The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) organized a three-day workshop on policy, regulation, and services, which commenced in Dhaka on Monday, with participation from the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators Council (SATRC). The event brought together around 200 representatives from telecommunications and IT regulatory agencies from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives, and Iran, along with telecom operators, government officials, and industry experts.
The workshop also saw participation from several Asia Pacific Telecommunication Community (APTC) associate member organizations, including Huawei Technologies of China, Amazon India, Internet Society Asia Limited of Singapore, and Cullen International of Belgium.
Presided over by BTRC Chairman Md Emdad-ul-Bari, the event was inaugurated by Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser. Masanri Kunda, Secretary General of the APTC, and Khawar Siddique Khokar, member of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and chairman of the SATRC workshop, were also present.
The first day of the workshop covered various sessions addressing the challenges faced by regulators in the fields of fixed and mobile broadband amidst emerging technologies. Discussions included the appropriate use of universal service regulation funds for digital inclusion, strategies and recommendations for regulating ICT e-waste management, and sustainable development goals.
The workshop will continue with sessions focused on protecting digital consumers from online scams and financial fraud, analyzing the impact of convergence and emerging telecommunications, and shaping future tariff policies in the South Asian region.
