Tuesday, 20 October 2020
We are living in unprecedented times. Globalization, exponential technological change, climate crisis - and now COVID-19. However, to quote Albert Einstein: “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity”. Our challenge is use the pandemic as an opportunity to change our societies, environment and lives for the better. The Ministerial Roundtable will bring together ministers, regulators and private sector leaders to examine the significance of connectivity in the light of the global pandemic and explore the future role of digital technologies in national digital strategies. It is also an opportunity for the public and the private sector to exchange views, align supply and demand in connectivity, and define a faster way for economic recovery through collaboration.
The knowledge shared and conclusions drawn within this high-level roundtable will be made available to anyone interested in seeing how the leaders of today define ourchanging digital needs and foresee our digital future.
Questions for ministers:
- What changes in policies have been/are being pursued as a result of COVID 19?
- Will national digital strategies need to be adapted going forward as a result of the pandemic – and if so, how?
- Which industry sectors will governments focus on following the global health crisis?
- What needs to be done to make digital technologies more accessible and affordable at a national level?
Question for regulators:
- How has the pandemic transformed regulatory priorities?
- What single regulatory action will in your opinion advance digitalization and connectivity for all?
Question for private sector executives:
- What are your company’s priorities to help accelerating economic recovery?
- What new business opportunities have arisen from the pandemic?
- How does the pandemic affect your company’s business model - and what changes may have to be made?
- Which products and services will drive economic uptake, and how will this affect the business models?
HOULIN ZHAO
Secretary-General
International Telecommunication Union
Switzerland
MALCOLM JOHNSON
Deputy Secretary-General
International Telecommunication Union
Switzerland
Nguyen Manh Hung
Minister
Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC)
Viet Nam
Mohamed Maleeh Jamal
Minister of Communication, Science and Technology
Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology
Maldives
Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy
Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy
Nigeria
Iyad al-Khatib
Minister
Ministry of Communications and Technology
Syrian Arab Republic
Pilvi Torsti
State Secretary
Ministry of Transport and Communications
Finland
Mirella Liuzzi
Secretary of State
Ministry of Economic Development
Italy
Isaías Barreto da Rosa
Président du Conseil d'Administration
Agência Reguladora Multissectorial da Economia (ARME)
Cabo Verde
Hossam El-Gamal
Executive President
National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA)
Egypt
Ghazi Al-Jobor
Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and CEO
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC)
Jordan
Battsengel Bolor-Erdene
Chairwoman
Communications and Information Technology Authority (CITA)
Mongolia
Keng Thai Leong
Director-General (International Affairs)
InfoComm Media Development Authority
Singapore
Christopher Wellise
Chief Sustainability Officer
Hewlett-Packard Co.
United States
The COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across the globe has highlighted the critical importance of digital technologies in connecting usfor health, work, education, information and communication at a uniquely stressful and difficult time. It has also clearly exposed the contrasts between connected and unconnected societies and individuals. For many, access to high-speed reliable connectivity, digital tools and skills has been a lifeline enabling work, study and social lives to continue – often with even greater ease andconvenience than before. But for those who have not been able to access, rely on or afford the benefits of digital technologies, the impact of the pandemic has been dramatic. The digital inequality gap is widening. How can governments and private sectors work together with the help of the international community to mobilize resources, invest in network deployment, and provide services and applications to close the digital divide?
• What are the best strategies and policies to reach the unconnected? Do we neednew, more focused business models?
• What are the most cost-effective and/or fit-for purpose new or emerging technologies?
• How can the costs of network deployment, operation and maintenance be cut?
• How can we ensure that new networks complement existing infrastructure?
• Is the current pandemic enough stimulus to drive demand, or are other demand-side initiatives needed? If so, what should they be, and who should be responsible?
• How can we foster the right digital skills and create the most appropriate content to drive awareness, demand and digital literacy?
Wednesday, 21 October 2020
We are living in unprecedented times. Globalization, exponential technological change, climate crisis - and now COVID-19. However, to quote Albert Einstein: “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity”. Our challenge is use the pandemic as an opportunity to change our societies, environment and lives for the better. The Ministerial Roundtable will bring together ministers, regulators and private sector leaders to examine the significance of connectivity in the light of the global pandemic and explore the future role of digital technologies in national digital strategies. It is also an opportunity for the public and the private sector to exchange views, align supply and demand in connectivity, and define a faster way for economic recovery through collaboration.
The knowledge shared and conclusions drawn within this high-level roundtable will be made available to anyone interested in seeing how the leaders of today define ourchanging digital needs and foresee our digital future.
Questions for ministers:
- What changes in policies have been/are being pursued as a result of COVID 19?
- Will national digital strategies need to be adapted going forward as a result of the pandemic – and if so, how?
- Which industry sectors will governments focus on following the global health crisis?
- What needs to be done to make digital technologies more accessible and affordable at a national level?
Question for regulators:
- How has the pandemic transformed regulatory priorities?
- What single regulatory action will in your opinion advance digitalization and connectivity for all?
Question for private sector executives:
- What are your company’s priorities to help accelerating economic recovery?
- What new business opportunities have arisen from the pandemic?
- How does the pandemic affect your company’s business model - and what changes may have to be made?
- Which products and services will drive economic uptake, and how will this affect the business models?
