Updates

The 2018 edition of World Radiocommunication Seminar (WRS-18), has been held in Geneva from 3 to 7 December.This year’s seminar focused on the regulatory aspects of the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits, in particular the application of the provisions of the ITU Radio Regulations, the international treaty that regulates the use of spectrum and orbit resources by wireless and satellite communications.

Every two years, ITU World Radiocommunication Seminars are organized, alongside Regional Radiocommunication Seminars, which are regularly held throughout the year to assist ITU Members to prepare for World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs). WRCs are held every four years to update the ITU Radio Regulations so as to ensure interference-free operations of radiocommunication systems and provide all countries with equitable access to the radio spectrum.

Cubans will now for the first time have the opportunity to access internet from their phones through commercial 3G service deployed across the island nation. This was announced on national television by the president of the state telecoms company (ETESCA), Mayra Arevich on 4 December 2018. Further details of the new 3G service contained in a press release has also been published on the ETESCA website.

The press release provided the basic mobile phone configurations and the short code for accessing the internet packages. The mass role out of the service is between 6-8 December 2018, after which new subscribers would have to ensure that they key in ETESCA’s APN in their compatible phone settings to access the 3G internet packages of their choice.  

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on 3 December 2018, celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2018. In an article published on ITU’s news page, it was underscored that this year’s theme of “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”, resonated with the ITU’s efforts to empower persons with disabilities (PwD) through information and communication technologies.

The article went on to site features such as captioning, screen-readers, assistive robotics technologies and navigational tools as examples of how ICTs can provide opportunities and benefits for people with visual, hearing or motor disabilities and persons with specific needs to overcome difficulties in going about their most ordinary everyday activities

On 4-5 December, European data protection authorities, assembled in the European Data Protection Board (EPDB), met for their fifth plenary session, and adopted an opinion on the EU-Japan draft adequacy decision. Though recognising that the Japanese legal framework could not replicate the EU general data protection regulation (GDPR), the EPDB indicated that a number of concerns remained, in particular regarding the protection of personal data transferred from the EU to Japan. This adequacy decision is expected to be the first adopted by the EU since the GDPR came into force.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming relevant for online education, especially in terms of monitoring and personalising the educational experience. Derek Haoyang Li, founder and CEO of Squirrel AI, built an AI-driven online educational platform. This was done in partnership with ‘a global network of educators and participating institutions, including the National University of Ireland, Stanford University, UCLA, UC Irvine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, and Remin University of China.’ It aims to tailor learning to individual participants’ need and rate progress.

The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice under the Council of Europe has adopted the first-ever European Ethical Charter on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in judicial systems. The charter outlines a series of principles to guide public and private stakeholders in the design and deployment of AI tools and services that involve the processing of judicial decisions and data. It is also addressed to decision makers who set out the legislative and regulatory frameworks governing the development, audit or use of such tools and services. The outlined principles include respect for fundamental rights; non-discrimination; quality and security; transparency, impartiality, and fairness; and the 'under user control' principle. The document also includes a study on the use of AI in judicial systems, and an overview of uses of AI in European judicial systems that can be encouraged, that need methodological precautions, that require additional studies, and that need to be considered with extreme reservation.

The US House of Representatives passes SMART IoT Act. The unanimous vote sends the ‘State of Modern Application, Research, and Trends (SMART) of IoT Act’ to be approved by the US Senate. The bill tasks the US Department of Commerce (DoC) with conducting a comprehensive study concerning the status of Internet of things (IoT) in the country. According to the bill, the research should focus on the following aspects: listing US tech companies and public-private partnerships (PPP) that develop and promote the use of IoT; evaluating the status of IoT standards and federal regulations of IoT; and identifying federal government resources for consumers and small businesses to assess connected devices

The Spanish Senate recently approved a draft law in order to implement at the national level certain provisions of the EU’s GDPR. Certain provisions have triggered strong reactions from civil society groups, in particular regarding an amendment giving the possibility to political groups to "use personal data obtained from web pages and other publicly accessible sources to carry out political activities" before elections.

In the view of the permeability of algorithmic technics and automated data processing in all aspects of the contemporary life, the Committee of Ministers of the CoE has drafted recommendation to member states to evaluate the impacts of the application of algorithmic systems in public and private spheres on the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The document outlines that the misuse of algorithmic systems can jeopardise the rights to privacy, freedom of expression and prohibition of discrimination provided by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Although public and private sector initiatives to develop ethical guidelines for the design, development and deployment of algorithmic systems are welcome, they do not substitute the duty of member States to guarantee that human rights obligation are embedded into all steps of their algorithmic operations. In addition, member States should ensure appropriated regulatory frameworks to promote human rights-respecting technological innovation by all actors. The guidelines for States on actions to address the use of algorithmic system include data quality and modelling standards; principles of transparency and contestability; provision of effective judicial and non-judicial remedies to review algorithmic decisions; the implementation of precautionary measures to maintain control over the use of algorithmic systems; and empowerment through research and public awareness. The document also engages responsibilities for private actors that member States should ensure, including guidelines on data quality and modelling.  ​

Uber has partnered with paratransit provider MV Transportation to improve service and response times to wheelchair users in some areas of the USA and Canada. Uber does not own the vehicles its services provide, and not enough wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAV) have been available. This step comes after feasibility studies and lawsuits alleging discrimination against wheelchair users. Acknowledging the situation, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi wrote: 'We know there is still a long way to go—and that we’re at the beginning, not the end, of this journey'.

The European Commission adopted an updated version of the EU cyber defence policy framework.  The purpose of the framework is to take into account the changing security challenges since the original framework of 2014. The updated framework identifies six priority areas for cyber defence: development of cyber defence capabilities, protection of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) communication and information networks, training and exercises, research and technology, civil-military cooperation and international cooperation. and clarifies the roles of the different European actors. It also clarifies the roles of European actors within these six areas, including EU member states, the European Commission, the European Defence Agency (EDA), the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) and CERT-EU.

Global delegates attending the 2018 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Dubai 29 October – 16 November have reached a consensus that global digital inclusion is vital to ensure the full benefits of 5G is attained. 

Khaled Ahmed, adviser to the Ministry of ICT in Djibouiti speaking at the conference said although the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is working to remove the barriers inhibiting digital inclusion, a fresh push is needed at the global level in the advent of the rollout of 5G and various technologies. Mr. Ahmed also called for standardization of rules and regulations to ensure a fair ground for all countries.  

According to V Raghunandan, deputy director general, international relations at Indian Ministry of Communications, any generation of technology could be looked at in the same way whether 3G, 4G or 5G, however it must be inclusive.

5G, a name used to describe the fifth generation of cellular mobile communications is believed to be the technology to support the Internet of things (IoT) era since it will include rapid data transfer rate, energy saving, cost reduction, and widespread device connectivity capabilities.