Another emerging sharing technique involves the use of databases. Such databases are empowering trials and driving the development of rules in some countries for “TV white spaces,” which allow unlicensed broadband services to operate in unoccupied spectrum in the UHF television bands (694-864 MHz). Several countries – such as Kenya and South Africa – have staged trials of TV white spaces operations, while other countries – such as the United States and United Kingdom – are developing TV white space regulations.Cellular network operators in Europe and the United States are developing the concept of “licensed shared access” (LSA), a licensing framework that gives operators “priority access” to spectrum shared with incumbent users (perhaps government spectrum users). There would be a managed, or coordinated sharing scenario – perhaps using a database approach similar to those used for white spaces – that would provide a certain quality-of-service for the priority licensees, thus providing regulatory stability and incentives for investment that are generally not present in the licence-exempt, “swim-at-your-own-risk” model.Chapter 4: Big Data - Opportunity or Threat?Big Data offers a new perspective on reality, and therefore will affect and shape all sectors of our economy, especially those that play a role in the capturing and/or relaying of data and information. Big Data obviously is closely connected to our ability to gather, analyze, and store data easily and at a relatively low cost. But Big Data’s likely impact will be felt beyond the economy; it affects how societies make sense of the world, and decide important policy challenges; and as you will read, it is having a profound impact on innovation. The intent of this chapter is to offer a foundation; showing what Big Data is, explaining its recent history, and looking at where ICT regulators, policy makers and other authorities, such as competition authorities or data protection authorities have set or should set some boundaries. It examines the ways in which commercial entities collect, analyze and store data, that can be summarized in eight general principles. It utilizes the diversity in the practicalities and uses of Big Data to increase awareness of the benefits and the risks; placing it in a context that allows for understanding of where the industry has been and where it could be going. For regulators, the question is: what can, or should, be done to carry out their responsibilities? Recognizing that no two countries or economies share a common or identical governance structure to oversee the technology, media or other societal sectors, this analysis treats them having a similar mandate. The chapter is divided into four main parts: first it provides some boundaries to the subject; next, the contributions that Big Data offers to society and individuals are explained; as a balance, the attention of the reader is then drawn to some of the inherent risks of this powerful new technological tool; and finally, it concludes with the regulatory and policy considerations that should be accounted for when crafting future policy.The concluding section sheds the light on establishing policy and the rules that will encourage the further use and benefits derived from Big Data, to set the proper frameworks to prevent societal or individual abuses.Chapter 5: Consumer protection in the online world One of the most important aspects of ensuring that the potential of the emerging digital world is realized is ensuring that the end users and consumers that use the Internet every day can do so safely and securely. Policy-makers and regulators have an important role to play in this regard, both in terms of setting rules that will protect consumers, as well as educating consumers on how to safely get the most out of their online experiences. In this regard, it is important to note that many of the emerging actors in the online world are either unregulated or only lightly regulated. As more and more social and economic activity is carried out online, however, this may have to change. This chapter examines the various activities that people engage in online, discusses the various regulatory issues that are involved in protecting online users and describes some of the efforts that have xii Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2015