​Information Session on the Smart Villages and Smart Islands (SVSI) Asia-Pacific Project with ISOC, APNIC Foundation, and APC​, 8 July 2026

Meeting information

The ITU Smart Villages and Smart Islands (SVSI) initiative seeks to transform rural and remote communities by improving livelihoods and well-being through enhanced access to digitally enabled services.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with financial support from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (DITRDCSA) of the Government of Australia, is implementing the project “Enhancing the Sustainability of Smart Villages and Smart Islands in the Asia-Pacific".

Building on lessons learned and best practices from Phase I the SVSI initiative, the project aims to strengthen national sustainability and governance frameworks through a whole-of-government and multi-stakeholder partnership approach, while ensuring that the six dimensions of sustainability promoted by ITU guide the implementation of SVSI initiative.

ITU is convening a series of stakeholder information sessions to engage strategic partners and relevant stakeholder groups in support of partnership-building, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and coordinated planning as well as implementation of the SVSI Asia-Pacific project.

In this context, this information session with the Internet Society (ISOC), the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) Foundation, and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) was organized to provide an overview of the SVSI Asia-Pacific Project, share implementation priorities and planned activities, and explore potential areas of collaboration in support of sustainable digital transformation in rural and remote communities.

The session provided an opportunity to discuss potential collaboration in areas such as rural connectivity, community networks, digital inclusion, capacity building, knowledge exchange, and sustainable operating models.

Objectives of the session
The session aimed to:

1. Provide an overview of the SVSI Asia-Pacific Project, including its objectives, implementation approach, and planned activities.
2. Present opportunities in areas such as rural connectivity, community networks, digital inclusion, capacity building, knowledge exchange, and sustainable operating models.
3. Strengthen the multi-stakeholder approach to support sustainable digital transformation in rural and remote communities.

Target participants

• ISOC.
• APNIC Foundation.
• APC.
• ITU (implementing agency).
  

Date and time: Wednesday, 8 July 2026 at 10:00-11:00 (GMT+7) Bangkok time​