Digital Regulation Network (DRN)
Digital Regulation Network (DRN)A collaborative network of networks
Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava
Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau
Objective
The aim of the Network is to accelerate sustainable digital transformation through common approaches to collaborative digital policy, regulation and governance across economic sectors and across borders. The Network is enabled by Regulatory Associations (RAs) at the regional and global level by leveraging South-South, North-South and triangular cooperation.Aims
Support regional regulatory associations and their members in building institutional and human capacity
Strengthen cooperation among RAs and their members and with other pivotal Networks in the regional and global digital regulation space, making regulatory collaboration easy and effective
Provide a safe space and tools for co-creating harmonized approaches to digital policies and regulation for digital transformation at the national and regional levels
Share good practices and experiences and advocate for the outcomes of the Network
Vehicles
Convening a platform to facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration, consultation and experimentation among RAs and with other regional, global Networks and individual NRAs
Piloting GSR best practice guidelines and other consultation processes, and outcomes dissemination
Leveraging digital regulation tools and frameworks (ICT Regulation Tracker, G5 benchmark and the Unified framework) to support evidence-based decision-making
Establishing knowledge transfer programmes (technical assistance, twinning between RAs and their members, with Networks of other sectors, mentoring programme, etc.)
Background• introduce strategies to stimulate national and regional digital markets and improve their competitive position in the digital transformation. • ICT and other sector and cross-sector regulators are required to collaborate effectively at national, regional and global level and across economic sectors • no formal global network of ICT regulatory associations or digital regulators that could provide increased cross regional and sectoral coordination, to pool resources and channel multistakeholder efforts |
The three main building blocks:
Thought leadership
Platform for discussion, cooperation, collaboration and consultation with RAs and RAs from other sectors as well as with specific NRAs
Strategizing on emerging issues, regulatory needs in the digital transformation and piloting good practices for harmonized approaches
Capacity development
Knowledge transfer programmes/ twinning programme among RAs and their members
Institutional capacity development programme for RAs
Regulatory experimentation & innovation
Co-designing of regulation and policy experimentation for emerging technologies (including AI, digital policies, etc.)
Promoting cross-sectoral regulatory approaches for digital transformation
Evidence-based decision-making tools (sandboxes, RIA, etc.)
Innovative Financing Solutions Discussion Platform (ESG)
Working Methods
• Physical and online meetings/workshops/training sessions leveraging on planned RAs and ITU activities (back-to-back with regional and global events, GSR, etc.)• Dedicated space for RAs exchange to work collaboratively
• Visits/twinning/knowledge exchange between RAs and specific NRAs (physical)
Events contributing to the DRN Initiative
The America’s Regional Regulatory Associations meeting (RAs) held during the ITU Policy and Economic Colloquium for the Americas Region (IPEC-23)
September 26, 2023, San Jose, Costa Rica
EMERG-EaPeReg-ITU First Joint Workshop on Strengthening Broadband Infrastructure and Services across the Europe Region and beyond
September 28, 2023 – Budva, Montenegro