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| WDR e-Brief No. 06 |
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| Wednesday, 08 May 2002 | |
In this e-Brief
The WDR  No. 06, 08 May 2002 ----------------------------- Welcome to the sixth issue of the WDR e-Brief, a bi-weekly bulletin from the World Dialogue on Regulation for Network Economies (WDR). The e-Brief is designed to help you keep informed of new documents and ongoing discussions on our website and of other WDR activities as well as other information of interest to the regulatory community. Please feel free to forward the e-Brief to potentially interested readers and let them know they can subscribe for free from the WDR website at http://www.regulateonline.org/. For more information on any of the items discussed here, go to the web addresses provided. ----------------------------- ----------------------------- Q&A: What's the role of regulators for network security? In each WDR e-Brief we feature a question or comment posted to the Online Dialogue at http://www.regulateonline.org/dialogue/ and ask our research teams to comment. The featured question in this e-Brief comes from Nathan Dawson and highlights the issue of whether network security falls within the ambit of regulators’ area of responsibility. This has been a topic of discussion both within WDR and among regulators in recent forums in Denmark and Bulgaria (see news items from the last e-Brief on security at http://www.regulateonline.org/news/security.htm). The answer comes from Anders Henten, coordinator of the Convergence research team based at the Centre for Tele-Information at the Technical University of Denmark. Question: What is the appropriate role for telecom regulation in relation to information and network security? It seems to be a much bigger issue than telecom regulators normally cover. Nathan Dawson Answer: The question of the confidentiality of communication has been one of the basic building blocks in regulation of telecom since the first telecom laws. Network security has been on the agenda in one form or another since the earliest days of telephony, attempting to preserve the network from unauthorized interruption, as well as the privacy of conversations. However, lately information and network security issues have cropped up in new forms, encompassing a broader range of problems relating to confidentiality, integrity, repudiation, authentication, and availability as well as the questions of data protection of person-related data and of cyber-crime. In the old networks based on voice communication, the protection of communication channels automatically protected the information being conveyed. In the new networks, there is a decoupling of information from communication to such a degree that security concerns have been extended to the security of the information accessible on the network as well as the security of the network itself. The primary reasons for the increasing focus on information and network security issues are related to a combination of the growing general dependency on electronic communications and the emergence of the Internet, which is an open communications environment and, therefore, relatively less secure than traditional telecom networks. Furthermore, wireless communications are gaining increasing importance and are less secure than wired communications. A good example is WLAN, where many different players set up hotspots with not always the greatest concern for information and network security. The growing importance of information and network security issues is one of the consequences of the convergence of telecom, IT and different forms of information content. In response to these developments, and the continuing spread of security problems, there is a growing policy awareness of security matters. This applies both nationally and internationally. For example, the Independent Regulators Group (IRG) of national telecom regulators in the European Union (EU) countries recently held a major conference to examine information and network security issues, even though they have no jurisdiction at present over information security (see recent news item on security at http://www.regulateonline.org/news/security.htm). Another example is the EU Council's recently issued ‘resolution on a common approach and specific actions on network and information security’. One of the main concerns expressed by the European Community is that IT security does not always get sufficient attention because the information and communication networks are made up of many operators and service providers in an increasingly competitive environment where none has the incentive or the capability to address overall network information and network security issues. This is an expression of the security externality problems attached to the open network environment, calling for some kind of policy and regulatory intervention. Users and providers of network services are interested in protective measures that are tailored to their specific needs. However, no security systems are stronger than their weakest links, and initiatives or lack of initiatives affect other parts of a network negatively or positively. Furthermore, the network is international, which has implications for adjusting international standards, regulations and codes of practice. Security problems must not only be addressed at the national level but also regional and international levels. Telecom regulators can't avoid the problems of information and network security because they are approached by an increasing number of people - including politicians and policymakers - who experience problems in this area. However, most often telecom regulators do not have any authority in the field. It is, therefore, an area of increasing importance, but with no clear programme for policy development and regulatory implementation yet set in place. The need for policy initiatives to improve security levels (e.g. information and education campaigns, establishment of best practice solutions, educational initiatives, co-ordination measures etc.), have been recognized. But there are yet many issues to be settled regarding how to improve security through the promotion of standardization and interoperability, while at the same time encouraging innovation. Most importantly, the interplay between public regulation and market initiatives in terms of regulation, co-regulation and self-regulation must also be examined as basis for defining and assigning regulatory authority. New convergence regulators at the national level will certainly have increased responsibilities relating to information and network security, but in the new more diversified and complex environment there will need to be more active attention to these issues from other public and private organizations. Hopefully the WDR discussion on these issues will help all parties clarify the needs and the best ways to satisfy them. Anders Henten Centre for Tele-Information & LIRNE.NET Technical University of Denmark Follow the dialogue post a question or make a comment at http://www.regulateonline.org/dialogue/ . ----------------------------- ----------------------------- WDR Expert Forum June 25 & 26 - "Designing Next Generation Regulation" The WDR Expert Forum, a workshop of 30-40 leading contributors to the global dialogue on next generation regulation, will be held at LIRNE.NET, Copenhagen, Denmark, 25-26 June 2002. The consensus of this meeting will guide the preparation of the Final Report on this year's Dialogue Theme. More information at http://www.regulateonline.org/news/experts.htm ----------------------------- ----------------------------- New European