| 20th edition of Global Symposium for Regulators responds to challenges of digital transformation in the wake of global crises and beyond - 03/09/2020 |
| International Telecommunication Union (ITU) |
| International and Regional Organizations | International |
| Promoting an adaptive, resilient and collaborative regulatory system is key to “building back better" and advancing digital transformation for all, according to participants at ITU's 20th edition of the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-20), held virtually from 1 to 3 September. Regulatory authorities that gathered at GSR-20 agree that in the wake of COVID-19 digital regulation can boost the readiness of digital markets to face unexpected events and emergencies and deliver up to the expectations despite the odds. Accordingly, they have adopted GSR-20 Best Practice Guidelines: The gold standard for regulation to respond to the challenges of digital transformation in the aftermath of global crises and beyond. The GSR-20 Best Practice Guidelines propose the following reforms: Agile framework for competition in digital markets: Regulators should support innovation and new business and licensing models that facilitate affordable access to and investment in health, enterprise, and educational services on digital platforms. Codes of conduct (voluntary or enforceable): Regulators should guide digital platforms and support them throughout the process of creating codes, their implementation and enforcement in important areas, such as online content moderation on digital platforms, addressing misinformation and online news quality, and child online protection. Media and digital literacy and awareness efforts should likewise be central to navigating the challenges around services that are enabled by the digital transformation. Upgrading national emergency plans: Creation and implementation of effective emergency plans enables better preparedness and decision-making during crises. Such plans are key to anticipating future unexpected events and their negative impacts and they should focus on both urban and rural areas through a multi-technology approach. Bilateral, regional and international cooperation should ensure business and public service continuity and underpin national recovery efforts. Spectrum reform: Spectrum managers need to be able to respond timely, making spectrum available for wireless applications when and where they are needed, and as easily as possible, giving spectrum users and innovators flexibility to provide services that will deliver the greatest benefits. Ensuring that sufficient unlicensed spectrum is available drives innovation and investment in a range of technologies that can complement and support networks and expand broadband access at low cost. Spectrum reform should also be focused on ensuring that access to broadband service is provided affordably to those areas and populations that have been traditionally unserved or underserved. |
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