World Dialogue on Regulation

The recently completed research on the WDR theme, Stimulating Investment in Network Development: Roles for Regulators (now in publication) demonstrated that network development requires a much broader focus if anything resembling universal access in an internet environment is to be achieved. Participation by all interested parties will not just have to be accommodated, but also facilitated and supported by policymakers and regulators. This has led us to select the WDR theme for dialogue and research for the third cycle, which is now beginning, as Diversifying Participation in Network Development. Telecom regulators and policymakers will need to play an important role in this process. It requires much more than licensing a few competitors to incumbent operators. Rather it involves facilitating participation from both the public and private sectors at local, regional, national and international levels, in extending networks, supplying services, organizing services demand, and applying services in many different ways.

A variety of research studies are being undertaken by the WDR participating research centres on this theme over the next nine months.

More [+]