On June 29 and 30, 2026, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Forum "Future Communication Technologies" was held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, at the invitation of the Ministry of Communications.
The event brought together over 120 leading specialists from Turkmenistan, including representatives of the Communications Administration, regulatory authorities, telecom operators, and research organizations. Ashgabat City Telephone Network, as well as the international associations GSMA and RIPE NCC, provided active support in preparing and hosting the forum.
Merdan Yalkabov, Head of the Information Technology and Regulatory Affairs Department of the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, and Natalia Mochu, Director of the ITU Regional Office for the CIS, addressed the participants with welcoming remarks.
The main technical program was led by leading industry experts: Vadim Poskakukhin (ITU, Ubiquitous Wireless LLP), Konstantin Savin (ITU, GSMA Eurasia), and Vahan Hovsepyan (RIPE NCC). Their presentations covered a wide range of topics, from global digital economy trends to the deep technical aspects of building modern networks.
During the two-day forum, participants delved into the evolution of access networks and backbone technologies. Experts and guests discussed the prospects for 5G and 6G deployment, the development of satellite communications (including innovative Direct-to-Device technology), FTTx/GPON optical standards, and innovative 800G DCN interfaces. Special attention was paid to niche scenarios, such as the use of private networks for industrial automation, the control of low-flying drones over cellular networks, and the role of artificial intelligence in managing autonomous communications networks.
The forum in Ashgabat marked a key milestone in the implementation of Regional Initiative 1, approved at the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) in Baku. This strategic ITU initiative aims to implement new and advanced telecommunication and ICT systems in the CIS countries by 2029. Through open discussions and the exchange of experience with international speakers, the event laid a solid foundation for the further development of the region's telecommunications infrastructure.