportunity to make WTDC 21 a truly landmark conference for global development through Digital Transformation.  I also know that the success of this event will rest on the active participation and the engagement of each and every ITU Member State along with broader membership of over 900 academic and private sector members.  In this context, I want to take the opportunity to call on all European stakeholders to commit to very active engagement with the European Region preparatory meeting that will be held on the 18th and 19th of January.  Next year. 
      The ultimate success of every global conference is founded on a robust, rigorous and inclusive preparatory process.  And this important consultative meeting in January will define the key regional priorities for Europe, including those related to regulation and enabling environments.  So, I do hope I can count on your participation so that together, we can seize this unique chance to unleash the transformational power of digital worldwide and for the benefit of everyone. 
      Let me close by congratulating the agency of EKIP in Montenegro for the great progress made in regulation and collaborating with the ITU on organizing this virtual event.  I want to thank the European Commission, BEREC, the Easter Partnership, the regional cooperation council at western Balkans and the EPT for productive ongoing collaboration on the implementation of ITU regional initiatives for Europe.  We look forward to creating our journey with you and creating a fit for purpose regulatory environment that will help meet today and tomorrow's challenges. 
      With that, I wish you all a very fruitful Forum.  And I hand back to you, Jaroslaw.  Thank you very much. 
     >> JAROSLAW PONDER: Thank you very much Madam Bogdan.  It is my great pleasure and honor to hand over the floor to our distinguished speaker, Mr. Vladan Djukanovic.  Member of the board of EKIP, which would officially be the host of this event, but is promised and supporting us in the rolling out this important project across the Region.  Mr. Vladan Djukanovic, the floor is yours. 
     >> VLADAN DJUKANOVIC: Dear Ms. Doreen, Director of the TDB.  It is my honor to greet on ho‑Bevel of the agency of electronic communications and Postal Services, Montenegro.  It is my pleasure to wish you all a positive meeting.  Which is a continuation of the cooperation and exchange of experiences between stakeholders, being the focus of this year's symposium for regulators, held for the first time under these specific circumstances, via online platform due to COVID‑19 pandemic.  By organizing this, ITU has played a key role in providing conditions for policymakers and regulators, industry, moderators to exchange information at one place.  So they could share their experiences in the field of development policies and regulatory framework with regard to new digital services and digital society and all of this for the progress of our societies. 
      It is worth reminding that our agency was founded in 2001.  And that is ‑‑ was one of the first agencies existing in this part of Europe.  Innocent agency was a new type of organization in our state system, but soon we recognize the benefits of networking and how useful sharing of the experiences would be.  In line with the [?] was born the idea of forming the regional gathering of regulators with countries from our Region.  In 2003 as a result of the initiative of our agency, the first conference of regulators from our Region was organized.  Since that time, every time, at the end of September, a conference speaker is organized and the general name, regulatory activities in the sector of communications.  The conference has evolved into the most important gathering of regulators in Central Europe and South Eastern Europe and as such one of the most significant segments of [?].  Which was declared as a manifestation of national importance by the Government of Montenegro.  The conference provided to be more successful from year‑to‑year with always increasing number of participants.  Finally [?] in Slovenia, but also for all other European countries.  The conference was recognized by the ITU and the Union through active participation of its expects, and active participation of the ITU Secretariats and Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau and others.  In 2013, ITU gave a [?] since that time we have organized this conference together with the ITU for Europe.  This is why I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Jaroslaw Ponder, his team and all the contributions they are giving to the networking with Central Europe and South Eastern Europe.  For us, as regulators, it is also great importance to participate in the work of BEREC, as well as to cooperate with regulatory agencies from the EU countries.  Being aware of the significance of digital economy and its dependence on information and communication and structural services we became aware of the correlation with other industries.  Like transportation, production, financial services, health, amusement services and many others.  Especially in the conditions of the COVID‑19 pandemic.  We are witnessing how important innovation can be for social progress and that innovation players can join the many leaders in technology.  So that Digital Transformation and digital ecosystem needs to be discussed at all levels with a view to accept them as soon as possible and have them implemented in our everyday lives.  I would like also to use this occasion to inform you that the [?] ministries of Montenegro have been following the Digital Transformation status in Montenegro from the. 
Of 2021‑2025.  In this category, it is further digital trends and transformation and roles and success indicators and other issues regarding efficient [?] economy, society and individuals.  All in positive examples of European countries and having in mind specific instances of our [?].  We are confident that among others, [?] in Digital Transformation with our community.  As for Montenegro by the end of this year, we'll be completed the study of 5G development strategy and end of 2021, there is the assignment of the radio frequency spectrum.  This is when I expect 5G networks will be implemented and used by the end of 2022.  With regard to the Digital Transformation itself, for me personally, it is not only an implementation of solutions and services but also the change in the way we think.  
      Dear participants at the end of my speech I want to point out that next year at the beginning of March, this agency will celebrate this 20 years of the work and activities related to the relation of the electronic communications and Postal Services in Montenegro.  I hope that the pandemic issue will be solved in next months at the global level and that at the end of the September 2021, you will be in position together with ITU to organize an additional conference as the form of regional gathering of all stakeholders for the electronic communication.  I'm inviting you to come to Montenegro and take part in this conference as I hope it will be an occasion to discuss the important topics, some of which will be key issues to be elaborated at the work and communication development conference in November 2021 in the ITU organization.  Thank you very much for your attention. 
     >> JAROSLAW PONDER: Thank you very much for your intervention.  Thank you also for the longstanding commitment of the country towards the ITU efforts in supporting the process of the creating the environments for the development of the digital collaboration.  This is including the future collaboration on the support of the building the Interactive Transmission Maps for Montenegro as part of the global effort are Fort ITU ‑‑ efforts for ITU which is ongoing. 
      We are collecting information on the transmission networks and up‑to‑date, we have over three million kilometers of the transmission networks already connected.  This would not happen without the commitment of several countries including Montenegro.  But in Europe, also including, Bosnia, Moldova, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, and today, we will be witnessing just in a second, the signature of the letter of intent of the joint support in this field with EKIP which is in charge of the systems in Montenegro.  Having said that, I would like to invite our distinguished colleagues to take the pens and to sign the agreement and demonstrate to all of the countries and the signed agreement.  
      I would like to request Julian to prepare yourself for the taking picture.  And taking the screen shots.  In the meantime, I also invite all participants to switch on your cameras because we will also take the group picture as our tradition in ITU advises to do so on occasion of very important events.  So ... I feel that everybody is ready.  I would like to invite Madam Doreen Bogdan‑Martin and Mr. Vladan Djukanovic proudly show and demonstrate in front of you your agreement that we can see and please keep these high that we can take the picture of this.  This is very important moment of this event.  
      Important so much it encourages others to join the global efforts to show how the Europe is working together in building jointly at global resources with other Regions but also our Region can lead and further advance the discussion on the Digital Transformation.  
      Ladies and gentlemen, with this, we would like to thank Madam Doreen Bogdan‑Martin and Mr. Vladan Djukanovic for their participation in the opening segment.  And we will start the Forum with a few sentences about the regional context of our discussion.  So, thank you so much for being with us.  Thank you.  
      Now, I would like to invite our colleagues to put the slides up.  Thank you very much.  Ladies and gentlemen, today, we're getting together at the regional Forum, which is organized within the framework of the regional initiatives, next slide. 
      Which it is objectives.  Next slide.  It is to support the countries and facilitate their efforts in setting up the high-speed connectivity.  With resilient and synergistic infrastructure development, deployment and sharing.  While ensuring a trusted and quality user experience.  Next slide. 
      This is all what is happening, thanks to our support of our development sector, which is patiently working on developing so many products and services and to provide the constant advice and constraint support ‑‑ constant support at what is happening at the regional and many levels.  Many of you are familiar with the GSR and use the tool the regulatory outlook and regulatory tracker.  Many of you have joined thanks to this work, the work of the Study Groups which is essential platform for our community to advance the elaboration on the joint understanding on the challenges in the regulatory field.  
      Recently, we have been working also with many of you in collection of the information how do we respond to the challenges related to COVID to ensure continuity of the provision of the infrastructure.  
      Next slide, please.  But of course, we are also advancing the discussion which more is focusing on the challenges of the Region.  This year, in 2020, we have developed several deliverables, which are helping us to act on the evidence.  And to take a look at what is missing and what is challenging and then to direct our attention and efforts of all global community of our Region and towards this issue.  We took a look, how did digital regulation in digital area is impacting the economic growth.  We look at the dynamics of the implementation of the 5G, where the national regulatory authorities place so much importance. 
      We look also at the essential component the EMF and ask ourselves the question if we will be able to keep this dynamic of the implementation of 5G without any action at such a level that is corresponding to our expectation.  These days we are looking at two aspect.  Looking at the rollout of the national mapping systems, allowing and in fact, being prerequisites for the increased investment in the future. 
      In the same time, we're looking at the issues related to the map, which in Europe, as Director mentioned we are in the face of the fourth generation of the regulation.  Tending to take a look at the cross‑sectoral regulation and advancing in investment.  Next slide. 
      So, within this work, we are able to build significant community.  Which builds with us the projects, provides technical assistance and creates the knowledge for our Region and also for the others.  Next slide.  In this sense, we build very interesting agenda for this meeting, involving many of the key leaders in the field of regulation to take a look at how to strengthen our efforts in the regulation but not overregulating but adjusting regulation for the needs of the investment dynamic.  Investment is a key of today's deliberations and tomorrow's deliberation in order to see how we can trigger the additional flows of the investment in the ICT infrastructure also being going above 33 billion USD as estimated recently in our study.  Taking into account the requirements related to the 5G. 
      Next slide. 
      The situation in Europe is very promising.  We are very different in terms of the connectivity.  We are catching up in terms of the population being a user of the Internet.  However, there is still a lot of people remaining unconnected.  There around 90 million people remaining unconnected in Europe.  There are 56 million people remaining unconnected across the non‑EU countries.  This is a call for a joint action and to support each other in reducing the divide.  Next slide. 
      When you are comparing the two ‑‑ the situation in the two groups of the country, the EU and non‑EU in terms of the fix problem subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in Europe.  We see the divide still exists.  In our work we're aiming at addressing all challenges related to the decreasing the divide in our Region and not creating more.  This is the reason why we have proposed for today, the two documents which are leading documents and we're counting on your support in improving them and adding additional information to be even more prepared for the deployment in our Region and also for supporting the countries which made the progress in improving their mapping system in Europe, which very often is the prerequisite for additional law of the information of the investment.  Next slide, please. 
      All of these, we are doing also in the context, there is no doubt that the broadband and infrastructure is so much important for our Region.  This is the reason your voice counts also for this global process related to the WTDC.  And we count for many of you.  On many of you to join us in these deliberations and 18, 19 January when we will be discussing with the countries on the pragmatic priorities for Europe.  What counts for Europe?  We hope to see you at there, and with this, I would like to thank you very much for your attention. 
      With this, I have the great pleasure also to invite you now to the first session of this meeting.  Which will be taking a look at the different trends at the regional level.  Today we have a great pleasure and honor to be joined by the four distinguished leaders of Europe who will be providing us their remarks and views on the dynamics in Europe. 
      Before we go to them, I have the great pleasure also to introduce my good colleague, Sophie Maddens who will be setting the context with our insight on the global trend.  Sophie, I'm handing over to you for setting the context.  
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Thank you very much Jaroslaw, and good morning, ladies and gentlemen.  It is a great honor and pleasure to be here with you today.  As you can see, we're still in the era of teleworking.  You can see my kitchen behind me.  I apologize for that, but it is the world we're living in.  The world we're living in, if we can put up the slides, Julian.  
      So, I'm going to talk to you about the global context of digital regulation for the Digital Transformation.  First slide, please. 
