World Dialogue on Regulation

WDR and LIRNE.NET are expanding into developing regions. How will this affect the research and other activities? How will centres and individuals who aren't part of the WDR and LIRNE.NET collaboration participate? 

In his answer, William Melody, Managing Director of WDR & LIRNE.NET, recalls that the network began with European universities but has now an established presence in South Africa, a centre to be launched in Asia in September, and is working to establish a direct and permanent link to Latin America. He also notes that "the growth of both LIRNE.NET and WDR has followed the growth in interest and capabilities of the centres that have joined." Rather than limit possibilities for participation, this interest-driven growth makes the network open to new centres and new individuals. "The best place to start is with the WDR Dialogue, which can then lead to whatever level of participation individual people wish to take up. A new WDR website, to be launched in September, will offer more information and more opportunities for interested individuals and centres to get involved. We are doing our best to keep the barriers to participation minimized."

Rohan Samarajiva represented LIRNEasia at the Research ICT Africa (RIA!), Annual Meeting held recently in Dakar, Senegal with a view to contribute to the discussion on Telecom Regulatory Environment (TRE) assessment that RIA! is planning to undertake. The five-day workshop held from May 26-June 2, 2006, focused on three areas: the 2006 RIA! research agenda, outcomes mapping and RIA!-NetTel’s regulator’s briefing. 

A researcher with WDR partner LIRNEasia, Dr. Harsha Vardhana Singh, has been appointed Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization. In a statement Rohan Samarajiva, Executive Director of LIRNEasia said, "Dr Singh is an outstanding intellectual, committed not only to ideas but to their application in ways that benefit people. We wish him well in this prestigious appointment and are confident he will continue to serve the people of Asia with his expertise."

Mr. Singh is Secretary of India's Telecom Regulatory Authority and a former member of the WTO Secretariat.

WTO Press release || LIRNEasia statement

The LINK Centre and the Mandela Institute hosted Points of Convergence: A Regulation Workshop on 5 October.

For more information, read Guy Berger's column in the 11 October issue of the Mail&Guardian Online and download the workshop presentations from the LINK Centre website.

DIRSI, a WDR partner in Latin America and the Caribbean, is collaborating with the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to conduct a Review of ICT-enabled Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.