OECD workhop: 'The Future of the Internet'

As the world’s societies and economies depend increasingly on the Internet, after three decades, the Internet and other global networks are approaching a crossroads. Leading Internet architects believe that the premises on which the Internet was built need rethinking, in order to preserve and expand opportunities for innovation and economic growth. The window of opportunity is now, for international cooperation and coherent policies to help shape a global Internet, that meets the needs of as many users as possible, is robust and secure, and that can scale itself to evolving requirements. Against the backdrop of a broadening base of users worldwide and rapid convergence to IP networks for voice, data, and video, the Internet offers the world’s economies and societies increasing opportunities for economic growth and social development; whether it be through information, e-commerce, communication/social networks, the participative web, entertainment, Web services, e-government or for critical infrastructures such as power grids, financial systems, air traffic control and intelligence systems. The Internet is rapidly becoming a key ingredient in our economic infrastructure –akin to electricity and roads– as well as our social structures. And its significance is poised to dramatically increase as we usher in a new era of ubiquitous sensor networks using technologies such as RFID to connect the physical world –supply chains, items, and people– in real-time. The opportunities offered by faster, more capable, and increasingly pervasive IP-based applications, both wired and wireless, are accompanied by issues that need addressing, including ensuring reliability and manageability, security and privacy, interoperability of the network of networks, and enabling the global exchange of information and views. The OECD ICCP workshop “The Future of the Internet” will bring together policy-makers, leading academics, private sector organisations, and civil society organisations to discuss the trends shaping the future of the Internet, explore the various approaches –technical, regulatory, and economic– that are being taken or can be taken to create new functionality for and increased trust in the Internet, to promote its sustained growth and adoption, and to identify opportunities for increased international cooperation on pressing issues. More...

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