Economic impact of COVID-19 on digital infrastructure Report of an Economic Experts Roundtable organized by ITU

Published in 2020

Around the world, COVID-19 has upended lives and economies. Global analysts predict that the world may be facing its deepest recession since the end of World War II. At the same time, the pandemic has highlighted the crucial role of digital connectivity in keeping our societies functioning, as online everything quickly became our new way of life. Despite the surge in digital demand, however, important parts of the digital economy may not have escaped the economic fall-out from the crisis. If the financial difficulties faced by some market players constrain much-needed investment in digital infrastructure, the societal and economic consequences…

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Global ICT Regulatory Outlook 2020

Published in 2020

The Global ICT Regulatory Outlook 2020 benchmarks regulatory progress across no fewer than 193 countries worldwide. In three years, the report has established itself as the go-to reference for regulators and policy-makers seeking to shape meaningful, regulatory change that will benefit all. There is much to navigate: the landscape is complex and fast moving. As mobile phones host ever more online services, regulators find themselves grappling with an ever-growing array of challenges including digital identity, data protection, blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI). There remains, too, the key challenge of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the deadline of 2030,…

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Governing Infrastructure Regulators in Fragile Environments

Published in 2019

Countries exiting situations of fragility face many urgent priorities and almost invariably suffer from substantial infrastructure deficits. During periods of fra- gility and conflict there is typically very little infrastructure investment, while existing installations are often damaged or destroyed. Immediately after the conflict, especially in poor, rural or peri-urban areas, small-scale providers often emerge to respond to pent-up demand for infrastructure services. While the services they offer, are often expensive and of uncertain quality, they fill a gap because private investment in infrastructure is limited at such times (Schwartz, Hahn, and Bannon 2004). Building or rebuilding infrastructure on a larger…

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Digital Development Partnership Annual Review 2018: Moving the needle – digital technologies becoming a driver for development.

Published in 2019

The launch of the 2018 Annual Review of the Digital Development Partnership (DDP) is an excellent opportunity to look back at the milestones achieved and the numerous initiatives implemented during the second year of DDP. I would like to extend greetings and best wishes to all the clients, donors, and partners involved in this ongoing collaboration. In my previous role as World Bank s Vice President for Africa, I have witnessed and supported the rapid uptake of digital technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa. As evidenced by the emergence of mobile payments in East Africa, the expansion of smart grids in Central…

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Building confidence in a data driven economy by assuring consumer redress

Published in 2019

The Internet enables people to choose to live their lives, not in isolation or within a closed local community, but connected to fellow humans throughout the entire globe independent of location. The Internet provides humanity with a tool, shrinking distance, increasing scope and speed of connectivity and allowing access to information every where at any time. It is a tool for good, enabling a digital economy as well as social interaction. However, it is also a tool that can be misused by criminals and people who wish us harm such as hate speech, bullying, abusive images, targeted misinformation shaping decisions…

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ITU Background Paper: Preparing for WRC-19 – Understanding the issues at stake and the impact of decisions to be made

Published in 2019

The increasing use of wireless technologies, and the opportunities for social development that these technologies provide, highlight the importance of radio-frequency spectrum and national spectrum management processes. Increased demand requires that spectrum be used efficiently and that effective spectrum management processes and (computerized) systems be implemented to facilitate the deployment of radio systems and ensure minimum interference. Spectrum use must be coordinated and regulated through both national regulations and the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). National spectrum management consists of the structures, procedures, and regulations whereby an administration controls the use of the radio spectrum within its…

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Economic contribution of broadband, digitization and ICT regulation: Econometric modelling for Africa

Published in 2019

The transformative power of digital technologies and connectivity is empowering people, creating an environment that nurtures innovation, and is triggering positive change in business processes and in the global economy. The recent ITU study on the economic contribution of broadband, digitization and ICT regulation pro- vided a global econometric analysis of robust and reliable data resources to measure the impact of fixed and mobile broadband and digital transformation on the economy as a whole. It also analysed the impact of institutional and regulatory variables to the development of the digital ecosystem. Based on the data and analysis to measure the…

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The economic contribution of broadband, digitization and ICT regulation: Econometric modelling for the Americas

Published in 2019

The transformative power of digital technologies and connectivity is empowering people, creating an environment that nurtures innovation, and is triggering positive change in business processes and in the global economy. The recent ITU study on the economic contribution of broadband, digitization and ICT regulation pro- vided a global econometric analysis of robust and reliable data resources to measure the impact of fixed and mobile broadband and digital transformation on the economy as a whole. It also analysed the impact of institutional and regulatory variables to the development of the digital ecosystem. Based on the data and analysis to measure the…

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The economic contribution of broadband, digitization and ICT regulation Econometric modelling for the Asia-Pacific region

Published in 2019

The transformative power of digital technologies and connectivity is empowering people, creating an environment that nurtures innovation, and is triggering positive change in business processes and in the global economy. The ITU study on the economic contribution of broadband, digitization and ICT regulation provided a global econometric analysis of robust and reliable data resources to measure the impact of fixed and mobile broadband and digital transformation on the economy as a whole. It also analysed the impact of institutional and regulatory variables to the development of the digital ecosystem. Based on the data and analysis to measure the impact of…

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ICT infrastructure business planning toolkit 2019

Published in 2019

Our increasingly digital society, built around high-speed always-on access to services, applications and content, depends on ubiquitous, affordable, modern, and resilient ICT infrastructure. Extending broadband Internet access to unserved and underserved populations to fast-forward progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals is one of the core pillars of telecommunication and ICT public policy and regulation around the globe. At the end of 2018 ITU revealed that, for the first time, more than half the global population now uses the Internet. While that figure is encouraging, we must remember that half the world connected also means half the world unconnected. Chronic…

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