Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-25), organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), concluded on September 3, 2025, with the release of new Best Practice Guidelines that redefine the role of regulators in shaping inclusive, resilient, and future-ready digital ecosystems.
The event brought together regulatory leaders from around the world to discuss the accelerating pace of digital transformation and its implications for markets, economies, and societies.
In his foreword, Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, stressed that regulators must go beyond managing change in telecom and ICT sectors to actively shaping digital ecosystems. He described the guidelines as a “timely and practical direction” for regulators seeking to build future-ready digital economies.
H.E. Eng. Haitham Alohaly, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission and Chair of GSR-25, highlighted that the guidelines are a call to action for regulators to evolve into ecosystem builders—anchoring innovation while protecting the public good amid rapid technological advances.
The 2025 Best Practice Guidelines build on over two decades of GSR expertise and focus on five strategic pillars:
- Fostering Innovation in Regulatory Approaches – Encouraging the use of pilot projects, regulatory sandboxes, agile frameworks, and horizon scanning to anticipate risks and opportunities.
- Adapting and Enhancing Regulatory Capacity – Empowering regulators with mandates that reflect digital convergence, backed by investments in expertise, cross-sector coordination, and evidence-based policymaking.
- Leveraging Emerging Technologies – Integrating AI, blockchain, IoT, and big data into oversight to improve compliance, transparency, and citizen engagement while supporting experimentation through sandboxes and living labs.
- Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation – Promoting international collaboration on spectrum, cybersecurity, AI governance, and data protection, with shared standards and interoperability-by-design.
- Way Forward – Positioning regulation as a driver of innovation, trust, and sustainable growth by transforming regulators from rule-setters into ecosystem builders.
Inclusivity remains central to the framework, with regulators encouraged to ensure that underserved groups, small businesses, and local innovators are fully represented in decision-making. By aligning regulatory action with socio-economic development goals, the guidelines aim to unlock digital opportunities that support growth and equity.
The ITU emphasized that the guidelines—based on global consultation and real-world experiences—are designed as a practical tool for regulators navigating the complexities of digital transformation.
The overarching message from Riyadh was clear: regulators must innovate, collaborate, and lead to ensure that digital development leaves no one behind while strengthening global cooperation in governing interconnected digital spaces.
