iii The digital world of the 21st Century offers a world of opportunities through apps and services in the fields of e-governance, telemedicine, mobile banking and online education. ICTs help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by opening doors to economic growth, socio-economic development and vast improvements in the lives of individuals and communities. To realize the full potential of the digital economy, policy-makers and regulators have a key role to play in building policy and regulatory environments in which new technologies can flourish. That is why this 16th annual edition of Trends in Telecommunication Reform focuses on the theme of “exploring regulatory incentives to achieve digital opportunities.” I believe the theme upholds the ultimate goal of regulators: serving our citizens. This edition is a compilation of discussion papers presented at the 2015 edition of the ITU flagship event, the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) and seeks to explore ways to ensure that citizens can benefit from economic and social opportunities brought about by the digital economy, recognizing that for digital opportunities to fully materialize, an adaptive, consultative and innovative approach to policy and regulation is needed, more than ever before. Across the globe, mobile broadband is growing rapidly as 3G and 4G networks are deployed. The “Internet of Things” will make our cities smarter and our utility grids more efficient and cost-effective. More interconnected networks and interoperable systems will blossom into greater network effects, boosting value for every subscription. Greater capacity and localized content will generate more demand, creating even more incentives for greater investment, which in turn will create even more capacity. While interoperability brings the full value of a digital ecosystem, it also entails vulnerabilities to cyber-crimes, malware and privacy abuses. This edition attempts to identify solutions to these challenges.I believe that the cross-sectoral nature of the digital world will require more versatility, more agility and more cooperation with regulators in other fields, such as health, education, finance, broadcasting and law enforcement. Regulators need more than ever to engage in a balancing act through public-private partnerships, technology test-beds and new product incubation programmes.ITU-D’s effort to engage and hold an inclusive dialogue for regulators to serve their citizens continues. With this new edition, I invite you once again to take part in this inclusive dialogue, which has been so fruitful over so many years. Let us welcome each other again as partners in exploring how to open up the online world for all of us, for all the world’s digital explorers. Brahima Sanou Director Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2016 Foreword