ITU GSR Special session: getting the next 3.7 billion online!
The Information Telecommunication Union (ITU) convened the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-19) during the period of 9-12 July at Port Vila, Vanuatu. The GSR is a global multi-stakeholder platform to discourse persistent regulatory issues, share experiences, knowledge and collaborate on major issues facing the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. The GSR-19 tackled the different means to bring affordable, safe, secure and trusted online access to people everywhere. the sessions covered a wide range of topics including digital strategies and policies, infrastructure regulation, innovative investment and financing mechanisms, trust and confidence in a data driven economy, the need for spectrum, preparing for 5G, and the changing consumer role. During the event, the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development held a session on ‘Getting the Next 3.7 Billion Online’ on 10 July 2019 to look at the role of collaboration in getting the offline population online, including the need for inclusive people-centered approaches and innovative investment models for affordable and secured connectivity. The session further addressed the partnerships and public-private cooperation mechanisms required to meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs) using ICTs.
About author
DW Team
The GIP Digital Watch Observatory team, consisting of over 30 digital policy experts from around the world, excels in the fields of research and analysis on digital policy issues. The team is backed by the creative prowess of Creative Lab Diplo and the technical expertise of the Diplo tech team.