      We all know the digital goods and services are evolving at break‑neck speed.  We're all 21st Century policymakers and regulators and we had to reconcile ourselves to the fact that despite our best efforts sometimes we still lag behind industry innovation.  So, we have to adapt our regulatory ecosystem to unforeseen challenges including the challenge we have faced this year, the COVID crisis.  That reset the dial and again, threw digital technologies sharply into the spotlight.  We're all playing an instrumental role in defining the new normal for what we hope will soon be a post‑COVID world.  To be effective in such a dynamic and unpredictable environment, our plans and processes as Doreen said need to be fit for purpose.  We need to be able to respond as rapidly as possible and yet in a considerate and coherent manner.  In this post digital age, we bear an even greater weight on our shoulders, because it is no longer just about the technology.  We have seen how ICTs are key and central at underpinning every economic and dare I say social activity.  It is also a foundation for social services and a vital driver as Jaroslaw meant for economic growth.  Next slide, please. 
      So throughout the developing world and the developed world, we're seeing that the digital is serving as a catalyst that overturns chronic paradigms that overcomes the tyranny of distance and puts vital services like education and healthcare within reach of billions.  Within Europe and beyond Europe.  It is essential as Doreen and Jaroslaw mentioned to ensure connectivity for everyone in the interest of the interest of economic activity, the well‑being of the population, ourselves, our parents our children, our colleagues.  The mean problems posed by digital technology cannot be solved by a single group of stakeholders.  Next slide.  
		As Doreen and Jaroslaw mentioned, today 4.1 billion or 53.6% of the global population is online.  However, being online, does that mean all have the digital skills and all can afford the connectivity they so much need?  
      The number of active broadband subscriptions continues to grow strongly with 18.4% year on year growth.  Looking at Americas, Asia‑Pacific and Europe, more than 95% of the population is covered by a 3G mobile broadband network or higher.  That being said, 3.6 billion people still remain unconnected.  Most of which lived in least developed countries but as we mentioned again, in Europe, we still have people that are unconnected or do not have the necessary skills.  And all of us are working together to solve that dilemma.  Next slide, please. 
      What is key is investment.  What is key is mapping.  To connect the remaining 3 billion people age 10 years and above to broadband Internet by 2030, 428 billion USD is required.  That is an ambitious goal and major infrastructure challenge.  It includes costs not only related to infrastructure needs but includes enabling policy and regulatory framework, the basic digital skills at global and regional levels.  So, we have touched upon the enabling environment, why is it so important?  Next slide, please.  As mentioned, the digital economy brings together the ICT sector.  Next slide, please.  With digital content sectors and with users, it is impossible to imagine the world without ICTs today and the cross‑cutting nature of the digital economy impacts all sectors of activity and governance.  And we cannot forget the economic impact of ICT is to achieve through the cumulative adoption of all technologies in addition to assimilation and use in production and the social fabric.  So broadband penetration is really only one aspect of the required policies.  Maximizing the economic impact can only be achieved through a holistic set of policies ranging from Internet access and adoption to computing and e‑commerce and all of this cannot be underestimated.  Next slide, please.  
      In Jaroslaw's presentation, you already United States of America the ITU series on the economic contribution of the broadband digitalization and ICT regulation.  It examines the data from the evidence based perspective, quantifies the positive impact of broadband, Digital Transformation and the amount played on the economies by applying this economic metric modelling and analyzing the development of the ecosystem and the maturity of the ICT regulatory frameworks.  Next slide. 
      The study found evidence that broadband technologies and effective ICT regulation can have a positive impact on the growth of national economies and prosperity and the findings provide a more refined picture of the effect of broadband in countries at the different stages of development, provides further evidence of the importance of regulatory and institutional variables in driving such digital growth.  It makes a case for wider adoption of digital technologies and digital policies across the global. 
      It shows ‑‑ next slide ‑‑ that regulatory and institutional frameworks are essential in driving the digital economic growth and the effect builds up over time.  The pace of change in ICT sector keeps accelerating.  But we have lived a period of hope and aspiration with smartphones and increasing accessible broadband, but we have seen misuse of profiling, data commercialization and harmful online behaviors rise.  And these are issues that together, as regulators we need to address. 
      Let me just give you a snapshot of the economic contribution of broadband digitalization and ICT regulation, the economic metric modelling for Europe.  Next slide.  We can see 10% increase on fixed and mobile broadband penetration means an increase in GDP, fixed 0.46, mobile 2.1%.  And see the effect of digitalization and ICT regulatory tracker.  So, this series of regional economic modelling studies was developed to present to you the economic analyses that show the broadband regulation and the impact of ICT regulation.  Coming to the regulatory regime, the regime is the main path of impact of the digital ecosystem development index and provide it is further evidence of the importance of the regulatory and institutional variable in driving digital ecosystem growth. 
      So please, do visit this study on our website.  But is regulation the answer?  Next slide. 
      We have seen accelerating technological development and Digital Transformation and they are driving massive upheaval and change.  All of us knows.  The role of the ICT regulator, you mentioned in the introductory remarks we celebrated the 20th edition of the GSR.  The role of the ICT regulator has grown significantly.  Who would have said 20 years ago where we are today?  Who would have said that we are engaging with new issues increasingly across the sectors?  We deal with profound changes in business models, in investment models, in financing, in ICT infrastructure.  We deal with changes in regulatory process and approaches.  We're looking at regulatory sandboxes, innovation really balancing the innovation with flexibility, the stability with sureness of investment.  But we're also dealing with concrete collaborative regulatory approaches.  We're dealing with concepts such as digital identity across a growing number of services and at the end of the day looking to protect our users and looking at confidentiality and data protection.  We don't live in a vacuum.  Supporting all sectors of the economy, changing society and market landscapes.  We have to interact with other stakeholders across Government, society, sectors, borders, Regions, internationally.  So, it is really important that we come to optimal design of policies and regulation to accelerate Digital Transformation.  We need to look at a market driven and metric based approach in which decisions and rules are based on detailed evidence.  We need to combine collaboration with informed decisions.  So and economic impact considerations.  And fast forward that Digital Transformation.  Next slide, please.  
      So how has regulation evolved?  We have seen that and many of you have come to us to ask how you can better help us in determining your evolution or your position in the regulatory evolution.  We see we have evolved from the first generation a command and control approach, to the second generation of regulation, opening of markets and liberalization to the third generation, where investment innovation and access was enabled with the dual focus on stimulating competition and service and content delivery.  
      To the fourth generation, where we saw integrated regulation, led by economic and social policy goals.  And today, we're looking at this fifth generation of collaborative regulation where public and private players compete in a global digital economy across all the sectors.  Evolution is continuing.  The next slide shows you, this concept of the fifth-generation collaborative regulation.  We question see that G5 champions displayed penetration rates twice as high as the world average.  And over 25% higher than the G4 peers in 2018.  We continue to analyze the new evolution as well as the principles underpinning the G5.  The degree of collaboration, the cross‑sectorial policies and policy design principles.  We're only halfway through this project.  We have all already drawn some useful lessons.  This is G5 is the desired destination of regulation and 1 To Drive ICT markets globally on the way to Digital Transformation.  It is different from the G4 in that it means it uses the mechanisms put in place to increase synergies across the sectors and create efficiencies across public administration bodies.  It is a fundamental shift in the way regulation is executed.  It means holistic policy and stakeholders that it brings together.  It also puts a new emphasis on consumer benefits and protection and leverages the resources of Government institutions and industry to deliver them through organic consultation, collaboration and conciliation.  It is driven by leadership, incentive, and evidence rather than by command and control.  It also refers to the new set of tools used by regulators to tackle the issues related to Digital Transformation and the data economy.  As I said, this is work in progress.  We look to you Jaroslaw, and to you fellow European regulators to continue to help us to analyze this fifth generation.  It is what we addressed in the Best Practices guidelines in the GSR this year, which many, many, many of you contributed. 
      If we go to the next slide.  And we jump two slides.  The year ‑‑ this year's ‑‑ this one.  The Best Practices guidelines focused on the gold standard for digital regulation.  It was articulated across ideas, views and experiences firstly on demonstrating regulatory thought leadership for Digital Transformation.  Secondly, the vectors of regulatory action meaning inclusiveness, agility and resilience.  And thirdly, the collaboration across sectors, across borders and engagement across the boards.  Again, engagement with this European group of regulators is key.  Especially in the last six, nine months now we have seen new challenges to our Regions, to our countries, to our people.  We believe now, more than before, that this fifth-generation regulation will be the fit for purpose framework that will allow us to navigate the unchartered waters that lie ahead.  And the Best Practices guidelines may prove to be the most important Roadmap for the digital ecosystem for the global community of regulator and one formulated for regulators by regulators.  Let me highlight a few of the tools and processes that we offer to you.  Because we know that to build back better ‑‑ next slide ‑‑ we need to focus on policy realignment ‑‑ next slide ‑‑ and repattern.  
      We have seen how all of you have embraced digital to boost readiness of the digital markets to face this unexpected event.  To face such emergencies and deliver to the expectations to keep our children in school.  To be able to continue working.  Albeit in our kitchens.  Doreen mentioned reg for COVID.  We have launched the second survey to see what are beyond the immediate responses what are the longer-term responses to build back better?  There are other tools that we have here, that are made to help you in your regulation.  We look forward to working with you on the evolution of regulation.  The evolution of your tools and processes and your frameworks.  And on defining the Best Practices and tools to assist.  With that, on the next slide, please do join the conversation because regulation matters.  Do interact with our Director and with us and with our TREG.  And please do submit you're the survey so we can build back better and find intermediate longer-term sustainable solutions.  Julian and Jaroslaw, back to you.  Thank you.  
     >> JAROSLAW PONDER: Thank you very much, Sophie for the global overview approaches supporting the Digital Transformation.  I think this sits very good context about our discussion and the set of the introductory remarks by three leaders of the three regional networks of the regulators.  The first let me invite me to introduce Mr. Michel Van Bellinghen, Incoming BEREC Chair for 2021 and Chairman of the Belgian Institute for Postal services and Telecommunications (IBPT), Belgium.  Michel, I'm handing over the floor to you and looking forward to hearing what BEREC is planning to do in order to foster Digital Transformation.  
     >> MICHEL VAN BELLINGHEN:  Thank you very much, Jaroslaw.  Hello, everybody.  I hope you can hear me well.  So Madam, Director General, ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues.  Over the past month, we have all been and are constantly reminded on how essential high-quality electronic communications are for every part of our society.  Our EU Governments, Civil Society, businesses and citizens are still fighting against COVID‑19 pandemic.  Some countries are in lockdown, school were closed or still are.  Many employees are still working remotely from home.  Fixed and mobile broadband connections and mobile apps have become major tools to remain operational and in contact with work colleagues, family, friends, with the outbreak of this pandemic, governance and raised in different Member States, and we're providing additional spectrum to mitigate capacity issues, suspension of number of consumer measures, so on.  Due to the sudden peak of the Internet traffic, BEREC monitored sessions and we will start monitoring networks in a more coordinated way across Europe by setting up a special reporting mechanism to ensure monitoring in the Internet traffic ‑‑ of the Internet traffic situation in order to be able to respond swiftly to the capacity issues. 
      So over March, BEREC issued a joint statement on how network operators can cope with the increased demand on network capacity.  Operators were authorized to provide management methods to prevent congestion, under the condition that equivalent categories are treated equally, respecting the net neutrality regulation and streaming on platforms were advised to offer standard rather than high‑definition video services.  
      So, the traffic on mobile networks has increased during the COVID‑19 crisis.  No major congestion issues have occurred due to urgent measures taken during the pandemic. 
