GSR-21: Regional Regulatory Associations (RA) Meeting
The role of regional and international organizations in promoting Broadband mapping tools to foster investment and competition for inclusive
and sustainable connectivity
Tuesday, 22 June 2021 (14:45 - 16:15 CEST) Zoom
The 2021 annual Regulatory Associations (RA) meeting was chaired by Ms Bridget Linzie, Executive Secretary of the Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (CRASA). in her welcoming remarks highlighted that this dialogue is very important, at this very moment, as we are living in very uncertain and difficult times. COVID-19 has driven public service delivery, commercial and social activities online and now broadband access has become an ever-crucial commodity in securing continuity of business and social activities. Connectivity is a very timely subject now in many of the regions, it is very essential for national regulatory authorities to have a good understanding of broadband mapping and that help to ensure to work towards offsetting some of these negative impacts of COVID-19.
Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU BDT Director, in her opening remarks, stressed that the world continues struggling to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, and the role of ICTs in providing solutions has become even more clear and relevant. Digital technologies have proven to be critical tools for the continuity of our daily lives, the growth of our economies and simply our ability to connect with each other. Unfortunately many people in rural and isolated areas remain unconnected due to a lack of investment in ICT infrastructure, and they are thereby denied from essential services that ride on this infrastructure. To address this issue, the ITU Broadban Map tool come useful to member states, regulators, the private sector and ICT stakeholders in their efforts towards infrastructure mapping systems that could identify ICT infrastructure availability to leverage infrastructure sharing strategies, and reduce the cost of infrastructure deployment and service provision.
During all the various discussions it was a common agreement that broadband mapping is very critical for both ICT Policy makers and regulators to allow them to make informed decisions, especially in identifying where there is need for investment in broadband infrastructure. These tools are also important to encourage effective competition for inclusive and sustainable connectivity. It was noted that advanced work is being done by various regional regulatory communities, where guidelines have been developed and provided to regulators for them to utilize in mapping of broadband networks. It was also noted the need for regulators to look on how to bridge the gaps in the supply of broadband and noted that this kind of information really can be collected by regulators in cooperation with network operators and investors.
More information available on the RA Report by the Chairman.
AGENDA
14:45 - 14:55 Opening Remarks
- Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
- Ms Bridget Mphatso Linzie, incoming Executive Secretary, Communications Regulators' Association of Southern Africa (CRASA), Chair of the Regulatory Associations' (RA) Meeting
14:55 – 15:30 Session 1: Broadband mapping tools to foster investment and competition for inclusive and sustainable connectivity
- Presentation on the ITU Broadband Maps, Mr Vladimir Daigele, ITU/BDT
- Discussion on how Regulatory Associations can promote the use of Broadband mapping tools to foster investment and competition for inclusive and sustainable connectivity?
15:30 – 16:00 Session 2: Presentation of the main projects and activities of each Regulatory Association in relation with Broadband mapping tools
16:00 – 16:10 Recommendations and Way Forward
16:10 – 16:15 Closing of the session
