APAC's Digital Ascent
Pioneering Converged Networks, Spectrum Frontiers, and Sustainable Space Governance
Unlocking Connectivity, Innovation, and Inclusion Across Asia-Pacific
Driving Next-Gen Interconnectivity: AI, IoT, Mixed Reality, Virtualisation, Quantum Computing, the Metaverse... and beyond Thursday, June 19th, 2025, c21-virtual
Mehul Bhandari, Telecom & Satellite Policy Strategist
From Mega-cities to Remote Islands:
The APAC Connectivity Challenge & Opportunity
Regional Diversity
APAC: World's largest, most diverse region—urban digital leaders (Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo) to remote/rural (Indonesia, India, Pacific Islands).
Demographic Dividend
60%+ of world's youth; digital inclusion = economic growth.
Government Initiatives
India's Digital India program, Indonesia's Palapa Ring, Vietnam's National Digital Transformation, Sri Lanka's e-Government.
Source: ITU Digital Trends in Asia-Pacific 2023
India's Policy Leadership – A Modern, Integrated Framework
India has emerged as a policy testbed for telecommunications and space governance, creating an integrated framework that balances innovation with stability.
Telecommunications Act, 2023
Streamlines licensing, promotes regulatory sandboxes, and establishes administrative allocation for satellite spectrum.
Indian Space Policy, 2023
Opens the space sector to private entities with IN-SPACe as the single-window agency for authorizations.
IN-SPACe NGP Guidelines, 2024
Establishes clear, time-bound norms for authorizing GSO/NGSO systems, spectrum assignments, and orbital filings.
TRAI Recommendations
Recommends 4% AGR-based spectrum charges with innovative per-subscriber charge for NGSO in urban areas.
Spectrum Frontiers – Enabling the Next Wave
The expansion of available spectrum is creating new possibilities for connectivity across APAC.
6 GHz Band
Lower band delicensed for Wi-Fi 6E/7 (India), upper band for IMT/5G-Advanced capacity expansion.
Satellite Bands
Ka/Ku/Q/V/E bands essential for high-throughput satellite broadband and NGSO constellations.
E-band
70/80 GHz crucial for 5G backhaul densification in urban environments.
Terahertz Bands
Select THz bands delicensed for R&D, positioning India alongside 6G pioneers.
Japan (Early 6G/THz R&D), South Korea (NTN/6G testbeds), Singapore (Dynamic spectrum, HAPS pilots), Thailand and Indonesia (New satellite allocations)
Sources: TRAI Recommendations, Japan MIC 6G/THz Policy, Korea 6G Roadmap
Converged Networks: NGSO, GSO, and the New Application Frontier
New Applications
Aviation, maritime, HAPS, drones, emergency communications
Industry Implementation
Viasat, Kuiper, OneWeb, SES, Starlink, Telesat
Direct-to-Device
Integrating satellite with terrestrial mobile networks
GSO/NGSO Coexistence
EPFD limits ensure fair competition and innovation
APAC is leading in balanced frameworks for satellite networks. India's IN-SPACe NGP 2024 and TRAI/DoT policies align with ITU-R Article 22, ensuring GSO and NGSO coexistence through EPFD limits. Applications are expanding rapidly across the region, from D2D satellite pilots in India and Japan to aviation broadband in Singapore and Thailand.
Sources: IN-SPACe NGP 2024, ITU-R Article 22
Empowering People: How Spectrum and Satellite Drive Impact
Wi-Fi 6E/7
Affordable broadband in schools, rural clinics (India, Vietnam)
Satellite for Remote Education/Health
Indonesia's Palapa Ring, Sri Lanka's e-health, India's rural pilots
Aviation/Maritime
Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Indian shipping using Ka/Ku-band
D2D/NTN for Disaster Response
Philippines' satellite resilience, Japan's NTN pilots
The demographic dividend of APAC's youth-driven digital economy is being unlocked through these technologies, enabling skills development and entrepreneurship across the region.
Sources: ITU Digital Trends, Palapa Ring Project, TRAI Recommendations
Sustainable Space: Safeguarding our Future
Challenge
Thousands of new satellites increasing risk of orbital debris and collisions
Space Debris Mitigation
NGSO constellations require robust debris management
Sustainability Frameworks
ITU recomendations, National guidelines, regional best practices, international cooperation, UN-UNOOSA, UN-COPUOS, IADC
Future Focus
Responsible spectrum use, orbital safety, innovation
Space sustainability has become a core policy focus across the globe, including countries in APAC. India's IN-SPACe guidelines and global best practices require robust debris mitigation and responsible operations. As NGSO constellations grow, orbital safety becomes increasingly important. The region is aligning with ITU and UN recommendations to ensure a sustainable future for space activities.
Sources: IN-SPACe NGP 2024, ITU Space Debris Guidelines
Enabling APAC's Digital Ascent: What Will It Take?
Agile, inclusive policy frameworks
Adaptive regulations that promote innovation while ensuring access for all
Spectrum innovation and coexistence
Balanced approaches to new bands and sharing mechanisms
Collaboration—public, private, regional
Partnerships that leverage diverse strengths and perspectives
Sustainability as a core value
Environmental and orbital responsibility in all initiatives
How can we accelerate digital inclusion for the next billion?
How will AI transform spectrum and network management?
What new partnerships are needed for sustainable growth?
Source: GSMA, APAC Policy Trends
Thank You & Contact
Mehul Bhandari
Telecom & Satellite Policy Strategist
Contact
Thank you for your attention. I look forward to your questions and future collaboration on advancing APAC's digital future.