14th + special edition of ITU's Trends in Telecommunication Reform report examines the evolution towards 4th generation ICT regulation and the evolving role of ICT regulators as partners for economic development and social inclusion.

1. Committed to Connecting the World
4th Generation
Regulation
Driving Digital
Communications
Ahead
Special Edition
www.itu.int/trends-special
Mario Maniewicz, Chief
Infrastructure, Enabling environment and
e-applications Department
Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

2. Committed to Connecting the World
Growth in IP traffic, apps and trends
• Mobile cellular subscriptions
nearly equals the world’s
population
• Smartphones are leading the way
in drawing consumers online
• IP traffic continues to show
healthy growth
• Mobile video traffic accounts for
more than 50 per cent of mobile
data traffic
• Apps market adds millions of
users per month
Source: ITU, based on data from ITU, Gartner, Cisco
VNI, Telegeography and IDC.

3. Committed to Connecting the World
Why move towards 4.0 generation regulation?
Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Regulatory and Indicators databases. Note: *2013 estimates.

4. Committed to Connecting the World
The need for more spectrum
TV White Spaces: what are they and how they are being
used?
Approved database for assigning available TV
frequencies
Mobile Fixed
TVWS low power BS
(consults DB for TV
available channels)
TV Broadcasting
(transmits using
channels X,Y in a
given region)
Delivery of fixed &
mobile broadband by
opportunistically
using TV spectrum

5. Committed to Connecting the World
Radio
production
TV
production
OTT
service
providers
Mass storage
Operator 2
IPcorenetwork
(Converged
fixed/mobile
network)
Operator 1
IP core network
(Converged
fixed/mobile
network)
Interconnection Point to point backhaul
3G/4G
WiMax mast
3G/4G
WiMax mast
Smart phone,
tablet or lap top
Office/home
WiFi
WiMax Street box
Office/home
WiFi
Office/home
WiFi
FibreringFibrering
Communications in a digital world
• Technical convergence
• Interconnection to be kept
simple
• Digital broadcasting and
new online content, new
delivery means: new
business models
(advertizing), and
importance of managing
traffic flow
• Online financial
transactions: protect
consumers and prevent
misuse
• Need for more IP addresses
to connect all devices

6. Committed to Connecting the World
4th generation regulation to facilitate and enable
backbone deployment, connectivity and access
Source: ITU.
Note: Based on selected countries within each region.

7. Committed to Connecting the World
4.0 generation regulation
the evolving role of the regulator

8. Committed to Connecting the World
Table of contents
1. Key ICT market and regulatory trends
2. Fourth-generation regulation: A new model of regulation for the digital
ecosystem
3. White Spaces: Managing Spaces or Better Managing Inefficiencies?
4. Interconnection Charging Models in a National Broadband Network
Environment
5. Digital Broadcasting and Online Content Delivery
6. Digital Transactions in Today’s Smart Society
7. The Need for More IP Addresses
8. Conclusions
4th Generation Regulation :
Driving Digital Communications Ahead
Special Edition
www.itu.int/trends-special