The GSR is an annual event bringing together heads of national regulatory authorities from both developed and developing countries and has earned a reputation as the global venue for regulators to share their views and experiences as part of the worldwide community of regulators.  The meeting fosters an open dialogue between regulators and key ICT stakeholders: the private sector, investors and consumers.

Bringing together regulatory authorities from all around the world, the 7th Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-07) took place from 5 to 7 February 2007 in Dubai. The Symposium was organized by ITU and hosted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the United Arab Emirates (TRA). More than 470 participants took part in the Symposium, with Heads and Board Members from 100 national regulatory authorities as well as private sector representatives and international organizations.

The GSR-07 identified best practice guidelines that would be needed to facilitate the migration of Next Generation Networks (NGN). The 38-point roadmap was designed to encourage regulatory frameworks that foster innovation, investment and affordable access to NGN. In addition, they underscored the importance of embracing the principles of a clear and transparent regulatory process including the adoption and enforcement of rules, technology-neutral, and competitive network provision under a coherent approach that address the issues raised by convergence. The best practice guidelines produced by GSR-07 cover all aspects of service provision including authorization, access, interconnection and interoperability, numbering and NGN identification systems, universal access, quality of service, consumer awareness, security and protection.