ITU Regional Initatives for the Asia and the Pacific for 2026-2029

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC​) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 28 November 2025, approved a new set of Regional Initiatives for the period 2026-2029. The Regional Initiatives outlined in the Baku Action Plan address specific needs for each major region of the world to advance and accelerate digital transformation.​​​

​​ASP1: Addressing special needs of least developed countries, small island developing states, including Pacific island countries, and landlocked developing countries ​

​ Objective: To provide special assistance to least developed countries (LDCs), small island developing states (SIDS), including Pacific island countries, and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) to assist delivering their telecommunication/information and communication technology (ICT) priorities. 

Expected results

1. Development of policy and regulatory frameworks for broadband infrastructure, ICT applications and cybersecurity, taking into account the special needs of LDCs, SIDS, including Pacific island countries, and LLDCs.
   
2. Development of human capacity for addressing future telecommunication/ICT policy and regulatory challenges.
3. Promotion of affordable resilient, universal and meaningful broadband access in LDCs, SIDS, including Pacific island countries, and LLDCs, in particular for remote communities.
4. Assistance to LDCs, SIDS, including Pacific island countries, and LLDCs in deploying telecommunication/ICT applications in disaster management relating to disaster prediction, preparedness, adaptation, monitoring, mitigation, response, rehabilitation and recovery of telecommunication/ICT networks based on their priority needs.
5. Assistance to LDCs, SIDS, including Pacific island countries, and LLDCs in their efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Istanbul Programme of Action for LDCs, the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS and the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs.
   
   

​​​​ASP2: Harnessing telecommunications/ICTs to support inclusive and sustainable digital transformation 

​Objective: To assist Member States to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) and emerging technologies for inclusive and sustainable digital transformation by building human and institutional capacity, bridging digital divides, improving and expanding digital skills, reducing the gender gap, and assisting groups who may be in vulnerable situations.

Expected results​

1. ​Development of policies, strategies and guidelines to support effective and sustainable digital transformation in the public and private sectors, including those that support transition to digital government and the use of emerging telecommunications/ICTs.
2. Establishment and annual updating of a repository of all work done within ITU relating to the digital transformation since the World Telecommunication Development Conference (Kigali, 2022).
3. Acceleration of digital infrastructure readiness through the timely deployment of appropriate infrastructure and platforms that underpin the delivery of telecommunication/ICT services to improve the delivery of value-added services in areas such as health, education, climate change and environment, agriculture, and financial services. In this process, diversified funding channels, including economic recovery funds and resources of development banks, can be utilized.
4. Development of cross-sectoral national/regional programmes on digital literacy, digital and ICT skills, and digital inclusion to support the participation of all in digital transformation, develop skilled telecommunication/ICT workforces, and increase demand for telecommunication/ICT services. These programmes should also take into account groups who may be in vulnerable situations.
5. Development of human capacity to bridge the standardization gap, including collaboration with the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector and other standards-development organizations. ​
   
6. Enhancement of international cooperation related to new and emerging technologies pertaining to telecommunications/ICTs to ensure that all countries can benefit from digital transformation and contribute to the global value chain. ​
   

1. Migration/transition of analogue networks to appropriate digital networks, application of affordable wired and wireless technologies (including interoperability of ICT infrastructure) and optimized use of the digital dividend.
2. Maximized use of new and emerging technologies for the development of communication networks, such as 5G. 
3. Development of capacity to review and revise, if necessary, the existing national broadband objectives, with a view to providing broadband access to unserved and underserved areas, in particular to remote communities; to promote affordable broadband access for all, especially for groups who may be in vulnerable situations1; to develop and use universal service funds effectively; and to develop financially and operationally sustainable business models. 
4. Promotion of Internet exchange points and community-centred connectivity initiatives as long-term solutions to advance connectivity and deployment of IPv6-based networks and applications, and facilitation of the transition from IPv4 to IPv6. 
5. Strengthened capacity to implement conformance and interoperability (C&I) procedures and facilitating the establishment of common regional/subregional C&I regimes (including the adoption and implementation of mutual recognition arrangements). 
6. Increased capability to address spectrum-management issues, including radiofrequency planning, spectrum redeployment, enhancement of spectrum-monitoring systems, and facilitation of the implementation of decisions of world radiocommunication conferences. 
7. Enhancement of skills for the development and use of terrestrial and non-terrestrial network services. ​
8. Enhancement of regional telecommunication/ICT connectivity and strengthening of cooperation with international/regional organizations in programmes such as the Asia Pacific Information Superhighway.​​
   