Nguyen Manh Hung
Minister
Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC)
Viet Nam
HOULIN ZHAO
Secretary-General
International Telecommunication Union
Switzerland
Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau
International Telecommunication Union
Switzerland
Masayoshi Shintani
State Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Japan
Thansamay Kommasith
Minister of Post, Telecommunications and Communications
Ministry of Post and Telecommunications
Lao P.D.R.
Paola Vega Castillo
Minister
Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones
Costa Rica
Mercedes Aramendia
President
Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones (URSEC)
Uruguay
Frédéric Genta
Country Chief Digital Officer
Ministère d'Etat
Monaco
Amir Azeem Bajwa
Chairman
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)
Pakistan
Iván Antonio Mantilla Gaviria
Vice minister of connectivity and digitalization
Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones
Colombia
Vitalie Tarlev
State Secretary for ICT
Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure of the Republic of Moldova
Moldova
Allyson West
Minister
Ministry of Public Administration and Digital Transformation (MPADT)
Trinidad and Tobago
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Attorney-General and Minister for Finance, Public Enterprises, Public Service and Communications
Ministry of Communications
Fiji
Johnny Gerard Plate
Minister
Ministry of Communications and Informatics
Indonesia
Julie Welch
Vice President, Government Affairs, APAC
Qualcomm (Hong Kong, China)
China
D. Roberto Sánchez
Secretario de Estado
Secretaría de Estado de Telecomunicaciones e Infraestructuras Digitales
Spain
Ali Naser Al-Khwildi
Chief Executive Officer
Communications and Media Commission (CMC)
Iraq
We have entered the era of 5G. Its unprecedented potential to power the digital economy and transform industries, businesses andsocieties is becoming a reality in different markets and geographies. Which applications are driving demand and adoption at present?What is 5G’s key value proposition? Who are the main users of networks, services and applications – now, and in the future? What policy or regulatory approaches can promote cross-sector collaboration and encourage investment? How can 5G be employed toaddress basic humanitarian needs, rather than being limited to commercial and industrial growth? And how should industry leaders and policy makers address emerging concerns in areas such as exposure to EMF, privacy issues and network operational costs?
Thursday, 22 October 2020
We are living in unprecedented times. Globalization, exponential technological change, climate crisis - and now COVID-19. However, to quote Albert Einstein: “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity”. Our challenge is use the pandemic as an opportunity to change our societies, environment and lives for the better. The Ministerial Roundtable will bring together ministers, regulators and private sector leaders to examine the significance of connectivity in the light of the global pandemic and explore the future role of digital technologies in national digital strategies. It is also an opportunity for the public and the private sector to exchange views, align supply and demand in connectivity, and define a faster way for economic recovery through collaboration.
The knowledge shared and conclusions drawn within this high-level roundtable will be made available to anyone interested in seeing how the leaders of today define ourchanging digital needs and foresee our digital future.
Questions for ministers:
- What changes in policies have been/are being pursued as a result of COVID 19?
- Will national digital strategies need to be adapted going forward as a result of the pandemic – and if so, how?
- Which industry sectors will governments focus on following the global health crisis?
- What needs to be done to make digital technologies more accessible and affordable at a national level?
Question for regulators:
- How has the pandemic transformed regulatory priorities?
- What single regulatory action will in your opinion advance digitalization and connectivity for all?
Question for private sector executives:
- What are your company’s priorities to help accelerating economic recovery?
- What new business opportunities have arisen from the pandemic?
- How does the pandemic affect your company’s business model - and what changes may have to be made?
- Which products and services will drive economic uptake, and how will this affect the business models?
Nguyen Manh Hung
Minister
Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC)
Viet Nam
HOULIN ZHAO
Secretary-General
International Telecommunication Union
Switzerland
MARIO MANIEWICZ
Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau
International Telecommunication Union
Switzerland
Lina Rainiene
Deputy Director General
Communications Regulatory Authority
Lithuania
Gift Kallisto Machengete
Director General
Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ)
Zimbabwe
Sattar Hashemi
Deputy Minster for Technology and Innovation
Ministry of Information & Communication Technology (MICT)
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Mercy Wanjau
Acting Director General
Communications Authority of Kenya (CA)
Kenya
Deepak Balgobin
Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation
Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation
Mauritius
As our increasingly connected digital world expands, so too does our vulnerability to cyber-attack at personal, industrial and national levels. Breaches in security, whether malicious or accidental, can lead to abuse and misuse of data, potentially putting ourfinances, health and personal lives at risk. This is particularly true now that the pandemic has moved so many of our business and social activities online. What role do simple “cyber hygiene” measures have to play in protecting us from cyber threats? Is “cyber immunity” possible – and if so, how can it be implemented? What other tools can we use to mitigate the risks during our online experience? What is the role of government, the private sector, or educational systems? Given the borderless,international nature of data flows, how can we best design and enforce regulations to protect end users and business data? How can global collaboration lead to the adoption of effective cybersecurity measures?
Wednesday, 18 November 2020
There is no doubting the growing momentum of tech startups. But despite increasing influxes of capital, questions remain on their ability to scale into new markets. This e-masterclass will provide best practices and guidelines to tech startups seeking international expansion. It will address the big challenges underlying successful internationalization and provide insights into how tech startups can create structures to support high growth and develop a successful, executable Go-to-Market Strategy. Experts will presentcase studies of tech startups, sharing their mistakes and successes. This e-masterclass is targeted at tech startups aiming to expand internationally, entrepreneurs, VCs, angel investors, tech hubs and anyone interested in the growing tech ecosystem.