The term ‘digital economy’ covers the global network of economic and social activities that are enabled by digital information and communication technologies such as the internet, mobile and sensor networks.

• the application of information and communication technologies (otherwise called ICT) to social and economic activity
• internet and internet protocol (IP) technologies increasingly at the centre of digital economy developments.

Why is the digital economy relevant to the ACMA?
• Governments internationally have promoted the development of the digital economy to deliver economic and social goals.
• The sectors that the ACMA regulates — telecommunications, broadcasting and radiocommunications — are at the centre of digital economy activity.
• The DE is a growing source of ‘regulatory pressure’ — convergence of networks and services, consumers accessing voice and content services across multiple networks and devices.
Scope of ACMA’s involvement (just a few examples):
NBN implementation: transitioning of voice consumer protection
Numbering and identity management
Building trust and confidence: cybersafety, e-security, SPAM, filtering, interception
Consumer protection issues
Effective management of spectrum resources: the switch to digital TV, the Digital Dividend.