Pakistan to host ITU Asia-Pacific Regulators’ Roundtable

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is going to host one of the biggest telecom events from 18-22 July 2016, where Secretary General International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Houlin Zhao will also participate.

The event is being organised by PTA in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the title “ITU-PTA Asia-Pacific Regulators’ Roundtable” and the “ITU-PTA International Training Programmeme (ITP) 2016”.

Briefing the media about the event, PTA chairman said that representatives from 23 countries from Asia Pacific Region including India will participate in this international event.

Mr. Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General, ITU, Anusha Rahman Khan, Minister of State of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Chairman PTA Dr. Syed Ismial Shah, Representatives from telecom mobile operators, internet service providers, academic institutions, banks, ICT entrepreneurs, and commercial companies will attend inaugural session of this international event.

Giving the details of the event, PTA chairman said that the Regulator Roundtable will be held from 18th to 19th July, 2016. This Regulators’ Roundtable is the 6th consecutive time since the Asia-Pacific Region took the initiative to organize the annual Roundtable to provide telecommunication/ICT regulators in the region with a platform that fosters dynamic and strategic discussions, sharing information, relevant experiences and practices as well as conclusively debate on possible solutions and opportunities for potential collaboration to address emerging regulatory issues and challenges.

This is being for the first time in Pakistan, he added. PTA chairman further said that the training programmeme will be held from 20th to 22 July, 2016. This programme will build skills to address the policy and regulatory issues in the era beyond convergence of telecommunications, information technology.

In particular, the event will focus on the implications of a smartly digital society for collaborative regulation. The training programmeme will highlight the building blocks required to ensure regulatory measures remain relevant and appropriate for the new environment. It will bring together international experiences in this area with a focus on Pakistan’s experiences and the lessons learnt.

Some of the key topics that will be taken up in training sessions are broadband for networked society, digital financial inclusion and mobile apps, cyber security, consumer protection & quality of Service, OTT players: challenges and opportunities, regulatory impact assessment, spectrum management and ICT for Persons with disabilities & women empowerment, Chairman added.