By Ezaruku Draku Franklin

The Global Telecom Regulators last week endorsed a set of guidelines to maximize the benefits of transformative ICT at the Global Symposium for Regulators  which took place at the Commonwealth Convention Centre in Kampala, Uganda.

Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN Agency for Digital Technologies, the symposium brought together over 600 participants including Ministers, Heads of Regulatory Authorities, industry executives and academics to discuss pressing regulatory issues.

Some of the guidelines include adopting a proactive approach that balances innovation promotion with risk minimization and provide a controlled environment that enables businesses to test and scale up their products or services, regulations that incentivize ethical conduct and address misconduct, streamlining regulations and processes to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and stakeholder engagement to prioritise inclusive stakeholder engagement and public consultation throughout the regulatory process by engaging industry and civil society collaboratively in the pursuit of shaping competitive and inclusive markets.

Others include transparency and accountability in decision-making, based on data analysis adopting effective mechanisms for collection and use of data in order to increase the regulator’s capacity for action and fostering collaboration among all stakeholders across different economic sectors among the many.

A joint statement issued at the end of the four days event said the will help balance innovation with regulation to create a positive impact on societies and economies from emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

The ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin said with one-third of humanity still offline and women and other vulnerable groups on the wrong side of the globe’s digital divides, GSR-24 and the Best Practice Guidelines highlight the innovation, trust, and inclusivity that we need in the policy and regulatory environment.

“With change being the only certainty facing regulators and policymakers, we must work together to pursue regulatory approaches to leverage transformative technologies such as AI, promote the space economy, encourage innovation, and support climate action and the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.

She said symposium provided an opportunity for different sector players to advance universal connectivity and to advance sustainable digital transformation.

“So we need to make sure that the networks connect, without a hitch, which they’re safe and they’re secure. For me the biggest thing is bridging the gap, especially for 2.6 billion people who have never ever been connected,” she said.

Charting the course of transformative technologies

Jessica Alupo, Vice-President of the Republic of Uganda, who opened GSR-24 speaking on behalf of president Museveni, said regulators must not only make stringent laws, but also ensure that the regulations contribute to the growth of innovations and economy.

“As regulators of the ICT sector, your mandate is to promote the sector’s contribution to the economic wellbeing of the people,”  she said, adding that “the theme you have chosen, ‘Regulation for Impact’, is appropriate because it emphasizes the importance of implementing effective regulations that aim to achieve positive outcomes,” he said

Alupo said “in line with this theme, I urge you to promote a regulatory environment that prioritizes innovation, safety, privacy and the rights of digital technology users. You should maximize the benefits of ICTs, while minimizing the negative consequences of regulatory interventions.”

She said the communication sector in Uganda has registered growth over the last twenty-five years, with the total number of fixed and mobile telephone customers rising from a mere 68,196 in 1998 to over 36.5 million today. She also said internet users have risen to 15.3 million while mobile money subscriptions are at 40.6 million.

Alupo however attributed the low uptake of ICT services in developing countries to low per capita incomes, unfriendly regulatory frameworks and limited internet infrastructure.

“These and other bottlenecks must be addressed so that our people can enjoy the full benefits of ICTs. We must leverage the benefits of ICTs to achieve the transformation of our economies,” she said.

The vice president said the rapid change in technology, also poses regulatory challenges including cybercrime which has no boundaries.

“In recent years, we have witnessed technology being used as a tool for political interference and economic sabotage. Technology must not be used to undermine the peace and sovereignty of nations but rather to support development,” she said.

Uganda’s Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said the symposium provided a platform where all thought leaders, regulators, industry players and other key ICT stakeholders converged to set the policy and regulatory agenda that will guide the global digital industry over the near future.

“Best practice now calls for a coordinated and collaborative approach that is inclusive of all relevant stakeholders, if we are to achieve the impact that we all desire. We commit to align our national policies and regulatory frameworks around the well-thought-out Best Practice Guidelines that will encourage investment, innovation, and growth in the ICT sector.”

Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau said while AI, could help network operators conduct better planning and prevent fraud, it however also raises challenges associated with privacy, bias, job displacement, and the reliability of information.

“At GSR-24, we discussed core policy and regulatory issues to maximise the potential of digital technologies to improve lives. We addressed key topics, including new developments in the field of generative AI and robotics, building an inclusive, safe, and sustainable space economy, and required interventions in addressing climate change challenges,” he said.

The Chair of GSR-24 and Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), George William Nyombi Thembo said as countries navigate the transformative landscape of digital technologies, the importance of impactful regulation cannot be overstated.

“Our shared learnings and collaborative efforts are crucial in shaping a regulatory environment that not only fosters innovation but also ensures that the benefits of technological advancements are widely shared. By recognising the interdependencies with other sectors, we can create a cohesive framework that supports sustainable development, economic growth, and inclusivity,” he said.