Category: 2021 Highlights October

Tech sector regulators are carving out a new role as facilitators and enablers to address the new realities of our digital world. Multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration are critical to balance competing needs to boost innovation and infrastructure deployment whilst protecting consumers, regulating data usage and creating a level playing field, explained expert moderator Sofie Maddens, Head of Regulatory and Market Environment Division, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU, at the start of this ITU Digital World 2021 Regulatory Roundtable.

“As the world becomes increasingly digitalized, we need to join efforts to make connectivity safe and affordable,” urged Ekaterine Imedadze, Commissioner, Georgian National Communications Commission. Collaboration, from infrastructure sharing to cross-border industry regulation or cross-sector flexible frameworks, is key to reducing the digital gap and ensuring the digital economy is a powerhouse for economic growth, panelists agreed.

Regulating for digital infrastructure to close the digital divide

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us more than ever how essential digital connectivity is to social and economic development. It has also exposed the access and connectivity limitations of digital infrastructure around the world as the digital divide threatens to deepen further.

For Chenda Thong, Chairperson, TRC, Cambodia, digital infrastructure has become a foundation and critical enabler of connectivity to facilitate the continuity of daily life, connecting people during the pandemic more than ever. As post-pandemic recovery begins, people now need to embrace as normal new digital behaviours across all areas of life and work, including online meetings, ecommerce, telemedicine, e-logistics, contactless payment, remote learning and e-payment.  The sudden switch to remote working proved more successful than expected, but regulators now face challenges from the growing pressure for infrastructure upgrade, investment, quality of service and safety in the digital space, he added.

Recently appointed Chairman of the Mozambique Communications Regulatory Authority (INCM), Tuaha Mote, outlined how regulators can foster affordable access to connectivity in developing countries, where resources may be limited and operators must be encouraged to invest in non-profitable low income areas.

“Operators are here to make money. So, for the operator, communications and the mobile network has a commercial value, but for the government it has a public and commercial value,” he stated.  To incentivise private sector investment, governments must work across agencies, involving finance ministers, for example, in adopting taxation exemptions. The regulator must also ensure adequate and appropriate allocation of spectrum, both on a commercial basis and on a coverage obligation basis. This is a priority in Mozambique, where spectrum reserved for new operators remains partly unused, benefiting neither government, private sector nor the end user.

Digital infrastructure deployment is a huge challenge which calls for a concerted effort, he stated: “We have to bring on board other sectors of the economy like oil, gas and mining. If all services, including public services, go digital, we have to involve citizens … and not defer this challenge to industry and regulators alone.”

Regulatory authorities have an important contribution to make to bridging the digital divide, argued Mieke de Regt, Senior Advisor, International Relations Dept., BIPT – BEREC CN Chair 2021. Citing a recent study on the real impact of the digital divide on European economies and the need to increase affordable access, she highlighted effective initiatives to stimulate investment in very high capacity networks, foster network infrastructure sharing and reduce the cost of broadband network rollout, especially in rural areas.  Additional measures include reducing the cost of spectrum auctions, launching price comparison tools for customers to find the cheapest services for their needs, and fostering collaboration between regulators, industry and policy makers “to identify bottlenecks together.”

“Given the timeframe we are in now after the pandemic, we see that recovery funds related to the coronavirus can really be leveraged to accelerate the deployment of very high capacity networks, especially in underserved areas”, she said.

In light of the need for major investment in infrastructure to extend and improve connectivity, infrastructure sharing can ensure the efficient allocation of scarce resources, avoid unnecessary duplication and minimize environmental impact, stated Maria Alexandra Velez, Senior Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, International, SBA Communications.

“Industry players and government should get together and find the best ways or mechanisms to make infrastructure sharing a reality,” she said, citing successful measures such as establishing a radius of non-proliferation or the requirement for new infrastructure to prove there is no existing infrastructure which could accommodate more antennas.

“Close coordination between national government and municipalities” is very important to smooth the path for operators and tower companies, as infrastructure deployment is a local activity requiring permits at a local level. Capacity building will provide municipal authorities with the technical expertise to provide the best regulatory framework for infrastructure deployment, including clear processes for issuing permits based on technical criteria, a registry of towers to map existing infrastructure and coverage gaps, the provision of rights of way, and opening up public goods and other existing infrastructure such as electricity to sharing.

Maintaining trust in the data era

Beyond measures to ensure infrastructure deployment, from infrastructure sharing to fiscal incentives, spectrum policy and collaboration across national, regional and local governments, regulatory bodies need to protect consumers – and maintain trust, in particular in the transmission, storage and use of data.

Consumer trust is critical given the importance of data to prosperity over the coming decades. Chris Calabrese, Senior Director, Privacy and Data Policy, Microsoft, outlined how data can be used to solve many of society’s problems, stimulate economic growth and address major global challenges such as climate change and pandemics. Data is a valuable resource as it can be leveraged to benefit many different people, business and causes simultaneously, he said, citing the example of satellite footage which can be used to predict weather, measure transport flow, help rebuild after natural disaster, assist in urban planning or monitor climate change. But privacy and civil rights must be protected in the way in which data is used, he added: “If we are to flourish as a society, we have to invest in both technology and in legal rules to allow us to use data in a trustworthy way.”

For Danielle Jacobs, CEO, Belgian Association of CIOs and digital technology leaders (Beltug), data is crucial for the business community – and data privacy and security are pressing concerns. Issues include where the data is, who has access to what information, whether data is used for new commercial services or for public good, and who has control over the increasingly large amounts of data stored in the cloud. Trust can be established by ensuring relevant legislation – and regulatory guidelines to implement the legislation clearly and with confidence.

New regulatory challenges

“Where regulators were once seen as market overseers, gatekeepers and arbiters, the ‘new generation’ of regulator are facilitators”, explained Maddens. The ICT sector is fast-moving, calling for equally swift regulatory responses. We have a unique opportunity to rethink and reshape policy principles and regulatory best practices to guide and stimulate post pandemic growth as ICT regulators and policy makers are now the master builders of digital transformation.

Regulators face new challenges in the digital area, explained Cambodia’s Thong. Lack of access to affordable broadband and digital literacy can be addressed through implementation of universal service funds and facilitating infrastructure sharing. Traditional competition frameworks, however, are no longer effective where digital providers are often large, international companies working across borders. National regulators, especially those in smaller states, cannot impose effective measures alone.

Further challenges include consumer issues from personal data, and the convergence of sectors in the digital economy, so that tech sector experts are confronted with the need to understand new industries before they can regulate them.

Nicolás Silva Cortés, Commissioner, Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC), Colombia, agreed that the historical role of regulating investment, quality of service, consumer protection and market competition must now be extended to incorporate new, innovative topics driving industry growth.

“We believe it is important to design regulatory strategies as a real tool for innovation to close the connectivity gap and build a comprehensive digital society,” he said. Regulators should promote innovation in the market as the industry continues to evolve, adopting new tools to facilitate the relationship between operators, users and government. “We as regulators must promote actions to simplify regulatory frameworks and make it easier for all different agents,” he continued, especially in the face of new challenges such as data protection and digital identity.

Imedadze highlighted how the pandemic has shown the need to address the digital skills gap across the sector to enable national economic development. It is important to create a transparent, equitable regulatory framework with harmonized legislation that is understandable and attractive for investors; to empower SMEs through formal and legal instruments as the engine of economic growth and provide them with knowledge on how to engage in the economy; and to increase digital literacy for different age groups to bring a better understanding and ability to benefit economically from broadband and digital infrastructure, she explained.

These regulatory initiatives will support overall growth from all stakeholders at local, regional and national levels, enabling the state to be better equipped with digital skills for the future. A new model of regulator, acting as enabler or facilitator and incentivizing capacity building and education throughout the sector, is important, she added.

De Regt echoed the need to harmonize regulatory frameworks, explaining that in Europe “we are moving away from the clear-cut concept of regulation based on competition law” towards a regulatory toolbox with softer pieces of legislation including recommendations and best practices. This will enable policy makers to focus on geopolitical elements and societal needs to meet the goals of full connectivity, sustainability and cyber security.  There is also a strong emphasis on digital skills and ethical values, whilst reaping the fruits of the data economy. It is both interesting and challenging to see these elements coming together in the digital future.

Calabrese reminded panellists that, contrary to an oft-repeated maxim, data is not like oil. It is a resource which can be used and reused, a powerful renewable resource. Harmonization of data regulation is a challenge, building different privacy laws in different parts of the world to reflect different cultural definitions of privacy.  It is important to support harmonized legal regimes, grant customers control over their own data and demonstrate trustworthiness with regulatory tools and supporting legislation.  He added: “If people really believe their data is well protected, we will create an environment and ecosystem where data can be used for the benefit of all of society.”

Jacobs urged regulators to consider business and professional users as well as individual consumers. The biggest barriers businesses face in implementing digital strategies include cybersecurity, harmonizing cross border regulations to address cross border data flow, and regulating cloud providers so that businesses have a choice and are not locked into a given solution, software or company. “Regulators and policy makers are more important than ever, and are now seen as fostering faster innovation,” as with workable regulations, sandboxes, best practices and guidelines, digital innovation can take off, she said.