      It is this moment of crisis, regional, and international cooperation mechanisms very often come under strain of national interests.  We have seen so far that BEREC to detest collaboration and information sharing mechanisms are key in times of crisis.  If we learned anything out of it is no country and no regulator is able to fight a crisis of such proportions on its own. 
      Let's thank the ITU on this respect, the ITU is setting the example by building a platform, the global network resiliency platform for information very early into the pandemic crisis.  It has proven to be extremely helpful in order to see the fruit through the trees.  In addition to that the webinars set up is to learn from each other.  So, coming back to the question, how to address challenges building back together?  As a regulator I'm convinced it is more a duty to constantly have a forward looking mind‑set and anticipate future challenges and trends having dealt with the first and second waves of the COVID pandemic, it is time to increase preparedness in case of future similar events. 
      How should we do that?  What should we do, being regulators?  I see four key action points to implement.  The first is to make a thorough assessment of regulatory measures that have been taken in the past month, BEREC has planned to issue a full report on COVID‑19 crisis in 2021, lessons learned regarding communication networks.  There is the experience gained during the COVID crisis will be thoroughly analyzed, this will include research on the impact of the crisis on the telecommunication services and underlying network of the digital ecosystem on sustainability and in particular, attention will be given to post‑COVID measures to close the digital gap.  I will come to this later.  The second key action point is to deepen collaboration with other institutions.  The many challenge relate to the digital information will be the need for more profound cooperation between regulators, this is hugely relevant in issues that have transversal nature, such as 5G, sustainability, or digitalization of the society.  The challenge here is for respective of whether they have [?] national dimension is getting the regulation right.  Hence, I think it is imperative that we cooperate across the regulatory boundaries to find a balanced way to address the problems at hand.  Because we need to remember that regulation is a double‑edged sword if applied correctly it could solve problems and market failures.  If applies recklessly, it can stifle innovation and cause other adverse effect on the market.  
      In this light BEREC will continue to build knowledge and expertise in the domain of telecom regulation and BEREC's role is restricted to economic regulation, the approach can support other societal objective through this horizontal cooperation.  A third key action poll is to increase the cooperation.  Increasing the electronic communication between the EU and the rest of the world shows a global nature of the services and means that policies, legislation and regulation must be seen from a more global perspective.  BEREC benefits from the cooperation with an array of international regulation networks, policymakers and institutions involved in communications matters, based beyond the EU.  So in 2021, BEREC will continue to engage in a dialogue with an arrays base outside of the Union.  As well as international regulatory networks, policymakers, institutions in the field of electronic communication.  To that end we will have a midterm strategy and the program related to the international activities in which it evaluates the current international commitments and which spells out what type of cooperation and engagement could be envisage with each of the international partners in a transparent matter. 
      Last but not least is the fourth key action point is bridging the digital divide, looking at the telecommunication networks and investments, stakeholders look at regulators to future proof decisions on the moment when we don't dispose of the elements to make such decisions.  The direction of this is clear, we should seize this opportunity to come together to use new regulatory approach to improve access to and the use of digital technologies for all its citizens.  Now perhaps more than ever, this is a key for fighting pandemics.  Therefore, more attention is being paid to connectivity and investment.  And also tension between regulation and upon [?] but the main lesson is activities are service.  Investments made in the past have increased general access to fast broadband and more affordable price.  Fast growing Internet traffic on fixed and mobile networks as a result.  As we speak, the Unions has 44% of host [?] benefitting from high capacity networks connectivity.  Regarding rural, very high capacity networks connectivity, the situation is much worse.  There it drops to 20% of the [?] but more fundamentally, too many people across the European Union who have no access to high speed Internet as you already mentioned, Jaroslaw.  About 15%.  It is these people without adequate broadband that suffer the most during ‑‑ during this crisis to stay at home, so one of the most pressing issue is that the pandemic has showed us regulators and policymakers is the importance of addressing the EU digital divide.  It is pivotal to ensure those people in rural areas have access to broadband and those that have already have an adequate broadband get access to the latest very high capacity networks.  And BEREC will initiate a study where the forward-looking approach which could help erase and designing the right condition to improve digital inclusion for all citizen.  Thank you for your attention.  And over to you, Jaroslaw. 
     >> JAROSLAW PONDER: Thank you very much for your contribution.  We are very much pleased to hear about the directions of the actions in 2021.  We're looking forward to the good cooperation.  It is really great news that BEREC will be strengthening its efforts in the international area.  And ITU remains committed to provide the platforms as appropriate.  
      So dear ladies and gentlemen, before I introduce the next speaker, I invite you all to use the facility of the chat room and put the questions if any in the chat box.  
      But now, I have the great pleasure and honor to introduce Mr. Karol Krzywicki, who is the EaPeReg Chair 2020, Eastern Partnership and Deputy President,
Office of Electronic Communications (UKE), Poland so, I am handing over the floor to you. 
     >> KAROL KRZYWICKI:  Thank you, Jaroslaw.  Thank you for your kindly invitation.  And it is my great pleasure to act today in capacity of the ‑‑ as a Chair of EaPeReg of 2020.  And today, I will present you a few aspects of the regional approach to regulation supporting the Digital Transformation on the example of EaPeReg.  Julian, if I may ask you for the slides.  Thank you.  Next slide, please.  What is EaPeReg.  EaPeReg is independent platform that joined the race for electric communications for European partnership countries and includes Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and EU Member States and some Balkan countries like for instance, Macedonia.  But also, we have are open all the time for good collaboration with other countries.  
      Next slide, please.  According to the strategic documents targets for 2020 EaPeReg, achieving great support for EU digital facility are related to four pillars.  One first is the independence of regulators.  Second, is spectrum strategies, roaming prices and tariffs, and roll out of national broadband strategies.  Next slide, please.  
      And I would like to focus on the rollout, national broadband strategies by all partner countries, which is aim to facilitate the development of secure and very high capacity gigabyte broadband infrastructure in the partner countries, in particular, it is important in the more or less densely populated areas.  
      Also, it is important to foster its use in close collaboration with actors and organizations from the EU and eastern partnership countries.  Next slide, please. 
      More specific steps to support this and support Digital Transformation are shaping the national broadband development strategies for all six eastern partnership countries.  Implementing the national strategies for broadband development, also the development of the technical recommendations for broadband.  Mapping including technical specification for the broadband map.  We did the specifics of the implementations and last but not least to develop a pilot project.  This pilot project a broadband mapping tool for EP countries.  
      Next slide, please.  This main task connected with broadband development is carried out by the EaPeReg Working Group, IRB, which is chaired by Inga.  I know Inga will have presentation in further sessions today.  Next slide, please.  The IRB group develops various recommendations, reports, tools, organized workshops to help the partner countries connect good relations, good ‑‑ sorry.  Good relations, too.  Good regulations aimed at facilitating broadband structure development, developing tool for establishing single information point, preparing methodology for solving I think next slide.  Solving technology that is under the Director 61 preparation, the introduction of universal service. 
      One much the IRB group activities is new broadband mapping project, which was initiated during the workshop organized earlier this year.  Unfortunately, it wasn't possible to meet physically.  Next time.  But it was our last physical meeting.  EaPeReg is ‑‑ previous slide.  Sorry.  Could you go back?  Yeah.  EaPeReg is also interested in collaboration with ITU for mapping issues under the ITU project supporting investment opportunity mapping systems in broadband infrastructure for South Eastern Europe, that was described by Sophie today.  It aims to assist the nations of Albania, Georgia, Moldavia, Montenegro and Ukraine and others to map infrastructure and services.  Next slide, please. 
      Okay.  It is actively support EaPeReg in achieving the mentionables.  We organize workshops this year and last year.  And our experts are actively involved in the work of EaPeReg.  Also, in the third session, if I am not wrong, the Director from the office would have presentation today on maps.  Next slide, please.  
      In terms of EaPeReg targets, beyond 2020, our key objectives is to promote fast, affordable, high quality connectivity in eastern partnership Region.  The key objective is ‑‑ the key target of our target is to reach 80% of eastern partnership country households, having access to affordable and high‑speed Internet.  All of this aimed at development of EP countries for the benefit of the inhabitants by increasing the competitiveness of this countries.  Markets for ‑‑ by the ‑‑ for the development of the digital infrastructure of the countries.  I think that's all for now.  Thank you for your attention.  And hand over to you Jaroslaw.  Thank you very much.  
     >> JAROSLAW PONDER: Thank you very much Mr. Karol Krzywicki for presenting the extensive work of the partnership in the future environment and looking also to the fruitful collaboration, just to recall, almost one year ago, we were able to sign very important tool memorandum of understanding with BEREC and eastern partnership and since then, we are continuing our journey of strengthened collaboration with the benefit for the European regulators and community.  But also, with the great benefit for the other Regions which are taking a look at the happenings in Europe.  
      So this brings me to our next distinguished speaker, Mr. João Cadete de Matos, Incoming EMREG Chair for 2021 and Chair, Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM), Portugal Mr. João Cadete de Matos, it is my great pleasure to hand over the floor to you. 
     >> JOÃO CADETE DE MATOS:  Good morning, I would like to send my regards to the participants.  Indeed, on this occasion, I would like to take the opportunity to explain the relevance that we attribute to this cooperation between European Union countries and other Regions. 
      So, from this point of view our participation is in the Europe regulators group EMREG that was created in 2008.  We saw this group as an excellent opportunity to share ideas and principles of the European cooperation.  It was the declaration of 1995.  In this declaration it established the principles of a partnership aimed to turn this Region into an area of peace, prosperity.  With the dialogue and the many methods.  
      In this framework, indeed, the development of communications, the development of the differential society is one of the highest priorities.  
      [Frozen]

Relevance of digital inclusion and with that financial inclusion and we realize for our countries, the same for Portugal, one of the priorities is to reinforce coverage levels, particularly in less densely populated areas, promoting social, economic and territorial Region.  Indeed, we consider that this continues this effort to promote digital inclusion, but at same time, going digital in all the countries.  So without leaving no one behind.  And this requires leaderships capacity to promote shared vision and sustainable responses.  And from our point of view, this could have an important role on this development.  We are living challenging times, as we know, around the world.  Within this pandemic.  But at the same time, in my country, we had last week, it was the deadline for the submission of publications for the 5G auction.  And also in this area of 5G, we intend to guarantee the [?] frequency user rights.  We tend to do that in the beginning of next year.  And to promote greater competition in the markets, helping users gaining the maximum benefits with regard to choice, price, and quality of service.  
      Because indeed we have many areas in the country that we need to increase the coverage of the broadband mobile network, and so this auction is an excellent opportunity to promote the entry of new operators, new entities into the market.  And to also improve or to allow the access to national [?] and we did that together with the definition of coverage obligations, for the operators, namely for new entrants.  And as the case of national option that is a measure that was adopted by several other European countries.  Could indeed firstly tie to the development of the coverage of the country.  And we see this as also an opportunity for the operators of sharing the costs of the development of the networks.  And in this domain of sharing, two other remarks that we consider clearly relevant.  One is sharing of information.  So during the ‑‑ this meeting in the afternoon, we will have the opportunity to know more about our experience on mapping systems.  And we are very proud of the system that we developed in Portugal to allow very good knowledge about the networks, the parts in exist in order to facilitate the chairing and development of these infrastructure investments.  
      At the same time, also in the domain of information and this group, one of the purpose is to share information and facilitate the cooperation between the members of the group, we also consider important to share the experience in different countries concerning the information about the quality of service.  And about the quality of the coverage of the networks.  Because we have good information is the best way to take good decisions. 
