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Issue: 37
IIC Policy World

What's in this month's issue?

• Upcoming events

• Event calendar

• Latest updates from Regulatory Watch

• InterMedia – Converging on Digital

• Q&A with Envir Fraser

• Update from Asia Pacific

• Update from Europe

• Your feedback

Hello ,

Converging on digital…

Policy makers and communications regulators around the world continue to search for the most suitable regulatory approach for the industry.  In Europe the key issues are being addressed under the digital single market (DSM) strategy set out by the European Commission.   The IIC will be in Brussels next month for the first of the 2016 TMF meetings where discussions will examine platforms, policy and progress towards the digital single market strategy. 

In the latest issue of InterMedia Monica Ariño of OFCOM  sets out three pillars for regulatory framework reform in her article ‘Converging on digital’, remarking that there is a sense of urgency in Brussels with the perception that Europe might be falling behind the rest of the world in the development of a digital market .

We hope you will join us in Brussels to examine the justification for this perception and many other key issues surrounding the DSM.

With best wishes,

Andrea

Andrea Millwood Hargrave
Director General

Upcoming Events
 

Telecommunications and Media Forum, Brussels

Creating the right conditions for digital products, networks and services to flourish in the Digital Single Market

16-17 March 2016, Brussels
Hosted by the BIPT

The forum will look at how plans for the Digital Single Market are evolving and the challenge of balancing economic goals with consumer protection and sustainable development, questioning perceptions that Europe is falling behind the US and parts of Asia.

Keynotes:
The event will begin with a keynote by Roberto Viola of the European Commission who will give an update on the digital single market and EU Consultations.

Discussions:
The DSM package and EU consultations: creating the right conditions for products and services to flourish. What’s the progress with public consultations, what is really needed for economic growth and how can the right competitive and regulatory framework stimulate investment? 

The digital ecosystem – platforms and content: We will discuss platforms and examine the issues in the new ‘telco vs OTT’ debate, looking at how content and online sales can better serve consumers and business and the privacy and data security balance.

Plus:
• Networks and services to support M2M, AI and robotics
• Mergers and acquisitions – lessons learned

To reserve your place visit TMF Brussels

The IIC’s 47th Annual Conference – October 2016, Bangkok

We will be confirming dates shortly, in the meantime for any updates on the event visit Communications Policy and Regulation Week (CPRW)

Event Calendar

10 February 2016 IoT / M2M: Boom Time and Cyber Insecurity London Regional event - IIC
16-17 March 2016 Telecommunications and Media Forum Brussels Global event - IIC
May 2016 Telecommunications and Media Forum Miami Global event - IIC
October 2016 Communications Policy and Regulation Week Bangkok Global event - IIC
December 2016 Telecommunications and Media Forum Washington DC Global event - IIC

 

News
 

Regulatory Watch

The IIC’s eye on the news. This bulletin is regularly updated with thumbnails of industry news. Follow the links for a round-up of latest industry stories.

Call for a single European regulator

Two committees of the European Parliament said the European Commission should put forward plans for a ‘single telecom regulator’ in an effort to ensure telecoms regulations are applied uniformly across the EU.

New technology ‘not transformative’

The arrival of the internet and mobile phones has failed to generate a sustained upturn in the growth of productivity, writes Martin Wolf in the Financial Times.

South Africa probes OTT interventions

South Africa’s parliamentary committee on telecommunications and postal services is to probe over the top (OTT) services to determine whether policy interventions are required to govern them.

World Bank emphasises demand side in digital divide

The World Bank has published ‘World Development Report 2016: Digital Dividends’, in which it says the broader development benefits from using technologies have lagged behind.

IoT “major global development opportunity”

A report from the ITU and Cisco says the internet of things (IoT) has the potential to improve the lives of millions and dramatically accelerate progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Data privacy ombudsman proposed for Safe Harbour

The US has proposed creating an ombudsman to deal with EU citizens’ complaints about US surveillance as part of talks to clinch a new EU-US data transfer pact, Reuters reports.

FCC removes Cuba from exclusion list

The FCC’s international bureau has removed Cuba from its exclusion list, opening the door for US telecoms carriers to provide facilities-based telephone and internet services to Cuba without separate approval from the FCC.

In the current issue of InterMedia...

Converging on Digital

Taking the current European reform as model, Monica Ariño puts forward three key pillars for regulatory framework reform in pursuit of convergence

Monica Ariño is international director at UK regulator, Ofcom, and an IIC board member.

Full index of 2015-2016 InterMedia articles
InterMedia is a rich resource of articles, reports and interviews and the contents reflect the IIC’s on-going discussion themes.  To make life easier for you, we’ve created an index of all the articles published in 2015 and this year.

Q&A

Questions for Envir Fraser, Chief Strategy Officer, Convergence Partners

1. What do you think are the greatest drawbacks to the development of the TMT sector in Africa sector and are the obstacles regional or national?

2. Your company recently closed the Convergence Partners Communication Infrastructure Fund (CPCIF), with  over $200 million. How will the management of the Fund be organised to ensure fairness?

3.  At the IIC’s meeting in Johannesburg in December, you spoke of the vertical and horizontal consolidation and integration taking place in the industry, regionally and globally.   How must business models change to accommodate these evolutionary processes?

