Programme and Speakers

16:00 – 19:00 (Early Registration)

07:30 – 9:00: Registration and Networking

Welcome refreshments and participant check-in ( Registration open all day)

09:00 – 11:15: Meeting of the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience

Closed session for Advisory Body Members

11:15 – 11:35: Coffee Break

Despachantes room 

11:35 – 12:00: Meeting of the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience (continuation)

Closed session for Advisory Body Members

12:00 – 14:00: Lunch
(Open to all summit participants – Despachantes room )

14:00 – 15:05: Summit Opening Session
 
Opening Remarks: Prof. Sandra Maximiano, Chairwoman of ANACOM’s Board of Directors, Portugal Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, ITU

Message from ICPC Chairman, Dean Veverka 
Message from Ms. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, European Commission 

Welcome Remarks: João Mira Gomes, Ambassador & Permanent Representative Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

From Abuja to Porto: Fireside chat with the IAB Co-Chairs
H.E. Minister Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Federal Republic of Nigeria 
Prof. Sandra Maximiano, Chairwoman of ANACOM’s Board of Directors, Portugal  

15:05 – 15:20:  Setting the Scene 
 
Mr. Kent Bressie, ICPC Legal Adviser 

15:20 – 15:30:  Family Photo

Sala do Infante Room

15:30 – 16:00: Coffee Break

Despachantes room 

16:00 – 17:30: Panel 1 – Accelerating Cable Repairs: Reducing Delays Through Smarter Processes 
 
Best practices and case studies for rapid response and recovery from disruptions. 

Panel:
1. Mr. Zhiguo Zhao, Leading Expert on Submarine Cables, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China (China), Co-Facilitator WG 1 
2. Mr. Kevin Adams, Director (Interim), Digital Infrastructure, Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (United Kingdom), Co-Facilitator WG1  
3. Ms. Kelly Donohue, Global Head of Network Infrastructure Policy of Meta Platforms, Inc
4. Mr. Rui Faria, Executive Director of Angola Cables 
5. Mr. Vincent Lemaire, VP Special Projects of Alcatel Submarine Networks 

Moderator: Mr. John Wrottesley, Operations Manager, International Cable Protection Committee 

19:30 Gala Dinner
(open to all Summit participants)

Kindly remember to bring and wear your Summit badge, as it will be required for entry to the Gala Dinner

Dress code: Business/Formal.

Gala Dinner Venue: Casa da Música.

Bus transfers will be provided as follows:

• Alfândega do Porto to Casa da Música: from 19:00, with the last bus departing at 19:30
• Casa da Música to Alfândega do Porto: from 22:30 to 00:00

Registration : 07:30 – 12:30

07:30 – 09:30: Side Event – Investment Breakfast

Please register to attend by emailing diginvest@itu.int. 

This breakfast discussion will bring together investors, private sector, and governments to explore innovative solutions and investment approaches to advance digital connectivity in traditionally underserved markets.
 
Welcome
Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, ITU 
 
Opening Remarks 
Prof. Sandra Maximiano, Chairwoman, ANACOM Board of Directors, Portugal 
Mr. Rodney Taylor, Secretary-General, Caribbean Telecommunications Union 
Mr. German Cufre, Practice Manager, Digital Access, World Bank 

Featured Speaker 
H.E. Minister Bosun Tijani, Minister, Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 
 
Tabletop Discussions: Regional Investment Priorities and Key Recommendations 
Participants will network with other stakeholders operating in their region to exchange insights on current projects, discuss investment priorities and needs, and identify key actions to accelerate investment.  
 
Closing Remarks 
Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, ITU 
 
Session Moderator 
Mr. Alex Wong, Senior Advisor, Strategic Engagement and Initiatives, Office of the Secretary-General, ITU

09:30 – 10:45: Panel 2 – Anticipating and Mitigating Risks Along the Global Subsea Network 

Exploring improvements in cable route design, monitoring technologies, and cable protection methodologies.

Panel:
1. Ms. Nonkqubela Thathakahle Jordan-Dyani, Director-General of Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (South Africa), Co-Facilitator WG 2 
2. Mr. Andy Palmer-Felgate, Vice President of North American Submarine Cable Association (NASCA), Co-Facilitator WG 2 
3. Mr. Sigurd Zhang, Executive Vice President of HMN Tech Co. Ltd.  
4. Dr. Eduardo Mateo,  Chief Strategy Officer, Submarine Network Division, NEC Corporation 
5. Mr. Peter Jamieson, Vice Chair European Subsea Cables Association (ESCA) 

Moderator: Ms. Nadia Krivetz, Director of Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Australian Government

10:45 – 11:15: Coffee Break

Despachantes room 

11:15 – 12:30: Panel 3 – Legal and Regulatory Tools to Reduce Risks and Strengthen Resilience 
 
Examining how legal and regulatory approaches at international and national levels can reduce risks and bolster the resilience of submarine cable systems. 

Panel:
1. Mr. Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive Officer (IMDA, Singapore) 
2. Mr. Gustavo Borges, Executive Superintendent, Anatel – National Telecommunications Agency (Brazil) 
3. Mr. Philip Marnick, General Director of TRA Bahrain 
4. Mr. Johannes Theiss, Head of Sector, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT), European Commission
5.  Leonilde Tatiana, CEO,Presidente do Conselho de Administração de ARME (Agência Reguladora Multissetorial da Economia de Cabo Verde)

Moderator: Mr. Augusto Fragoso, Director of ANACOM’s Directorate-General for Information and Innovation (Portugal).

12:30 – 14:30: Lunch
(Open to all summit participants – Despachantes room ) 
 

14:30 – 15:45: Panel 4 – Resilient Subsea Infrastructure for Underserved Regions 
 
Making the economic case for submarine cables in underserved regions  and Identifying opportunities and resources to support connectivity

Panel:
1. Mr. German Cufré, Global Manager World Bank Group Digital Access, Co-Facilitator WG 3 (Alternate) 
2. Mr. Rodney Taylor, Secretary-General – Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), Co-Facilitator WG 3 
3. H.E. Mr. Rudra Narayan Palai, Member (Technology), Digital Communications Commission, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India.
4. Professor Manuel Cabugueira, Anacom Board Member (Portugal)
5. Mr.Syed Mohammad Shaharyar Jawaid, Senior ICT Specialist, Islamic Development Bank 
6. Ms.Lauren Bieniek, ITU Giga Program Officer, Development Finance

Moderator: Mr. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, Executive Secretary of West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA)
 

15:45 – 16:15: Closing Session 

Closing Session: Key Takeaways. Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas and Mr. John Wrottesley
 
Call to Action: H.E. Minister Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nigeria  
 
Closing Remarks – Summit Declaration: Prof. Sandra Maximiano, Chairwoman of ANACOM’s Board of Directors, Portugal

16:15 : Networking and Coffee

Despachantes room