Regulators aim to unite on global telecoms

Telecoms regulators around the globe need to address the challenges faced in the world of converging telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology, in order to develop the competitive framework required by consumers.

Regulators attending The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) symposium this week in Geneva concluded that their years of experience need to be shared, as they are all facing similar challenges. Speaking at the Symposium, attended by 215 delegates from 80 countries, Hamadoun Toure, director of ITU development, said he wanted to see regulatory bodies unite. In a prepared statement, He said: "Strengthening regulatory bodies will ultimately help to bring a greater range of communication services at affordable prices to more of the world's people." The regulators called for the creation of a website for the exchange of regulatory and policy experiences, the establishment of a hotline for rapid response to urgent regulatory issues and an annual global meeting.