SATRC 25th Edition Begins, Inaugurated by Minister Scindia

India’s Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, inaugurated the 25th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-25) in New Delhi. In his keynote address, Scindia highlighted India’s role as the “Voice of the Global South” and emphasized that SATRC-25 would be a vital platform for knowledge-sharing and innovative discussions on new policy and regulatory challenges.

Inauguration and Keynote

• Inaugurated by India’s Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, in New Delhi.
• Scindia emphasized India’s emerging role as the “Voice of the Global South” and highlighted SATRC-25 as a platform for sharing knowledge and perspectives on regulatory challenges.
• Urged regulatory bodies to create policies focused on a “secure, safe and standards-driven future.”

Participants and Dignitaries

Attendees included Heads of Regulators and affiliate members from SATRC member countries,

• Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Other dignitaries

• 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.
• Atul Kumar Choudhary, Secretary of TRAI.

India’s Digital Transformation

• Scindia underscored India’s growth in digital infrastructure with 1.2 billion telephones and 970 million internet users.
• India’s digital economy has expanded from 3.5% to 10% of the national economy in the last decade and is expected to reach 20% by 2026-27.
• Called for collaboration among SATRC nations on issues like digital inclusivity, sustainable network infrastructure, and consumer protection.

South Asia’s Role in Global ICT

• Emphasized the region’s importance in global ICT development and the need for regulations that foster innovation and inclusivity.
• Highlighted the transformative potential of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) in extending telecom coverage to remote areas.

Event Focus and Objectives

• Organized by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and hosted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
• A three-day event (11-13 November 2024) bringing together regional experts, international delegates, and industry representatives.
• Key agenda items include radio frequency coordination, telecommunication strategies, regulatory trends, and international telecom affairs.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	25th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-25)
Inauguration	Inaugurated by Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, in New Delhi
Keynote Highlights by Scindia	Emphasized India’s role as “Voice of the Global South” and called for collaborative, secure, and standards-driven telecom policies
India’s Digital Growth	1.2 billion telephones, 970 million internet users; digital economy growing rapidly (projected to reach 20% by 2026-27)
Focus Areas	Digital inclusivity, sustainable infrastructure, consumer protection, innovation in regulation
Objectives and Discussions	Knowledge sharing, regional cooperation, and policy harmonization for sustainable growth
Event Details	Organized by Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and hosted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).; runs from November 11-13, 2024