5th Caribbean Regulators Virtual Forum
Keynote Opening Address
Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
23 September 2021
Dear colleagues,
Thank you for inviting me to join you for the Caribbean ICT Regulatory Forum.
At last year's forum, I noted that COVID has emerged as a uniquely powerful game-changer – and one whose enduring effects on the ICT sector will perhaps be felt most keenly of all.
As the pandemic is still with us and we continue to grapple with its many challenges, your important role as regulators has been all the more reaffirmed.
As we begin discussions today, I would like to touch upon three main areas: 1) the vital and evolving role of the regulator in the unique times we live in 2) challenges and opportunities specific to the Caribbean 3) and paths forward to connect the unconnected, and leave no-one behind.
First, on the role of regulators.
With digital now vital to the continuity and growth of every economic sector, we count on you to steer, to lead, a safe and steady course through highly unpredictable terrain.
Caribbean countries have had to contend with new regulatory demands due to the pandemic, including challenges brought on by a greater strain on infrastructure.
However, thanks to the swift leadership of regulators, the region has been able to adapt and keep networks running.
We encourage you to document your innovative regulatory approaches and interventions on the ITU REG4COVID platform– these approaches will be useful for other countries to take lessons not only for recovery, but also for growth post-pandemic.
Many of you played a very active part in this year's Global Symposium for Regulators, including the regional regulatory roundtable held ahead of the main symposium.
I took note of the region's focus on: economic policies and strategies for ICT development; the implications of COVID-19; and incentives to foster investment and business opportunities for meaningful connectivity.
And of course understand the keen interest in the region to develop regulatory and economic strategies to achieve connectivity in rural and isolated areas, as well as meaningful targets for affordable connectivity.
Your discussions at this Forum will be critical to advance work on these issues.
Where regulators once served as market overseers, gatekeepers and arbitrators, the role of the 'new generation' regulator is evolving into what we might call an 'architect of fit-for-purpose, collaborative regulation', helping shape and optimize the functioning of digital markets.
Regulators need appropriate tools at their disposal to protect consumer interests and nurture healthy growth across the entire ICT ecosystem.
And that's what 5th generation regulation is all about.
Our future-proof regulatory frameworks must be flexible enough to respond to the challenges of digital transformation in the aftermath of global crises, and beyond.
At the same time, they need to consider inter- and intra-regional differences that can have a profound influence on market dynamics.
This brings me to my second point, on the specific context of the Caribbean region.
The Caribbean is a diverse region which nonetheless boasts generally high levels of digital penetration.
The Caribbean single ICT space is an excellent example of a forward-looking, next generation policy initiative, and will play an important role in fostering economic, social and cultural integration. As regulators you will be particularly important stakeholders in the plans to establish a regional regulatory body, and we are keenly interested in the process and lessons that can be learnt from regional integration.
Of course, the many nations of the Caribbean have their own particular needs and challenges, from connecting widely dispersed communities to mitigating the ever-present threat of extreme weather events.
We stand with the people of Haiti following the devastating earthquake on August 14th.
ITU has deployed 20 Iridium satellite phones and 10 Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) terminals to Haiti, which are being used by the Directorate for Civil Protection to facilitate relief and recovery operations and for coordination.
We understand what an urgent priority emergency communications is for each and every Caribbean nation and we will continue to support countries in preparedness and response.
To build greater regional capacity around emergency telecommunications, ITU is working steadily to install equipment across the Caribbean through the WINLINK Project.
We are also working with many Caribbean countries on a wide range of digital transformation programmes, from smart cities, e-agriculture and mobile payments, to e-government, connected health care, and more.
To take the example of our collaboration on education, the Office of Eastern Caribbean States has become a lead organization for the ITU-UNICEF Giga school connectivity initiative.
Giga works to ensure that learners and communities can access the wealth of information and opportunity promised by the internet. At a time where 1.6 billion learners in the world were impacted by school closures, the imperative to connect the world's schools has never been greater.
Now finally, to my last point, on paving the way forward.
The highly dynamic nature of today's digital markets means that regulatory frameworks will need to be regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to meet the public policy objectives for which they were created.
Inclusive, multi-stakeholder consultation needs to be a core part of this process, so that the multiplicity of voices impacted by digital regulation have the chance to make themselves heard.
We recognize the critical role partnerships will play towards our goal of connecting the unconnected – that is why ITU is launching the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition.
This Coalition will place a strong focus on the hardest-to-connect communities, including Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States.
We remain committed to partnering with all of you, and we hope to have you with us at the upcoming World Telecommunication Development Conference.
Join us in leveraging the unprecedented global attention on connectivity, to dramatically redraw the roadmap for digital development.
I am grateful for the very active collaboration we enjoy with regional organizations including the CTU, ECTEL, CDEMA, CANTO, CARICOM and regulatory bodies in all member states.
I look forward to our journey forward together to ensure that leaving no one behind, means leaving no one offline.
