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.

L-band and S-band: (MSS) and enables small, hand-held devices

UHF, VHF MSS bands NGSO (IoT)

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

mehul@mehulbhandari.com

Thank you for your attention. I look forward to your questions and future collaboration on advancing APAC's digital future.

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