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GSMA Mobile World Congress: Expert Group Presents Broadband Commission with Solutions for Closing the Broadband GapAn Expert Group of members of The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development today released the report "A New Deal: Investing in Our Common Future - Policy Recommendations to Close the Broadband Gap". The report contains recommendations for policymakers, regulators and the private sector to address the "unacceptable, persisting digital exclusion" of half the world's population. Formed of private sector and government representatives, the Expert Group was convened by The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development in March 2017 to identify specific steps that need to be taken to close the ongoing gap in broadband coverage and usage. Their report sets out specific actions for policymakers and regulators, addressing four key themes:
The Expert Group was chaired by Mr Philipp Metzger, Director General, Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), Switzerland. Metzger said: "Things don't just happen - they are made to happen. This holds true for the broadband gap and how we can close it. The policy recommendations included in this report are very concrete; they address pressing issues that are hampering the roll-out of digital networks and services to people who desperately need them. This report is the result of a truly multi-stakeholder effort by committed experts who, regardless of whether they come from the public or the private sector, have gone out of their way to jointly propose solutions that will bring the benefits of digital connectivity to everyone, everywhere." The other members of the Expert Group were (in alphabetical order): Mr Scott Gegenheimer, Group Chief Executive Officer, Operations, Zain Group; Mr Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA; Dr Carlos Jarque, América Móvil (News - Alert); Mr Mark MacGann, Group Chief Corporate & Public Affairs Officer, VEON; Mr Kevin Martin, Vice President, Mobile and Global Access Policy, Facebook (News - Alert); Mr Paul Mitchell, Senior Director, Technology Policy, Microsoft; Hon Jean Philbert Nsengimana, former Minister of Youth and ICT, Rwanda; Mr Denis O'Brien, Chairman, Digicel (News - Alert) Group. Download the report at: http://www.broadbandcommission.org/publications/Pages/Expertgroupreport-2018.aspx. About the GSMA The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress (News - Alert), Mobile World Congress Shanghai, Mobile World Congress Americas and the Mobile 360 Series of conferences. For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter (News - Alert): @GSMA.
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