Activity File
LIRNE.NET/World Dialogue On Regulation
Online knowledge resources and policy dialogue
Summary
The objective of infoDev’s funding for LIRNE.NET is to promote dialogue, interaction, and dissemination of information on key ICT regulatory issues through LIRNE.NET's World Dialogue on Regulation for Network Economies (WDR). infoDev initiated this project in July 2000, and has provided ongoing support to it since then. WDR helps better serve the global policy and regulatory community, and offers an improved vehicle for discussion of initiatives related to infoDev's Access for All program.
Background / Terms of Reference
The project focuses on frontier issues of ICT reform and information infrastructure development to promote access, and was formally launched at the infoDev Symposium in Washington, D.C. on December 5-6, 2001. Project partners carry out much of their dialogue through the WDR website, which was launched on January 30, 2002. infoDev supports the following WDR activities:
- New website design using an open source content management system package offering additional flexibility and functionality
- Online training and support to permit more decentralized contributions from regional centers in developing countries
- Maintenance and content updating (e.g., research and discussion papers, links, news, case studies, examples of best practice, etc.)
- Production and distribution of monthly issues of the WDR e-Brief (electronic newsletter)
- Management and support for facilitating the WDR online dialogue by a more proactive and directed approach
- Publication and dissemination of a report in July 2005 on the role of the regulator in stimulating investment in network development, the result of WDR's second research cycle.
About LIRNE.NET and the World Dialogue on Regulation
Learning Initiatives on Reforms for Network Economies (LIRNE.NET) is a strategic collaboration among university-affiliated research institutions focused on ICT policy and regulation. LIRNE.NET was created in 2000 by the Center for Information and Communication Technologies (CICT), Technical University of Denmark, and the Economics of Infrastructure Program, Delft University of Technology, in the Netherlands. In 2002, LIRNE.NET was joined by the Media@lse Program, London School of Economics (LSE), and the LINK Centre, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. LIRNE.NET's partners also include the regional centers LIRNEasia, based in Sri Lanka, and LIRNEamericas, and DIRSI (Regional Dialogue on the Information Society / Diálogo Regional sobre la Sociedad de la Información) in the Americas.
LIRNE.NET’s mission is to facilitate an international dialogue that generates and disseminates new knowledge on frontier issues in regulation and governance to support the development of network economies. LIRNE.NET's activities include:
- Research activities and reports
- External training initiatives (courses for government, industry and NGOs)
- Expert analysis & commentary on current issues
- World Dialogue on Regulation for Network Economies (WDR)
Since its website launch, the World Dialogue on Regulation (WDR) has carried out two research cycles, each lasting 12-18 months. The first one (2002-2003) focused on the theme "The Next Step in Telecom Reform: ICT Convergence Regulation or Multisector Utility Regulation." The second research cycle (2003-2004) examined the role of the regulator in stimulating investment in network development. The third research cycle (2005-2006) has as its theme: "Diversifying Participation in Network Development." The fourth research cycle, currently underway, concerns "Indicators and Benchmarks of Performance in ICT Development". And the fifth research cycle, currently in preparation, will look at wireless services and applications for development.