ix Introduction To assist policy makers and regulators in getting ready for the digital economy, this edition of Trends provides an analysis of the changing business and consumers behaviours led by technological innovation taking place in the digital ecosystem. It further provides an understanding on how these changes will affect national ICT policy and regulatory frameworks and identifies measures policy makers and regulators can take to be prepared to respond efficiently to the new challenges raised by the digital economy. Chapter one examines key market and regulatory trends around the world and introduces a new analytical tool developed by ITU, the ICT Regulatory Tracker.Chapter two examines ways to reduce barriers to competition and offers practical case-study examples of several approaches to devise a policy and regulatory framework to promote competition and consumer choice. Chapter three looks at ways to accommodate broadband spectrum expansion through new modes of sharing and innovations in licensing. Chapter four examines what Big Data is, looking at where ICT regulators, policy makers and other public authorities, have set or should set some boundaries. Chapter five reviews a number of cross-cutting regulatory issues that policy-makers, regulators and industry should address to ensure that digital consumers are protected. Chapter six provides an analysis of the economic influence of data and their impact on business models. Chapter seven reviews the principles of performance monitoring, examines the increasingly broad scope of broadband plans and discusses how their implementation can be monitored.Chapter eight draws overall conclusions.Chapter 1: Market and regulatory trends in the ICT sector Since the last edition of Trends, the information and communications technology (ICT) sector has continued its remarkable transformation. The growing adoption of broadband-enabled mobile devices has made access to the digital world more ubiquitous and pervasive. Technology is moving fast, transforming lifestyles and rendering old business models obsolete. The ICT industry has moved from distinct infrastructure platforms and connected devices to an ecosystem of computing – the cloud – which changes the traditional rules of the game. The cloud is enabling new innovations across the economy, at all levels, for everyone. Everything becomes a computing device, a connected device – be it a car, a fridge, or a pair of glasses. This new dimension of connectivity opens the way to massive, unlimited possibilities. Apps and m-services are empowering citizens to engage in all aspects of life irrespective of time, distance and location. However, disparities remain between those who have access to the new world of digital opportunities and those who do not, calling for continuous efforts to reduce costs and accelerate network and service deployments to achieve a truly inclusive digital society.On the flip side, the digital economy has clearly raised many challenges that require increased attention from a regulatory perspective. Consumers are confronted with new issues brought about by the greater choice of devices, online services and applications. Identifying pro-active policy and regulatory measures in addition to co-regulatory and self-regulatory solutions and initiatives geared towards educating and empowering consumers is essential to protect the rights of all users in an open, transparent and inclusive digital world. Regulators participating in the 2014 ITU Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-14) have identified and endorsed a set of regulatory best practice guidelines to protect consumer Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2015 Executive Summary