BDT Director Doreen Bogdan-Martin addressed the ITU GSR Regional Regulatory Roundtable and Regional Economic Dialogue in the Asia and the Pacific region.
The discussions, which will feed in to the programme for the core sessions of the 2021 Global Symposium of Regulators (GSR-21), focused on: GSR Best Practices Guidelines (BPG), regulatory uplift for financing digital infrastructure, access and use, collaborative (5th generation) regulations, incentives to foster affordable ICT services by promoting investment for meaningful connectivity in the Asia and the Pacific Region, economic and financial approaches in the digital ecosystem, effective partnerships for advancing connectivity and achieving the SDGs and policies and regulations for critical technologies of the future.
In her opening remarks, Ms Bogdan-Martin stated ''The strong growth now exhibited in many Asian markets speaks to a quick transitioning continent, one that recognizes the powerful transformative potential of technology for development, and one that is ready to embrace bold new approaches to drive growth.''
She outlined challenges in work to connect the unconnected and where regulation has potential to make breakthroughs; current ITU work to help strengthen regulatory and institutional frameworks; and the conversations ITU hopes to foster at a global level to advance the goal of bridging the digital divide.
In addition to GSR-21, the discussions held at the conference will serve as inputs to prepare for the upcoming World Telecommunication Development Conference. Ms Bogdan-Martin recalled that during the recent Regional Preparatory Meeting for WTDC held in Asia and the Pacific, ITU members emphasized enabling policy and regulatory environment as an important regional priority.
''Today I have spoken on some of the challenges we face and the ways that regulation provides us a pathway to overcome them. As you all play a vital role in this field, I sincerely hope you will be a part of a landmark WTDC– one in which we seek to harness the power of partnership and the catalyzing force of collaboration, to change the connectivity picture forever,'' said Ms Bogdan-Martin.
Find the BDT Director's full address here.
