THE INTERNET OF THINGS THE NEW GTLD PROGRAM AND THE FUTURE WHY participating matters and HOW you can make a difference? Andrew Mack Principal, AMGlobal Consulting Twitter @AMackglobal Africa ICT Alliance – AflCTA Conference 2015, Johnannesburg, South Africa 1

Where we are today in the internet world Two – really three – big, recent movements: Changes in the structure of Internet Governance: IANA transition planning – greater independence Expansion of the net I: the Internet of Things Expansion of the net II: The New gTLD Program Incredible growth in emerging markets

A brief word about IANA transition Symbolic? Political? Important? Not a big deal? 2 things to remember… “first do no harm”: Our overriding concern is to make sure that the transition improves the system’s ability to remain stable and secure Transition will take time, and there is a lot of participation from around the world in this process – including from African internet leaders African voices have been smart voices… but we need more of them

The Internet of Things What it is? the ability to connect everything: your watch, your TV, your fridge, the milk in your fridge, your crops, traffic flow… the ability to dramatically improve efficiency in sectors across the economy through more and better data Some issues around privacy, role of government, what happens to data – but private sector is aware

Imagining potential IoT impact Connected machines + data could reduce waste by $150 billion Estimated value over 15 years (Billion nominal US dollars) Industry Segment Type of savings Aviation $30B Commercial 1% fuel savings Power $66B Gas-fired generation 1% fuel savings Healthcare 1% reduction in system inefficiency $63B System-wide 1% reduction in system inefficiency Rail $27B Freight Oil and Gas Exploration and development 1% reduction in capital expenditures $90B Note: Illustrative examples based on potential one percent savings applied across specific global industry sectors. Source: GE estimates 5

The Crucial Need for Smart IoT Policy Can we quickly build capacity among policymakers? Can we develop common policies across the continent? Can we keep IoT from being politicized to capture the potential value for Africa? Can we adapt policies quickly as the technology changes – making innovators using IoT see Africa as a destination of choice vs. a policy challenge?

The new gTLD program Goals: new choices for consumers new options for communities new opportunities for businesses – including in the DNS space itself Creation of new “real estate”

Did we get the process right? Long process – took a lot of money, time, and many new gTLDs undercapitalized Was there need? Was there enough interest? What about defensive registrations? What about spam and other bad behavior?

Sales and the new gTLDs Most new gTLDs assumed that their new property could be sold as before, but… Most people in Emerging Markets can’t/don’t buy with credit cards Moving from 17 gTLDs to over 1,000 means A LOT OF competition Most people around the world don’t even know the new gTLD program exists Almost all focus on marketing to the global north – where competition is greatest and demand is least

Africa and the new gTLDs A real missed opportunity to bid – only 17 African applications A real opportunity to show the marketplace – need to make people realize that Africans will buy and use new gTLDs A real change for ccTLDs – prompting some to revisit their plans – but potentially a great partnership opportunity Challenge around sales – need more registrars and resellers and awareness all over the continent

Where do we go from here? Need to build awareness and participation and policy collaboration between business & government Value of work with ICANN: An open space, eager for more African voices A business space, can help build international connections Its crucial to Africa’s development and traditional players in the global north aren’t thinking Africa

Why we stay involved in the BC INTERNET is perhaps the greatest tool for economic development ever – and we have the chance to steer its course The community needs all voices – especially business – to get the policies right 12

Thank you! Andrew Mack amack@amglobal.com Skype: andrew.mack @amackglobal @AMGlobal