Jia Rong Low, the newly appointed Director General of the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), sees Bangladesh as poised for significant digital transformation. Speaking at the APRICOT 2025 & APNIC 59 conference in Malaysia, Low discussed the country’s progress in areas such as IPv6 deployment, policy participation, and community engagement, while also addressing the challenges ahead.
In an exclusive interview, Low shared his perspective on how Bangladesh can sustain its internet development momentum.
Q: How do you view the current state of Bangladesh’s internet infrastructure and its operational community?
Bangladesh ranks second among APNIC’s direct membership economies and is the fastest-growing, reflecting a strong increase in local internet operator activity. Over the past four years, APNIC has conducted 27 training workshops in Bangladesh, which highlights both the demand for and the level of engagement in the country’s digital ecosystem. This growth not only benefits the local internet infrastructure but also contributes to broader economic development. I believe this is just the beginning for Bangladesh.
Q: What is your view on participation from non-technical actors, such as policymakers and journalists, in technical events like APNIC and APRICOT?
The landscape is shifting. At ICANN, we’ve observed increasing engagement from policymakers, and APNIC has followed a similar trajectory. What began as a platform for technical discussions is now more inclusive, with contributors from policy-focused community members. For example, Shaila Sharmin from Bangladesh, co-chair of the Policy SIG, exemplifies the growing interest from regional regulators and journalists. While participation often depends on the relevance of the topic, such as privacy and legal frameworks in WHOIS policy discussions, there is growing engagement.
Q: With significant membership in Bangladesh, what are APNIC’s regular activities for local members? How might this support evolve?
APNIC has focused extensively on training, as evidenced by the 27 workshops I mentioned. Additionally, we collaborate with local Network Operator Groups (NOGs), providing a platform for continued engagement. Recently, we updated our strategic plan to focus on three main pillars, one of which is creating a knowledge exchange space. This unified approach aims to foster more cohesive dialogue across various platforms, including blogs, podcasts, mailing lists, and conferences. For Bangladesh, this means supporting IPv6 and RPKI adoption, which has seen an increase from 2% to 19%. However, smaller operators still lag behind. The challenge now is to determine whether more training is the solution or if different incentives or interventions are needed.
Q: Bangladeshi members currently benefit from a discounted fee as an LDC. With graduation forecast for 2027, what’s APNIC’s plan regarding membership fees?
APNIC offers a 50% discount to members from least developed countries (LDCs), such as Bangladesh. Once Bangladesh graduates from LDC status in 2027, the discount would no longer apply, as the policy is tied to UN classifications. Graduation signifies Bangladesh’s economic progress, which is a milestone to be celebrated. However, we recognize that some smaller members may face challenges after graduation. In such cases, we are open to discussing adjusted payment schedules with them.
Q: Are you satisfied with Bangladesh’s IPv6 progress? What more can APNIC do?
The progress is encouraging, but there is still much work to be done. Adoption of IPv6 varies by country. For example, Reliance Jio’s decision in India to switch to IPv6 sparked a ripple effect. In other regions, government policies play a major role. We are committed to supporting Bangladesh in whichever way proves most effective—whether through more training, raising awareness among C-level executives, or facilitating policy engagement. The key is identifying which approaches will best accelerate IPv6 adoption.
Q: Is APNIC currently engaging with the Bangladeshi government on IPv6 deployment within public organizations?
I plan to visit Bangladesh during the bdNOG event in May and look forward to meeting with government officials. This engagement will help us align resources with national priorities. Governments across the region are generally supportive of IPv6, and with global adoption crossing the 50% mark this year, we have strong data to back our advocacy. We hope to collaborate more closely with the Bangladeshi government and other stakeholders during my visit.
