JAKARTA, 2 JULY 2026 – The 2026 ASEAN Digital Senior Officials’ Meeting and ASEAN Telecommunications Regulators’ Council (ADGSOM – ATRC) Joint Working Group and Related Meetings with Dialogue and Partners and International Organisations took place on 29 June – 2 July.

The 4-day event was chaired by Viet Nam as the ADGSOM Chair for 2026. The meeting discussed the on-going 2026 ADGSOM and ATRC activities and deliberated full proposed projects and budgets for the 2027 work cycle and work plan collaboration with Dialogue Partners, the International Telecommunication Union, Asia-Pacific Telecommunity and the World Bank, in line with the ASEAN Digital Master Plan 2026. Additionally, the 17th ASEAN Network Security Action Council (ANSAC) and the 16th Sub-Working Group on Spectrum Management (SSM-16) were held on the sidelines, to discuss ASEAN Member States’ (AMS) collective measures in tackling cybersecurity resilience and spectrum management.

Held under the theme of Viet Nam’s ADGMIN Chairmanship in 2026, “Adaptive ASEAN: From Connectivity to Connected Intelligence”, it is imperative for the region to move beyond basic digital infrastructure to a future driven by data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI). This created a digitally connected community where every citizen and business is equipped with the right skillset and resources to thrive in the global digital economy.

The meeting emphasised the necessity to tap the transformative power of AI and the urgent need for collective action to effectively combat the threats in emerging areas like digital and telecommunication channels. This requires multiple stakeholders’ collaboration including policy makers, private sector and the community towards shaping ASEAN’s Digital Future.

The 2026 ADGSOM-ATRC Joint Working Group Meeting reaffirmed the importance of sustaining ASEAN’s digital transformation momentum through stronger cooperation and collective action. The ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2030 (ADM2030) remains the region’s strategic blueprint for advancing inclusive, resilient and sustainable digital future. To realise its goals, the meeting underscored the continued commitment of AMS and partners to deepen cooperation and accelerated delivery of priority initiatives, bringing ASEAN closer to a more connected, inclusive and resilient digital community.

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Image credit: Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital (KOMDIGI)