4. The IIC Forum was supported by the regulator in South Africa, ICASA. The Councillors who took part in the meeting were very clear that legislation that was written in a pre-digital age was not fit for purpose. How can regulation keep up with the changes created by technology?

5. Your panel at the event included contributors from community development groups and industry and was a very ‘lively’ discussion. If you saw value in that diversity of participants, what was it?

6. How would you describe your experience at the IIC Telecommunications and Media Forum?

See Mr Fraser' answers

Regional Update
 

The IIC has a number of directors  in various regions of the world. These are dedicated TMT professionals who work with the IIC on a voluntary basis to share knowledge, facilitate relationships and create long-term bonds between regulatory authorities and the businesses they regulate.  Here we bring you news from these regions.

Asia Pacific

News update from Australia

ACMA Chairman leaving after 10 years to become President of the IIC

After two terms as the inaugural chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority, Chris Chapman is moving on to new projects at the end of this month.  One of those projects will be as President of the IIC where he takes over from Fabio Colasanti who has held the post for six years.

Updating Australia’s copyright laws

The Department of Communications and the Arts has released draft amendments to the Copyright Act 1968 aimed at reducing the regulatory burden on the disability sector, libraries, archives and educational and cultural institutions.

'Media Interests' snapshot released by ACMA

The Australian Communications & Media Authority has released a Media Interests Snapshot infographic that provides an overview of the main interests in major commercial television and radio networks and associated newspapers. See the full size picture here.

Draft serious data beach notification bill released for comment by Attorney General’s Department

The Australian Government has invited public comment on a draft serious data breach notification bill before legislation is introduced in Parliament in 2016.

Europe

President of the IIC, Fabio Colasanti will be stepping down after two terms

Colasanti will be stepping down after two terms

In April 2016, Fabio Colasanti, who has been president since 2010, will be leaving the IIC.  Mr Colasanti said, “It has been a great honour to serve as the IIC president over the last six years, a time of unprecedented change in our industry”.

In his time as president, Colasanti’s expertise, gained during a long career in the European Commission, was regarded as key to the extension of the IIC’s reach into Eastern Europe and South America.

The CAEC has awarded the President of the IIC the annual award for 2015

The Czech Association of Electronic Communications (CAEC) has awarded Fabio Colasanti, President of the IIC, the Annual Award for 2015. This is in recognition of the outstanding contribution he has made in the development of the modern concept of electronic communications on a European scale.

Recent Events

Digital Europe: European and national policies to drive investments, market development and competition

12 January 2016, Rome, Hosted by AGCOM

This meeting discussed the Digital Single Market from a comparative and country specific perspective. 
Speakers included the President and Commissioners of Agcom, representatives of the European Commission and National Communications Regulatory Authorities (Germany, France, Italy), along with CEOs and top representatives of Vodafone, Wind, Fastweb, Google, Telecom Italia, Netflix, Mediaset, Sky, the president of IIC and the president of the Italian Chapter of IIC.

The EU horizon for ICT Policy: DSM as the first convergence-ready framework?

28 January 2016, London, Hosted by Ofcom

The DSM is arguably the first genuine attempt at a holistic EU approach to the ‘convergence industries’, with the impact of the online world permeating most of the EC’s ongoing consultations. In a lively discussion, panellists from industry and government debated their viewpoints with the IIC audience to see what success would look like for the DSM, what the key priorities are for the UK and how to achieve it.

Upcoming Event

IoT / M2M: Boom Time and Cyber Insecurity

10 February 2016, London, hosted by KPMG

IoT has become the latest buzzword, and is the next frontier for many in the technology business and beyond. Some surveys predict more than 50 billion connected devices within the next decade. This IIC discussion will see expert speakers debate the topic and give a market view of the latest developments as well as methods and costs of mitigating risks.

Download the registration form and return it to  Laura Courbet and join delegates at KPMG's fabulous venue to debate the issues. The event is free to IIC members with a small registration fee for non-members.

Feedback

We’d be interested to hear your views on any of these stories so email Laura Courbet with any comments and we’ll publish a selection of viewpoints.

Membership Options

We asked members what they find most valuable and useful about their membership of the IIC. This is how they ranked the benefits -

IIC membership allows us to…

1. Keep up to date with trends, issues and what the industry is focusing on
2. Gain unique insights and industry or policy information
3. Meet my counterparts and stakeholders from industry and regulatory bodies
4. Contribute to debates on the public policy agenda and share my organisation's viewpoint
5. Build a network and develop relationships particularly informally with regulators
6. Explore ideas in an independent environment
7. Focus on particular issues or technological developments at workshops
8. Schedule private meetings with contacts at global events
9. Meet lawyers and consultants who could be helpful to our business
10. Build lasting relationships around the world through the regular schedule of events

IIC Sponsorship

IIC Sponsorship is for organisations active in regulation or industry. These members work closely with the IIC, helping to shape the policy agenda, contributing to discussions from which the wider community benefits.

Full Membership

Full membership is for organisations active in the world of telecoms, media and technology and their regulation regardless of size. Members are drawn from regulators, telecoms operators, broadcasters, network providers, OTT players and smaller digital start-ups.

Associate Membership

Associate membership is for firms providing professional services and consultancy to the industry such as lawyers, consultants and analysts. The meetings give specialists in the TMT field the chance to keep up to date with new thinking and new players.

Membership Benefits

 

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