Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on Monday inaugurated the 25th meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-25) in New Delhi. In his keynote address, Scindia stated, “As India emerges as the voice of the Global South, the SATRC-25 will serve as an excellent platform for knowledge-sharing and a confluence of innovative perspectives on emerging policy and regulatory challenges.” He further stressed that “secure, safe and standard driven future” should guide the creation of policies by regulatory bodies.

The minister was addressing a distinguished gathering of heads of regulators and affiliate members from SATRC member countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Other dignitaries present included Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Masanori Kondo, Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), Major General (Retd) Mohammad Emdad Ul Bari, Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman of TRAI, and Atul Kumar Choudhary, Secretary of TRAI.

Underscoring India’s leadership in digital infrastructure development, the minister highlighted the country’s commitment to expanding broadband access, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and promoting an inclusive digital ecosystem. “With an extraordinary 1.2 billion telephones and 970 million internet subscribers, India emerges as a digital titan, characterized by a rapidly evolving digital economy now comprising 10% of our overall economic landscape—an impressive leap from just 3.5% a decade ago. As our digital economy flourishes at a pace 2.8 times swifter than the national economy, we anticipate it will reach an astounding 20% by 2026-27.” Scindia urged SATRC member nations to collaborate on key issues such as digital inclusivity, sustainable network infrastructure, and consumer protection. “South Asia must unite in its efforts to build a connected, resilient, and sustainable future,” he said, envisioning a region that thrives on shared values and mutual support.

The minister also pointed out that South Asia plays a crucial role in global ICT development and stressed the need for regulations that inspire innovation while ensuring inclusivity. Talking about new technological advancements, he shared, “The advent of NonTerrestrial Networks (NTNs) — presents a transformative opportunity to extend telecom coverage to the most remote corners of our nations. I am optimistic that the evolution of NTNs will unlock new vistas in communication technologies, igniting innovative applications across diverse sectors, and ultimately advancing our collective journey towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).”

MoS Dr Chandra Sekhar reiterated the transformative power of telecommunications in empowering individuals and communities. He highlighted India’s commitment to driving digital transformation across South Asia, while calling for regulatory policies that balance innovation with consumer protection.

Masanori Kondo, Secretary General of APT, emphasized the APT’s mission to support a sustainable and inclusive digital ecosystem throughout Asia. He called for regional cooperation to create harmonized policies that facilitate seamless communication and drive economic growth.

The Chairman of TRAI, Anil Kumar Lahoti, also welcomed the gathering on behalf of TRAI, emphasizing India’s role in fostering cross-border partnerships to ensure equitable access to digital resources and bridge the digital divide.

The Chair of SATRC, Major General (Retd) Mohammad Emdad Ul Bari, Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, reflected on SATRC’s two decades of progress and expressed optimism for future cooperation in the region, leveraging digital transformation to improve citizens’ lives across South Asia.

The event, organized by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and hosted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), brings together experts, international delegates, industry representatives, and service providers from across the region to discuss telecommunication regulations and policy challenges. The three-day meeting, from November 11-13, will focus on issues such as radio frequency coordination, telecommunication development strategies, regulatory trends, and international telecommunication affairs.