Amir Algibreen, VP Regulatory Affairs, STC, Saudi Arabia, pointed out that challenges also differ between countries and regions depending on the extent of digital development. Some regions may be moving customers and industry from 3G to 4G; in other countries, the key issue will be controlling data monetization and the cross-border supply of data. Current regulatory regimes may no longer be adequate when traditional service providers are competing with virtual operators or virtual service providers who do not need to comply with the same rules in areas such as quality of service, spectrum licencing, local intercept laws and taxation. To enable operators to continue to sustain and build up services to meet customer expectations and national requirements, a level playing field must be established between virtual and physical industries in cross-border services.

New regulatory approaches

Highlighting the need for fit-for-purpose, flexible and future-proof regulatory frameworks to respond to the challenges of a digital transformation process catalysed by the COVID crisis, moderator Maddens asked panellists for examples of “5^th generation regulation” – collaborative, partnership-oriented, evidence-based and agile.

Regulatory sandboxes have enormous potential to adapt and promote innovation by developing alternatives to traditional regulatory methods, explained Cortés. In Colombia, the current sandbox initiative focuses on social impact, prioritizing access in areas of low connectivity, as well as promoting competition and the use of new technologies and technological approaches. It includes guidelines and tools to help operators create relevant proposals, and is supported by public universities, drawing on external expertise in innovation processes beyond the normal remit of regulatory bodies. “The results of the sandbox process show that industry actors are really interested in innovation, and provide the regulator with confidence in promoting innovation and supporting telco evolution,” he concluded.

For Imedadze, unprecedented levels of interconnectivity represent opportunities for collaboration, with national regulatory authorities, policy makers, industry and citizens sharing active responsibility for ensuring a safe and secure digital society.

Regulators should act as facilitators in three key areas: providing clear legal frameworks to enable large players and SMEs to enter the digital market; establishing light touch policies for cross border collaboration with other regulators and administrations; and supporting SMEs with innovative models to foster new technologies. Upskilling is critical for regulatory bodies, too, enabling the regulator to understand sector developments, provide a government reference point on digital education and roll out cybersecurity and digital literacy programmes.

Regulators’ decisions impact on industry stakeholders, business and industry consumers and political stakeholders, explained Mote. He cited examples of encouraging stakeholder engagement in regulation in Mozambique, including assertive communication, where new legislation is discussed with all opinion makers, consultations are published and media briefings reach out to the wider public. This may equally involve deregulation, when existing regulation no longer matches market needs, as the sector adapts to the digital economy. Stakeholders also collaborate with other regulators and international organizations across borders to establish best practices.

For Velez, “transformation starts at home,” and governments themselves should digitalise to provide transparent communications and public services for citizens. “The most striking benefits of regulatory bodies transforming is that now public consultations and open dialogue exists between regulators, government, the private sector and industry,” she said. Regulators need to adopt a holistic approach, engaging with all stakeholders, technology providers, tower companies and mobile operators. The government has a key role to play in changing the narrative on health concerns such as fear of radiation by communicating with local communities, as well as developing models for municipalities to enable more efficient infrastructure deployment.

It is very important to strike a balance between the national development agenda and protecting consumer rights, pointed out Algibreen, as well as supporting investors or operators calling for more transparency and a more collaborative approach. Regulators must be assertive in issuing regulation to provide certainty and clarity so that the industry can grow.

Summing up

Regulators can act as facilitators, encouraging participatory regulation and balancing innovation with competition and affordability of services, emphasized de Regt.

“The regulatory sandbox is a testbed for promoting new innovative models that facilitate network deployment and promote access,” stated Cortés, and is particularly efficient when coordinated with public policy and other regulatory tools. Telecom regulators should take digital transformation very seriously and promote strategies to maximize social wellness, encourage investment and competition, “but we are convinced that an innovative regulator drives the sector’s technological development.”

Building digital trust and cooperation between different stakeholders are key for Jacobs, a view shared by her fellow panellists. “It is clear that we are no longer at the very beginning of the digital revolution but we have a tremendous amount of growth and opportunity ahead of us,” concluded Calabrese. “We have to cooperate to make sure we take advantage of these opportunities in a way that is secure and privacy protected.”

“Together, we can build a digital world for the future,” echoed Algibreen.

Industry regulators from across all continents are facing the same challenges – challenges which can only be met by collaborating and working together across sectors and government departments at local, regional and national levels.

Setting the tone for this final ITU Digital World 2021 Ministerial Roundtable, Chaesub Lee, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, called for united efforts to collaborate and cooperate across sectors, nations and regions to advance together on digital transformation for all.

“Digitalizing daily life has become an absolute necessity,” he said. “Our experience of the COVID-19 pandemic is a powerful reminder that digital technology is the unifying force at the centre of our interconnected world.”

Infrastructure challenges

The key lesson learnt from the dramatic uptake of digital services during the pandemic is the need to put more effort into turning digital transformation into a reality, stressed Tsoinyana Rapapa, Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Lesotho.  His government’s priority is to implement policies supporting broadband development for digital transformation– but no longer as independent activities in siloed ministries. Now “governments should strive to centralize information to promote the effective use of ICT to efficiently and effectively deliver services that are transparent and effective”, he said.

Policies include promoting investment in relevant local content, enabling private sector stakeholder participation, and making use of universal service funds to mitigate digital inequality.  Lesotho’s national development strategy includes technology and innovation as one of its four pillars, with an e government project combining digital literacy, cloud computing, mobile broadband and the provision of efficient public services conveniently and affordably. At its core is modern e government infrastructure fostering good governance through different agencies, key applications and an interactive information portal.

Current digital transformation objectives are to improve government digital skills and to overcome the geographic barriers of this “kingdom in the sky” by extending access to reliable digital services and to data and content in rural, remote and underserved areas – driving, in particular, digital finance and financial inclusion.

Promoting digital innovation

With one of the best national 4G internet coverages in the world, the government of Lithuania is well aware of the importance of robust, affordable and wide-reaching infrastructure as the backbone to digitalizing lives, economies and societies. Building on this foundation to develop the digital economy, the country’s three main priorities are the transformation of public information technology governance, open data and the promotion of digital innovation, outlined Agne Vaiciukeviciute, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications.

Digital governance should create a strong digital basis for the public sector, create better conditions for businesses and citizens, improve competitiveness and reduce public spending. Fully consolidating state information sources will enable public services to be managed efficiently and securely, accompanied by strengthening the cybersecurity of national ID systems. Open data will allow the public, science and business communities to access public policy more easily, and public institutions to develop public services and decision making.

Lithuania is committed to supporting and incentivizing SMEs developing products and solutions for AI, blockchain and robotics. “The improvement of the start-up system is a very important part of our digital policy,” she said. “We seek to create new complex measures to promote innovation activities and increase the availability of financing of business investment in technology, innovation and the development of high value added activities.” These measures include the establishment of an information and communication technology competence centre to contribute to the sustainable development of ICT and promote innovation.

The digital paradox

In Indonesia, too, digital technology has formed the backbone of pandemic response and recovery, explained Mira Tayyiba, Secretary General, Ministry of Communciations and Informatics. Government efforts to deliver digital public services have been accelerated, including an integrated COVID-19 app with healthcare updates, digital screening and vaccine information which has reached over 52 million users. “However, we are particularly cautious about the digital paradox,” she warned.  Digital technology creates massive opportunities for everyone, including SMEs, to be involved and benefit from economic activities – but lack of access, affordability or digital skills is widening the digital divide.

Connectivity, capability and capacity must be increased to bridge the gap. Indonesia is focused on providing reliable and affordable access, equipment and knowledge for digital readiness, supported by enabling policies on data governance. Measures include the deployment of 4G base stations in villages, the construction of a high throughput satellite as of 2023 to connect 150 000 public facilities, and a three-pronged digital skills programme ranging from basic digital literacy skills to improving policy maker expertise.

“Digital transformation is a big agenda, calling for a multi stakeholder collaboration, the application of a whole of government approach and private public partnerships at national, regional and global levels,” she concluded. “We must work together to close the digital divide, catalyse digital transformation and improve public policies on digital transformation.”

Transforming the entire model

Digital transformation is the development of thinking and change of societal behaviour to transform government sectors and companies to a business model dependent on digital technologies for projects and services, outlined Salim M. Al-Ozainah, Chairman and CEO, Communication and Information Regulatory Authority (CITRA), Kuwait.  And, transformation is only possible when governments move on from traditional processes and find innovative ways to bring together people, technology and processes. Technology is not about adding capability but about transforming the entire model.

Kuwait is creating a competitive regulatory environment, optimizing the ICT market based on positive competition, and ensuring the provision of advanced services through a fast, secure and reliable communications network. Stimulating investment and creativity amongst business, in particular SMEs, will improve e government services and make them more easily available to individuals. CITRA is working to improve its services for citizens by shifting to digitalization based on cloud services, AI and alternative technologies to reduce cost, increase flexibility and efficiency, and drive economic development. Supporting innovative solutions is critical to continue growing and to be competitive in the digital world.

“Achieving digital transformation is a collective effort” calling for combined policies and strategies from businesses, individuals and government, he concluded.

