South Asian Synergy: SATRC Workshop Spotlights Telecom Transformation
An international workshop titled SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services under the Asian Telecommunication Regulators' Council commenced in Dhaka on Monday, with representatives from nine countries, including Bangladesh and Iran, participating. Against the backdrop of global and evolving technological landscapes, the workshop is addressing ongoing developments in telecommunications policies, regulations, and services. Regulators from Afghanistan, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka have joined the sessions.
The three-day workshop, consisting of 10 sessions, is hosting around 200 participants, including senior officials from regulatory commissions, telecom operators, and telecommunications technology manufacturers.
The event was inaugurated in the morning at the conference room of the BTRC building in Agargaon by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser responsible for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.
In his keynote speech, he emphasized the importance of creating a welfare-oriented ecosystem among South Asian and Pacific countries by exchanging knowledge and experiences on new and emerging technologies such as AI, 5G, IoT, cloud computing, and blockchain.
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb stated, "Equal participation of the people must be ensured in frontier and emerging technologies like AI, 5G, and IoT. At the same time, a shared knowledge hub must be established. Only then can we all benefit equally. Otherwise, the power of these technologies will not serve the people. Sharing knowledge is crucial for establishing sustainable development resources."
He also cautioned that telecom policies and regulations must ensure no one is left behind.
"Each country in South Asia is facing similar challenges due to rapid technological changes," he said. "Even the telecom industry is undergoing transformation. The relentless pace of technology increases security risks, which can impact society, the economy, and employment. It is now imperative to make quality internet services affordable and to expand digital services."
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb noted that regulatory challenges are more severe in South Asia compared to Western countries.
"Our regulators are constantly pressured by citizens to provide affordable internet and digital services. Including everyone in the digital transformation remains a significant challenge. We must identify these challenges and turn them into opportunities by formulating a welfare-centric policy."
The event was presided over by Masanori Kondo, Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity. Welcome remarks were delivered by Major General (Retd.) Md. Emdad-Ul-Bari, Chairman of BTRC.
Dr. Khawar Siddique Khokhar, Member of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and Chair of the SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services, attended as the Special Guest.
