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5.5 Conclusion: setting new regulatory objectives The emerging digital ecosystem is generating many risks and challenges for government policies, even as it presents new opportunities to create social and economic value. Just as any healthy ecosystem enables its stakeholders to interact for the benefit of all, a healthy digital ecosystem should enable investors to create economic value and deliver well-being to society. But it will be necessary to set new regulatory objectives to address the critical uncertainties present in this ecosystem. Establishing an environment that fosters creativity and innovation, enables competition, promotes consumer choice, and fully exploits the transformative potential of digital technology means finding a delicate balance that both stimulates and protects all stakeholders. Having recognized the phenomenal opportunity that diffusion of m-services and apps represents, governments and regulators could consider seeking technical assistance from specialized Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2016 143 Chapter 5 III Protecting consumers and suppliers:Regulators recognized the importance of:• Adopting cross-sectoral regulatory frameworks to provide for consumer protection and freedom of choice, as well as the proper exercise of consumer rights.• Educating and empowering consumers by various measures and initiatives. • Retaining the ability to choose and switch between service providers.• Encouraging the adoption of measures for enhancing the security of m-services and apps; creating reliable digital identities; using subscriber identification and registration to protect consumers; safeguarding consumer personal data…and promoting transparency of online communications and transactions, in particular.• Recognizing that multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential to ensure that the rights and best interests of both consumers and suppliers are protected. • Adopting privacy policy that includes measures to alert users and give them control over data practices.IV Roles of ICT stakeholders:Regulators and policy-makers should work with government agencies, private-sector and non-governmental structures to mainstream ICTs, and m-services and apps, into their national social and economic strategies and design holistic policies and regulations allowing for synergies and cross-pollination to occur between the m-services and apps economy and the other sectors.ICT regulators should adopt targeted regulatory measures to promote the development of broadband networks and services and provide for affordable and widespread access to m-services and apps guaranteeing healthy competition. Meanwhile, regulators should also promote innovation and ensure consumer protection. Cross-border harmonization of relevant regulatory policies, as well as enhanced collaboration among national government agencies, regional and global organizations, is essential.Source: GSR-15 Best practices guidelines, available at: www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Conferences/GSR/Pages/GSR2015/GSR15-Consultation.aspx