COVID-19 was a mixed blessing, according to Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General, Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), United Arab Emirates. It brought many sorrows, but at the same time opened our eyes to “the wonderful impact of digital transformation on economic, social and environmental sides.” It is the first pandemic in human history in the era of communications and digital technologies.

The robust digital infrastructure in UAE enabled its citizens to move quickly to a digital life, studying, working, shopping and doing business online. One of the lessons learnt is that “digital lifestyle is no longer the sole responsibility of government.” Now is the time for public private partnerships to promote and provide digital services.

Today, government is a platform, including the whole ecosystem of shared APIs, open standards, reliable data sets and services, with governance processes built on top ensuring safety, accountability and sustainability in all sectors. In the API ecosystem all sectors provide all services. This is the future we must prepare for now by introducing digital skills into the school curriculum and encouraging innovation and creativity.

“It is not possible to think of a digital world when almost half of the world population is offline,” he added. We must address the digital divide at both a local level and in a collaborative global framework.

Sustaining the momentum

Chairman and CEO of Viettel Group, Le Dang Dung, outlined how Viettel cooperated with the government during the pandemic to accelerate digital transformation – and is continuing to do so. Measures included delivering more than 3 000 public services online to ensure business continuity under social distancing conditions and assisting in the provision of telehealth solutions at district level to reduce the burden on the central medical system, increase efficiency at local level and increase timely access to expertise. In online education, Viettel provided platforms, materials and tools for students, schools and teachers across the country. The company also provided additional service capacity, reduced charges and access devices to meet the explosion in demand for online access, including from those who had never used broadband services before, with reduced charges.

Government, businesses and international corporations face three key challenges now: sustaining digital transformation in the post pandemic period, specifying the role of global social platforms as misinformation continues to spread unregulated, and maintaining the trust of people to live and work in the digital environment by ensuring safety, transparency and cybersecurity.  Collective efforts from government, industry and people, sharing lessons learnt and best practices at regional and global levels will promote digital transformation around the world.

Educating the next generation

Digital life and the digitalization of solutions for children have great potential as an equalizer, said Thomas Davin, Director, Office of Innovation, UNICEF. Technology used well can allow children to progress at an unprecedented pace and in countless ways around the world, including through education technology and medical technology. He cited specific examples of using tech to identify and map school structures around the world; identifying bodies of water through AI and machine learning to provide access to safe water and hygiene, or using a chatbot to help children understand non-communicable and communicable diseases.

Digital public goods, in particular open source solutions, are a powerful equalizer. But the basic starting point is providing connectivity and access. In the world of education, this means connecting schools and communities through programmes such as the UNICEF-ITU GIGA initiative, which aims to connect all children around the world to a digital curriculum enabling them to learn at their own pace on an adaptive learning journey.

“Schools are at the heart of communities, so connecting schools means connecting hundreds of millions of people to a new life, a new chance to benefit from connectivity, from this digital world and digital solutions for day to day life,” he pointed out. A child educated to secondary school level can benefit from more work opportunities, care for themselves and for their families in the future – so this is the world we can build together with digital technologies.

Panelists discussed the need for cybersecurity and protection for the vulnerable online, including in social media spaces, which can be a “jungle,” as well as tackling misinformation and fake news with potentially critical consequences at a time of global pandemic.

One goal, one mission

Digital inclusivity must be our central priority, panelists agreed. “We share one goal and one mission: getting everyone connected by 2030,” said Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications, Viet Nam. We can make it happen if we work together across the global ICT community, across governments and the private sector. Digital transformation is a fundamental change: it is not just technological transformation, but mindset transformation, and must be driven by strong and committed leadership at the very top of governments and companies.

Wrapping up the session, ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao echoed the fact that digital transformation was above all a mindset,  but must be accompanied by strengthened investment, alongside a whole-of-government and human-centric approach to ICT development. From digital skills to content, infrastructure sharing, spectrum policies, enabling regulatory environments and a focus on 5G, government must take centre stage in building the digital world.

From cloud storage or crypto services to cybersecurity and fintech applications, the ITU Digital World 2021 Virtual Exhibition demonstrates the types of solutions helping drive digital transformation globally.

Over 120 companies from SMEs to major corporates, from Viet Nam, the ASEAN region and around the world, are showcasing tech innovations, products, services and applications in virtual booths.

Explore Viettel’s digital infrastructure and intelligent health solutions or take a journey through VNPT’s digital services portfolio and learn more about Vietnamese cybersecurity companies including CMC Corp, Adpex and MVS Information Security’s information security solutions. Cybersecurity solutions from other countries including the USA’s Resecurity Inc’s intelligence driven platforms are also on show.

From coffee to K-pop, server components to digital content, discover a host of great new innovations from start-ups and SMEs. Music big data company Hantao showcases a global K-Pop platform incorporating a real-time music chart, AI robot journalism, a fandom platform with blockchain voting technology and more. Chatbot provider Bot Bán Hàng demonstrates its livestream and enterprise chatbot platform. Don’t miss major corporates including Nokia, ZTE, and Samsung, showcasing 5G solutions, high-speed fibre networks, IP network processors, devices and more.

The ITU Digital World 2021 Virtual Exhibition is open until 12 November, so don’t miss the chance to discover it for yourself  at https://digitalworld2021.vn/

 

In the first Ministerial Roundtable addressing the role of government services and content in driving digital transformation, moderated with refreshing energy by ITU’s Nur Sulyna Abdullah, discussions focused on maintaining the momentum of digital adoption in the post COVID-19 era, the importance of national strategies uniting all areas of government – and the urgent need to extend access, skills and services to close the digital divide.

“Digital transformation is a journey that all countries are embarking on,” said ITU’s Abdullah. Even before the pandemic, governments, businesses and individuals were already embracing digital platforms, products and services. The catalyzing impact of COVID-19 has driven unprecedented numbers online for work, study, entertainment, communication, healthcare and other services.

But this is not the case for everyone, everywhere. Marginalized groups in particular run the risk of being left behind. “Many of the structural inequalities and underlying disparities between developed and developing nation have been thrown into sharp relief by the pandemic, “ she pointed out, reminding panelists that “we have a collective responsibility to make sure that it is an inclusive digital world, one where the enormous opportunities and benefits of digital transformation are available to all.”

That responsibility is driven, inspired or guided by government. “I believe that governments have a major role to play not only in harnessing digital services but also in driving their demand,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. Working with the industry and other stakeholders, governments must develop new ways to engage with the public, provide impactful citizen-centric solutions and ensure that access and opportunity are available to all. “Never before have ICTs had such an important place in people’s lives,” he reminded participants.

Reinventing government: digital transformation

Highlighting how his job function alone is recognition of his government’s new approach to digital transformation, Iurie Turcanu, the first-ever Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization, Moldova, recognised the importance of digitalization in staying competitive as a nation and retaining citizens otherwise forced to seek work abroad.

Following the experiences of the past two years, Moldova is reinventing public services from the ground up, rethinking them completely from a citizen perspective to be adaptive and user friendly.  This is very important to connect the many Moldovans living abroad who may otherwise find themselves isolated from families, people and the state.

“Public services have to be digital first,” he said. The government is also re-examining the role of SMEs, simplifying their interaction with state to drive economic growth; and introducing e democracy tools and principles to allow people to participate in the daily process of government decisions through an open transparent platform, open data and APIs. No one should be isolated from this process, so digital awareness and digital literacy are key priorities.

Young people are encouraged to work with the elderly to explain how to use digital service and access government and private sector content. “We are witnessing a great connection between generations,” he said, as part of a successful process of digital consciousness and transformation.

Whereas in the past, the development potential of a country or economy was determined by geographic position and natural resources, it is human potential, human skills and the ability to take advantage of a networked world that now drive success, said Vojin Mitrovic, Minister of Communications and Transport, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The difficult experience of COVID-19 has led to a better understanding of the significance and impact of digitalization on the transformation of societies throughout the world, he added.  “Digitalization is a paradigm shift in modern society,” and ultra-fast broadband, in addition to strong state support, regional cooperation and collaboration between all public and private stakeholders, is crucial to its delivery. Government must develop digital services, knowledge and skills to enable all citizens to contribute to a single digital society, integrating regional activities and trends.

“There is a long way ahead for the development of a global digital society, so it is good to encourage dialogue and concrete cooperation to use the full potential of digital technologies for the benefit of all citizens,” he concluded.

The digitalization of government services paves the way to making those services more efficient and convenient, highlighted Eisa Zarepour, Minister, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Iran. But what is called for is more than just smart services, ICTs should be used to reform public processes and institutions to provide agile, transparent, accountable and responsible government.

In Iran, this includes the use of open data and APIs to foster local innovation; utilizing AI for online authentication of government service users; connecting national government services to a central information exchange; and using new technologies such as 5G, AI, big data and IoT for smart government and greater wellbeing and convenience throughout society.

“Although COVID-19 had a great negative effect on humanity, we used the need to develop online services during the pandemic as an opportunity to expand and improve our e government services,” he said.

Currently more than 300 government agencies are connected to the national data exchange platform, sharing more than 500 types of public services and processing more than 2 billion government transactions to date, he pointed out. In addition, online education serving 15 million students and general healthcare services are provided via high-quality reliable connectivity throughout the country, including to 80% of rural areas.