      So also in the case of Portugal, we think this very important investments from regulator point of view, facilitating access to different sits of information that are considered critical for the operators and for the users to take the right decisions.  Perhaps also to mention from my side and been this digital globalization, the importance that we are giving to the place of the cables that are carrying communication between mainland Portugal and Iceland.  And this we consider this very relevant.  Not only for national, but also economic development of Portugal and our area could contribute to leverage global connectivity which depend on strong external and internal connectivity and this aspect of connectivity between Europe, Africa, America is very important and in our case, we can also help this development through these investment that Portugal will do in a new connections to the cables and using resources in the middle of the ocean as platforms for increasing these connectivity.  
      So my final word is to encourage the work that is performed by ITU.  We congratulate you for these initiatives and indeed it is the time to join efforts and bridge all different interests and main goals that aims at working towards the regulatory frameworks.  So we also count on BEREC and EaPeReg to share Best Practices and realize new cooperation opportunities.  Thank you very much.  
     >> JAROSLAW PONDER: Thank you very much for your intervention.  And also thank you to all of the speakers for bringing to our attention important trends happening in different context.  But subregional context which are high importance to the ITU community.  We're taking away from all interventions that our exchange of the practices is extremely important in particular in the times of the COVID.  And in supporting the process of the coming to the new normal, with being prepared as much as possible.  I unfortunately, we are missing the time for the discussion.  And this is a great pity.  Not great, but huge pity.  We have great leaders of the regulatory environment.  We would love to have exchange.  Unfortunately, the time is not permitting this.  I encourage all participants to put in the chat box their questions and interact with our speakers.  One more time, thank you very much for being with us during this morning session.  And we're looking forward to the cooperation on the unilateral and multilateral basis.  This brings me to the end of the first panel.  However, it brings me also to the special session which is focusing on the presentation of the background paper on Infrastructure Sharing and Co‑Deployment in Europe, Good Practices Based on Collaborative Regulation.  I have a great pleasure and honor to invite Johannes Feldmann our colleague who supports us in the development of the ‑‑ in fact, the messaging with the countries, the countries those of the EU and those who are [?] and talk to you also about those that are having other approaches.  
      So with this, let me invite Johannes Feldmann to provide a presentation, and one more time, thanks a lot to the previous speakers.  Johannes, the floor is yours. 
     >> JOHANNES FELDMANN:  Jaroslaw, thank you for introducing me.  And thanks to the speakers for setting the great introduction so far, which is really perfect, I guess, for presenting the upcoming paper now.  Where I tried to show a bit of where we are at the moment in Europe.  I'm focusing in the spectrum on the European Union, of course the European Union is not Europe, but a part of it.  Nonetheless, we know the European Union is influential and has a huge impact in building the digital market and therefore impacting other countries that are neighboring it.  So next slide, please.  I will start now with the paper on infrastructure sharing.  And co‑deployment based on the collaborative regulation in Europe.  To show the agenda, I will start with the scope of the paper and I will explain detail where we currently are in Europe.  Then I have picked three case studies, which are suitable to show collaborative approaches.  If you have read my background paper, which you surely all have, then you will note this is not supposed to be a Best Practices, but these are good practices that show different approaches. 
      Not more, not less.  Then furthermore, we will talk about collaborative regulation in general before we have short conclusions.  Next slide, please.  Let's start with the scope. 
      So what we're trying to achieve is providing an overview of the European regulatory framework and also to show the strategic framework that is setting the ground for regulation and we have the case studies to show the practical impact.  And once again, to show the limitations, it is not intended to benchmark the countries, but rather to show what is going on currently.  Next slide, please. 
      So next slide.  We can come to the European landscape in general.  This is divided by four different parts.  We start with the strategic framework and go over to some specific initiatives, policies, and regulations that are in place.  This is not stating that this is not all of the initiatives that exist, rather, these are highly influential ones, namely state aid guidelines for applying state aid to deploy proper networks.  Then we have to cost reduction directive and European electronic communications code.  Next slide, please.  Let's start with the strategic framework.  For most of you, this is probably old news, but still it is good to remind us, ourselves about the evolution of the connectivity targets that the European Union has undergone.  We have the first connectivity targets described in the digital agenda for Europe for 2010.  Back then, what the EU wanted to achieve was 100% household coverage with basic broadband by 2013.  This target was met by the use of satellite coverage.  Then the 100% household coverage with 30 Mbits or more in downstream by 2020.  We're currently at the brink of this Mbits.  As we have seen before the target has not been met entirely.  But seeing substantial progress in most of the countries so far.  Last target is 50% of households subscribing to 100 megabits or more by 2020.  This is a target where we have definitely a lot of traction at the moment.  Where substantial progress is discernible.  We had a change in 2018 already towards other targets, namely described in the connectivity for European gigabit society.  It was described in the neutrality, which is a basic principle, that the 100% of the households should be covered with 100 Mbits or more with the possibility to upgrade to higher capabilities.  And technology‑wise it is clear that fiber will be the main source of this connectivity means in the years to come.  
      We have targeted the socioeconomic drivers.  For example, schools, universities, research standards, so on should have gigabit connectivity by 2025.  What is expected here is to have some kind of spillover effect.  So the rationale is that if people frequently use gigabit connectivity at these socioeconomic drivers that will drive demand for the private use because nobody really wants to go back to the front home and experience really bad connectivity.  
      The last but not least we have the target of the uninterrupted 5G coverage in all urban areas and major terrestrial transport paths by 2025.  I won't go into it now.  But you might have noticed the shaping European future, I let it out because there are no tangible connectivity targets but rather what do we want to achieve as a society due to the means of communications.  
      Next slide, please.  So going to the state aid guidelines.  Which have been used really extensively by the Member States and in the last couple of years.  What the state aid guidelines are for, they set the rules for applying state aid.  State aid in general is considered to be a market distortion within the signal digital market and should thus be avoided.  Of course, we all see that especially in rural areas, there is not enough incentive for market driven deployment only.  Therefore, state aid is often used to incentivize broadband network deployment there.  But they must comply with the certain set of rules where the most important one is that funding should only be applied where market failure exists.  Meaning where no private actor is willing to deploy networks or already has installed networks.  It is based on the connectivity targets of the digital agenda for Europe, meaning 30 Mbits.  So what you would have to do is have a consultation or other means to discern where market failure exists.  Then you can provide state aid in these areas.  There are other provisions that are called step change.  In the case that you have a significant increase of the capabilities of the networks, it is also possible to apply state aid in the areas that are served.  Meaning gray areas or like areas.  But this is more of an exception.  So the rule is usually that state aid schemes across Europe focus on the wide spots.  So this is somewhat under a change currently.  What we see is that several Member States, for example, Germany or on state level in Germany the Bavarian program are targeting more and more the gray areas.  So where a ‑‑ one single infrastructure operator can offer 30 Mbits or more.  Or willing to deploy networks in the time frame of three years, but where not currently gigabit connectivity technologies exist.  
      So in the case of Germany, for example, we will start in 2021 with the next funding scheme.  Which will work like this, the flesh hold is not 30 Mbits anymore.  But for businesses, for example, it is one gigabit.  For households, it is 100 megabits, up until the end of 2022, when it also changes to 1 gigabit.  The 30Mbit threshold which is controversial across Member States is somewhat about to erode currently.  So next slide, please.  
      So then let's go briefly into the cost reduction directive.  Because this probably most influential for the whole session we're currently having.  What the cost reduction directive wants to achieve is to establish a market for infrastructures where Telcos can cooperation with other network holders, for example, utility providers or municipalities it tries to achieve this by setting up further rights for seekers and conditions and how to obtain information from those that have networks in place already.  It defines the must be minimal information available and also sets up the procedures how to get the information that you need to access infrastructure and how this Resolution is going to be resolved.  Next slide, please. 
      Yeah, then we have the EECC, the European electronic communications code.  Which has been an extensive update to the national telecommunications act.  And it has a really broad approach that also affects other legal areas, depending on the national legislation to affect consumer protection, affect competition, affect finance.  And there are certain really interesting aspects in here, for example, that over the to which communication services, let's say WhatsApp, are regarded as telecommunication services, which has a deep impact on how to regulate the services.  On the other hand, we have a roll back of regulatory remedies in case of the Division of Incumbents into a retail and wholesale arm, where the wholesale arm does not have any retail business anymore.  And then we have the opportunity to roll back some regulations yeah.  And another interesting aspect is article 22, where we have a survey regarding current coverage, which is usually done via mapping.  Across a whole country state.  And this is then being used to make predictions for further network deployment and also of course to evaluate where state aid might be used.  Next slide, please.  
      So happen into the case studies.  The first one is the Germany.  Next slide.  So what is Infrastrukturatlas.  This is a web system used for access seekers to use existing infrastructure and plan deployment in conjunction with other operators.  Of the data to be supplied is being supplied by network operators, public sector and Telcos alike.  It can be accessed on request, it is project specific, you have to have a specific project, you would have the application and gain temporarily temporary access to the data you need.  Usually a time frame of three months.  Next slide, please. 
      So what we have seen is that we have a steadily increasing number of users and projects, that is what this slide here says.  You see on the time frame, this is a monthly display of projects and number of users.  Steadily increasing.  What we don't see on this slide, another one, you can find it on the website, and that will be talked about later is we have more than 1,000 additional data supplies in this year alone.  Many municipalities.  Next slide, please.  So what is it being used for?  Co‑deployment.  So several actors can coordinate their civil engineering works.  For infrastructure sharing, so that existing infrastructure may be accessed.  What we use it for, now talking as an administrator of the telecom facilitating the funding scheme, it is a state application where we can use this as a possibility check for network planning to avoid duplication and make sure the data will finally come back to the Infrastrukturatlas once the networks are being built.  It is used for strategic documents on the federal and state level to draft strategies.  For the cost and benefits, this is really interesting, to have it as a part of the legislative actor.  Established that it is estimated that the costs are probably a 0.001% of the maximum benefit.  That is nice.  It says that private sector will bear around one million per year as a cost.  While the public sector, some several hundred thousand of euros.  It is already estimated that the benefits on the public sector side are outperforming the cost by several hundred thousand just due to the possibility of getting rid of bureaucratic procedures. 
      Next slide, please.  So let's go on to in‑house cabling in Portugal.  Next slide, please.  
      So yeah, the regulatory key aspects of Portugal that should be noted is that we had an Earl duct access based on SMP in 2004.  This is somewhat important in regards to the in-house cabling, because the in‑house cabling is usually not where the competition takes place.  It is usually outside planned and network coverage is the most important part for gaining new customers.  So it is somewhat important to have access to that infrastructure if you want to achieve the whole benefits of standardizing in house infrastructure.  Next slide, please.  
      So what the Portuguese regulator did is setting up building standards called [no English translation]
what the materials and infrastructure should look like and be used in a given building.  What we have is symmetric access regulation.  So all operators despite their technology can access the infrastructure that exists on an and equal terms.  What we see on the right here is an architecture, and the most important is the part described as the individual, which is building.  Below that we have the [no English translation]
this is the collective network.  And the individual is the individual network within a given housing unit.  
      So we have a look at the next slide.  We can show this on the multidwelling unit upon what it looks like.  We have the CAM on the bottom of the building.  Which is [no English translation]
my Portuguese is rusty, but that is how it works.  This is the building entry point, basically.  Even if it is outside of the building or inside the building, in proper tech room.  It doesn't really matter.  From there, we have the connection to the ATI, which is the building telecommunication cabinet.  And this is all shared infrastructure.  Now also up to the ATI.  This is where the individual networks begin in each of the housing units.  So the idea is if you standardize the infrastructure up to the individual housing unit, you can make sure that most of the operators or all of them are able to actually use it.  So next slide, please.  Let's have a look at the effects.  Of course, it is always a bit difficult to tell which caused what effect.  But what we can see here is a stark increase in FTTB and FTTH coverage in Portugal and Spain, which have similar regulatory approach.  This is definitely striking.  And there is something that works.  So far, that's something we can definitely say.  Okay, let's move on, please, to the next slide.  
