Senior telecommunications regulators and industry experts from across South Asia have gathered in the Maldives for a strategic forum focused on accelerating the adoption and integration of emerging technologies in the region’s communications infrastructure.
Organised by the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators Council (SATRC) under the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), the three-day event runs from 12 to 14 August and marks the third time the Maldives has hosted the initiative. Thirty delegates from eight South Asian nations, including representatives from major Maldivian telecommunications firms, are participating.
Opening the forum, Dr Mohamed Kinaanath, State Minister at the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, highlighted the Maldives’ progress in telecommunications despite logistical and developmental challenges. He outlined the sector’s evolution from the introduction of 3G mobile services to the expansion of 4G between 2010 and 2020, followed by the establishment of 5G infrastructure in 2019.
He also pointed to last year’s nationwide rollout of the Fibre to the Home (FTTH) network, describing it as a major step towards equitable digital access. The initiative, he said, forms part of the government’s wider digital transformation agenda under the ‘Maldives 2.0’ policy, which aims to ensure all citizens can benefit from technological advancements.
The forum’s discussions are expected to address operational and regulatory challenges linked to the deployment of new technologies. Dr Kinaanath expressed confidence that the exchanges would help strengthen the quality, resilience, and accessibility of telecommunication services across the region.
Speaking to state media, Ilyas Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Communications Authority of Maldives, said participants will assess the implications of emerging technologies and share best practices for their effective implementation. He added that the platform supports regional collaboration, allowing member states to exchange strategies for advancing communications through innovation.