Pre-pandemic digital strategies paid off

Rwanda also witnessed a dramatic uptake in digital services and content shaped by the global pandemic, stressed Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation, building on the government’s commitment to digital technology and ICT innovation as key drivers of growth. Over the past twenty years, Rwanda has steadily rolled out its fibre optic backbone network to provide last mile connectivity solutions and services to private sector offices, hospitals, schools and homes.

Digital education is growing more and more as students turn to online platforms to complement classroom meetings. The use of cashless or digital payment services exploded during the pandemic, growing tenfold within a year. “These are gains which we as policy makers would like to sustain post-pandemic,” she said, focusing on the need to maintain the uptake of digital services and content rather than returning to traditional ways of doing business.

Given their importance in the economy as a whole, the ongoing digitalization of SMEs is a priority in the private sector. In terms of digital government services, “the digitization process allowed us to streamline service delivery”, she explained, making citizen access to important documentation such as birth certificates simpler, more cost effective and efficient. The next step is to further improve- or even remove- some of the processes themselves in the digital environment –the need for birth certificates as identification, for example.

Despite these endeavours, the digital divide remains a challenge, reaching the unconnected, enabling those without the skills to benefit from connectivity, or those unable to afford the relatively high cost of broadband services and devices. Building on the lessons learnt and gains in adoption precipitated by the pandemic, the government of Rwanda aims to consolidate investment, open up data for SMEs to build relevant and targeted solutions, continuously improve the regulatory environment and ensure a conducive operating environment for entrepreneurs and the private sector in general to innovate agilely and with effect.

In addition to regulatory frameworks and funding, human resources are also important to bridge the divide, she added. To increase digital skills uptake, Rwanda has a programme of digital ambassadors training citizens in different communities in addition to government efforts to mainstream digital literacy programmes at every educational level. “Mobilizing awareness is a critical role of government. Digital transformation is a paradigm shift and we need an unprecedented level of coordination for no one to be left behind,” she concluded.

“The strengthening of digital society has helped us throughout the pandemic, and the strategy of our government from a few years ago has borne fruit in these difficult years,” explained Janusz Cieszyński, Secretary of State, Government Plenipotentiary for Cybersecurity, Poland. Having invested heavily in e-services and infrastructure, Poland has worked with EU funding and the cooperation of the private sector to provide broadband internet access throughout the country, connecting households and schools ahead of the 2030 European Digital Compass  targets.

Launching one popular government service drives the adoption of other services, he said, pointing to the successful uptake of the national cloud-based vaccine campaign that has led to progress in e healthcare solutions in general. “The pandemic is a sandbox for all sorts of e health solutions,” and the government now hopes to build on its experience to deliver e health care solutions as an important part of the Polish economy as well as a future export product.

“Digitalization is the key to developing our country, in the heart of all government strategies,” he summed up. The three key pillars of digital strategy are providing excellent e services, broadband internet for all and guaranteeing security of all solutions. “There is no future with the digital component.”

Holistic, whole of government approach

For Oshada Senanayake, Director General of Telecommunications Regulatory Commission & Chairman /ICT Agency, Sri Lanka, a whole of government, holistic approach is essential for digital transformation. He outlined his government’s vision of a digital, inclusive Sri Lanka driven by a smart society and future economy, built on institutional governance and committed leadership from the very top.

The key regulatory mandate, he explained, is to address digital infrastructure deployment, based on a national universal service fund programme and tower infrastructure sharing to accelerate and catalyse rural broadband infrastructure roll out and address the digital divide. He emphasized the importance of having initiated this programme before the outbreak of COVID-19, enabling the country to better face and adapt to the challenges of the pandemic. Sri Lanka aims to have covered all 25 districts across the island, providing 100% broadband connectivity, by 2023.

Yet, connectivity alone is never enough, and despite the “tremendous adoption” of digital services in deep rural areas within weeks of providing access, digital literacy, digital skills and relevant content are critical pieces of the digital transformation picture.  Alignment between industry players and the regulator has enabled free broadband access to all government school learning systems and university platforms – an emergency response to the COVID-19 crisis which has now been made permanent.

The digital transformation of government services depends on a sector based approach, where technology and health experts, or technology and education authorities, work hand in hand rather than in silos. “Government has a huge role to play in unifying efforts for digital transformation,” he said. “A whole of government approach is imperative to transform public services and provide much needed citizens services online.”

Cybersecurity and industry regulation have been brought under one authority in Sri Lanka as part of efforts to adapt legislation to the digital environment. This includes private protection acts for data, developed with global partners, and a cybersecurity bill. Governance, data and privacy are important parts of the holistic approach to digital transformation.

Sustaining digital healthcare services

COVID-19 was a wake-up call to all countries and health systems, explained Ann Aerts, Head, Novartis Foundation. Developed and developing economies alike were completely unprepared to address the needs of the pandemic on top of existing issues of increasing inequities in global development, aging populations, the rising tide of chronic diseases and the burden of infectious diseases.

But COVID-19 provided an opportunity. “The rapid update of healthcare gained ten years in a few months,” she said, stressing the need for the unprecedented collaboration between sectors and disciplines that arose under such exceptional circumstances to be maintained once the crisis has passed. “This is what it will take to really change the health care system and reimagine it from reactive to proactive and even predictive, to keep populations healthy.”

She called upon governments to consider digital technologies as a chance to deliver healthcare services in a new way, as part of a holistic approach to digitalizing lives. Visionary leadership and committed, sustained funding are need to transform and digitalize health services, drawing on the resources of the entire government ecosystem to deploy infrastructure, data, advanced technologies such as AI and 5G as well as, critically, a digitally skilled workforce and target population.

Regulatory and governance systems must adapt to keep people safe whilst keeping up with innovation, she added. Health service innovations should be driven by the needs of specific countries and populations, human centric and integrated into existing systems, even if disruptive. Echoing her fellow panelists, Aerts called for intersectoral collaboration between public and private sectors, and also between government departments such as health and economy ministries. Health is the basis of all economies, and during the pandemic, “access to digital services could be a question of life and death, not a luxury. We have to transform health systems to be ready to deliver in the digital era” – addressing the healthcare divide as well as the digital divide.

Mobile and SMEs first

It is important for governments to actively explore and support technology policy options to mitigate the risk of digital divide and pursue initiatives to bring more and more of the urban as well as rural poor into this digital world,” said Erik Ekudden, CTO, Ericsson. Broadband network connectivity is critical to provide essential services such as healthcare and education, and keep commerce going. High performance mobile broadband like 4G and 5G, anchored in global standards, is best suited to achieve universal connectivity given the predominance of mobile access, the economies of scale it produces, its complementarity with FWA and relatively low carbon footprint.

But investing in infrastructure is not enough, as despite ongoing efforts aiming to cover 90% of the global population with 4G networks by 2025, a large usage gap remains.  Governments must work to overcome the socio-economic barriers to internet adoption through government initiatives on awareness and the provision of relevant service and content in local languages in critical areas such as health, education and community centres.

He urged governments to adopt a mobile first mentality, to attract global capital for national investment and create new regulatory and policy environments supporting network build out. These should include spectrum policies providing regulatory certainty, low spectrum fees, technology neutral spectrum licencing to use market forces to provide scale, and voluntary spectrum trading to open up underserved areas and combine with state utility infrastructure to accelerate broadband adoption. “This journey to a more permanent physical-digital hybrid world that we foresee needs to be more inclusive, and we need to work cross sectorally to speed up across the world,” he added.

For Anders Aeroe, Director, Division of Enterprises and Institutions, ITC, the move to a new digital normal has happened at impressive speed, spurred on by the need to ensure business continuity and education, in particular, under pandemic conditions. But not everyone is included in digital transformation and the lack of affordable reliable connectivity is the main roadblock.

Connecting the unconnected calls for more investment in infrastructure; a reduction in the costs of internet data especially in developing markets, where lack of competition, market size and limitations has led to high rates;  and improving the use and relevant connectivity by building digital skills and connecting SMEs to digital markets.

“If SMEs are not connected to digital solutions, the benefits of these technologies will not be shared broadly across companies,” he said. To be competitive in the new digital reality, SMEs need a strong supportive ecosystem and related conducive policies supporting access to connectivity and solutions.

Multi-lateral actions are also essential as national governments alone cannot fully address the complex cross border features of the digital landscape. “The power of digital technology can only reach its full potential if no one is left behind. Affordable and reliable connectivity is therefore everyone’s business.”

Summing up

The main challenges to the uptake of digital services in the post-pandemic world, panelists agreed, are developing infrastructure both nationally and regionally, putting in place government structures and legislation to enable digital transformation, improving affordability and increasing digital skills at all levels.

It is important to have experts in the field serving digital transformation, especially at the start of the process, noted the Bosnian minister.

The diversity of needs and varying pace of digital evolution in different geographies, societies and groups of people must also be addressed, added Moldova’s Turcanu .

Building on the explosion in digital awareness brought about by the pandemic also presents tremendous opportunities: to rethink the relationship between the state and technology, resetting public administration; to drive a high growth economy, built overwhelmingly around SMEs; and to sustain and extend the rapid adoption citizen-centric solutions in e government, e health and e education services in particular.

