The 25th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-25) was held in New Delhi, India, from November 11 to 13, 2024, bringing together regulators, industry leaders, and experts from across South Asia. Hosted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), the event focused on the theme “Accelerating Telecommunication and ICT Development for Growth and Inclusiveness,” aiming to drive digital transformation for economic and social prosperity in the region.
The meeting was inaugurated by Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Hon’ble Minister of Communications and Minister of Development of the North-Eastern Region, in the presence of Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Rural Development. Mr. Masanori Kondo, Secretary General of the APT, attended all three days of the event. During the meeting, Mr. Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman of TRAI, was elected as the Chair of SATRC.
SATRC, an initiative under the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity, promotes regional cooperation and harmonized regulatory practices across the telecommunications sector in South Asia. Member countries include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The council aims to create a digitally inclusive society by fostering regulatory innovation, policy alignment, and collaboration to bridge digital divides in the region.
The SATRC-25 agenda addressed critical issues in the telecommunications and ICT sectors. Highlights included a Regulators’ Roundtable discussion, a Regulatory-Industry Dialogue, and industry sessions that provided a platform for the telecommunications and ICT sectors to discuss regulatory challenges and share perspectives. Participants shared policy and regulatory best practices, particularly those supporting digital transformation in the economy and society.
Progress on the implementation of SATRC Action Plan Phase IX was reviewed, with updates provided by the Chairs of the SATRC Working Groups. The meeting also evaluated the activities and budget implementation of the Action Plan Phase IX for 2025.
The hybrid event saw active participation, with about 120 delegates from over 10 countries, including nine Heads of Regulators or Heads of Delegation from SATRC members. Representatives from the telecom industry also engaged extensively in the discussions.
SATRC-25 concluded with a call to action for regulators in the member countries to exchange best practices and collaborate on addressing challenges posed by emerging technologies and services, reinforcing the commitment to fostering a harmonized and inclusive telecommunications ecosystem in South Asia.