      I have to hurry up a bit, I see.  So let's go on to the third case study, codes of practice and standardized contracts in Poland.  Next slide.  What the Polish Government did is establish support and capacity building initiatives, two of which are being described in the background paper, the codes of practice and the standardized cracks, but furthermore there is also a lot of capacity building going on in Poland at the moment, they are doing thousands of workshops for municipalities, which should be stated here at least for the full picture. 
      We will move on to the codes of practice and the contracts.  Next slide.  So how the codes of practice work, is that they describe a co‑locating and co‑construction in nonlegal terms.  We have the general telecommunications act, based on the cost reduction directive, but how it always is with laws, written in abstract way to encompass all of the possibilities.  What the codes of practice now do is single it down to specific use cases.  For example, the use of mass foundations of electrical infrastructure and dear deploying mobile infrastructures.  So what they do is now to define the roles and responsibilities, really specifically and show what each party is expected to do.  This reduces the potential for disputes and explains the implication of the telecommunications act.  The standardized contract on the other hand is another supportive measure.  They're designed for cooperation between local authorities and network operators.  What municipalities can do with it is to forfeit fights for right‑of‑way in exchange for the network operator to deploy the networks.  This is a really interesting aspect, because we also know that from other contexts that there is the oven imbalance between municipalities on the one hand, on the Telcos on the other hand.  So this reduces this imbalance and also reduces the time needed for tendering processes.  And especially if state aid is included. 
      Next slide, please.  Let's wrap this up with the collaborative regulation.  So what we are doing here and why this is important?  These are examples for collaborative approaches.  And collaborative regulation is needed for several reasons.  The first one here is Digital Transformation is a game‑changer, especially in the new normal, with the current global pandemic, we all have heard it before from the other speakers, how important connectivity has become and it has shown us that especially during the pandemic that we cannot survive without connectivity and our economy cannot survive any more.  We need to build up resilience in networks without disproportionately burdening the market.  
      Then we need a new take on regulation in general.  Because ICT affects so many different areas, like education, health, economies, so forth.  So that policy and regulation must align to make sure that the networks are being built that we need for these effects.  Collaborative regulation is also a holistic and harmonized approach to deliver more impact.  This means silo styled thinking must stop.  All the different areas of regulation must come together and acknowledge the fact that collaboration takes place cross‑sectoral and not in a single sector anymore. 
      Last but not least, we have to say development and inclusion are a primary focus of regulation.  This means that collaborative regulation is people based.  It is an approach to not only foster the means of communications, but it also wants to achieve something for society.  It wants to achieve sustainability.  It wants to build an inclusive world for all.  Therefore, the ITU's G5 is the perfect road and tool for regulation and how to achieve this environment. 
      Last slide, please.  So that comes to conclusions.  So what we have shown in the background paper is that several EU states are leading the way to collaborative regulation.  And in the ICU tracker, the Croatia, Spain, and others are maturing regarding their regulatory approaches.  What we see is that EU is an important factor to harmonize the regulatory framework and pushing the Member States towards a mature approach.  And what we are absolutely sure of is that collaboration is needed to unlock the investments needed to build the gigabits society for Europe.  We have an cost estimate of the Boston consulting group from 2016, I guess, is that the EU alone will need 6 hundred billion of euros to achieve the gigabits society target and therefore we're sure this is nothing any party can achieve on its own, but rather due to collaboration.  Thank you very much.  
     >> JAROSLAW PONDER: Thank you very much.  Thank you very much for presentation of the paper.  We encourage all of the participants to go through the paper and also on to use the occasion of being at the Forum to provide on‑spot comments.  And to the decision paper, but also to provide us the written comments and the paper is posted on the website.  This is a document which will be also used in the future for discussion on the co‑deployment.  That is why we want to make sure that also it represents all possible views and perspectives which we could cover during this Forum as well. 
      One more time, thank you very much for the presentation.  And dear ladies and gentlemen, I believe that we are running a little bit out of time.  We are very late.  I would like to make a call for understanding.  
      A call for understanding and request for going directly to the next session to have much more time for the lunch break.  And that is why I would be my great pleasure to invite Sophie Maddens, Head of Regulatory and Market Environment Division,
Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU to take over and moderate this session on Unlocking Investments in the Broadband Networks in Europe.  Sophie, I'm handing over to you.  
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Thank you, Jaroslaw and thank you all to the speakers, it sets the tone for an exciting debate.  I have really listened to all the presentations with great interest.  I have given my presentation and therefore I will not take time in this particular session to speak myself.  I would like to go straight into the presentations and into the panel discussion.  We will start off with introductory remarks of Boris Jevric, Deputy Executive Director, Head of Radiocommunication Department,
Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (EKIP), Montenegro.  And panelists.  We will have Vladimir Daigele Programme Officer, Telecommunication Network and Spectrum
Management Division, Digital Networks & Society Department, Telecommunication
Development Bureau, ITU.  And Guido Acchioni, Policy Officer, Investment in High‑capacity Networks Unit, DG
CNECT, European Commission.  And Begoña Garcia Mariñoso, Co‑chair, Statistics and Indicators Expert Working Group,
Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC).  Juan Navas Sabater, Lead Digital Development Specialist, World Bank Vienna Office.  Not very early for you.  Mr. Harald Gruber Head of the Digital Economy Division, Projects Directorate,
European Investment Bank (EIB).  And Naroa Zurutuza, Applied AI and Information Poverty Lead at UNICEF Office of
Innovation, UNICEF.  Let me give the floor to Mr. Boris Jevric.  Sir, the floor is yours.  I'm sorry, we cannot hear you.  Maybe our IS team can help.  
     >> Police disconnect your headphones ‑‑ please disconnect your headphones and reconnect.  My name is while he's disconnecting and reconnecting, maybe we can go to our first panelist, Vladimir.  Vladimir, are you online?  
     >> He's joining.  
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Jaroslaw, maybe we take this for one or two minutes while we resolve the technical issue.  
     >> BORIS JEVRIC:  Can you hear me now?  
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Thank you, we see how connectivity lies at all of our activities.  The floor is yours. 
     >> BORIS JEVRIC:  Thank you.  On the EKIP, Montenegro.  I would like to thank all of you for your participation on this evening.  The topic of this program session is very important and I hope that it will be inspiring for the discussion of all of us who are coming to present at this meeting and that the conclusion reached after the Forum will be used for the actions.  The fact is that financial support for the development and use of broadband networks in the countries of our Region, from that and not provide enough investment, to meet the need to expand the availability of broadband networks and services in all area, where there is no broadband access.  In order for Europe to keep pace with other Regions of the world and as further strengthen the digital economy and information it is necessary to create good regulatory framework to encourage and provide contributions for private sector investment and further development much the broadband networks.  I would like if you can show my presentation.  Julian or ... okay.  Next slide, please.  In order to further develop and build fixed and wireless high-speed networks, the key priorities and continues to be provided by the administration of each country are identified.  
      The most important is to simpler procedures to obtain permits and networks, deployment while reducing costs for administrative operators.  Improve transparency and availability of information for operators, especially when it comes to physical infrastructure.  And expand the rights to have existing infrastructure to build high speed networks.  Provide timely access to high speed spectrum and improve conditions between countries to ensure more efficient use of spectrum and 5G territory coverage, including major routes.  And provide mechanisms to resolve infrastructure access issues and enable efficient assessment of the impact of the networks on the environment by providing mechanism to encourage operator to implement sustainable networks with the cooperation to increase climate change acts.  For more efficient capabilities in terms of investing in the development of new high-speed networks, considered important the cooperation between the countries of the Region.  On this occasion, I would like to emphasize the success of cooperation of the western Balkan countries with the great help and support of European Union and cooperation concept, especially in improving digital skills and reducing digital divide with different cooperation.  I would like to point out as significant, some of the agreements signed by the Governments of the six countries of the western Balkans.  Such as agreement on reducing prices in public mobile electronic communication networks, which was signed in 2019.  And memorandum of understanding on 5G Roadmap for digital transformation.  And memorandum of understanding of [?] recently signed in the digital assignment of broadband.  Next slide, please.  
      I would like to take this opportunity to present some facts related to electronic communication market and businesses environment in Montenegro.  Regarding further development of broadband networks in our country.  By the end of this year, the regulatory framework for the introduction of 5G networks will be completed.  In mid-2020 the Government of Montenegro adopted a new spectrum plan that is in line with WRC19 decisions and the spectrum.  And by the end, the agency upon adopt, appropriate plans for [?] the introduction of 5G networks.  Appropriate study on the introduction of 5G networks is being prepared and by the end of 2021, an auction will be conducted for the assignment of spectrum for 5G networks. 
      Also, the Government of Montenegro adopted a proposal of the law on use of physical infrastructure for development of high-speed electronic communication networks.  This is in the process of the adoption by the parliament of Montenegro.  Our agencies together, with the government of Montenegro and the ministry is improving the business and regulatory environment in order to remove the barriers and improve the conditions for investment in a communication system.  How much progress we have made is confirmed by the result of the position on the ranking list of ICT regulatory tracker of the ITU for 2019.  We took 12th mace in the competition of 193 countries.  Information of the success of regulatory actions and creation of favorable environment in the electronic communication sector in Montenegro was recognized also by the Montenegro foreign investors council.  After conducting a research among its members, the council gave the highest ranking to the telecommunications and information technology sector.  The score was 7.6 on the scale of 1 to 10, while the score for overall business environment in our country was 6.9.  Next slide, please. 
      Finally, adopted development strategies as well as well created regulatory framework, that is stable and harmonized with EU regulations, continuously contribute to significant investments of operators in the telecommunication matter.  On this graph, you can see the investment for the period of 2017 to 2020.  The ratio of amount of investments of revenues of electronic communications operators in the period 2017‑2019 is also 40% which is significantly higher than the European average which is about 15%.  
      As for us in Montenegro, we will strive to continue to create the stimulating environment through regulatory measures to further improve competitiveness and new investment, which will provide users with numerous benefits in terms of the ability of innovative services, high quality and best prices.  Distinguished panelist and participants, I believe that this kind of regional cooperation and the scope of ITU initiatives will improve and help us to accelerate our activities for creating better conditions for unlocking investments and deployment probe networks.  Thank you for your attention.  
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Thank you very much, Boris Jevric, for that presentation, we very much appreciate your participation in this meeting. 
      With this, I would like to move on to the panelists.  Just with a small reminder, we are back on track in terms of timing.  So I would really like to ask all participants to make their intervention eight to 10 minutes, maximum.  I will put up a yellow card when you are reaching your limit so to make sure that we give other participants and interveners an equal chance in sharing their experiences.  So our first intervener, our first panelist is Vladimir Daigele.  Can you confirm that Vladimir Daigele is online?  I'm not seeing his name pop up. 
     >> He's just trying to connect. 
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Okay.  May I suggest that we move to the second panelist first, what Vladimir is trying to connect, so we can keep in this good time?  And I can remain friends with Julian and Jaroslaw, as moderator of this particular session.  So with the second panelist, we have Guido Acchioni from the European Commission. 
     >> JULIAN:  Sophie to interrupt, also Guido is connecting now.  Apologies for the inconvenience.  I guess the order will be revised.  Is Ms. Begoña Garcia Mariñoso. 
     >> BEGOÑA GARCIA MARIÑOSO:  I'm here. 
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Perfect.  Can we have ladies first then, please.  Begoña Garcia Mariñoso. 
