Speech by Sami Al-Basheer Al Morshid, BDT Director
Opening Remarks, Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Distinguished delegates,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 9th annual Global Symposium for Regulators.
We are very grateful to our hosts and express our sincerest gratitude to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Lebanon, General Michel Sleiman, for placing both the GILF and the GSR under his high patronage. We offer our thanks also to His Excellency the Minister of Telecommunications of the Republic of Lebanon and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority for inviting us to hold this event in Lebanon. I would especially like to thank Dr Kamal Shehadi, Chairman and CEO, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, for accepting the key role of chair of this year’s GSR.
The GSR has always been a popular and successful event and I am delighted to see that this time is no exception with so many regulators from all regions attending at such a high level. Today, 153 countries have established a national ICT/Telecom regulatory authority worldwide.
The theme for this year’s GSR is Hands on or hands off? Stimulating growth through effective ICT regulation.
The meeting of the Global Industry Leaders Forum yesterday was a key opportunity for regulators to engage in a fruitful debate with the private sector and hear from the industry’s perspective on what approach to take: hands-on? Hands-off? The present global economic downturn has made targeted and effective regulation all the more important if we are to ensure sufficient investment in ICTs which will in turn stimulate growth.
We are eager to now further our discussions and address innovative regulatory approaches needed to create a conducive environment addressing convergence while meeting the expectations of all stakeholders and furthering universal access to ICTs for the benefit of all citizens.
One lesson learned from the financial sector is that good and effective regulation is key.
Despite the global downturn, markets for ICTs in developing countries tend to remain attractive:
- 64% of countries worldwide have at least partially privatized their incumbent operators,
- Some 65% of countries worldwide have opened fixed basic services to some form of competition.
- Fierce competition is observed in the mobile and internet markets (84% and 87% respectively). Therefore, not surprisingly mobile penetration globally is estimated to reach 67% in 2009 or 4.6 billion mobile subscriptions.
- It is estimated that more than one quarter of the world’s population is using Internet in 2009.
If we are to build on this success then finding common ground among ICT stakeholders will be critical to stimulating growth in a converged environment.
ICT Regulators and policy makers need to keep pace with a fast changing environment and carry out a delicate balancing act between a hands-on or hands-off approach to regulation. This is a challenge for all countries, and we are all here to tackle these challenges together.
The meeting of the Global Industry Leaders Forum yesterday was a key opportunity for regulators to benefit from a fruitful industry debate about required future directions. I won’t go into more detail as you will be hearing the outcome of the GILF from Dr Saad Al Barrak, Chairman of this year’s GILF very shortly.
You will also be considering the outputs of the Informal Regional Regulator Associations Meeting of yesterday afternoon.
Before concluding, I would like to invite you to share with us the issues you would wish us to focus on next year and that the GSR could address in the Way Forward Session. Next year’s GSR which will mark the 10th anniversary of this event.
We have an excellent programme in front of us and I am sure that you are eager to start the debates. I thank you for your attention and wish you a stimulating three days here in Beirut.
Beirut, Lebanon 11/10/2009
Source: ITU Newsroom