The 27th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-27) was held from 20 to 22 October 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The meeting was organized by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and hosted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL). This event was conducted as a hybrid event, enabling both physical and remote participation.
SATRC-27 brought together Heads of Regulatory Authorities, senior officials, industry representatives, and other stakeholders from the South Asian region to discuss key policy and regulatory developments in the telecommunications and ICT sectors, strengthen regional cooperation, and exchange knowledge and experiences.
The meeting focused on key policy and regulatory issues of common interest to SATRC member countries and reviewed the progress of implementation of the SATRC Action Plan Phase X, adopted at SATRC-26. The programme featured a Regulators’ Roundtable, Regulator-Industry Dialogue, Industry Session, and sessions on sharing regulatory experiences.
The Regulators’ Roundtable provided an exclusive platform for Heads of Regulatory Authorities to exchange views on significant regulatory matters requiring regional collaboration. The other sessions facilitated discussions on emerging technologies, evolving regulatory frameworks, industry developments, and opportunities to strengthen connectivity and digital transformation across the region.
Sri Lanka is one of the founding members of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council, which was established in 1997 through a joint initiative of the APT and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Operating under the APT, SATRC serves as an important regional platform for cooperation among telecommunications and ICT regulatory authorities from nine South Asian member countries, with the active participation of affiliate members. Through its meetings, working groups, workshops, training programmes, and other collaborative activities, SATRC facilitates the exchange of regulatory experiences and best practices, addresses common challenges, and promotes the development of the telecommunications and ICT sectors.
The first SATRC meeting was held in Colombo in 1997, marking the beginning of nearly three decades of regional cooperation in telecommunications regulation. Sri Lanka previously held the Chairmanship of SATRC in 2009 and assumed this responsibility once again in 2026 for the second time. Over the years, TRCSL has also hosted several SATRC Working Group meetings, demonstrating its continued commitment to the activities and objectives of the Council.
Hosting SATRC-27 event in Colombo marked another significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s longstanding engagement with regional telecommunications cooperation and reaffirmed its commitment to advancing an inclusive, connected, and digitally empowered South Asian region.