     >> BEGOÑA GARCIA MARIÑOSO:  Of course.  I'm putting this up.  First of all, thank you for the name of BEREC Working Group for the opportunity to participate in this Forum regarding the unlocking of broadband investments.  My name is Begoña Garcia Mariñoso.  I Co‑chair, Statistics and Indicators Expert Working Group, Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) with my colleague and friend from João Cadete de Matos.  ANACOM.  We want to unlock investments.  My first reaction is this is a broad topic.  Of course, it is at the core of the tasks that BEREC has been doing over the last two years. 
      So my talk is going to focus on this.  If you go to the next slide, please.  Yeah.  My talk is going to focus on this with some diversions, because it is such a broad topic.  This is my first diversion.  Before speaking about article 22.  And I think Johannes has taken us through the different objectives that Europe has had for broadband in terms of take up and reliability connectivity.  It goes without saying, but I think it needs to be said that to monitor the achievement of this objectives you need data.  But what kind of data do you need?  It needs to be data that is allowing a continuous monitoring so regular intake of information.  But it also needs to be somewhat harmonized.  In order to allow the identification of areas that need more support but also to know to have a discerning view on which policies are working best and which ones are not working that well.  This is the first point to make, I think this is important and I want to go to the next slide and speak about article 22.  
      For the last two years, BEREC in collaboration with the commission and other contexts, with a broad range.  Institutions and ministries across Europe is working to implement guidelines on the 2020 electronic communication.  Article 22 requires the Member State to elaborate of the broadband reach, including information of high capacity networks, with sufficient local detail and quality of information.  That may include also forecast, planned deployment information.  Optionally, the articles include some policies that are directed to achieve conspiring investment in the marketplace.  It is the publication of such designated areas, these are areas with no prospects for the HCL or considering more than 100 download speed.  All of this needs to be considered in many of the core functions in developing broadband.  The next slide.  Next slides. Thank you.

      This is interesting because it enable better information for public investment, but identify which are the areas which no prospects for private investments, but at the same time, it is also has the objective to trigger private investments by publicizing information of areas and coverage information.  Okay.  But I don't want to say that article 22 is the only formation relevant for broadband development.  We have many other institutions and many other institutions that are relevant.  I want to put up here the Nigeria of national statistical ‑‑ here the information of the national statistical point and [?] that is super important to the better deployment of broadband. 
      So if we go to the next slide.  So I wanted to put broadband maps, but I thought you would be seeing a lot of those during the session today.  So how would they look?  Sometimes they look as blank slate.  Where everything has to be written.  Like this cheese.  Sometimes they look like cheese like the middle one, where the center of cities is well covered with broadband of different characteristics, but periphery is not that well covered.  Sometimes they look the bleu cheese, and a lot of gap of covered and not covered addresses. 
      This is important.  The data is necessary to understand what is covered and noncovered places are.  In Europe, in 2019, we carried out a survey and we found out that half of the initiatives, broadband mapping initiatives didn't have [?] they had information on large zones and even municipalities.  Next slide.  So the BEREC guidelines are a substantive step forward because they're recommending the address of small grid information with common definitions of core concepts and requiring the same information to be delivered to consumer and emphasizing the use of geographic information.  Next slide, please.  The guidelines is also providing for some measures to inform all stakeholder it is about the availability of broadband in the area because it is likely of what is covered and not covered.  These are quite novel policies, that is only one experienced in Europe.  But it is now incorporated in the code.  So I want to spend my last two minutes on the last slide.  This, okay.  About the type of tensions we have been facing and currently come back in front of us, when time to deliver the guidelines.  The first tension stems from the fact that operators only have the date maps of future rollout with several month anticipation.  But public interventions requires time.  So in order not ‑‑ in order to be sure that public intervention does not step into a private investment plan, you need for long period forecast.  But also need to be written.  This is quite difficult to achieve.  They don't have this type of Nigeria.  This is why BEREC has proposed for a record yearly cause for granular forecasting, address the level of small reach. 
      The third point here is the broadband maps are the tool to deliver information.  Of course, this can compromise the business strategies and business plans, especially when this is information about planned deployment.  And arguably, the operators request for this information to be kept confidential.  We have seen in delivering the guidelines that the notion of confidentiality is not the same throughout Europe.  It has to do with legislation and culture.  This is a big problem when you want to publish this information to deliver for the public and for also all the stakeholders. 
      And the second or third type of topic I want to speak with is in connection with this lately we have been faced with problems in defining the designated areas.  Because if you have bleu cheese, you need to allow for coverage within an area, it is otherwise impossible to do this.  So BEREC's decision was to allow for the areas to have some coverage, if this was unavoidable.  And we have also made a recommendation for these areas to be homogeneous in the extent of profitability.  You can look at, for example, data on population density and decide on the area, what is the right area.  This type of ‑‑ excuse me ‑‑ this type of recommendation is quite contradictory to one that normally authorities would use when they have commitment, when they can tell the operators, look, I have this area, I commit to this area, and you are going to cover all of this.  This is not what article 22 is procuring.  Article 22 is only providing for information to be public so the operators can identify which are the best parts and where they can deploy their network.  These are the three types of tensions that we are having, facing throughout the process and I thought it would be interesting to just put them here in public okay.  Thank you.  I'm done. 
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Thank you, Begoña Garcia Mariñoso, I being what stuck most is we have ambitious policy goals and there is a need to monitor information and you need the regular data and harmonization at European level is something that is very interesting practice.  
      So without further adore ‑‑ ado, we will go to Guido Acchioni.  I see you have connected because Vladimir is still having trouble connecting.  So Guido.  The floor is yours. 
     >> JULIAN:  I think Guido has a microphone not connected.  The audio is not connected to the platform.  
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Let me give him a few more seconds.  If not, Juan Navas Sabater, I see you are ready.  So let's give the five‑second rule.  
     >> ELIND:  Guido, can you hear us?  
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Give him a little more time to connect.  Juan, the floor is yours, Lead Digital Development Specialist, World Bank Vienna Office.  We would like to hear your perspective on the investments on broadband networks in Europe.  The floor is yours. 
     >> JUAN NAVAS SABATER:  Thank you, Sophie.  A pleasure to be here with you.  If you could share my slides on the screen, that will help me.  So I wanted to share my perspective from the World Bank, looking at how to unlock investments in broadband networks with a few examples of what we're doing across the globe.  And some examples of focusing on Europe. 
      Since I have little time, I understand I am going to be running through the slides a little bit fast.  But you will see in many of the slides that I added QR codes so you can easily locate any reports or other sources that I am quoting in my slides.  Next slide.  
      So the structure of my presentation is as follows.  I first will talk briefly about what has happened, what is happening right now under the COVID‑19 response.  I'll give a brief of the models that exist to encourage broadband investment in networks.  That leads me discussion of brief overview of regulatory approaches and specifically to focus on broadband mapping as a key tool of supporting and facilitating broadband investments.  Finally, I will go over a few World Bank examples of what we're doing in this particular space.  Next slide.  
      So as we're all aware, in the current situation with the pandemic, digital in particular broadband has become what we call a hidden hero.  You have seen all of these different news release, news reports, headlines indicating how thanks to digital technologies and in particular thanks to broadband, society hasn't actually broken down.  We have been able to continue with our business.  We have changed, obviously, the way we conduct our businesses, but we have been able to cope with the situation.  Next slide.  
      And so we at the World Bank have conducted a review and we continue to survey, this is a living document.  You will see the QR code there.  You can go to the report on COVID‑19 responses.  We have identified that Governments and industry have reacted very significantly to the COVID response, to the COVID situation.  To a large extent by improving digital infrastructure and many of the activities or the responses related to improving digital infrastructure have to do with improving the affordability and quality of the infrastructure.  But there is also the digital services side and we will see that many of the digital responses under COVID‑19 framework have been related to e‑learning, digital payments, telework, and also healthcare, to a large extent. 
      Next slide.  Now in order to achieve that, there is still a huge need of investments.  And all of those headlines that demonstrate the benefits of broadband and benefits of digital are applicable to a large the extent in urban areas, but they are, as we heard before, they're not so applicable in many of the rural areas.  I think we lost my slides.  Ha‑ha.  
      Okay.  So the next slide.  Here we are, yeah.  So these numbers come from the ITU report and definitely so the figure that was quoted earlier of 33 billion in Europe that remains to be ‑‑ that is required to bridge the digital divide.  You can see the challenge is even larger in many other Regions of the world.  But the importance of this figure is that there is still a large segment of the population that needs to be covered and we need to accelerate investments, to reach those populations.  Next slide.  That is why the World Bank, before COVID, we conducted a report and analyzed many different business models.  We have in particular, the report analyzed the 70 individual country cases, of separate types of business models that have helped countries bridge the digital divide, in particular with the focus on broadband to encourage broadband investments in rural areas.  The two QR codes you see on the right‑hand side relate to the report itself.  But also to the online training we have launched not so long ago.  And is available to anyone who is interested in learning about these cases.  You will see that there are many ‑‑ the innovations come in a number of areas, and the area of market segmentation, whether it is the wholesale access or whether it is commercial access, whether it is retail of business model.  Whether it covers the middle mile or national backbones or last mile.  You see the map on the right side with some of these cases listed there.  Mentioned there.  
      But there are innovations in the areas related to financing, whether it is public or private or PPP or community networks involved.  
      I also innovations in the area of management, whether it is state owned or commercial or whether it is SPV involved or private consortium, et cetera, as well as mechanisms to support or encourage revenues or promote revenues on sustainability of the infrastructure through different mechanisms.  
      Next slide.  So what this report finally, one of the key conclusions it has many different conclusions, but one of the key conclusions is that actually for all of the business models to operate optimally, sector reforms are essential.  Sector reforms can go a long way in unlocking private investments.  So the primary one relates to encouraging private sector participation, you will see in many of the cases that are listed in the report, that there normative ways in which the Government can encourage private sector participation, there are examples of red compartida and others that promote the private sector participation in building collectively a backbone network. 
      But there are also mechanisms that support ‑‑ that unlock private investments by introducing reforms in the traditional incumbent.  So separating out the wholesale from retail networks, considering privatizing partially the incumbent operator.  Making it operate ‑‑ making sure it operates like another ‑‑ like a private participant in the sector that does not distort competition.  That is a key regulatory reform that needs to be encouraged.  And then, obviously, there are reforms that relate to broader economic ‑‑ making the economic case for broadband investment.  And bringing it, building it as part of a broader digital strategy.  As well as supporting utility collaborations, supporting collaboration across different sectors.  That leads me to the next slide, please.  In which I listed some ‑‑ a number of reports that demonstrate the cost savings from infrastructure sharing.  You will see and we have heard it today several times that by encouraging infrastructure sharing, the build out, the coordinated build out of infrastructure or the sharing of the existing infrastructure we can achieve a lot of benefits.  And the EU broadband cost reduction directive is one key example.  I want to stop here because I have very little time left.  This leads me to the next slide, on the importance of broadband mapping.  As an essential tool to attract investments.  You will see that there are many different categories of broadband mapping and different objectives that can be achieved for infrastructure, broadband mapping, investment, service mapping, demand mapping.  Next slide.  
      And it involves multiple stakeholders and multiple stakeholders can participate in broadband mapping with different objectives, but collectively, they achieve the benefits of improving service delivery to in particular to rural areas.  Next slide. 
      In just a few more slides I will present a few examples of World Bank work in this area, the first one relates to Romania, in which a few years ago, we helped the Ministry of Information Society to design their broadband mapping initiative and come you go with the identification of white and gray areas.  That was one of our first very detailed pieces of work related to broadband mapping.  Next slide.  
      We are currently working with the European Commission under the EU for digital initiative, in the eastern partnership countries in which we are helping define the broadband strategies.  Helping some of the countries transpose directive 61.  We're working with UKE of Poland in advising the countries in creating their own broadband mapping initiatives.  And in one of the cases in Georgia, we're mobilizing financing for the actual deployment of broadband to rural areas. 