The principle challenge is to bridge the digital divide to enable equitable and inclusive digital transformation. “Digital is not an option or a luxury,” Moderator Abdullah reminded the panelists. It is a necessity, and one that can only be achieved for all the world’s citizens if all stakeholders join together in cooperation and collaboration – after all, “there is no going back on the digital road,” and no one must be left behind.

 

National Pavilions on show at ITU Digital World 2021

 National pavilions at the ITU Digital World 2021 Virtual Exhibition highlight the technologies and strategies powering the digital economies and driving digital transformation in Viet Nam, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Laos, through dynamic 3D multimedia experiences.

Focussing on resilient digital Viet Nam, the impressive Viet Nam pavilion highlights the national digital strategy driving their 2030 vision and the key missions to achieve this, the development of “Make in Viet Nam” digital products and platforms and the technologies and platforms shaping digital Viet Nam, during and post-pandemic.

In a striking 3D booth, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia showcases their Vision 2030, with focus on areas such as AI, Fintech, IoT, cloud services, robotics and 5G. Visitors can also find out key information on this dynamic ICT market environment, high-speed networks, 5G coverage and growth opportunities.

Visitors to Switzerland are invited to explore a country where “manufacturing meets high-tech,” and “tradition meets precision,” with tech innovations on show from startups and SMEs including blockchain, digital health, AI, data safety, robotics, cryptovalley, manufacturing, sensorydevices, IoT,  LPWA (low-power wide area technology) and digital finance. Former ITU Telecom World Award winner Immersion4 features their data storage, computing power, accessibility and connectivity solutions that contribute to local economies and the communities.

The Japan National Pavilion showcases a raft of innovation and applications including  AI software that improves the efficiency of electronic medical record-related work, multilingual chat software, apps with focus on “Meditation” and “sleep”, secure computing engine, and ICT research and development by National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)

Visitors to the Laos pavilion can explore innovative digital solutions such as the G-Share system, a centralized file storage system based on cloud storage, which enables government departments to streamline and move to a modern, centralized, sustainable, and international security storage centre.

What is digital transformation? asked ITU’s Mario Maniewicz, Director, Radiocommunication Bureau, in opening this session on how governments can boost digital infrastructure.  Some say it is a cultural change, others the fourth industrial revolution or the digitalization of products and services. It increases productivity and efficiency, automates operations and processes and makes businesses and governments more efficiently organized, he explained. Whatever concepts we adopt, the primary building blocks remain the same: data, connectivity and digital infrastructure.

Broadband is the “live wire of advanced economies today,” said Minette Libom li likeng, Minister, Ministère des Postes et Télécommunications, Cameroon. Although wireless technology has boosted connectivity in Africa, fixed broadband penetration rates still remain low, and innovative new business models, incorporating a mix of technologies, are needed to drive down access costs and boost uptake, she explained. Strong actions and leadership are needed by governments, who must create a favourable climate, enhance digital confidence and master cybersecurity tools. The economy needs digital technologies to innovate, she added. Policy and regulatory frameworks must integrate new business models, address external issues such as market barriers, and help promote awareness, digital skills and affordable service universally. Governments must invest in providing access to areas not “viable to private investors,” and forge public private partnerships including frameworks to target specific sectors of the population such as women or youth. “We must ensure the promise of digital transformation leaves no one behind,” she urged.

Whole-of- government, human-centric approach

Moving toward a digital government has necessitated a rethink, according to Vianna Maino, Minister, Ministra de Telecomunicaciones y de la Sociedad de la Información, Ecuador, in order to build trust among populations. “Moving to a digital government can help public institutions put themselves in the mindset of citizens,” she explained. In Ecuador, this has also meant working across government, linking trade and national development plans to harmonize long term goals, cross cutting the 2030 SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) agenda, with an emphasis on the UN SDG 9, Industry. Infrastructure development is an essential component in digital transformation, and new business models involving investment in,and shared use of towers, for example, have boosted this, particularly at a time when wireless broadband use increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In e-government terms, digital transformation will enable all citizens to have equal access to public services through the Internet, simplifying administrative processes- but must be accompanied by the right training and skills development. All of this is framed within the national development plan. Digital transformation must be promoted across the ecosystem, from governments, the private sector and other organizations, she explained. Crucially, citizens must also be brought into the policy making process, so that public institutions are able to understand and adapt to “the growing aspirations of society.”

Petr Ocko, Deputy Minister for Digitalization at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Czech Republic, also echoed the need to bring all stakeholders into the debate. A functional, reliable and fast digital infrastructure helps citizens and companies in all aspects of their life and must be high priority, he explained. A “human-centric approach” is needed to communicate the benefits, particularly of new technologies such as AI or 5G. He highlighted a number of key policy areas which would underpin the new 5G ecosystem, build resilience and strengthen coverage, including encouraging opening of standards platforms, diversifying of business models, and synergy with verticals including health and security to realise a new 5G vision.

The role of government is changing, and it should “cooperate with the whole of society to get the best possible results,” he added.

In Jordan, the government has also used a multi-stakeholder approach to formulate their roadmap for digital transformation, explained Ahmad Al Hanandeh, Minister, Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship. As a nation with many young skilled users, the government has been working to build resilient digital services, with technologies such as IoT or blockchain high on the transformational agenda. Jordan’s national digital strategy has moved away from seeing ICT as a unique sector to work instead together, cross-sectorally. To address challenges to connectivity, the government has worked together with operators, cooperating over areas such as tax, high electricity prices or the need to make 4G and 5G spectrum available, as well as encouraging entrepreneurship. Without doubt, the pandemic has accelerated the pace of transformation and now, in response, “The disruption from the pandemic must be managed by disruption in the ecosystem,” he explained.

In the Syrian Arab Republic, different roles within the digital transformation strategy are divided between different ministries to ensure success, with the whole of government participating, explained Iyad Al Khatib, Minister, Ministry of Communications and Technology. This strategy comprises a number of different programmes, projects and indicators- with broadband as its backbone, via fixed and mobile networks- in conjunction with the private sector. The role of government in supporting and incentivising digital transformation is essential, and cooperation between government and private sectors is very important, especially within developing countries.

The digital future we had begun planning for pre-pandemic is here, now, according to Hassel Larry Bacchus, Minister, Ministry of Digital Transformation, Trinidad and Tobago, it has arrived in haste and will not be for the short term. This has necessitated a swift transition to a world where e-commerce, remote working and education are now the norm. Broadband infrastructure is critical, especially for developing countries, in powering this world.

The role of government is to facilitate an enabling environment through policy and legislation, a role which continues to change. Governments must work together with key players, mitigating threats, incentivising collaboration and helping lessen restrictions on regulation to bring about meaningful change. Infrastructure must also be viewed from the perspective of the customer. Defining who does and does not have access is critical at national level, he explained, but we need to “understand the divides so we can provide the right access.” It is not just about creating access, but creating a digitally literate society which can use and benefit from the access, he explained.

Pillars driving transformation

Oman’s vision 2040, which focuses on different pillars including creative users, a competitive economy and a sustainable environment, backed by the responsible government agencies, is part of a push to substitute oil and gas dependency with a knowledge-based economy, explained Ali Bin Amur Bin Ali Al Shidhani, Undersecretary for Communications & Information Technology, Ministry of Transport, Communications & Information Technology, Oman. This has included a focus on infrastructure development including fibre optics and satellite, which has increased mobile penetration to 111% in the first quarter of 2021, as well as helping boost rural connectivity. Now looking to 5G, the country has showcased smart 5G-enabled services in its port operations. Digital skills, training and a number of services to digitalize government, including the establishment of a government data centre and intranet, as set down in the E-Oman strategy, are also part of the Omani government’s efforts to drive digital transformation and transform the country to a thriving digital economy.

Brazil’s upcoming 5G spectrum auction is set to attract new players, with four different harmonized bands and competitive bidding in national and regional blocs, including for new, enhanced services such as IoT, industry 4.0 or smart cities. The focus will be on coverage, according to Artur Coimbra, Secretary of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Brazil, with opportunity to extend at least 4G services to those not already connected, expanding mobile services. Along with 5G, expansion is also planned in fibre connectivity and submarine cables. To achieve these goals “digital connectivity is a key enabler,” he explained.

Along with increasing broadband connectivity, the government aims to provide an enabling environment which encourages investment, with legislation on areas such as use of rights of way and antenna sites, as well as tax reductions on services such IoT, VSAT (very small aperture terminal) and m2m to help enhance this environment.

Supporting digital transformation in Africa

As elsewhere, Africa has also seen an acceleration in its digital agenda, in part fuelled by the pandemic, according to Lacina Koné, Director General, Smart Africa, Rwanda. Yet, this digital transformation agenda will not be completed until the levels of connectivity in urban areas are found in rural areas, where penetration rates are much lower. The connectivity “rules” that apply in urban areas cannot be applied rurally, owing to a number of factors including income, distance, lack of resources and support infrastructure, all exacerbated by COVID-19. Addressing this imbalance- according to Broadband Commission recommendations, to which Smart Africa contributed- should comprise measures such as broadening the base of contributions to infrastructure funding; earmarking ICT sector proceeds to support broadband initiatives; reforming the universal service fund with a focus on new infrastructure deployment; and the establishment of an international fund to support rollout, in coordination with the UN and financial institutions.

