SATRC-27 Advances Regional Cooperation for a Connected and Resilient South Asia
The 27th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-27) was held from 20 to 22 October 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The meeting was hosted by Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL). It was attended by 70 participants representing 9 SATRC Members, 1 other APT Member, 9 Affiliate Members and 1 International Organization. The keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka, Presidential Secretariat, Sri Lanka.
SATRC-27 elected Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Mr. Bandula Herath, Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, as the Chair of SATRC, and Mr. Arjun Ghimire, Chairman of Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), as the Vice-Chair of SATRC.
The meeting discussed the key policy and regulatory issues in the SATRC countries and reviewed the implementation of SATRC Action Plan Phase X adopted at SATRC-26. The meeting included sessions for Regulators’ Roundtable, Industry-Regulator Dialogue, Industry Session, and Sharing Best Practices and Regulatory experiences by SATRC Members.
The theme for this year’s Regulators’ Roundtable was ‘Regional cooperation and roadmap on addressing critical contemporary policy and regulatory challenges in the telecommunication/ICT sector’. The theme for Regulator-Industry Dialogue was ‘Evolving regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies such as AI, 6G, digital platforms, and satellite broadband’.
Those two featured dialogues provided opportunities for regulators and industry representatives to exchange views on artificial intelligence, 6G, digital platforms and satellite broadband, highlighting the need for adaptable regulatory frameworks that encouraged investment and innovation while protecting consumers. Some discussions emphasized cybersecurity cooperation, efficient spectrum management, improved service quality and disaster-resilient infrastructure, including submarine cables. SATRC Members also shared experiences in rural connectivity, infrastructure sharing, affordable devices, digital literacy and measures to combat fraud and spam.
The meeting also reviewed progress under SATRC Action Plan Phase X (2026–2027) and approved the tentative event calendar for 2027. SATRC Members were encouraged to strengthen voluntary financial support for SATRC activities and fellowships.
The 28th Meeting of the SATRC will be hosted by Nepal Telecommunications Authority in Nepal in the fourth quarter of 2027.
The meeting concluded with calls for closer regional coordination and practical action to bridge the digital divide, strengthen infrastructure resilience and translate connectivity into sustainable economic opportunities across South Asia.