Global Symposium for Regulators 2019 Best Practice Guidelines: Fast forward digital connectivity for all

The Information Telecommunication Union (ITU) Global Symposium for Regulators GSR-19 adopted  Best Practice Guidelines on fast-forwarding digital connectivity for all. The Guidelines underscore the need for actionable, collaborative, and innovative outcome-based approach to regulation in order to unleash the potential of digital technologies and achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). They further call upon the regulators and all stakeholders to be open to new regulatory tools and solutions and to act immediately. To this aim, the Guidelines provide three innovative approaches for achieving inclusive digital infrastructure and services that include a) core design principles for collaborative regulation, b) benchmarks for regulatory excellence and market performance, and c) regulatory tools and approaches at hand for enabling digital experimentation. ​​​​“Looking back over nearly 20 years of GSR, the role of the ICT regulator has never been more important. ICTs are at the heart of efforts to attain the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, and accessible, affordable ICT infrastructure is the pre-condition of every nation’s ongoing socio-economic development. Based on the contributions of regulators from all regions, and adopted by consensus, the new guidelines will light the way towards achieving inclusive digital connectivity globally,” noted Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau Doreen Bogdan-Martin.