Industry perspectives

Providing a view from event co-host, Viet Nam, Huynh Quang Liem, President & CEO, VNPT, outlined the country’s progress in digital transformation. VNPT- with the support of government guidelines- has helped more villages get connected, reaching nearly 300 by the end of 2021, with more planned in 2022. 5G, he noted “is a gamechanger,” and here the company is carrying out trials, with the support of MIC, in many areas from spectrum licensing and network sharing to help to boost 5G, especially during the initial phases when 5G capex is concern and ARPU (average revenue per user) may be low. For VNPT “the role of the government is supporting Viet Man with its digital roadmap,” he explained.

For Melissa Schoeb, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Nokia, bridging the digital divide needs cooperation. It should address key priorities including high quality infrastructure, which can also enable new 5G opportunities such as e-agriculture or remote schooling, and understanding and addressing the limits and challenges to user adoption. The “usage gap” includes factors such as affordability or lack of skills, age or gender dimensions which could hamper use of digital technologies even where connectivity is available. Nokia has a number of global initiatives to tackle these priorities, from helping female hires and STEM education in Saudi Arabia to providing on the job AI-based training in South Africa.

As well as supporting with policies, governments must address demand side obstacles. If industry and government cooperate fully “we could reach far more people and continue to advance society as a whole,” she concluded.

Moderator Maniewicz wrapped up the session by highlighting key elements from the discussions, including how all stakeholders can contribute to the creation of an enabling environment and how a mix of technologies can help drive down costs of connectivity. Digital transformation is often led by telecoms ministries, he reminded panellists, but national development plans should leverage synergies with different sectors. We need to address the digital divide and take human centric approaches. “The promise of digital transformation should leave no one behind,” he concluded.

Opening the first of two ministerial sessions focused on the need to drive investment in digital infrastructure and the role that governments can play in stimulating investment to accelerate digital transformation, moderator Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, reminded participants that, “This event comes at a time when digital networks and services have never been so vital to our welfare and the well-being of individuals, communities and nations.”

Digital is the new normal. The proliferation of digital platforms and services, and our reliance upon them, will only intensify in the years ahead. Universal connectivity must be every nation’s new development benchmark. Yet upgrading aging networks and rolling out new infrastructure will require a huge level of investment, at a time when the fallout from the pandemic is already placing enormous pressure on the public purse.

“The cost of connecting the unconnected by 2030 on the infrastructure side alone will be around USD 428 billion,” she said. “This is a burden that cannot be borne by governments alone or operators alone: we need broad collaboration between industry, governments, banks, development financing institutions, and international organizations.”

She called on panellists to share their experiences and ideas in funding infrastructure, from innovative blended financing models to harmonized technology neutral regulation, and in the digital transformation of government itself.

Favourable investment climates

Digital technology will be key to the implementation of Bangladesh’s move to the 4th industrial revolution and 5G will provide the backbone, explained Mustafa Jabbar, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Bangladesh. Having the infrastructure in place to support this effort is vital, and to achieve this, government and private sectors must all cooperate, each playing their own important role.

For Jabbar, the private sector, and the population themselves are “one of the keys” for the development of infrastructure and digitalisation. The role of government is also vital “for creating laws and guidelines, and preparing the environment for the development not only of the infrastructure, but also of the technologies,” he explained. The whole of government needs to understand the importance of the 4th industrial revolution and technologies such as 5G.

Creating the right environment for investment is also a priority. If “a favourable investment climate is not created, it is not possible for the private sector to create the environment of the future,” he added. Bangladesh has taken many steps to digitalize, as during the pandemic so much in terms of business, education, ecommerce and private lives moved online. The country will launch 5G this year, with plans to expand in 2022 and focus on industrial bands and coverage in cities. The minister thanked ITU for helping his country understand the importance of 5G technology and stated: “I declare Bangladesh to be Digital Bangladesh.”

National broadband policies

Telecommunications were first included in Bhutan’s modern economic development plan in 1963, with major subsequent milestones including the launch of mobile services in 2003 and market liberalization, which helped increase services and decrease tariffs, explained Karma Donnen Wangdi, Minister of Information and Communications, Bhutan. The government is now deploying a multi-pronged initiative focusing on national broadband policy, national fibre optic infrastructure leased to operators at no cost, the establishment of universal service, government networks, encouraging multistakeholder engagement and an exemption of sales tax on ICT equipment and machinery to boost connectivity.

A new information and media regulatory body was deployed in 2007.  Nevertheless, challenges to connectivity still remain, including deploying fixed broadband in rural areas, and the country is exploring the use of satellite connectivity. Echoing the view of other ministers, he spoke of how the pandemic had spotlighted the importance of connectivity to keep business and society running: “Connectivity is the foundational element of the SDGs and we will emerge stronger from the pandemic.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, explained Roberto Sanchez, Secretario de Estado de Telecomunicaciones e Infraestructuras Digitales, Spain, “Digital technologies were the only way for working, studying and keeping relationships going.” Yet, not everyone had equal access, so the challenge was to accelerate development. Spain now stands fifth in European broadband development terms, with 90% access to 30Mbps, and 5G deployed in major cities. Going forward, the long term strategy – which targets full broadband connectivity by 2025 -will be technology neutral, with a focus on infrastructure sharing, digital skills, e-government, digital rights and, crucially, a “human centric strategy, putting the person in the core of the digital transformation.”

The pandemic enabled the government of Mongolia to re-evaluate, assess its infrastructure and rethink the role of government, according to Bolor-Erdene Battsengel, Chairwoman, Communications and Information Technology Authority, Mongolia.

The resultant e-Mongolia platform was launched with the aim of digitalizing services, and integrating key government services such as ordering passports or registering a company. It also includes “2.0” – an AI-based platform enabling the government to offer citizens personalized and customer services based on what they need. Mongolia hopes to work with ITU member countries and international organizations to ensure inclusiveness and share the experience

5G and beyond

Thailand gives high priority to developing its infrastructure including broadband, submarine and 5G. Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Thailand, outlined a number of actions to support this, which have helped Thailand increase internet penetration to over 70%. These include the “village internet,” a flagship digital infrastructure project, plus an open access infrastructure sharing model, allowing any telecom operators to offer last mile services at affordable prices and reducing redundant infrastructure.

5G will be a priority- a “key driver to the information society” going forward, with the country looking to boost the application of 5G technology for industry and other sectors. The correct regulatory environment will be essential, with focus on digital laws in areas such as cybersecurity. He stressed the need for multilateral cooperation in digital development, especially in developing countries, telling panellists. “Thailand has a strong determination to encourage cooperation among ITU Members.”

Digital technology is as “indispensable as social infrastructure in the new era, ” Yuji Sasaki, Vice Minister for Policy Coordination International Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan, told panelists, so it is critical it is used safely, securely and reliably to ensure no one is left behind.

Japan’s digitalization strategies set targets for infrastructure development, including the promotion of optical networks for 4G and 5G, coverage of underdeveloped and remote areas, and a focus on digital skills and literacy, helped by digital support staff. Going forward, new optical fibre and terrestrial networks are planned, as well as new strategies exploring technologies such as HAPS (high-altitude platform systems) or OpenRAN. The government is building research and testbeds into technologies beyond 5G, he explained, including the establishment of international standards, where ITU has a major role to play. He also extended an offer to panelists to provide help in introducing new technologies.

The leading role of government

For Phan Tam, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications for event co-host Viet Nam, COVID-19 has hastened the process of digital transformation. The theme of the event, “Building the digital world. Together,” is very relevant and “establishes a new mission for ITU and the global ICT community,” he explained.

Whereas the focus previously was on connecting people, it has now moved to enabling access anytime from anywhere to anyone, including machine to machine, with innovations such as cloud, IoT, AI or 5G offering huge transformative potential to the ecosystem. Keen attention must also be paid to the development of digital platforms, such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Airbnb, he continued. Digital infrastructure and platforms are the foundation of the digital world.

Access must be meaningful and go “hand in hand with the devices skills for all.” Viet Nam’s digital transformation programme addresses these issues through measures such as providing smartphones to all citizens and online courses for digital literacy, with a focus on re-skilling and upskilling.

Governments need to play a leading role, promoting transformation in all economic and social activities, including education and healthcare. Viet Nam has recently issued a new e-government strategy, which will be followed by a strategy for digital economy, society and infrastructure by the end of the year.  Viet Nam supports ITU, is willing to share its digital experiences and will continue to support ITU for a safe digital world. “May collaboration between ITU members grow ever closer and more effective, he concluded.

The role of the mobile industry

Bringing a vendor perspective to the roundtable, Ziyang Xu, Chief Executive Officer, ZTE Corporation, explained that the pandemic had generated huge opportunity. “ICT services have become a key part of the infrastructure, like water or electricity,” he explained. Key elements underpinning the digital transformation will be a “reliable and future proof supply chain,” the need to address the current imbalance in broadband rollout and, crucially, the need to work closely and transparently with regional and international organizations, accelerating the whole world forward.