      My final slide is regarding work in the western Balkans.  We have a regional initiative, called the Balkans digital highway, that brings together the two sectors to mobilize infrastructure that is existent.  Fiber on the power sector to create backbones and multiply the availability of broadband infrastructure.  In the specific case of Kosovo, we are taking that backbone infrastructure to rural areas, financing a project to deliver rural broadband in this country.  So thank you very much.  That was a pleasure.  I'm sorry that it had to be so rushed.  I'm open to any questions and happy to interact further later on.  Thank you.  Bye‑bye. 
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Thank you, Juan.  Sorry to be the bad cop.  These are very rich discussions.  It always is painful to see colleagues have to shorten their presentations.  You really underlined the need for the multiple and augmented business models, the sustainability of the infrastructure and also highlighted the need for collaboration, included in the mapping.  And that there needs to be collaboration with the private sector and indeed with multiple stakeholders.  I see my colleague Vladimir is online.  Welcome.  Happy to welcome you to the particular panel.  Since Juan mentioned the need for mapping, I would like to give you the floor to discuss mapping, need for mapping and solutions to help unlock investments in broadband networks.  Vladimir, the floor is yours, you have eight to 10 minutes max.  
     >> VLADIMIR DAIGELE:  Thank you, Sophie.  Hello, all.  Can you project the slides?  Mapping infrastructure for investment opportunities.  I will ‑‑ next, click, please.  I have a short presentation, actually.  Julian, next.  Yeah.  So come back just one.  Please.  This is my small agenda here.  Talk about the network in response to COVID, BB maps and the work that ITU is taking and talk about collaboration and the result in the activities in the European Region.  And what are the plans ITU plans for this project?  So next, please.  
      So the response is clear, I think, for COVID that we need to have a strong presence of ICTs.  Next, please. 
      And then mapping the backbone of backhaul has been a big attention for many regulators to understand what is on the ground, where are the gaps, and how to attract investment for this.  Some of the issues is the status of info highways, also the work around the data that we can gather.  So the quality, the openness of the data is useful for external stakeholders that are interested in investing in certain areas.  And also harmonization of the metrics that we as a community can use to better communicate among ourselves.  So having proper standards on the data that we collect.  Next one, please.  
      Here we see just a slide on the broadband maps.  I think in the beginning of the slide I had a link.  But pretty much the work that we do is focusing on the global connections.  And the backbones.  And to quantify the supply side indicators.  This is the beginning of the project back in 2011.  When the concepts were designed.  I think a lot of evolved.  We are trying to adapt.  And we have the research, the global research involving all the ITU regional offices supporting this activity.  And then the validation of information together with the network owners and operators and also the research.  Next one, please.  
            Here is a quick analysis on the gaps.  These are the points for connection for the networks.  The little parts are the population density.  Then you can see some lack of or let's say populations that are not ‑‑ don't have the optimal services.  Or connections close to them.  So next one, please.  To show how the two can be useful in the quick analysis.  This is the BB mapping in Europe.  This is assistance on mapping of networks.  Pretty much to unlock investments and broadband networks in Europe.  There is a project going on.  And also on developing mapping systems.  And on data, on the data side, ITU finalized agreements with many countries, we mentioned Poland, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and others.  So the main objective here is to work together on the data collection and quality and also on the format of the data.  So it helps to progress these objectives on mapping.  On the ask right‑hand side, we have the data collection between Europe and global.  Europe, we have 10,600 links.  Looking at the map, that is not near close to the end.  This is explained by the picture below started in 2014.  You have the latest number from 19.  Right now, we're working on the numbers for the collection for 2020.  That should be released by the end of the year.  Next one, please.  
      Please Sophie, you can let me know if I am taking too much time.  For the next developments, we have the use of basically all the information po to provide assistance and insight.  Okay, four more minutes, thank you very much.  I don't think I will take all of this time.  
      So we have the networks, a basic model to promote for at least have a basic information on what's needed.  Something that is integrated into our platform, in our interface.  We talk about also pretty much with the experience of Europe is helping us a lot on ways to move forward is the connectivity side, is the quality of service aspects of a Region or location.  We have the supply side.  We need to understand how the users are well‑connected.  Anyway, not just the presence but how is the experience.  And we are having going on project on the interface that you collect all of the items.  And some of the specific tools for the partnership that we have.  Here we are mentioning below and the GIGA product.  That is the initiatives, with the connect school project.  And program specific platforms that support colleagues from UNICEF and the platforms and analysis that is provided.  
      In conclusion, Sophie, on the second phase of the initiatives from Mexico, and also with our colleagues on the major communication that we provide this, it is quite clear here, the unique need for them.  They need fast reactions, need almost real‑time understanding of the network.  There are two components that they're providing with what is existing in principle.  Of course, we have disaster, things can change.  But a really good project that we're following.  On emergency communications.  So if we continue with the data collection ITU is leading the transmission, but we are working with other providers and partners on understanding other layers that can be added upon the map.  Just like the final conclusion, a good example that we have financial information on top of the network and can get some pretty exciting analysis.  We're talking about the index.  In this case, to provide ‑‑ to targeted to areas.  And it can drive policies.  ITU assistance, we mention the map season and data structure going on in Europe, really, really good development.  Next slide, please.  
      That's it.  Thank you very much.  I leave ‑‑ don't need to run the video, it takes three minutes.  Here if you have access to the presentation, you can access the short introduction of the project and I have in here the link.  Thank you very much, Sophie.  Back to you. 
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Thank you, Vladimir.  As many of the colleagues have said, information is key.  And your efforts and your progress on the maps of the infrastructure is absolutely essential.  And we have seen it now even more than ever during the COVID crisis that we need to see have better information.  And indeed as you showed to overlay schools on top of the ICT infrastructure, to overlay financial services information that can help us towards digital inclusion.  I see now that Guido Acchioni is online.  Guido, the floor is yours.  Please, you have eight to 10 minutes, maximum.  Guido, we can't hear you.  Guido you can you please talk.  Julian, with your permission ‑‑ Guido are you there?  
     >> JULIAN:  I think Guido has problems with the audio.  Apologies to the Delegates for the inconvenience.  We heard from Juan about the business models, the sustainability of infrastructure.  We heard from Vladimir and Begoña Garcia Mariñoso on the need for information.  Harald, Head of the Digital Economy Division, Projects Directorate,
European Investment Bank (EIB) I think these are all issues that speak to you, because financing needs to be sustainability and business models need to take account innovation and we need the data.  Harald, the floor is yours. 
     >> HARALD GRUBER:  Thank you very much.  Thank you for the opportunity to talk to this audience.  Clearly, finance is key to unlocking digital infrastructure investments.  Now, if you can share the slides with the viewers.  I mean, just to start out, European investment bank massively involved in financing digital infrastructure.  It is the largest multilateral institution that is financing digital.  Next slide.  You can see, we're basically injecting about in terms of financing for infrastructure 2 to 3 billion per year.  Most of it is inside European Union and also outside.  I am telling I focus mostly on European Union, I think in this kind of infrastructure business, most of the statements are equally valid for outside of the Union.  Please don't be afraid it only applies to the European Union.  Clearly infrastructure is guided by policy targets.  In Europe, we have the gigabits society target, that says you should have 100 megabits per second for everybody for every home by 2025.  Clear, targets should be ambitious and a result of that, markets will provide them.  Market will only provide part of this investment and therefore, you need to have sort of all kind of public support coming from sheer money, rent money to basically to all kind of regulatory support.  This is a list of the typical interventions that are in the Union.  So basically, the money from the commission budget and money from the national funds and the WB of course.  When you have a target like high capacity networks like the European Union, you have to be clear, and have in mind what you mean with it.  What type of infrastructure you would like to go you have to have a forward-looking perspective?  This is infrastructure that has a lifetime, especially in the fixed lines of 20 years or so.  So you have to be very careful what you are going to basically support with public money.  So you would like to have something that is ‑‑ goes under the heading of future proof.  So that is something that you don't have to basically fiddle around in the next five years again, because you have sort of superseded infrastructure that you have invested in.  So basically in this context, what you have to go for is basically fiber infrastructure, fixed lines and also 5G when it comes to mobile.  Below, it is a little point of messing around.  It is basically where basically policymakers should look at when they're opening their pockets. 
      Next slide, please.  So basically what you have to figure out is one sufficient the first thing is many of you set the policy target, you have to figure out how much it costs.  I mean, the bank has basically made sort of a calculation, fairly detailed on regional and sort of so‑called natural 3 level of detail, how much it would cost Fort bank, the European Union would like to implement this target by 2025.  We came to a figure close to 400 billion.  It is a substantial figure, but not something prohibitive.  Clearly you have to see where the figures needs to be allocated to.  I mean, here in this kind of infrastructure business, everything is driven by the fact that you have to invest in highly populated areas or if you have to invest in scarcely populated area.  Highly populated you should not worry about it because of the sheer financial incentives of the private operators to invest.  What you have to do is go to suburban or more to rural areas.  Now, if you look at the bill, you see that basically urban areas it takes about one‑third of the population lives, it takes only about 20% of the investment bill.  The rest is investments which the market will not provide by 2025 or not at all if you look rural or extreme rural areas.  Nevertheless, 20 to 30% of the population, it is more than 50% of the bill.  So you have to be very careful when you formulate targets that you come along with the appropriate envelope.  Next slide, when it comes to financing. 
      Therefore, it turns out in the base case, one‑third of the bill is shown in the market by sheer market instinct.  And two third of the investment by 2025, if you want to really have it and be credible as a policymaker achieving targets, you have to put up your sleeves and basically try to do something about it.  Basically get in your regulatory framework in order, to incentivize investment and also to shape up your financial instrument.  Because clearly you would like to do 2501 by subsidies.  You have to use it in a smart way and try to leverage funding in a way that large part of the 250 is nevertheless coming from private investment.  Therefore, you have to basically formulate financial instrument which leverage public money.  Next slide, please.  When you look at this challenge, the high unit cost, you have been very dispersed units of housing units.  Spatial diversion, since you have less experience in the Regions, there are less who have the experience to roll out the networks.  Therefore, typical things the bank does in those cases is assist Regions in setting up business plans or helping them in a way to put up schemes that can be committed both to private investors and could be qualified basically for public support.  Ideally, you would like to merge the two and basically try to get as quickly as possible business plans that rely on public money and last part rely on private money.  The public sector can be inventive in the sense that they can introduce market mechanisms in allocation of the support.  Basically in tendering of the subsidies.  For instance, France has quite a good experience in its scheme, so basically in certain areas they need basically to get investments up and running only 110th of the subsidy they original planned for.  Basically true smart tendering of concessions.  It has become a very effective way of allocating it for infrastructure rollout for fiber.  
      Of course, what you also need to avoid is when you go to rural areas, is that you have two small projects because two small projects you have some sort of fixed cost, which then makes the whole operation simply not feasible in terms of financial ability.  So you need to think about aggregation of schemes.  Next slide, please.  Here you have basically a sort of a very schematic representation of the infrastructure or financial products that you can devise, making it dependent on the project size or risk level.  Typically the smaller the project size, the riskier it becomes typically, the more difficult it becomes, if you have large projects with relatively low risk, I mean, this is something that you can relatively easily leverage financing.  But the more you go towards the right and towards the lower part of the thing, the more it becomes difficult.  We have gathered quite a substantial experience in the fields.  We see that the more you go towards the lower right angle, the more you have to go towards specialized structures, specialized infrastructure, which basically due in principle we ask them to aggregate schemes to diversify by doing the aggregation.  Next slide, please. 
