IIC’s annual Communications Policy and Regulation Week 2026 is taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The IIC’s 57th Annual Conference begins with a Welcome Reception on the evening of 13 October, followed by the conference programme on 14–15 October 2026.

Regulators, policy makers, industry and civil society will join panels and breakout sessions addressing the big questions and issues facing the sector.

57th Annual Conference Key Themes:

• Digital infrastructure, data centres, cloud and AI – digital sovereignty, security, sustainability and regulation
• Cybersecurity coordination and investment – priorities for regulators, industry and civil society
• Online safety & consumer protection – regulating platform design; practical enforceability of under-15/under-16 social media restrictions
• eCommerce as a driver of innovation and digital inclusion – competition and regulatory considerations, consumer protection, data privacy and online safety
• Space and satellite – technological and licensing innovation to help reach remote/underserved areas; cooperation between new and existing satellite operators and MNOs; authorisation expectations
• End-to-end solutions for scams and fraud prevention – governance frameworks for collaboration between telcos, banks and digital platforms; cross-sector intelligence sharing; multi-regulator oversight and dispute resolution
• Agentic AI governance and accountability for autonomous digital systems that can search, transact, advise, code, negotiate and trigger workflows. Regulatory and industry responses.
• Public service broadcasting – what role in contemporary society? Functions, funding
• Inclusive digital access – digital ID, digital wallets, interoperable public services, safeguards against exclusion, accessibility for people with disabilities and elderly citizens
• Towards 6G – separating reality from hype. Spectrum requirements, realistic coverage, killer applications and business models

Panel: Connectivity for all: unlocking digital inclusion in Asia and the Pacific

Kalvin Bahia, Principal Economist, will be joining an industry expert panel on day 2 of IIC Annual Conference  to discuss

• Just over 45% of the world’s unconnected population lives in developing Asia and the Pacific

• Achieving universal connectivity is therefore no longer solely about expanding network coverage, but about enabling people to access and use mobile internet confidently, safely, and meaningfully

• Key findings from the newly launched joint ADB-GSMA report will be shared

• The panel will explore how coordinated efforts encompassing policy, investment, digital skills, affordability, and trust can help ensure that everyone can benefit from an increasingly digital future.