IGF 2018 WS #278 5G, IoT and AI - Addressing Digital Inclusion and Accessibility

- Session Type (Workshop, Open Forum, etc.):  

Workshop

- Title:

5G, IoT and AI - Addressing Digital Inclusion and Accessibility

- Date & Time:

14 November 2018 – 10:40 – 12:10

- Organizer(s):

Organizer 1: EduardoMagrani, ITS RIO (GRULAC)

Organiser 2: Carlos Affonso Pereira, ITS RIO (GRULAC)

Organizer 3: Marie-Noemie Marques, Orange (WEOG)                                      
Organizer 4: Pedraza-Barrios Ricardo, CRC (GRULAC)
Organizer 5: Xiaoqi Qin, BUPT (Asia Pacific)

Organizer 6: Maarit Palovirta, Internet Society

- Chair/Moderator:

Marta Capelo, ETNO (WEOG)

Carlos Affonso Pereira, ITS RIO (GRULAC)

- Rapporteur/Notetaker:

Marie-Noémie Marques

- List of speakers and their institutional affiliations (Indicate male/female/ transgender male/ transgender female/gender variant/prefer not to answer):

Speaker 1: Alexia Gonzalez Fanfalone, OECD, F

Speaker 2: Mongi Marzoug, Orange, M
Speaker 3: Juan Manuel Wilches Duran, CRC in Colombia, M
Speaker 4: Smitha Krisna, National Law University, F

Speaker 5: Christian Djeffal, A. von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), M

Speaker 6: EduardoMagrani, ITS RIO, M

- Theme (as listed here):

Digital Inclusion and Accessibility

- Subtheme (as listed here):

Access and Connectivity

- Please state no more than three (3) key messages of the discussion. [300-500 words or less]

• Mobile Connectivity,  IoTs and AI  are essential to address efficiently basic needs (electricity, water, education, healthcare and transport) and, for mobile centric countries in developing countries, 5G, starting with cost-effective features, is a cornerstone infrastructure for digital economy and inclusion.
• Governments have a key role in facilitating the adoption of new technologies like 5G, IoTs, AI for the improvement of its population´s accessibility and connectivity. One way that has been explored in some countries to achieve this objective, is the introduction nationally of a convergent model of regulatory organisation for the development of a dynamic and innovative Internet-enabled ecosystem.
• In many developing countries, renewable energy (solar PV) and energy efficiency are essential for cost-effective and clean power for mobile networks and devices.

- Please elaborate on the discussion held, specifically on areas of agreement and divergence. [300 words] Examples: There was broad support for the view that…; Many [or some] indicated that…; Some supported XX, while others noted YY…; No agreement…

The OECD intervention on 5G focused on what the next generation of wireless networks could mean for communication markets in terms of investment, spectrum management, competition, coverage and the increasing requirements of a digital economy. The development of 5G raises a wide range of questions derived from “network densification” and these issues will have to be considered in the context of the traditional telecom issues (rights of way, interoperability, infrastructure sharing, deployment of fibre backhaul and backbone, etc.).

Commissioner Juan Manuel Wilches, from the CRC, addressed a regulator viewpoint of the expectations towards new technologies like 5G, IoT or AI in terms of population / geographical coverage, and new innovative services, to address the needs of the population in the developing economies. It is essential to have the right incentive to promote investment, simplify regulation and value commercial agreements, while maintaining a pro-competitive environment. Regulators have to understand how the digital ecosystem works and intervene only where really necessary not to limit its development. The role of governments is to try to reduce the risks associated to AI and IoTs such as security, privacy, and in a longer scope, jobs.

For the private sector, connectivity needs to be promoted through the five main dimensions and policy options already identified by the IGF community: Deploying infrastructure; Increasing usability; Enabling users; Ensuring affordability; Creating an enabling environment. For many developing countries, digital advanced technologies, such as 5G and IoTs, will play a critical role to address the basic needs of the population (access to electricity, water, education, healthcare and transports); network costs and energy costs will need to be addressed efficiently and with priority.  5G and IoT applications will be even more important for the developing countries; digital financial inclusion is also expected to help boost poverty eradication, job creation, and citizen empowerment.

