IGF 2026 WS #148 The Future of the Open Internet in an Interconnected World

Description

The open Internet depends not only on rights and rules at the application layer, but also on the decentralised arrangements through which autonomous networks exchange traffic. Peering, transit, Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and caches shape reachability, resilience, competition, traffic localisation and the ability of networks of different sizes to participate. As governments consider how infrastructure investment and demand are evolving in response to AI, cloud services and video traffic, proposals involving network usage fees, mandatory bargaining, facilitated dispute resolution and new reporting obligations may have different effects across the interconnection ecosystem. This roundtable compares experiences from the European Union, Brazil, the Republic of Korea and African markets to examine what can be learned from the available evidence, how different policy approaches respond to concerns raised by stakeholders and what their possible technical, economic and governance implications may be. Rather than framing the issue as a binary dispute between telecommunications operators and digital service providers, the session will distinguish among three related questions: how infrastructure investment can be supported; how the economics and architecture of interconnection are evolving; and which governance principles can help sustain an open and globally interoperable Internet. The discussion will consider different approaches currently under debate, including mandatory payments, facilitated dispute resolution, and transparency or data-collection obligations. Speakers and participants will be invited to reflect on how these approaches could affect peering, transit, IXPs, CDN and cache deployment, smaller Internet service providers, infrastructure investment, competition and end-user choice. Through moderated discussion, audience questions and live polling, the session will seek to identify areas of agreement, points of uncertainty and questions requiring further evidence across different market and regional contexts.

Policy Question(s)

A) What does the evidence from South Korea, the EU Digital Networks Act debate and Anatel’s proceedings reveal about current interconnection arrangements, stakeholder concerns and possible regulatory responses? B) How can governments address concerns about infrastructure investment without altering the governance principles that have historically sustained an open, globally interoperable Internet? C) How could network fees or other mandatory payment mechanisms adopted in major markets affect Internet development in other regions, including infrastructure deployment, competition, connectivity costs and user choice?

Expected Outcomes

A clearer comparative understanding of the experiences of the European Union, Brazil and the Republic of Korea, including what the available evidence suggests about Internet interconnection, infrastructure investment and the governance of the open Internet. A brief summary of the discussion and its main takeaways may be shared through the organisers’ and partner institutions’ communication channels. Identification of relevant considerations for assessing proposals that may affect Internet interconnection, including their possible implications for competition, infrastructure investment, Internet architecture, market participation and the preservation of an open and globally interoperable Internet. The session is intended to contribute perspectives and questions that may inform ongoing policy and regulatory discussions across jurisdictions. Stronger dialogue among policymakers, the technical community, civil society, academia and industry from different regions, creating opportunities for continued exchange on Internet interconnection and the governance of the open Internet within the IGF ecosystem and regional Internet governance processes.

Format

Roundtable Duration (minutes): 90 Format description: A roundtable format is best suited to this session because the questions under discussion do not have a single technical, economic or regulatory answer. Meaningful analysis requires direct exchange among participants representing different regions, sectors and institutional perspectives.

The 90-minute duration allows the session to combine focused interventions with substantive discussion. The first part will establish the principal policy models and the available evidence regarding their impacts. The second will compare experiences from different jurisdictions and examine possible safeguards, alternatives and implementation risks. The remaining time will be dedicated to audience questions, scenario-based discussion and identification of areas of agreement and disagreement.

The roundtable layout will reduce the separation between speakers and participants, encourage interaction throughout the session and allow the moderators to incorporate audience contributions into each thematic segment rather than limiting participation to a short question-and-answer period at the end.

Hybrid Format

Hybrid Format: The session will provide structured opportunities for both onsite and online participants to contribute. A single moderator will guide the discussion, manage the speaking order and periodically invite questions and comments submitted through the online platform. Remote participants will be encouraged to submit questions through the chat throughout the session. These questions will be grouped and introduced during the dedicated audience discussion and Q&A, alongside interventions from onsite participants. This format will help ensure that online contributions are considered without requiring separate moderation tracks. A brief live poll may be used at the beginning of the session to identify participants’ initial perspectives on the main policy questions. The results will serve as an entry point for the discussion and may be revisited during the closing reflections. The interactive elements will remain flexible so that sufficient time is preserved for substantive audience questions and exchanges among participants.

Organizers

Organizer 1: Thobias Moura, dig.ia Organizer 2: Amrita Choudhury, 🔒CCAOI Organizer 3: Milena Cramar Londero, Internet Society - Brazil Chapter

Speakers

Speaker 1: Amrita Choudhury, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group Speaker 2: Lara Levet, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG) Speaker 3: Phokeer Amreesh, Civil Society, African Group Speaker 4: Thomas Lohninger, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Moderator

Thobias Moura, Private Sector, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

Online Moderator

Milena Cramar Londero, Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

Rapporteur