Hands-On Or Hands-Off? ITU Debates Which Way for ICT Regulators

The United Nations International Telecommunication Union concluded its ninth Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) with a call by industry leaders to governments to approach regulation with a “light touch” and “allow markets to evolve naturally,” according to an ITU press release. The symposium, held on 10–12 November in Beirut, brought together 648 delegates from 89 countries. They urged their governments to “use regulation to stimulate ongoing market investment, and to promote innovative new services that can benefit consumers and help ‘connect the unconnected,’” the release said. Draft GSR Best Practice Guidelines are expected to be published soon on the ITU website, here.