The relationship between discrimination and inclusion at macro level was highlighted by the Speaker from HIIG, in particular through the analysis of the national strategy plans for AI. AI systems can be used differently, applying discriminatory practices or combatting discrimination. As AI can also become a tool for inclusion for the future, it is important to look at specific AI applications, as well as organisational and strategic developments of AI at macro level.

In addition, the Speaker from ITS RIO focused on the need to understand the concepts of IoT and AI, to be able to discuss them on a common ground. As “things” are indeed becoming more intelligent, unpredictable and autonomous, social and ethical issues such as inclusion and discrimination need to considered, differentiating between narrow and strong AI. To promote inclusion and reduce discrimination, there will be a need to ensure: (i) inclusive engineering (including gender and race balance, and minorities in the design phase), and (ii) explainable AI (transparency, openness and capability of delivering an explanation for automated decisions).

The issues of liability in case of accident and identification of responsibilities, when the tasks will be ensured by machines, was shared by the ITS RIO speaker, as well as raised by a Speaker from the BUPT.

Finally, there is also, among the young people (Jenna Fung, NetMission Asia) a concern about the ability for the existing labor force to seize the opportunities deriving from these new technologies and how to eliminate the gap between the labor force and the rate of the rapidly changing technological world, in particular in relation to emerging countries and the youth.

- Please describe any policy recommendations or suggestions regarding the way forward/potential next steps. [200 words]

• As we evolve in 5G and next technologies, there is a need to go to the basic of traditional telecoms: efficient spectrum management, rights of way, interoperability, market driven infrastructure sharing, deployment of fibre backhaul and backbone, etc.

• 5G and IoTs are expected to expand and improve connectivity and inclusivity, through the enrichment of mobile connectivity, for the benefit of consumers, innovators and business. Governments should release the necessary spectrum for mobile connectivity and especially low bands and allowing network and spectrum sharing in rural areas.

• There is a need to simplify regulation and regulate as little as possible. There is an urgent need to define the frequency bands; to promote connection to the cell sites in the remote areas of the countries ;  no obligation or restrictions on sharing agreements and on the way operators are collaborating to deploy networks.

• AI can also become a tool for inclusion for the future, therefore organisational and strategic developments of AI shall also be looked at macro level.

• All the important issues that have been mentioned need to be tackled through different perspectives. We need to have a holistic view of the challenges.

• As “things” are indeed becoming more intelligent, unpredictable and autonomous, social and ethical issues such as inclusion and discrimination need to be considered.

- What ideas surfaced in the discussion with respect to how the IGF ecosystem might make progress on this issue? [150 words]

In general and for 5G in particular, the stakeholders shall continue sharing experiences and knowledge to apply locally solutions adapted to the needs of people and businesses.

In relation to AI, we need to look at what we want to achieve and decide what is the relevant institution. The IGF  ecosystem may be an appropriate forum to deal with AI, provided that this ecosystem is able to take up the task. IGF is good, because it is good at inclusion and has a meaningful participation, but there is a need to broaden participation and find new ways of discussion. For example, there is in Germany a proposal to ask the population at random to decide and discuss on issues in order to find new ways of governance for AI.

- Please estimate the total number of participants.

40 + (22 women ; 19 men in the room).

- Please estimate the total number of women and gender-variant individuals present.

22 women; gender variant impossible to know / identify.

- To what extent did the session discuss gender issues, and if to any extent, what was the discussion? [100 words]

The issue of Digital Inclusion and Accessibility was tackled as a whole, in relation to any citizen, user or producer, without any distinction of gender. One Speaker insisted on the fact that the promotion of inclusion and reduction of discrimination will have to ensure, in relation to inclusive engineering, that there is a balance to reach in terms of gender and race, and that minorities are included on the design phase.