Session
APNIC Foundation
Rajnesh Singh, CEO, APNIC Foundation. Technical Community, WEOG Omar Ansari, APNIC Foundation, Technical Community, AP Lima Madomi, AFSIG, Civil Society, AP
Rajnesh Singh, CEO, APNIC Foundation, Technical Community, WEOG). Aminu Maida, CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission, Government, Africa. (invited) Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Commission of Bangladesh. Government, AP. (invited) Ilyas Ahmed, CEO, Communications Authority of Maldives, Government, AP (invited) Dr. Khawar Siddique Khokhar, Compliance and Enforcement, Pakistan Telecom Authority. Government, AP. (invited) Adeo Ressi, CEO/Chair, VC Lab/ Founder Institute. Private Sector, WEOG. (invited) Nick Clegg, President, Global Affairs, Meta. Government, WEOG. (invited) Amrita Choudhury, Chair, Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum, Civil Society, AP.
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the Goals
Targets: - Quality Education (SDG 4): By addressing internet connectivity challenges, the session contributes to improving access to quality education (4.1), enhancing digital literacy (4.4). - Gender Equality (SDG 5): The session aims to address the gender digital divide by promoting internet connectivity and digital inclusion, contributing to achieving gender equality (5.1), empowering women and girls through technology (5.5). - Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8): By fostering innovation and enhancing internet infrastructure, the session supports economic growth (8.1), and promotes entrepreneurship (8.3). Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9): The session focuses on enhancing infrastructure and fostering innovation, aligning with SDG 9's targets related to building resilient infrastructure (9.1), and fostering innovation (9.5). - Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11): Improved internet connectivity contributes to building sustainable cities and communities by enhancing access to ICT (11.1). - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16): By promoting internet connectivity and digital inclusion, the session supports peace, justice, and strong institutions by facilitating access to information (16.10). - Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17): The session embodies the spirit of partnership and collaboration by bringing together stakeholders to address internet connectivity challenges, contributing to achieving SDG 17's targets related to multi-stakeholder partnerships (17.17) and enhancing global cooperation (17.16).
Theater
- Keynote and Panel Discussion: the session begin with a keynote speech by a chief guest, followed by a panel of experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to share insights and experiences in addressing connectivity challenges across select developing countries. It will also facilitate discussions on specific topics such as policy recommendations, technology deployment strategies, or community engagement models. - Project Pitch Presentations: selected projects to pitch ideas, impact potential, scalability, and funding requirements to a panel of donors/experts. - Case Studies: The session will present successful case studies of connectivity projects highlighting lessons learned and best practices. Interactive Q&A: The session will encourage participants to ask questions, provide feedback, and offer insights on projects and strategies. - Networking and Collaboration Session: The session will be concluded with a networking opportunities for donors, stakeholders, and project teams to explore potential partnerships, funding opportunities, and collaboration avenues.
Developing economies face pressing issues of connectivity by hosting the majority of 2.6 billion offline people, with 57% of them in South Asia. Notably, in six of the South Asian economies, over 50% of the population lacks Internet access: Afghanistan (82%), Pakistan (79%), Bangladesh (61%), Sri Lanka (56%), India (54%), Nepal (50.4%). Other regions with significant offline population include Nigeria (54.5%), Indonesia (33.5%) and China (23.6%). Asia alone harbors 1.92b offline people making it the most offline region globally. This session aims to identify innovative solutions to boost Internet access and drive digital progress in underserved regions. The session is bringing together innovators, investors, donors, and others to work together, share ideas, and explore investment and funding options for expanding connectivity projects. Together, the participants will tackle current challenges, discuss policies, and brainstorm ways to bridge the digital gap. Moreover, the session will raise awareness among investors and donors about the digital future of offline communities, while also getting governments, industries, and civil societies engaged. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss ideas, projects, digital infrastructure, and explore investment opportunities and collaboration strategies. By the end of the session, we hope to have showcased some groundbreaking projects, identified investment and collaboration opportunities, shared insights on policy and regulation, and forged new partnerships—all with the goal of making digital inclusion a reality for everyone.
To ensure an engaging hybrid session, we will employ several strategies: - Our main moderator will be participating on site. - We will designate a skilled remote moderator to facilitate seamless interaction between onsite and online speakers and attendees. - The moderator will actively manage discussions, ensuring all voices are heard and questions are addressed. - We will design the session with a balanced focus on both onsite and online participants, utilizing visual aids and clear communication to maintain engagement across both platforms. - We will leverage online tools/platforms such as interactives, chat features, and collaborative document sharing to enhance participation and interaction. - We will prioritize accessibility and interactivity to create a cohesive and inclusive experience for all participants, regardless of their location.