The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development/ Leadership debate will set the scene and examine:

• The role of collaboration in getting the offline population online, the need for inclusive people centered approaches, innovative investment models for affordable and secured connectivity, access and use
• Partnerships and public-private cooperation mechanisms to meet the SDG Goals using ICTs

Connecting the remaining half of the population that is still offline will require inclusive digital strategies and policies strengthening collaboration and taking into consideration:

• Innovative regulatory approaches, a review of the legal mandate for collaboration, looking at collaboration across borders and sectors to enhance connectivity, affordability, access and use.
• Leveraging the cross sectoral role of ICTs in the digital economy to foster connectivity and use, competition moving forward and the importance of sharing, open access (wholesale), skills development and global players.
• Building in accessibility enabling digital inclusion for people with disabilities
• out-of-the box policy and regulatory tools drawing from lessons learned and new approaches, such as regulatory sandboxes, pilots, temporary licences, regtech, evidence-based decision making and data driven regulation
• Sharing of experiences on collaborative approaches to regulation - the case of Digital Financial Inclusion

The session will address how to secure investment and funding to bring the remaining 3.7 billion people online, focusing on:

• How to balance incentives to promote investment and innovation while still aiming for affordability and quality?
• How can frontier technologies such as AI, automation, blockchain and data analytics contribute to greater business and ICT infrastructure efficiency and security?
• Innovative commercial partnerships (including investment from non-traditional sources), and intelligent networks to expand connectivity in underserved region
• Moving towards Universal service 2.0 (Innovative business models, PPPs and funding, CSR, holistic approach, digital transformation centers)? How to minimize economic distortions from contributions to and allocation of USFs?
• What are the concrete regulatory measures foreseen?

The discussion would broadly focus on:

• How to connect the dots: lifting remaining barriers to building and accessing communications infrastructure, security of infrastructure and information components; spectrum and smart deployment for better connectivity and access to the ICT digital ecosystem
• The role of alternative networks (community, municipal and other public utilities), incentive regulatory measures
• Means to foster innovation across layers to ensure inclusive digital transformation (e.g. use of emerging technologies across the layers and across the sectors).
• Incentive-based regulatory approaches across the sectors to achieve connectivity for all.

The number of people affected by disasters is on the rise in the world. In this context, timely, predictable and effective ICT services are a critical necessity for saving lives and achieving resilience. This allows for better response and coordination among response organisations, as well as improved decision-making through timely access to critical information.

• This simulation exercise will demonstrate that in emergency situations, in this case a cyclone, regulatory provisions and guidance – including regarding equipment and frequencies – enables provision of time-saving assistance to be rendered to affected communities.
• This exercise will be led by two facilitators who will guide participants through the disaster scenario. Related questions will be posed for the audience to respond online (through direct poll) and in real-time using their Internet-enabled devices.

List of documents

ICT infrastructure, digital platforms and data constitutes the bedrock of the digital economy. In this environment:

• What is the value of data in digital markets? How can it enhance evidence-based decision making?
• How can regulators facilitate cross-border data flows, and what is the cost of preventing them? How can public policy objectives be met in this environment?
• How to foster competition and understand the collaboration between regulators? How to define SMP in the data economy where data is everywhere?
• How can regulators meet the needs of all stakeholders including citizens, consumers and business agendas - where is the cursor?

Under the umbrella of spectrum for digital transformation and connected societies, the discussion will focus on:

• Spectrum harmonization roadmaps and plans
• Spectrum sharing and licensing
• Investment in spectrum
• Spectrum needs for Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
• Spectrum for sustainable development and preparing for WRC 19

Consumers are instrumental players in the digital ecosystem as they are key data users and producers/prosumers enabling smart societies to strive. Ensuring consumer protection and user security in the smart data driven economy, and building trust is however the mandate of all.

• What are the tools and data that should be made available to empower consumers? Which skills are needed to fully participate in the digital economy (capacity building and awareness raising)?
• What is the role of regulators in digital skills development and consumer awareness raising on the challenges and opportunities of new technologies?
• A regulatory toolbox for citizens, consumers and business

This session will provide regulators with the opportunity to engage into more in-depth discussion on:

• Licensing spectrum: frequency allocation mechanisms and fees
• Investment requirements and what regulators can do to encourage fast deployment track after WRC-19 (5G and others)
• From 3G to 4G and 5G: what are the opportunities for consumers and businesses?

Securing 5G access and use