   

ASP4: Enabling an innovative and sustainable telecommunication/information and communication technology sector 

Objective: To assist Member States in developing appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks that foster innovation, investment and sustainability across the telecommunications/information and communication technology (ICT) sector, by way of enabling ICT-centric innovation and the growth of startups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), while also addressing the need for sustainability.

Expected results 
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1. Development of enabling policy and regulatory environments and sharing of best practices to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and investment in the telecommunication/ICT sector.
2. Formulation and review of telecommunication/ICT strategies, national programmes, policies and regulatory frameworks that identify entry barriers and support the entry, growth and connectivity of startups and MSMEs, facilitate digital transformation, and enable the adoption of new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs.
3. Development of an enabling environment that supports startups and MSMEs for local design and manufacturing of telecommunication/ICT equipment and enhances awareness and capacity building in protection of intellectual property rights.
4. Promotion and sharing of practices to support ICT-centric innovation, including but not limited to innovation hubs, incubators, accelerators and mentoring programmes by, inter alia, leveraging ITU innovation and acceleration centres.
5. Development of strategic frameworks and enhancement of capacity to support research and development activities, including in relation to emerging telecommunications/ICTs and development of products.
6. Development of national digital innovation strategies and policies, and the promotion of multistakeholder and multisectoral partnerships to create an innovative, meaningful and sustainable telecommunication/ICT sector. ​​
   
   

ASP5: Supporting a safe, secure and resilient telecommunication/information and communication technology environment 

Objective: To assist Member States in developing and maintaining safe, secure, trusted and resilient telecommunication/information and communication technology (ICT) networks and services and in addressing challenges related to climate change and the management of disasters and emergencies.

Expected results​​

1. Compilation of national/regional cybersecurity strategies, establishment of national/regional cybersecurity capabilities such as computer incident response teams, and sharing of good practices to nurture a culture of cybersecurity.
2. Strengthened institutional cooperation and coordination among key actors and stakeholders at the national, regional and global levels (including through organizing cyberdrills) and enhancing the capacity to address issues related to cybersecurity. 
3. Development of cross-sectoral programmes on building cyber hygiene and cyber literacy skills for individuals and businesses to promote confidence in the use of telecommunications/ICTs. 
4. Development of national emergency telecommunication plans and telecommunication/ICT-based initiatives for disseminating early warnings, timely disaster response and other humanitarian assistances in disasters and emergencies.
5. Incorporation of disaster-resilient features in telecommunication networks and infrastructure, and development of telecommunication/ICT-based solutions (including the use of wireless and satellite-based technologies) to enhance network resilience.
6. Development of standards-based monitoring and early-warning systems linked to national and regional networks, and enhanced use of active and passive terrestrial/space-based sensing systems for disaster prediction, detection and mitigation.
7. Promotion of guidelines and best practices for safe telecommunications/ICTs to support and protect consumers, including on issues related to spam, online fraud, caller identification spoofing, counterfeit devices and mobile device theft.
8. Formulation of comprehensive strategies and measures to help mitigate and address the devastating effects of climate change.
9. Development of comprehensive e-waste management policies, regulations, national action plans and strategies to support a sustainable circular economy.​
10. Strengthened capabilities to develop and implement environmentally sustainable telecommunication/ICT policies, regulations and strategies, and sharing best practices and innovations in greenhouse gas reduction and energy efficiency across sectors, including but not limited to health, education, environment, agriculture, government and financial services. ​