Specific Issues for Discussion:
South Asia is home to a staggering 57% of the world’s offline population, accounting for over 1.49 billion individuals, as reported by the ITU’s 2022 World Telecom/ICT Indicators Database. In five South Asian economies—Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India—over 50% of the population remains offline. Bridging this digital gap is imperative not only for ensuring equitable access to information and opportunities, but also for fostering social inclusion and economic development.
Organised by APNIC Foundation’s Digital Leap South Asia Project, the session will explore multifaceted challenges hindering Internet connectivity in South Asia and explore actionable strategies to address them.
Key topics for discussion include:
- Current State of Connectivity: Understanding existing Internet access disparities in South Asia, including limitations in infrastructure, gaps in digital literacy, and issues related to affordability.
- Policy Frameworks and Regulatory Measures: Assessing the effectiveness of current policies in promoting connectivity and digital inclusion, and discussing the need for adaptive frameworks to foster innovation while safeguarding consumer rights and privacy.
- Innovative Technologies: Highlighting technologies like fiber, wireless, satellite, and community networks, and discussing their potential to extend Internet access to underserved communities.
- Partnerships for Accelerating Connectivity: Exploring the role of public-private partnerships and regional cooperation initiatives in accelerating connectivity efforts, and identifying opportunities for stakeholder engagement and resource mobilisation.
- Role of Regional Internet Registry and Foundations: Introducing the contributions of organisations, such as RIRs, in capacity-building, policy reform, and infrastructure development in South Asia.
