International Telecommunications Society’s Post

New #DigitalTransformation demands new policies and new strategies and also requires a fundamental rethink of #regulatorygovernance in the digital sector. The Biennial ITS conference in Seoul offers a prime opportunity for discussion and exchange. See also my call for a wide-ranging #digitalauthority in this recently published open-access book (free download) https://lnkd.in/dcxqj6Ch (Chapter 9).

🔎 As #VirtualWorlds emerge as the next probable frontier for the internet, European policy makers are eager to take this opportunity to apply the learned lessons from the last digital revolution and ensure that European values are the founding principles of these virtual spaces.  👉 In the report, Fabiana Di Porto (University of Salento), Daniel Foà (LUISS University), and CERRE Research Fellow Sean Ennis (University of East Anglia) identify the most salient features of virtual worlds and the policy issues that these might give rise to. ➡ The authors propose a conceptualisation of virtual worlds based on their phases of development and a definition that captures both virtual worlds in their current state as well as their foreseeable features as technology develops. On this basis, the report goes on to describe the potential policy issues raised by virtual worlds which, in many cases, are already covered by existing EU legislation. 🔗 Read the new report here: https://lnkd.in/eWKsPCRY 🎞 You can also catch the panel discussion which took place during the Foundational Technologies Governance Summit with Rehana Schwinninger-Ladak Juliana Koza Laura Seritti Dimitri Sarafinof and Andrea Tognoni about this report here: https://lnkd.in/ezWf8u4F

Mobile World Congress or MWC is the place to be for global mobile connectivity professionals. From 26 - 29 February 2024 the international connectivity ecosystem will converge in the halls of Fira Barcelona Gran Via for another trend-defining exhibition and conference event. This year, MWC will highlight six highly relevant themes for the mobile society: 5G and Beyond, Connecting Everything, Humanising AI, Manufacturing DX, Game Changers and Our digital DNA. MWC 2024 will house the biggest brands in the sector against the backdrop of the hottest technologies, exciting content and influential keynotes. The dynamic GSMA fair programme will attract over 88 000 participants from at least 200 countries, maintaining a 2 to 1 C-suite ratio. Insightful debate, inspiration, and business deals will converge the decision-makers and keynotes at the forefront of the global mobile ecosystem. Thanks to the high number of participants and speakers from adjacent industries, cross-industry connectivity interactions will dominate the show floor. https://lnkd.in/eFF_z6kn

Coming back from Bucharest 🇷🇴where I participated in the METREX - The Network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas Conference, hailing foresight as an essential tool to build a better future for our cities 🏙️ and local communities. During my intervention I had a chance to: 1️⃣explain why we all need a guide to the future 2️⃣underline the importance of getting from the scenario building to strategizing 3️⃣share some advice on how to communicate the value of foresight to decision-makers When it comes to decision-makers… Oftentimes, we complain at them and their lack of vision. I don’t think we are exactly wrong in this approach as a lack of vision and long-term thinking makes them hostages of their present interests, and may stop 🛑 them from bold interventions that could serve the development. Having said that, I’d like to offer you a bit more nuanced 🤓 point of view. While we rightly criticize decision-makers, we tend to forget that they have been chosen - be it by their corporate boards, be it by electorates - to deliver 📦 on a very specific, very often short-term goal (or a set of goals). We may not like it, we may see the flaws of such an approach (or a system), but I think it’s unhelpful to feel offended by the reality and to get stuck in “complaining cycle” (or ⭕️ if you wish). ❗️What I would encourage you to do instead, is to remember that it is our - foresighters and strategists - job to clearly lay out the benefits of using the future for the sake of today. ❗️It is us who are responsible for explaining the virtues of our work and showing decision-makers that using the future may also help them achieve the goals of today. During the METREX - The Network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas Conference, I had a chance to speak about 4CF The Futures Literacy Company recent projects in which we used the future to help our clients accomplish also their short-term goals. Keep your 🤞 , because one of these projects - providing that it further progresses - has a potential to improve the life quality of each of us. I hope that the next year I will be able to tell you an insipiring story of “how the 4CF The Futures Literacy Company saved the world” 😉

ESOMAR Congress 2024 was as inspiring and glorious as where it took place, Athens. The whole experience was filled to the brim with insightful content, energizing discussions, and meaningful connections. After a weekend to catch my breath and reflect, I want to share a couple of thoughts from the conference:   1) I always knew the value of in-person connections, but it felt even more profound this time. Seeing many familiar faces from Zoom only walking towards me three-dimensionally or sitting next to each other was delightful. The thoughtful ones seemed even more thoughtful, and the fun ones even more fun. Those moments made the fact that we live literally across the globe feel surreal. Thank you to the entire ESOMAR team for creating such a wonderful experience for all of us.   2) It felt incredibly human-centred for a conference with 90%+ AI-related content (I only learned about that on the way to the airport coming back). The closing keynote was particularly inspiring. In her talk "The Future of Human Potential," Vivienne Ming said, "What AI is, fundamentally, the known… In the world of AI, it is literally YOU that's of value." That's so true. It’s the “mind” that glorifies the “machine”. It’s our unique aims and purposes that make a difference. I left the conference feeling encouraged and excited about a future where AI helps bring out the best in us, making the world a better place. (Picture taken at sunrise on Thursday Sept 12)