Regulators Group key to implementation of EU directives The European Commission has recently issued a comprehensive “telecom package” of new directives. Leading experts from the EC, national regulatory authorities, the telecom industry and academia came together at a LIRNE.NET Course, The Next Steps in European Telecom Reform: Assessing the New EU Directives, 28 April - 3 May 2002, in Helsingør, Denmark to assess the implications of the new directives for the telecom sector and national regulators. Read a report from the course at http://www.regulateonline.org/news/erg.htm ----------------------------- ----------------------------- Intense discussion of effective regulation at Ford Foundation Workshop in Brazil Intense discussion of information and communication technology (ICT) connectivity and effective regulation, including convergence, multi-sector and regional regulation, took place at the Research Projects Workshop of the Program on Information Technology and Social Transformations funded by the Ford Foundation and organized by the Social Science Research Council in Rio de Janeiro, April 18-20, 2002. The Ford Foundation and the Social Science Research Council are research partners of the WDR. WDR researchers Rohan Samarajiva and Andrew Barendse attended to present the theoretical context and research design of a three-country study that seeks to identify the nature of policy spaces conducive to increased ICT connectivity. A report on the workshop is available at http://www.regulateonline.org/news/rio.htm ----------------------------- ----------------------------- Implementing the UK’s Ofcom workshop report now on WDR website WDR e-Brief # 5 had a new item about a conference organised by Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and the London Business School (LBS) about the UK’s plans to merge five regulatory agencies into a new agency, Ofcom. The final report of the seminar was prepared by IPPR and can be downloaded in PDF format from the WDR site at http://www.regulateonline.org/news/ofcom.htm ----------------------------- ----------------------------- E-readiness report by World Economic Forum and CID is now available The widely anticipated report assessing 75 countries readiness to face the challenges of an information-driven global economy, titled The Global Information Technology Report 2001-2002 has been published by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with the Center for International Development (CID) at Harvard University. This report will be useful to many countries in expediting their reforms in the ICT sector. Parts of the report are available online at http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cr/gitrr_030202.html . The full report can be purchased at the same address. Harvard's CID has also made available a multilingual interactive website designed to help determine a community's "readiness for the networked world". http://www.readinessguide.org/ ----------------------------- ----------------------------- WDR / Intelecon Regulatory News Service WDR has joined forces with Intelecon Research and Consulting to provide a Regulatory News Service. The service offers up-to-date news of issues and events impacting on emerging markets and developing countries. The news is provided by Intelecon Research and Consultancy Ltd., strategy consultants focussing on telecommunications in emerging markets, developing countries and rural areas. Selected news items will be featured in the e-Brief and on the front page of the WDR website. We will also be archiving the news service in a searchable database that will be available on the WDR site later this month. Intelecon Research and Consultancy http://www.inteleconresearch.com/ See the latest news at http://www.inteleconresearch.com/regnews/index.html Watch the next e-Brief for details of the searchable archive ----------------------------- ----------------------------- India: Revenue generation should not determine regulation The Steering Committee on Information Technology and Communication for India’s tenth five-year plan is recommending a reduction in revenue sharing and the spectrum fee charged to telecom operators by basing them on the cost of regulation. Members of the committee believe that revenue generation cannot be a major determinant of the government's telecom regulations. The committee has pointed out that the license fee should be based on the cost of regulation, which is the norm in many other countries. The cost of regulation involves the expenses incurred by the government to regulate telecommunications through the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Currently, wireless and basic operators pay approximately eight to twelve percent of their annual revenue to the government in license fees. >From the WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News Service Read the full story at http://www.regulateonline.org/intelecon/A-India-020425.htm ----------------------------- ----------------------------- Economics of Infrastructures and the Centre for Tele-Information to host conferences in May Regulation: Shaping Markets in Liberalized Infrastructure Industries for Better Performance is the title of the 5th annual conference of the Delft University of Technology's Economics of Infrastructures Section. Delft, The Netherlands, May 30-31, 2002. More information at http://www.ei.tbm.tudelft.nl/Seminars/Conference%2030-31%20Mei.htm The 7th International CTI Conference titled Internet & Mobility: Technologies and Implications for Work and Leisure will be held at the Technical University of Denmark on May 29. For further information see CTI's website http://www.cti.dtu.dk/activities/conference.view.php?id=16944 . ----------------------------- ----------------------------- Questions and support If you have questions about WDR, send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it For technical matters, contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or see the Frequently Asked Questions section in the Online Dialogue. http://www.regulateonline.org/dialogue/ ----------------------------- ----------------------------- Subscribing and unsubscribing The WDR e-Brief is a bi-weekly bulletin from the World Dialogue on Regulation for Network Economies - http://www.regulateonline.org. Subscribe from the site or by sending a message to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with the subject wdr e-brief list . To unsubscribe, send a message to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ----------------------------- ----------------------------- Bruce Girard - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - edits the e-Brief with assistance from Divakar Goswami. Archives: http://www.comunica.org/w-agora/index.php?bn=wdr_ebrief ----------------------------- ----------------------------- The purpose of the World Dialogue on Regulation is to critically examine ideas and evidence. Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in content appearing on the WDR website, the Online Dialogue and the WDR e-Brief are the personal views of the individuals submitting them. Content does necessarily reflect the views of LIRNE.NET, infoDev, the World Bank, the International Telecommunication Union or any other organisation associated with the World Dialogue on Regulation. ----------------------------- ----------------------------- World Dialogue on Regulation c/o LIRNE.NET Technical University of Denmark Center for Tele-Information, Building 371 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, DENMARK Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Phone: +45 4587 1577 - Fax: +45 4596 3171 http://www.regulateonline.org ----------------------------- |
