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REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY NEWS

ITU Launches the ‘G5 Benchmark’, a ‘Gold Standard’ for Collaboration among

Regulators and Policy-Makers

Information and communication and policy-makers from the information holistic, forward-looking regulatory
technology (ICT) is becoming more and communication technology (ICT) frameworks in place set to enable digital
prevalent, embedded in many sectors sector and other sectors to drive digital transformation across their economies.
and systems beyond the ICT sector transformation for all. As the ICT • More than half of world's population is
itself. In response, the International landscape is complex and fast moving, the concentrated in G2 and G3 countries,
Telecommunication Union (ITU) has 'G5 Benchmark' offers metrics to assess with potential to leapfrog to near
launched the 2020 Global ICT Regulatory gaps, proposes smart roadmaps through universal digital inclusion. Meanwhile,
Outlook which includes the Benchmark of shifting regulatory landscapes, tracks a quarter of countries remain in the G3
Fifth Generation Collaborative Regulation, progress and proposes solutions where category, making progress on stronger
a new tool for policy-makers and regulators concrete progress towards the Sustainable policy and regulation, but as yet are
to leverage digital transformation for all Development Goals has proved challenging. unable to unlock the full potential of ICT
through stronger collaboration across The concept of 'regulation generations' markets.
sectors. “Collaboration across sectors helps stakeholders analyze the maturity of • In just one decade, G4 has become
proves increasingly successful in piloting modern regulatory frameworks – from the the established standard for every ICT
regulators and policy-makers towards command and control of first generation regulator, with more than 50 countries
broad and inclusive digital transformation," (G1) regulation, to a collaborative and in this category; however, 40 per
said Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General. harmonized approach in fifth generation cent of countries languish in G1 or
“Indeed, digital technologies and services (G5) regulation. G2 categories, missing development
are transforming lives across society - from opportunities and increasingly adrift
agriculture to smart water management 2020 Global ICT Regulatory Outlook from global digitization and economic
systems. ITU stands ready to support The 2020 Global ICT Regulatory Outlook transformation.
regulators and policy-makers around the benchmarks regulatory across 193
world. The 'G5 Benchmark' serves as a countries worldwide and offers an objective "The Global ICT Regulatory Outlook 2020 is
compass for regulators on their journey perspective on the latest trends driving ICT as a rich, powerful and practical tool to all
towards digital transformation for all. “ policy and regulation. It also highlights six of us seeking to build a world of meaningful
golden rules that accelerate the take-up connectivity through regulation that is open,
G5 Benchmark of mobile broadband and seven rules that cross-sector, and above all, collaborative,"
The Benchmark of Fifth Generation boost fixed broadband adoption. said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of
Collaborative Regulation, also referred the ITU Telecommunication Development
to as the 'G5 Benchmark', helps fast- Key findings include: Bureau." It lays out clearly the trends, the
track collaboration among regulators • A vanguard of 16 G5 countries now have challenges and the opportunities before

75 APRIL 2020