Page 160 - Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2016

Box 5.6: GSR-15 Best practice guidelines to facilitate the uptake and widespread use of mobile
services (m-services) and applications (apps) through targeted regulation
Regulators at the 2015 Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-15) recognized that fourth-
generation regulation based on a light-touch approach -- and promoting healthy (active and
sustainable) competition, innovation, consumer protection and empowerment -- can go a long
way toward responding to the dynamic transformation of ICT markets and achieving social and
economic goals. The GSR-15 regulators’ findings include the following:

I To stimulate demand:

• Governments can benefit from the knowledge and experience of stakeholders to draw up
holistic strategies for use of m-services and apps.

• Regulators have a role to play in supporting and encouraging partnerships to facilitate the
development of m-services and applications and to raise awareness of how they can help
increase economic productivity.

• Governments can promote the development and distribution of appropriate digital content,
including multi-language content and content in local languages.

II To facilitate availability, access and use of m-services and apps:

Regulators believe that unified rules for facilitating infrastructure deployment and open access to
networks at national and regional levels can strongly contribute to stimulating the development
of m-services and apps. Cooperation among all public authorities involved at the international,
regional, national, and local levels is key.

The Regulators recognized the importance of:

• Designing flexible, incentive-based and market-oriented policy and regulatory frameworks
with regard to spectrum allocation and assignment for mobile broadband services, to create
trust and provide for the necessary conditions for these services to thrive.

• Revisiting and reviewing current Government policies to make sure that they are still valid and
appropriate, and ensuring privacy and security of government, business and consumer data.

• Open and collaborative regulatory frameworks to promote the development of cross-cutting
services such as m-commerce, m-banking and mobile money, as well as m-health.

• Promoting network-sharing practices in all network and value-chain layers, while maintaining
healthy competition between network providers.

• Putting in place innovative, out-of-the-box measures to stimulate the take-up of services and
the creation of locally-relevant apps.

• Acquiring digital skills, which are essential for the wide take-up and efficient use of
m-services and apps.

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