ASEAN Digital Sector

Overview

Background

The ASEAN Digital sector was formerly known as the ASEAN Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector and covers cooperation of ICT infrastructure, telecommunications regulation, ICT development policies, information and network security, ICT skills, and other areas under the purview of ASEAN ministries of ICT.

As the adoption of ICT or digital technology grows rapidly with the digitalization of almost all sectors of the economy, the roles of the ASEAN ICT ministries have expanded into facilitators of transformation into the digital economy and society. The ministries have also been tasked to be in charge of digital data policy and regulation, cybersecurity in a broader context, online platform and content regulation, and other policy areas to create and maintain an innovative, secure, sustainable and inclusive digital ecosystem. In October 2019, the sectoral name was officially changed from ICT to Digital.

Cooperation Activities

Best Practice and Guidelines Development

The ASEAN ICT/Digital sector has been very mindful about the need to bridge the gaps in the level of development across the ASEAN Member States, by conducting and stocktaking studies across ASEAN Member States on specific policy issues and workshops to identify and distill best practices that ASEAN Member States can use as guidance to advance their respective national development in the areas of concern.

The policy areas studied and discussed are, among others, broadband infrastructure deployment, bridging the gaps of access to ICT among the population (digital divide), adoption of emerging technologies, radio frequency spectrum management, telecommunication services regulation, intra-ASEAN submarine cable connectivity resilience, network security, and critical information infrastructure protection.

Stakeholders Consultative Dialogues

With the ever increasing complexity of online platform and digital technology regulations, the ASEAN Digital sector regularly engage in consultative dialogues among ASEAN ICT regulators as well as with stakeholders such as external partners, the digital industry players and other private sector entities to ensure that the regulations do not stifle innovation and growth in the industry while achieving policy objectives such as protecting citizen’s privacy and security, ensuring market fairness, and providing equitable access.

The regular dialogues include annual consultative meetings with the ICT regulatory authorities of China and Japan, and the ASEAN Telecommunications Regulators Council (ATRC) Stakeholders Consultative Dialogue on Online Platform Regulation.

Establishment of Framework Agreements

The sector has also been developing regional framework agreements, taking reference of international best practices, that serve as common principles and/or approaches that AMS are committed to adhering with in developing their national policies and regulations. The frameworks agreements are aimed at promoting legal and regulatory compatibility across AMS to facilitate the integration of economy and society in the region towards an environment that is conducive to the growth of digital economy and society.

Amongst the framework agreements are the ASEAN Framework on Personal Data Protection (PDP) – adopted in 2016, ASEAN International Mobile Roaming (IMR) Framework – in 2018, and ASEAN Digital Data Governance (DDG) Framework – in 2018 – which was built upon the ASEAN PDP Framework. Among the key initiatives in the DDG Framework are the development of the ASEAN Cross-border Data Flow Mechanism and the ASEAN Data Management Framework which includes an ASEAN Data Classification Framework. The development of the data-related frameworks was driven by the growing demand for data collection, monetization and transfer by digital applications and solutions, including smart applications in the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR).

Digital Talent Development

The Digital sector has also been organizing regular competition-based events to promote the development of digital talents and the growth of digitally-enabled innovation, especially amongst ASEAN youth and young professionals.

Amongst the annual competition-based events are the ASEAN Cyber-Kids Camp – since 2009, ASEAN ICT Innovation Award – since 2011, ASEAN Makers Hackathon – since 2017, and ASEAN-Japan Cyber SEA Game – since 2018.

Priority Areas of Cooperation

Cooperation activities in the ASEAN digital sector are guided by the sector’s Strategic Action Plans, namely, the ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2010-2015 (AIM2015), the AIM2020, and the upcoming ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2021-2025 (ADM2025). Additionally, new initiatives were introduced to address emerging issues related to the development of digital economy.

AIM2015

The AIM2015 has 6 Strategic Thrusts, namely, (i) Economic Transformation: creating a conducive business environment to attract and promote trade, investment and entrepreneurship in the ICT sector; (ii) People Empowerment and Engagement: enhancing the quality of life through affordable and equitable ICT; (iii) Innovation: fostering a creative, innovative and green ICT sector; (iv) Infrastructure Development: developing ICT infrastructure to support the provision of services to all ASEAN communities; (v) Human Capital Development: developing competent and skilled human capital in ICT to support the growth of the ICT sector and help transform other sectors of the economy; and (vi) Bridging the Digital Divide: addressing the varying levels of ICT development and adoption within individual countries and across the region, as well as bridging other gaps within the digital divide to promote greater adoption of ICT.