      So to basically to conclude is that I mean, like for political objectives in terms of infrastructure rollout.  And the example of the gigabits society for Europe, but you can basically do that also for all other ‑‑ for instance, for neighboring countries, we're trying to set up also there some sort of policy objective, which basically entail an infrastructure which is not too dissimilar from what we would actually like to achieve in Europe, because also, it is a very good way for especially in a developing country context to basically to leapfrog straight into state of the art technologies to basically make sure you get prosperity in those areas.  So do you have to set up plans and basically to look carefully of how much and possibly to maximize the degree of private financing.  Because at end, you are talking about fairly large resources, but on the other hand, these are resources which are themselves capable of attracting sufficient revenues to pay for the infrastructure.  So this is ‑‑ this is in principle, a business that can be profitable, extremely profitable in some cases and therefore, you have to basically to match the market principles with the policy.  In a smart way. 
      Okay.  Then that's key.  So you have to try to put two things together.  That is the art of going about the infrastructure.  Clearly, there has been quite a lot of learning already.  And I think technical assistance is one of the key measures of how to disseminate the knowledge into the new context to basically get as much of the learning out from previous experience and basically do as little as possible mistakes when you take decisions for a long‑term investment.  
      And of course, I mean, the bank is used to those kind of activities.  And it is always looking to find new partners for its development.  So I would stop here for the time being.  Happy to take questions, if needed.  
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Thank you so much, Harald.  I'm sorry to be the bad cop to send you messages giving you one more minute.  We do have two more speakers.  What stuck with me is 2/3 of the bill by 2025 needs to be financed by alternative scenarios.  We need the enabling regulatory support and environment and we also need public finance and new partnerships so, [frozen]
strain of discussion.  Guido, the floor is yours.  
     >> GUIDO ACCHIONI:  Okay, can you hear me now?  
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: We can. 
     >> GUIDO ACCHIONI:  I will try to share my screen then.  Here it is.  Can you see our presentation?  
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Our colleagues can also share your presentation.  I believe you shared the presentation with our colleagues so our colleagues will share. 
     >> GUIDO ACCHIONI:  Right.  That is the first slide.  The presentation is going to be on two related topics.  The first one is the European portal that was launched a few years ago.  And then I will terminate with information about work we're doing with the experts in the field of mapping.  In terms of the broadband methodology for mapping services [?] 
      Start with the work on the project that we launched a few years back.  The mapping services in Europe as the European broadband portal.  Started in 2016.  With the help of a considerable member of the national regulatory authorities and [?] carried out in some cases a similar activity and other cases for different purposes.  So we started we had a contribution from about 150 of these entities across Europe.  We had the three years of development.  The initiative is [?] all the Member States decide to contribute.  Particularly because some of the Member States at the time that was starting in 2016, not all of them had a mapping activity in place, which was a regular activity based on the stable methodology.  So this is a work now that is now in the fourth year.  We have about 21 Member States.  During the process we used methodologies was different.  We had to develop [?] with two different layers of the visualization of the data. 
      So in addition to the difficulties in terms of the methodology, we also have to define the kind of data we want to collect.  And the kind of data which was set up in 2017, the second year was delivered into three kinds of qualitative service.  The ‑‑ decided about the kind of attributes and metrics to be collected by the portal.  Here, I don't know whether you have seen these slides, slide number 3, I think.  It is 3 different kinds of data that we're collect the QS1, which is the performance, which is the performance of the network and provide simply by the presence of the network, without taking into consideration a user environment.  In addition to that we have the line communication data where it is data that is produced by the testing lines, that includes the last line and also the Internet connection, Internet access service.  And the last kind of data that we collect is what we call a QS3, which is the user experiment, the user environment, and connectivity within the household.  And it is generally triggered by the user.  And that is what we call a measurement of online spaces such as Ookla, Akamai and Open Signal.  The data that is the QS1, the theoretical performance.  We have already fourth year of that collection.  And based on the different methodology reflecting the two layers of data that we hinted at earlier on.  
      So we ‑‑ as you can see from the slide that is on the screen now, the first layer is based on methodology where it is the special label that the 300 meters square.  And why the second layer is mostly based on the label data and the study from 2 and 3 is the label of the highest Resolution which is provided by the portal.  
      In the S3 level data is provided as an access to all users, so it is accessible through the portal.  You don't need any registration to collect that data.  Where you do need to be ‑‑ just as in user, which may have access to the expert portal, the data at the grid level.  You need to be a data provider or a user that has a need for access for study.  So mainly universities, and research centers have to as a question and grant access to the data easily.  
      This is the second part of the presentation, which is the draft methodology, where we are working on since February.  We have the three communication acts working on alongside of work of BEREC that was presented by Begoña Garcia Mariñoso.  And Begoña Garcia Mariñoso conveyed to you the fact that the first part of the methodology of this year was approved.  And now about to have the second part, to have approved for December of this year.  Also the methodology we're working on is the methodology that has focus for the fixed infrastructure.  And we have 800 by 100 grade for wireless infrastructure.  This is a temporary solution as we move into a higher level of resolution in the case of wireless and mobile infrastructure since this is also a practice that we see growing in different Member States.  Just to give you an idea of the data that the draft methodology is currently considered to include, you can see here on the screen there is the data on the network provide, on the technology, different kind of service data in terms of maximum download, upload speeds and the expected peak time condition.  And the last piece of data on the network is the network [?] capacity and the address is considered. 
      In terms of the timeline of the work, we already have the guidelines published in March of this year.  The first part.  And the second part is expected in December.  In terms of the methodology, we have the first draft that is being finalized just last week.  We now are going to move towards the consultation of the digital New York, which is the comp tense of the New York, which is spread across the Member States.  They're mostly entities at the national level and a number of cases, there are ministries that involve the program planning.  Some of the cases, they're a national regulatory.  We're consulting with the network and the BEREC members between December and January of next year.  We are then moving into a testing phase, which will take place between February and October next year.  And we expect to finalize the methodology by December of this year.  Of next year, and alongside of the timeline that the commission expects also to work and publish also the work on the state aid guidelines. 
      So this is more or less all of my side.  I am open to any questions regarding the methodology or the work on that.  Thank you. 
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Thank you so much guide Guido, and for staying in our time.  If you have questions, given that we are quite a bit over time, make your comments or suggestions in the chat function. 
      We move on to our last intervenor.  Our last panelist, Ms. Naroa Zurutuza with the UNICEF Office of Innovation.  Naroa, the floor is yours. 
     >> NAROA ZURUTUZA:  Hi, everyone, can you hear me?  Great.  Sorry, maybe it is not working.  First of all, thanks so much for having me here.  It is a great pleasure.  I am going to very briefly speak about how we are using data for the GIGA initiative, which is a partnership between ITU and UNICEF to connect every school in the world to the Internet and through that connect young people to information, opportunity and choice.  Next slide, can you go to the next slide, please?  Thanks. 
      One of the things that we want to make sure that it is different for GIGA is we want to make it data focused.  We want to build the priority initiative based on big data foundation layer.  Here, the map you can see is the map of the school in Colombia.  It is the schools that are colored on the connectivity.  The red schools are ones without access to the Internet.  And it means that these are the areas where further investment in ICT structure would be required to extend connectivity to these areas.  Next slide, please.  We are using this data to understand where are gaps in access, where are the gaps in connectivity.  What is the demand for connectivity?  And be able to aggregate this to work with Government providers to bring connectivity to the areas and identify that are not connected.  This is the work we have done in regards to mapping schools up‑to‑date.  We have over 800,000 mapped in 30 countries.  And we are using this as I said earlier, to build for example, the models to make the connectivity to schools.  And then use this to unlock the necessary funding from different sources.  Maybe also it is worth it to highlight that schools are proxies are entry points for communities and believe that connecting schools would extend indirectly or by default, extend to the communities around them.  This is a way for providers as well and different companies to work in the different markets.  Next slide, please.  Quickly, few of the examples of how we use this mapping in different parts of the world.  This is the couple of years ago, by providing this mapping, it helped the Government advocate for connectivity, you can see how the schools are connected to the Internet.  And further investment and connectivity and bring every school online.  Not only that, they were able to see this and negotiate praises.  This was lowered to half.  Meaning to provide the quality of service and it is a cost savings of 40% of the education budget, next slide.  GIGA works as a convener.  We work with different stakeholders across Governments, different donors, funders and the private sector and providers.  GIGA plays a key role of convening on the different players in the context of school connectivity.  So that you can support them and provide different tools, and services to them.  Next slide.  The next part.  The ultimate goal is to bring relevant content and bring services to the people.  Once we have the mapping done, we're building the financing models, bringing the connectivity to schools and extending the right of goods to the area.  Next slide.  Couple near examples.  Niger has received investment of connectivity, 50% grant, 50% loan.  The GIGA is helping to make sure schools are included in the broadband connectivity program.  And what you see on the right, it is modelling that we are doing.  Some of the analysis that we are doing using satellite imagery to identify the height of buildings to deploy infrastructure or identify areas where we can be or withstand placing the satellite dishes or other types of infrastructure.  Next one.  In Honduras, again, as I said, the schools are entry points for communities, over there, there is a demand by overlaying the school data with population maps to understand how many people would be connected or customers we get by connecting the schools.  Here, the schools in Honduras and they are colored based on the number of households that are living around them.  So then we can aggregate the demand and create the different types of models.  Next one.  In Kenya, in response to COVID, there are some countries quickly connecting to schools.  This is a country that will accelerate the support the response to the pandemic but also start prototyping different types of solutions and different types of models.  Here, the next phase came for the Honduras example, is overlaying this data with the different infrastructure maps from like the ones that Vladimir showed from ITU, we're able to identify what would be the optimal technology depending on the location of the school, as well as existing infrastructure and based on that, build the cost models to allow us to either advocate for further investment or work with different lenders to unlock further funding.  Next one?  
      Finally, the last example is that we are not using this data to just identifying an aggregate demand, but also to do the monitoring that is with the speakers are speaking about.  We want to use the platform to get updates on the quality of the service so we can use it to make sure that money that is invested is actually reaching the schools and have a mechanism or platform to hold providers accountable for that.  Here, we have a partnership with NIC.BR in Brazil, they are doing this work, that is reaching 20,000 schools in the country and have an agreement with them to get access to this data and monitor the progress in different connectivity programs.  Our goal is to prototype by lot test, the different solutions and tools and scale this globally.  
      I'm going to stop here, knowing we are running out of time.  If you have questions, send me an email, and I will be happy to answer.  Thank you. 
     >> SOPHIE MADDENS: Thank you very much, Naroa, for giving us a few minutes back.  Thank you for presenting GIGA.  It is a great collaboration between UNICEF and ITU.  As Vladimir said, it is great to overlay our ICT infrastructure mapping with other sectors because collaboration is key.  By looking at ICT infrastructure in schools, we can help in connecting the schools.  By overlapping financial services structure with ICT infrastructure we can reach digital financial inclusion.  So it is key.  We need data, we need maps, that is a basis to unlock investment in broadband networks.  We also heard that we need evidence‑based decisions and frameworks, we need innovative investment models.  May I summarize.  We need to be bold, innovative and collaborative and balance with sustainable investment and also stability with flexibility.  Jaroslaw and Julian, I know we overran and ran into the lunch break.  I want to hand back to you.  Thank you very much to all the panelists.  Very interesting conversations. 
      Looking forward to the conversations of this afternoon.  Back to you.  
     >> JULIAN:  Thank you very much, Sophie and thanks to you for the excellent moderation of the panel.  And thanks to the intervention.  And thanks to the captioners for the extension of time that was unforeseen.  For now, I call the short lunch break.  We are due to start the next session in 15 minutes.  Let's extend by another 10 minutes, so we will start at 1:40, sharp.  So in exactly 25 minutes.  So with this, I will also ask the speakers for the session 3 to be ready so we can start sharp at 13:40 hours.  Thank you very much.  

[Break]

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