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Digital Economy and Markets

To meet the expectations of a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem, policy makers and regulators need to adapt and develop more flexible, innovative and light-handed regulatory frameworks expanding beyond the traditional core telecom sector to take into account the multi-facet and multi-stakeholder dimensions of the digital world.

ITU is working on policy and regulatory research, collecting data on the evolution of the Digital Ecosystem and the impact of ICTs on the national and international economy. Recognizing the importance of the new Digital Ecosystem and markets, this portal gathers information on its evolution, key findings from publications and research, country case studies, as well as models to measure the impact of ICTs on the national economy.

Continuum of possible regulatory responses for the New Digital Ecosystem

There is a continuum of possible regulatory responses/measures which provides options in theory, from minimalistic interventions such as behavioural remedies (lower) to those that are more structural (higher) requiring legislative amendments and/or issuing of subsidiary legislation.

Source: ITU Report REGULATORY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES for the new ICT Ecosystem

Adoption of specific regulation

ITU DataHub, 2022

GSR Best Practice Guidelines

Regulators have identified and endorsed every year the GSR-24 Best Practice Guidelines on Helping to chart the course of transformative technologies for positive impact, addressing the deployment and maintenance of cutting-edge infrastructure that support digital society of the future, including transformative technologies.

"We stand at the threshold of a digital revolution with profound implications for the future of our societies. Recognizing the nature of advances in transformative technologies, we need to commit to fostering an enabling regulatory environment where innovation thrives while minimizing risks and maximizing benefits. It is our collective responsibility to chart the course of transformative technologies for a greater positive impact, where technology serves as a lighthouse of development, economic growth, inclusivity and sustainability." Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), GSR-24.

During the GSR, Regulators recognized the importance of defining effective policy and regulatory measures and guiding principles to help chart the course of telecommunications/ICTs as enablers of transformative technologies for positive impact.

- More about GSR Best Practices Guidelines

Regulatory Building Blocks

Central to the discussion of the growth and regulation of the Digital Ecosystem, which include the Sharing Economy, is the question of how to balance regulations for established businesses and new, innovative businesses.
Building blocks for a regulatory and policy framework for the Digital Ecosystem are essential: an inclusive dialogue is needed to discuss and define appropriate legal and regulatory provisions; Regulators and Policy Makers must ensure consumer security; Regulatory, product quality and other protections in transactions, while at the same time avoiding over-regulating new collaborative and innovative business models; Competition Regulators will need to be watchful that the economies of scale and scope are not exploited contrary to law.

Source: GSR16 Discussion paper Building Blocks for Smart Societies in a Connected World

Series Digital Ecosystem
Useful links

THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION of broadband, digitization and ICT regulation

Econometric study on the impact of broadband, digital transformation, and the interplay of ICT regulation on the economy, and regional econometric analysis.

POWERING THE DIGITAL ECONOMY: Regulatory approaches to securing consumer privacy, trust and security

Exploring the issues of online privacy, trust and security, including digital identity and how these influence and drive online data business models and data markets.

ITU Report Economic impact of OTTs on national telecommunication/ICT markets
ITU-D Study Group 1 join annual deliverable 2020 for Question 3/1 Emerging technologies, including cloud computing, mservices, and OTTs: Challenges and opportunities, economic and policy impact for developing countries, and Question 4/1 Economic policies and methods of determining the costs of services related to national telecommunication/ICT networks.

DIGITAL IDENTITY IN THE ICT ECOSYSTEM: An overview
Defining digital identity and providing an overview of the various types of digital identity systems.

REGULATORY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES for the new ICT Ecosystem
The dynamic perspective of telecommunication/ICT regulation, the changing markets and the new opportunities.

The current state of the App Economy in Africa and what are its actual and potential economic benefits, as well as policy and regulatory settings. Edition 2017

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT of digital transformation on the economy Analysis of the social and economic impact of automation and digital transformation, its potential benefits, challenges and social and economic effects. GSR17 Discussion Paper

ITU Information Report: THE CHALLENGE OF MANAGING DIGITAL CONTENT

Content is a very important area where money is being made on the Internet. Regulatory frameworks must evolve as markets evolve, it is not possible to regulate the future into the past. ITU-TRAI Asia-Pacific Regulators’ Roundtable 2017

ITU-D REPORT STUDY GROUP 1
QUESTION 1/1

Policy, regulatory and technical aspects of the migration from existing networks to broadband networks, including NGN, m-services, OTTs and implementation of IPv6. Edition 2017

The economics of the App economy and a qualitative and quantitative economic methodology to analyze its contribution to the economy. Edition 2016

BUILDING BLOCKS FOR SMART SOCIETIES in a Connected World: a Regulatory Perspective on Fifth Generation Collaborative Regulation
Recommendations to enable the deployment of smart societies. The roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders and regulatory actions. Edition 2016

TRENDS IN TELECOMMUNICATIION REFORM 2015: Getting ready for the digital economy

The changing ICT consumer behaviour, why competition matters in a digital economy, and what are the new business models driven?

TRENDS IN TELECOMMUNICATIION REFORM Fourth-generation regulation: Driving digital communications ahead

The dialogue of world's ICT policy-makers and regulators to foster economic and market growth by ensuring that citizens safely benefit from digital opportunities. Special edition 2014