The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Office for Europe, in collaboration with the European Mediterranean Regulators Group (EMERG) and the Eastern Partnership Electronic Communications Regulators Network (EaPeReg), are co-organizing a series of three workshops on "Strengthening Broadband Infrastructure and Services across the Europe Region and beyond". These workshops follow the joint declaration signed by these entities during the Global Symposium for Regulators 2023 (GSR23), aiming to further their commitment towards enhanced collaboration in the field of broadband infrastructure and services mapping.
The series of workshops are in line with ITU's goal of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 through advancing digital transformation at national, regional, and global level. It recognizes the pivotal role of telecommunications regulators in the Mediterranean area, represented by EMERG, and the regulatory authorities from the Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine) under EaPeReg.
The workshops intend to serve as a platform for these regulatory authorities, its members and other relevant stakeholders to share good practices, address challenges related to emerging technologies, and facilitate the creation of potential new features of broadband infrastructure and services mapping tools. This series of workshops are expected to promote harmonization of approaches across the participating regions, thereby enhancing the cooperation in the field of broadband infrastructure and services mapping.
Key areas of discussion during these workshops will include:
- Strengthening collaboration in the field of mapping of broadband infrastructure and services.
- Identification and sharing of good practices and transfer of know-how.
- Setting up twinning programmes between the concerned countries and regions.
- Examination of potential new features of mapping tools including the investment opportunities layer.
The workshops are open to all relevant stakeholders, including industry representatives, academia, regional and international development agencies, development banks, and organizations interested in contributing to the projects aimed at strengthening national capacities in mapping of infrastructure.
Through these workshops, ITU, EMERG, and EaPeReg aim to foster collaboration, facilitate knowledge exchange, and ultimately contribute to the development of stronger, more efficient, and more effective broadband infrastructure and services across the regions.