A fair week has passed since the KickStart Europe event. Thank you to everyone who attended, and special thanks to Stijn Grove for once again organizing a fantastic event. KickStart has definitely solidified its place as one of the leading industry events in Europe. But what did this year's event offer? There were truly excellent panels and discussions. Unfortunately, in the afternoon, there were four different tracks, so many interesting topics were left unseen. One main observation and gratitude must be given to some of the panel moderators who truly challenged and engaged the speakers. This clearly led to discussions that went beyond the usual rhetoric. There was much discussion about the current state and future of data center capacity and construction. Surprisingly, AI was mentioned relatively little in discussions. It occurred to me that perhaps the immense change AI is bringing to data center capacities from a FLAP-D perspective wasn't fully grasped, and where the greatest future lies in terms of construction. In CBRE's materials, Finland was somewhat excluded from the growing data center markets across Europe. However, in the AI panel, every speaker listed the Nordic countries, particularly Finland, as the top choice for building. This exclusion has sparked discussion, at least here in Finland. Hopefully, it will be addressed for next year's event. When considering why, here are a few figures that I believe can be compared anywhere in the world. Currently, there is nearly 1000 MW of data center capacity under construction in the Helsinki area alone. When considering the entire Finland, we're talking about capacity close to 2000 MW. I'm sure that with these numpers we can compete with all areas nowdays. Even after these numbers, we still have significantly more capacity, so I believe these figures will grow substantially in the coming years. Next event for me should be Datacloud Global Congress 2024 in Cannes Granlund #datacenters #FDCA #Granlund #kickstarteurope Kickstart Europe Conference

💡With rapid changes in the world today, there is constant appetite across the industry, Government and beyond to be better prepared for the future ahead. Throughout 2024 Innovate UK’s Horizon Scanning team is delivering a series of in-person events exploring possible technology-driven future scenarios and the impact they will have on our lives. 'Glimpse of the future networking events' are dynamic sessions where Innovate UK brings forward a broad range of the most exciting new technological breakthroughs that could be part of our everyday lives. This works in two overlapping phases: 1️⃣ We take regional, national and international influences to inform the future ideas and scenarios, discussing these in combination with Innovate UK’s wider Horizon Scanning knowledge, including our recent publications to inform and guide the audience. 2️⃣ By using a Feed, Inspire, Listen approach we then hold engaging round table workshops in which you and fellow industry leaders will discuss thoughts on how these novel technologies and trends could affect industries, businesses and society in the coming decades. Register: https://lnkd.in/eJANCB7A

⚜ The Vienna Salon for the Future, next meeting: WHAT COMES AFTER THE NATION-STATES? The concept of nation-states as we know them today developed fairly recently, in the last 200-300 years. Like anything else, this form will also be replaced one day by another. Perhaps it's something in the distant future, but that is precisely why we are still very free and unbound to fantasize about it. Or are there already functional models? This time, the discussion will be particularly interactive and, of course, as always, super informative! ❓What will the world look like when nation-states are a thing of the past? ❓What role might AI play in making this happen sooner? ❓Where is this transformation heading? ❓What new forms of government could emerge? ❓Is it already possible to develop and test them now? I will give a keynote and then we will try some futures thinking out :) Anyone interested, who can speak German and is in Vienna on the 24th of April, is welcome (drop me a message). 👍 Salon meetings are attended by charming polymaths; they're cozy, feature a buffet, and are free! #viennasalonfuture #beyondnationstates #futuregovernance #aiforfuture #futurismvienna #polymathmeetup #interactivefuture #governmentinnovation #future #futurism Sonja, -I wonder if this would be of interest for you and your teams?

In December PPMI, in collaboration with TNO and the European Commission, hosted the foresight event ‘NextGen Online Platforms: Foresight Session on Virtual Worlds’ in Brussels, Belgium. The event brought together policy makers, leading experts and practitioners to explore the challenges and opportunities affecting the development of virtual worlds, augmented reality and the future of social media until 2035. The key cross-cutting themes that emerged from the event were: 🔘 The impact virtual worlds could have on societal progress in terms of scientific breakthroughs, government decision-making and service delivery 🔘 The transformative impact virtual worlds could have on how we interact with our own identities and with each other, and how they could bridge or exacerbate existing social, political and economic divides 🔘 Economic implications for a wide range of industries and European competitiveness as a whole 🔘 Various regulatory and policy implications with regard to consumer protection, privacy, harmful content and behaviour, ensuring interoperability and other issues Learn more about the foresight session and the study: https://lnkd.in/dP6EXMqn #PPMIprojects