Licensing of third generation (3G) mobile

3G is important for developed countries but the stakes are even higher for developing countries since failure to develop 3G could widen the "digital divide" even further. While successful development of 3G services will depend on the private sector, it will also be crucially influenced by the policy and regulatory environment, in particular by the facilitation of market entry through appropriate licensing policies, as well as post-entry competitive conditions. This article reports on the findings of a workshop organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which identified critical policy issues with respect to the deployment of 3G mobile, including the regulatory status of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and the facilitation of global roaming. The potential role ITU could play as a facilitator of harmonized approaches for the global mobile information society is also explored.