Mobile operators played a key role in the pandemic response by providing essential connectivity, and now practical ways are needed to “deliver a robust and resilient infrastructure,” according to John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer, GSMA. This must be open to all- including the many unconnected who live in areas which have coverage but do not use it. This “usage gap” is down to lack of skills, literacy and affordability.

Although the coverage gap has lessened- from 1.8billion to 450million over the last six years, new business models are still needed to reach the unreached. Private sector investment must be supported by policy from governments. He encouraged governments to “ensure that their policies are aligned to their future digital ambitions. Together we can unlock the full power of connectivity so industry and society can thrive.”

For Yuhong Huang, Secretary-General, GTI & Deputy General Manager, China Mobile Research Institute, China GTI, the mobile industry has a key role to play in digital transformation, but challenges such as high spectrum cost, high investment cost in 5G deployment, speed of development across different countries and difference in sites across rural and urban areas still remain.

Clear policy is needed to address these. In China, for example, the government supports spectrum policy through measures such as spectrum research strategies, a continuous allocation of spectrum to operators, ensuring sufficient spectrum resource for commercial 5G applications and a phased approach, saving cost burden for spectrum fees.

Citing a recent white paper which studied a number of different countries, Huang took the opportunity to share a number of pertinent suggestions for governments to consider for 5G commercial deployment. These included providing more spectrum to operators at reasonable prices – potentially in mid-band – a lowering of taxes to stimulate investment, implementation of holistic policies to encourage innovation and collaboration and encourage investment, and facilitation of e-access and infrastructure in public buildings and streets, such as in bus stops, to lessen the burden of 5G deployment. “We hope to work with all of you for a sustainable 5G,” she concluded.

Summing up

The challenge is the development of human resources and digital skills of the people, highlighted the Bangladesh’s Minister Jabbar. Internet connectivity may be provided across huge areas, but only becomes meaningful when education, businesses and government are digitalized to deliver relevant services at the doorstop. The major challenge is not technology, but equipping people with digital skills.

For Japan, formulating a strategic plan, cooperating with local governments and providing government support through initiatives such as cyber cities or tax breaks are the priorities.

Policy is the most important single issue, agreed ZTE’s Xu. It is the foundation of investment: the right policy will attract investment.

Infrastructure sharing, long-term government strategy, public private partnerships and consensus, and resolving the conflict between national revenues and digital policies in areas such as spectrum are key to accelerating the deployment of digital technologies.

“Digital transformation is important for the whole of society and needs the cooperation of the whole ecosystem. Government plays a key role in setting direction, policy, support and coordination,” said GTI’s Huang.

Moderator Bogdan-Martin highlighted some of the core elements of governments’ roles in digital transformation, from delivering “meaningful” connectivity, to the need to make the digital transformation inclusive, people-centred, focus on digital skills and literacy, involve the “whole of government,” overcoming challenge and helping drive down costs. Cooperation will be key.  “We need to work together, we need to work hand in hand to achieve a shared digital future for all.” She concluded.

 

Opening the first Ministerial Roundtable session at ITU Digital World 2021, moderator and ITU Deputy Secretary-General Malcolm Johnson urged panelists from government and the private sector to explore ways in which digital access can be made more affordable, including government subsidies, incentives, networking sharing, regulatory reform and new spectrum policies.

International standards developed by ITU and other standardization bodies enable manufacturers to develop products in larger volumes and for multiple markets, driving competitiveness, economies of scale and, ultimately, lower costs for consumers, he reminded the panel. Spectrum licencing policies can also contribute to lowering prices to achieve nationwide coverage, in particular in developing markets. Multistakeholder collaboration and cooperation are essential:  “Together we need to redouble our efforts to create a more affordable and accessible ecosystem for the benefit of all.”

Digital transformation is a mindset

Nearly two years after the outbreak of COVID-19, the tremendous challenges created by the pandemic can be turned into an opportunity to foster digital transformation, said Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications, Viet Nam. And developing countries may be at an advantage. “Digital transformation is a fundamental change – developing countries have less to replace, and less to remove, so can move more quickly and make changes faster,” he said, citing as an example the breakout success of mobile banking in Kenya.

“Digital transformation is a mindset, too,” he added, calling for enabling regulatory frameworks and new government approaches such as regulatory sandboxes. The success of digital transformation depends on the CEO of a company, not its technical officers, and on the prime minister of a country, not its ICT minister. This is the main difference between IT obligation and digital transformation.

Digital infrastructure has a key role to play in digital transformation. Vietnam is accelerating 5G coverage, allocating 25% country coverage to each of its four operators to build out 5G infrastructure and share through roaming to cut investment costs. Switching off 2G networks from 2023, and providing government subsidies for 4G handsets to the remaining 2G users, will promote internet access by ensuring all mobile users are internet ready.  Government has a vital role to play in transforming public services in digital services, supporting the digitalization of critical sectors such as healthcare, finance education and transportation, and creating an enabling environment for digital transformation.

Pham Minh Chính, Prime Minister, Viet Nam, echoed the need to change mindsets and working methods in societies and governments to turn the challenge of the health and economic crisis into an opportunity for even more robust growth, powered by the proven superiority of digital technologies. “Digital transformation to build the digital world does not belong to any single country, organization or individual. No country, organization or individual can be exempt from humanity’s digital transformation process,” he said. This is a global matter, calling for a global response and international collaboration. Governments everywhere must set the course and take the lead to effectively implement and leverage the new values of the digital space in all aspects of digital life.

“Digital transformation must revolve around people as the subject and object for development. This process will only truly succeed when every citizen can actively participate in digital transformation and reap its benefits.” Government should steer towards this aim and ensure no one is left behind, whilst working with international organizations such as ITU to ensure cybersecurity and digital sovereignty.

Vietnam’s rapid and sustainable development is based on science, technology and innovation as the guiding principle for economic development strategies and moving towards a green digital society.  International cooperation is important in working for digital economies and societies, in particular in transferring technologies, building capacity and skills, and attracting quality investment.

Invest in industry to connect

Houlin Zhao, Secretary General, ITU, reminded panelists that half the world may already being enjoying the future in the form of digital transformation – “but the true measure of success will be when everyone has access to affordable ICTs and the other half of the world is connected.” Infrastructure supported by appropriate policy frameworks is the key, and this can only come about with investment. Investment means attracting investors to not just wealthy, urban or obvious areas but to those that are not seen as profitable, the rural, remote and impoverished.  The industry is expected to roll out and maintain networks to the underserved on the one hand and invest in future networks to support transformative technologies such as 5G on the other – it cannot do this alone.

The ICT industry needs financial support and innovative approaches from government to incentivise, subsidise and promote investment and partnerships across the digital ecosystem. This includes new, flexible regulatory and policy frameworks that embrace collaborative participation. “Affordable access is everybody’s responsibility,” he said.

Meaningful connectivity and quality of service

Affordable access can accelerate digital transformation, but it is critical that those who are connected have sufficient quality of service to integrate the most powerful features such as online learning, telehealth and video streaming, said Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan. “At the centre of the debate is meaningful connectivity, which is achieved when everyone can use the internet every day using an appropriate device with enough data and fast connection.”

Government can play an active role in supporting backbone infrastructure, in particular where private companies do not have sufficient resources to reach remote areas. Incentivising private investment in digital infrastructure through public private partnerships has enabled Azerbaijan to reach an additional 150 000 households in rural areas over the course of 2021, to complement the 85% of the urban population with broadband access.  Providing access to long term financing at lower interest rates will encourage smaller providers to partner with the government and implement this project in smaller districts, so that by 2024 all the population will have broadband internet access.

Affordability can be increased by encouraging competition between private broadband service providers in the last mile segment, smart regulation focused on affordability and a mix of fixed wireless access models and fixed-mobile infrastructure.

Minister of Post and Telecommunications for Cambodia, Chea Vandeth, spoke of the need to work closely with mobile operators to ensure continuous investment in infrastructure, coverage and low cost connectivity. Cambodia’s priorities include promoting connectivity by extending backbone infrastructure far across the country in cooperation with the private sector; enhancing the efficiency of infrastructure development and quality of service for end users through infrastructure sharing and quality of service standards; and adapting the regulatory framework to enhance digital capability and capacity, digital government, cyber security, spectrum management and allocation. Digital literacy and skills have been promoted through digital training courses for government officials, as well as scholarship programmes “to spur interest in tech subjects among our students” and promote digital transformation.

Local content, digital literacy

Government –subsidized internet access and devices will increase access, but the impact is greatly reduced if this is not complemented by digital literacy initiatives and relevant content to promote the use of digital technology, stated Paola Vega Castillo, Minister of Science, Technology and Telecommunications, Costa Rica.

During the pandemic, the government doubled the benefits offered by connectivity programmes providing internet access to low income populations, including loans and subsidies to students for devices and access plans. Subsidies must be accompanied by digital skills training to support the use of digital technologies in study, work and entrepreneurship, drive social and economic development and reduce poverty, especially in rural areas.  Increased numbers of users – and skilled users – will generate sustained demand for telecom services, creating more attractive and profitable markets for operators in a virtuous circle of investment.

