BDT Director Doreen Bogdan-Martin gave opening remarks at the ITU GSR Regional Regulatory Roundtable and Regional Economic Dialogue for the CIS region.
The goal of the Regional Regulatory Roundtable was to exchange views and experiences in the field of telecommunication/ ICT regulation in the context of digital transformation. It presented relevant regulatory tools of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), including the recently published Digital Regulation Handbook in Russian, and discussed country approaches to telecommunication/ ICT regulation. The aim of the Regional Economic Dialogue was to provide detailed information on the work of ITU-D Study Group 1 on economic policy. It also provided an overview of BDT publications on economics and finance in the field of telecommunications/ ICTs with regards to their applicability to countries in the region.
Ms Bogdan-Martin said, ''In the context of the discussions at the upcoming 2021 Global Symposium for Regulators, it may be timely to re-examine and probe how ICT regulations can play a greater role in fast tracking connectivity.''
She also asked, ''How can we also direct attention to regulatory improvements necessary to spin the change that we want to see?''
She noted that the CIS region has shown impressive growth in most areas of ICT infrastructure, access, and use. However, as observed during the Regional Preparatory Meeting for the upcoming World Telecommunication Development Conference, the regulatory frameworks in the region have not kept pace with the rapid evolution of the digital sector. Ms Bogdan-Martin welcomed comments from participants to collectively help the region move faster in evolving regulatory frameworks.
''I know we can count on each other to harness the power of partnership and the catalyzing force of collaboration, to ensure meaningful connectivity for all,'' she said.
Find the BDT Director's full address here.
