Representatives from governments, business and civil society from across the globe will converge in London on November 1 and 2 to discuss the future of cyberspace, its social benefits and international security.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Head of the UN Development Programme Helen Clark and several other world leaders are expected to participate in the conference.

London is partnering with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Chatham House to ensure that all the key actors in cyberspace are represented.

Writing an article on the issue, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the advent and development of cyberspace is transforming our world and revolutionising our everyday lives.

"This may become a global challenge and require a global, co-ordinated response. However, until now, the debate around what form this response should take has been fragmented and lacked focus," he said.

Hague said together everyone must begin to address how one can maintain the economic and social benefits of the Internet and guard against the cyber threats without suffocating future innovation.

"The rapid development of the Web, with its incredible connective power, has created enormous economic and social opportunities which we couldn't have foreseen less than two decades ago," he said.

But the rise of the networked world has also produced significant challenges which undermine these benefits and pose a serious threat to reaping the full potential of a cyber world.

"In London, we hope to set an agenda that will allow the world to enjoy the full benefits of a safe and secure cyberspace for generations to come," he said.