IIC Newsletter Issue 91, February 2021

Welcome to the February issue of the IIC Newsletter. This month started with our annual Asia TMF, taking place over two days the sessions addressed the connectivity and usage gaps laid bare by the pandemic, with speakers from across the region providing fascinating insights and discussions. The reports and recordings will be available exclusively to members and delegates shortly. We have an exciting line up of events already confirmed for the first half of this year; later this month the IIC Chapters in Singapore and Italy are holding webinars. These will be followed by the Australia Chapter in March. We are currently finalising our programme for our TMF in the Middle East and North Africa and liaising with BEREC on the programme for our joint event in May. Looking at the second half of the year, we are hopeful we can hold some in person events. We have already had discussions with our colleagues at Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), who are kindly hosting our International Regulators’ Forum (IRF), part of our Communications, Policy and Regulation Week (CPRW) about the possibility of holding this event in October, along with our Annual Conference in Bonn, Germany – we remain optimistic. Keep an eye on our website for updates. Finally, the 8th of March marks International Woman’s Day 2021 – we will be celebrating this via our social media channels using the official hashtags #ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021 #InternationalWomensDay and #IWD. Please do let us know of any initiatives your organisations may be doing so we can follow these too. The IIC and its Chapters continue to inform and connect digital ecosystem stakeholders around the world, with webinars, podcasts, reports and journals, if you did not get the opportunity to attend one of our webinars or have missed any of our sessions over the last few months, then please look at the resources section on the IIC website. Kind regards Lynn Robinson Director General, IIC

Upcoming Events

Middle East and North Africa Telecommunications and Media Forum

Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 March 2021
Time: 1100 AST / 0900 CET / 1000 EET / 1200 GST
Duration: 3 hours each day

Accelerating digital transformation in the Middle East & North Africa: building the regulatory/policy skillsets so that everyone benefits as we emerge from the pandemic
Discussions will focus on telecom issues and audiovisual content. Each day will start with regulators sharing their experiences of adapting to significant change in response to convergence and digitisation, as well as tackling all their existing responsibilities. Industry will then join the conversation to share their practical experiences and priorities for the region.

More information here

IIC Singapore Chapter Webinar

25 February 2021
1400 SGT / 0600 GMT
Duration: 1.5 hrs

Artificial Intelligence Standards and Trade in ASEAN
Join the panel of experts representing government, industry and academia to discuss the opportunities, challenges and future for AI in digital trade in ASEAN.
jointly organised and supported by TRPC, the International Institute of Communications (IIC), and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT).
Register here

IIC Italy Chapter Webinar

26 February 2021
1400 CET / 1300 GMT
Duration: 2 hrs

Investments Promotion and competition enhancement in the EECC
The webinar debate aims to shed some light on some crucial issues releted to market and regulatory incentives set by the EECC co-investment provision, the effectiveness and efficiency of the (new) balance between competition sefaguards and investment incentives, and the conceptual relationship between co-inevstment arrangements and the ladder of investment.
Register here

IIC Australia Chapter

1 March 2021
0900 – 1130 AEST
Telstra Customer Insight Centre – Sydney

Unpacking the Media Reform Green Paper
Registration is now open for IIC Australia’s Chapter’s in-person event where panellists will unpack the proposals and direction of the recently released Media Reform Green Paper.
Find out more and register

IIC UK Chapter Webinar

11 March 2021
1500 GMT / 1600 CET
Duration: 2 hrs

From rules-setting to principles-based regulation: what are the challenges and opportunities?
Panellists will discuss the evolution of the regulatory model, from traditional rule-setting towards principles-based regulation.
Find out more

IIC/BEREC Telecommunications & Media Forum 2021 (online)

26 – 27 May 2021

Strengthening Europe’s digital communications capability, resilience and inclusivity
Bringing together statutory national regulators and industry in a collegiate, neutral setting to debate policy issues in this joint online conference.

Find out more

Event Report

Regulation in times of pandemic and lessons for the future: African responses – East Africa Written report of the third in the Africa Series of webinars which took place on 19 January. Read the report here
IIC Future Leaders’ Competition 2021	IIC Blog
Find out about this year’s competition including the topic, the judging panel, key dates and our generous sponsors. Read more	Read this latest blog written by Francesco Liberatore of Squire Patton Boggs on Compliance in Digital World: Are Pricing Algorithms Anti-competitive? Read more
Regulatory Watch
Content regulation may cement dominance of big platforms Competing start-ups may not have the resources to comply. Read more	US spectrum auction ‘could hobble innovation’ Warning that prices paid will inhibit building of 5G infrastructure. Read more