By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief

With just under a month to go, arrangements for the Comms Policy & Regulation Week, holding 4-7 November, in Bangkok, Thailand,  organised by the International Institute of Communications(IIC), have  gathered  momentum as another terrific meeting where its members and associates experience the true value of the IIC’s unique convening qualities awaits.

Speakers representing regulators, industry and civil society are continuing to confirm their places on the agenda at the annual event and the IIC is looking forward to welcoming many new faces as well as familiar ones.

Some of the confirmed speakers at the event include:

·         Director International Relations and Postal Regulation, BNetzA; Co-Chair BEREC Remedies EWG, Annegret Groebel

·         Director (Network Project Office), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singapore,  Ben Wong

·         President, Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission (EETT); Vice-Chair BEREC 2024,  Konstantinos Masselos

·         Chairperson, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), Mothibi Ramusi

·         Head of Asia Pacific Public Policy and Regulatory Counsel, Verizon Communications, Priya Mahajan

·         Director, Regulatory Affairs (APAC), AT&T, Amit Kushwaha

·         Director and Global Head of Connectivity Policy Strategy, Meta; Director, IIC, Nina Cummins

·         Public Policy Director, Netflix Pte Ltd, Ruben Hattari

·         Executive Director, Global Policy and Government Affairs, Asia Pacific, Cisco Systems, Seow Hiong Goh

·         General Manager, Regulatory Affairs, nbn™, Australia,  Sarah Alderson

·         Director of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Astro, Rita Irina Wahab

·         Senior Manager, Global Public Affairs, Tencent,  Yee Ler Lau

·         Senior Advisor, The Blue Owl Group,  Agung Yudha

·         Partner, Tilleke & Gibbins,  Charuwan Charoonchitsathian

·         Programme  Director, Asian Network for Public Opinion Research (ANPOR) Dhanaraj Kheokao

·         Chief Policy Officer, Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) Clare Bloomfield

According to information e-obtained from the Director-General at IIC, Ms.  Lynn Robinson, “at the International Regulators Forum, discussion will flow under the Chatham House Rule. Earlier this year our members selected the themes they would most like to discuss with their peers from around the world; hence they will be sharing regulatory and policy decision-making concerning:

Artificial intelligence / Mobile network evolution / Digital platforms / LEO satellites / Online safety / Audio sharing platforms / Universal service / Scams and fraud.”

The 55th Annual Conference kicks off with a by-invitation breakfast roundtable: Innovation in entertainment – navigating, embracing and shaping the future, to be highlighted by:

*Founder and CEO, Westworld, Daniel Son

*Emerging Media Programme Executive Committee Member, Co-Lead AI Working Group, Television Academy, Cristina Lee Storm

*Chief Technology Officer, Wētā FX, Kimball Thurston

Plenary sessions and interactive breakouts provide ample opportunity to hear a range of perspectives and experiences on telco, AV and digital themes including:

– Broadband investment, rollout and affordability

– Horizontal regulation for the digital economy

– Responsible AI

– New frontiers for media regulation

– Tackling the disinformation battle

– Content moderation and age classification

– Competition in digital markets

– New paradigms in spectrum management

– Climate change, sustainability and the ‘twin transition’ 

– Tackling the cyberthreat landscape

Registration is still open.