Liberalising communications markets for sustainable development

WSIS Action Line 2 sets out a number of steps to deliver sustainable connectivity through investment in ICT infrastructure. These include creating an enabling and competitive environment, strengthening broadband infrastructure, delivering access for those with special requirements, and optimising connectivity among major information networks. The World Bank has found that “Countries that fully liberalize their telecommunications and financial services sectors may be able to expect economic growth rates up to 1.5 percentage points higher than rates in other countries.” While liberalisation has been going on since 1980s, based on GATS commitments and through free trade agreements, there is still potential to deepen liberalisation and harness the benefits for sustainable development. This session will examine how policies and actions to liberalise the communication sectors and to support better functioning markets, can accelerate the delivery of the goals in WSIS Action Line 2.