Under the theme “Living in a World of Digital Opportunities”, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), will host the 17th Annual Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-17) at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort from July 11 to 14, 2017. The event is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies – and is expected to attract around 400 international delegates and industry leaders from ITU’s global network. The announcement was made on July 4, 2017 at URCA compound and headed by URCA executives. (Pictured from left to right: Donavon Dorsett, Acting Director of Electronic Communications; Mavis Johnson-Collie, Corporate & Consumer Relations Manager; Stephen Bereaux, Chief Executive Officer; Georgia Morton-Simms, Human Resources Manager and Latifa Wood, Corporate & Consumer Relations Officer.)

The ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), and drives innovation in ICTs through its membership of 193 states and almost 800 public and private sector entities and academic institutions.

Held annually since 2000, GSR brings together heads of national telecommunications/ICT regulatory authorities from around the world, and has earned a reputation as the global annual venue for ICT regulators and policy makers to share their views and experiences on the most pressing regulatory issues.

GSR-17 marks the first time during its seventeen years that the Global Symposium for Regulators is being held in the Caribbean, and only the second time in the Americas.

URCA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stephen Bereaux explained that the conference will foster dynamic dialogue between regulators, policymakers, industry leaders and other key ICT stakeholders.

“Today, ICTs underpin everything we do,” he said. “In an increasingly interconnected world, a world where the Internet of things is fast moving to connect everything we use, ICT is the adhesive that holds us together and shapes our communities, countries, regions, and world. ITU is the single global organization embracing all players in this dynamic and fast-growing sector.”

He added: “This is the backdrop against which the ITU does its work of allocating global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, developing the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and improving worldwide access to ICTs. We are delighted to have been able to attract the ITU to The Bahamas for this flagship event.”

GSR-17 is expected to attract around 400 international delegates including ministers, heads of regulatory authorities, other senior policy officials, and telecommunications industry leaders from the ITU’s membership.

The Secretary General of the ITU His Excellency Mr. Houlin Zhao, the Director of the ITU’s Telecommunications Development Bureau Mr. Brahima Sanou, and other senior ITU officials will also be in attendance.

To date, delegates from more than 60 of the ITU’s member countries have already confirmed their attendance and participation in GSR-17.

According to URCA’s CEO, the theme “Living in a World of Digital Opportunities” holds enormous promise for The Bahamas.

“Last year we would have been speaking in an arena with a monopoly in cellular telephony, today we have a liberalizing market, increasingly competitive and robust, which is already experiencing improvements in service and pricing. URCA has noted that a guiding principle of the Government’s economic agenda is the “creation of a more open, productive, and competitive society and economy” which the Government asserts is essential to The Bahamas’ ability to compete successfully in today’s global environment.

“Another guiding principle is that the private sector, in a competitive environment, is better able than the Government to deliver goods and services to the public. The ICT sector presents perhaps the most promising platform upon which we can build and enhance Bahamian society and our economy. The pervasiveness of ICTs and their ability to introduce efficiencies into any social or economic endeavor, represents immense potential for growth. However, to realise these benefits the regulatory and policy environment in which we develop the ICT sector must be nimble, flexible and transparent. GSR-17 will examine this environment in detail.

“For GSR-17, the ITU, with our input, has selected topics that are not only at the leading edge of the international ICT debate, but that are also of importance to us and our guests,” said Bereaux. “The pre-event debate on the security of digital financial services is a critical topic for many countries that, like The Bahamas, boast financial services as a pillar of their economy. Key Bahamian policy makers and professionals will be at GSR to participate in these deliberations which will include a simulated cyber-attack and expert discussions which will help us to secure our Financial Services sector from this pervasive threat.”

URCA’s Corporate & Consumer Relations Manager, Mavis Johnson-Collie explained that the Symposium will begin with a series of pre-events on July 11-12 including a pre-conference themed “Global Dialogue on Digital Financial Inclusion: The Security of Digital Financial Services.”

“And lest we think the Symposium will be all work, URCA has organized several social events for conference delegates which will afford the international delegates the opportunity to see some of our beautiful country, and experience our delightful Bahamian culture,” she said. “The highlight of these will be the official Gala Dinner at the Baha Mar Convention Centre hosted by the Prime Minister of The Bahamas,     Doctor The Honourable Hubert Minnis and Mrs. Minnis.”

While the event is primarily for regulators and senior policy makers, persons who work in ICT or ICT-related environments, as well as, the general public are invited to attend the conference.

For details on conference topics we invite you to visit the Symposium website by searching GSR2017. For additional information contact URCA at 396 5200 or info@URCABahamas.bs.