There is a fundamental need across the Commonwealth, and other parts of the world, for efficient regulatory environments to be established that satisfy national and international needs, whilst also providing attractive opportunities for private sector investment. The changing roles of regulators, the need for harmonisation on spectra, the protection of intellectual property rights, and the fostering of partnerships are all important aspects of this agenda. Against this background, the CTO has particularly championed digital broadcasting switchover issues.

Indeed, with technological innovations and market evolutions in ICTs, new applications such as e-commerce, m-commerce, m-banking or e-learning increasingly bring tangible benefits to individuals and communities. At the same time, these changes are setting new challenges in key areas of regulatory interventions, including:

The CTO is committed to assist members with the development of regulatory strategies, frameworks and roadmaps that provide clear visibility and guidance in each of the above areas, through programmes in research, consulting, capacity development and training, as well as through fora for discussion at regional events and conferences.