Costa Rica is currently developing a new national broadband plan for the next five years, including local government as an important stakeholder with first-hand information on the priorities and necessities of communities and their economic activities. “We envision public private partnerships with local government and regional operators to speed up the process of infrastructure development and last mile connectivity,” she said, as an important action to ensure meaningful connectivity to the population.

Boviengkham Vongdara, Minister of Technology and Communications, Lao P.D.R, highlighted three main issues in driving digital connectivity: “Pricing and infrastructure, local content and digital skills and awareness.” During the pandemic, the government of Lao worked with operators and service providers to encourage network expansion and internet promotion where possible. Its localization programme aims at creating relevant digital content in local languages to drive adoption, and digital skills training focuses on schools and local authorities in the provinces and rural areas.

“But the digital divide still remains with fast-changing technology. Cutting costs is only part of the solution. The key to digital transformation is collaboration in the ecosystem,” in terms of infrastructure and digital literacy, he concluded.

Spectrum policies and regulation

Affordable access to ICTs is paramount in promoting inclusive economic growth and stimulating the digital economy towards achieving the UN SDGs, said Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications, India. He outlined how India’s 1.2 billion telecom subscribers enjoy some of the cheapest data plans in the world. One of the world’s largest rural optic fibre roll outs connects 600 000 villages in India through a flexible initiative covering every corner the country to spur socio- economic development.

Recent government reforms in the telco sector include increasing spectrum tenure from 20 to 30 years following all future auctions, allowing 100% foreign investment and better meeting the liquidity requirements of telco providers to enable investment in broadband and increase penetration, connectivity, competition and customer choice in marginalized areas. Government support at the highest level is critical for accelerating digital transformation for all.

For Karim Lesina, EVP Chief External Affairs Officer, Millicom, two ideas are central to bridging the digital divide and connecting rural and remote areas: new approaches to spectrum, and modernized regulatory frameworks.

“Let’s think in a bolder way on spectrum, and look at it as part of the strategic approach of every government to allow every telco operator to deploy services at a lower cost as an important part of networks costs in rural areas,” he urged. Operators commit to increasing coverage in remote areas as much as possible in exchange for decreased spectrum costs as part of public private partnerships, he added, citing the successful example of such an agreement in Panama.

New regulatory approaches fit for purpose in the current environment must be developed as soon as possible. We must stop working on the basis of regulations developed twenty or thirty years ago, where the climate and nature of the ICT sector was very different, if we are to rise to the global challenge of connecting everyone in developed and developing economies alike.

Digital transformation has disrupted regulatory structures and traditional frameworks organized on a sectoral basis, agreed Ramiro Camacho, Commissioner, IFT, Mexico. Regulatory authorities are attempting to balance the regulatory burden between traditional telco operators and digital platforms to enable investment in innovation.

The cost of providing coverage to the millions unconnected in Mexico is around 1.5bn USD, with the majority of the underserved in rural or hard to reach areas. “Private investment is the engine behind the growth of digital access, but we need additional funds for distant, remote and rural areas.”

Universal service policies to close the digital divide in Mexico include public private networks to operate and manage wholesale sharing networks; federal government provision of community telecoms and internet services in hospitals, schools and public buildings in partnership with electricity companies; decreased taxes and sector-specific fees; mechanisms to reduce spectrum costs for mobile operators, including credit for spectrum licence fees through infrastructure deployment in rural areas.

Infrastructure sharing and rights of way

COVID-19 has highlighted the need for robust broadband networks to continue social and economic activities, agreed Tin Aung San, Union Minister, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Myanmar. He noted: “Businesses need to reengineer strategies to embrace technology, survive and grow during the pandemic and beyond; government must integrate ICT and digital technology into other economic sectors.”

Despite Myanmar’s impressive access rates, with 96% of the population accessing mobile networks and 140% internet penetration, there is still a disparity between urban and rural usage in terms of connectivity, accessibility and affordability.

The four key pillars of successful, people-centred digital transformation are infrastructure, investment, inclusiveness and innovation. Investment in ICT infrastructure is decreasing whilst demand for services is increasing making universal access difficult as services are both less affordable and less accessible.  Developing appropriate policies to facilitate continued investment in infrastructure and adopting enabling policies is therefore key.

These include active and passive infrastructure sharing, innovative approaches for more effective use of spectrum and rethinking universal service strategies. Myanmar is additionally making public land available for siting telecom infrastructure, setting prices across different regions and developing universal service strategies to reduce costs and increase affordability.

In Nigeria, with a population of 210 million, broadband penetration of the landmass is around 50% and of the population 60%, according to Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Nigeria. Accelerated broadband penetration in recent years has been achieved following the conclusions of a special commission of public and private sector experts outlining the obstacles and addressing them as far as possible.

One major challenge is the price of right of way, which varied greatly across different states but tended in general to be disproportionately high. These rates were reduced significantly across the country, or abolished entirely, allowing mobile network operators to accelerate penetration. Incidences of vandalization of infrastructure, another serious issue, were reduced by 80% through the provision of government approved security services. Tackling multiple taxation brought down costs by aligning local, state and federal taxation policies. A national digital strategy for the digital economy was development to increase digital administration.

Ending digital inequality

“We urgently need to reimagine our world as one where digital inequality and exclusion are excluded,” exhorted Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Honorary Chairperson, Alliance for Affordable Internet (World Wide Web Foundation) in his passionate intervention.  Technology should work for everyone, everywhere, not just the privileged. The global pandemic revealed vast inequalities in access, type and quality of access, with millions of children missing out on education alone. One billion people still live in areas where basic access is not affordable; more than half of the world’s low- and middle income countries have not yet reached “1 for 2”, where 1GB of mobile broadband data is priced at 2% or less of average monthly income.

“The digital divide is not about being on line or off line but about meaningful connectivity – everyday use on an appropriate device with fast connection,” he said. He outlined three important steps to closing the divide – and creating billions of dollars through additional economic activity which could be spent on government priorities such as housing, education and healthcare. Governments must incentivise the right investment to realise meaningful connectivity, at an estimated cost of USD 428 billion worldwide by 2030, according to the Broadband Commission; create national broadband plans; and ensure that all sectors and stakeholders work together to establish digital connectivity as the future enabler of healthcare, finance, education and other sectors.

Summing up the session, moderator Johnson highlighted the difficulties in providing affordable connectivity to rural areas with poor return on investment, the role of new spectrum and regulatory approaches, and the importance of collaboration between public and private stakeholders, affirming that “Only when we all bring our own specific competencies to the table, avoid duplication of effort and pool our resources will we succeed in accelerating digital transformation for everyone, everywhere.”

 

Live streamed from Ha Noi, Viet Nam, the vibrant Opening Ceremony celebrating the 50^th anniversary of ITU Telecom events, the launch of the ITU Digital World 2021 Ministerial Roundtables and the opening of the Virtual Exhibition, demonstrated Viet Nam’s commitment to digital transformation in dazzling style.

Calling for the global ICT community to work together to accelerate the pace of digital transformation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said: “This event will contribute to the exploration of the values of digital transformation and digital technologies, in the interest of a collaborative and sharing digital economy, for the benefit and progress of all people in all countries.”

“Ha Noi is the capital of ITU Digital World today,” stated ITU Secretary General Houlin Zhao, who expressed his delight to be in Viet Nam in person for the launch of the event. He praised Viet Nam for its remarkable achievements in ICT development, which made it “a great model for the region and the world – hosting this event in Viet Nam is the right decision!”

This is a milestone year for ITU Telecom, as 2021 marks the event’s fiftieth anniversary. “Over the last half-century, ITU Telecom events have supported marvellous innovation,” Zhao recalled. “They have provided a window into an industry that has been at the heart of life-changing advances in ICT, from the advent of the Internet to the powerful rise of wireless networks and emerging technologies like 5G, artificial intelligence, and others.”

Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications, expressed ‘s the host country’s “heartfelt gratitude to the ITU and its Secretary-General Zhao Houlin, for having entrusted Viet Nam with the honour of organizing this event twice in a row – the 49th and 50th events, both convened virtually.”

As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, digital technologies are more important than ever, both in mitigating the effects of the crisis and in enabling rapid, sustainable development as the world adapts to the new normality of the digital space for increasing numbers of daily activities.

COVID-19 has caused great hardships and challenges but also provides a unique opportunity to push for digital transformation, driving more digital growth in one month than would have taken place in one year before the pandemic. Accelerating digital transformation in daily life will enable us to build a prosperous, secure, compassionate and green digital future for all.

Highlighting the importance of collaboration and public private partnerships, a key theme of ITU Digital World 2021 debates, the government of Viet Nam is focused on working with digital enterprises as the engine of growth, aiming for the digital economy to account for 20% of GDP by 2025 and 30% of GDP by 2030 – an ambitious but eminently achievable target given the full commitment of all branches of the government. The Prime Minister, Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee and ITU Secretary General took their places on stage for the dramatic, digitally-enhanced countdown to the official opening of the event – and the start of the Ministerial Roundtables on governing digital transformation.

See the full agenda for the week’s discussions and speaker line up: https://digital-world.itu.int//events/2021-event/calendar/

Register to join: https://digital-world.itu.int//events/2021-event/register/