AIM2020

The AIM2020 has 8 Strategic Thrusts, namely, (i) Economic Integration and Transformation: strategically positioning AMS to be linchpins in the digital economy, especially in key priority areas such as the digital trade and services; (ii) People Integration and Empowerment through ICT: increasing broadband penetration and affordability as well as ICT usage to digitally empower citizens to achieve personal, communal and social goals; (iii) Innovation: spurring and encouraging more entrepreneurship and idea generation to become leaders in ICT and next-generation applications; (iv) ICT Infrastructure Development: continue developing and improving strong infrastructural backbones, so that a sustainable digital economy can grow and thrive; (v) Human Capital Development: equipping ASEAN citizens to be digital-literate participants in the digital economy, strengthening workforce talents through on-going re-skilling programs, and attracting talents through increased opportunities; (vi) ICT in the Single Market: supporting the ASEAN Economic Community goals of lowering the cost of doing business, achieving economies of scale and scope, and enabling synergies towards sustainable business models in ASEAN; (vii) New Media and Content: increasing ASEAN content online for citizens to enable a range of potential interventions and unlock the opportunities for participation and growth; and (viii) Information Security and Assurance: building a trusted digital ecosystem, so that transactions and information exchanges will be safe, secure, and trustworthy.

Emerging Strategic Issues

In the effort to ensure the competitiveness of ASEAN’s digital economy, the ASEAN digital sector has been dealing with emerging issues such as the development of ASEAN Digital Data Governance Framework which deals with cross-border data transfer rules, data classification approach, data privacy protection and data-driven innovation. This framework development is supportive of the initiative of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025) on Digital Innovation. The development of the 5th generation mobile communications technology (5G) ecosystem is another initiative that deals with the deployment of the emerging 5G technology to enable the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) applications including smart cities applications.

ADM2025

The ADM2025 will have 5 Strategic Thrusts covering (i) Digital Infrastructure; (ii) Digital Transformation; (iii) Resilience, Trust and Security; (iv) Digital Policy, Regulation and Standards; and (v) Cooperation and Collaboration. The AMD2025 will be finalized for the implementation period of 2021 – 2020.

Major Sectoral Bodies/Committees

ASEAN Digital sectoral bodies and meetings:

Body	Representation	Establishment	Meetings
ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN)	Minister in Charge of ICT or Digital Technology	Formerly known as ASEAN Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministers Meeting (TELMIN) which held its inaugural meeting in July 2001. In October 2019, TELMIN agreed to rename the ministerial body to ADGMIN to reflect its expanded scope of work from ICT to digital.	1 ministerial meeting a year, held back-to-back with ASEAN+1 consultative meetings with China, Japan, ROK, India, U.S. and ITU
ASEAN Digital Senior Officials Meeting (ADGSOM)	Director-General –ADGMIN’s senior officials body	Formerly known as the ASEAN Telecommunications and Information Technology Senior Officials Meeting (TELSOM) which was established in 2001 to assist TELMIN as a coordinating body. Its name was changed in 2019 to ADGSOM, in line with the renaming of TELMIN into ADGMIN.	2 joint meetings with ASEAN Telecommunications Regulators Council (ATRC) and 1 annual meeting, held back-to-back with ASEAN+1 consultative meetings with China, Japan, ROK, India, EU, U.S. and ITU
ADGSOM Working Group (ADGSOM WG)	Director – ADGSOM’s working group	Established to discuss ADGSOM’s cooperation activities work plan and the activities implementation.	1 annual joint working group (JWG) meeting with ATRC Working Group, held back-to-back with ASEAN+1 consultative meetings with China, Japan, ROK, India, EU, U.S. and ITU
ASEAN Network Security Action Council (ANSAC)	Director in charge of cybersecurity – ADGSOM’s working group	ANSAC was established in 2012 as mandated by AIM2015. ANSAC is in charge of coordinating ASEAN cybersecurity cooperation activities in the digital sector.	Once a year or more as and when needed
Working Group on Digital Data Governance (WG-DDG)	Director – ADGSOM’s ad-hoc working group	Established in 2018 to develop the ASEAN Framework on Digital Data Governance and implement the Framework’s key initiatives.	As necessary to complete the target deliverables of the year
ASEAN Telecommunications Regulators’ Council (ATRC)	Commissioner of National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority or Director-General in charge of telecommunications regulation – ADGMIN’s senior officials’ body	Established in 1995 as ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators’ Committee and subsequently changed to the current name in July 2011. ATRC plays an advisory role to TELMIN (ADGMIN) and works in partnership with TELSOM (ADGSOM)	2 joint meetings with ADGSOM per year and 1 annual meeting which includes ASEAN+1 consultative meetings with China and Japan
ATRC Working Group (ATRC WG)	Director – a working group under ATRC	Established to discuss ATRC’s cooperation activities work plan and the activities implementation.	1 annual joint working group (JWG) meeting with ADGSOM WG which includes ASEAN+1 consultative meetings with China, Japan, ROK, India, EU, U.S. and ITU
Sub-Working Group on Spectrum Management (SSM)	Director in charge of radio frequency spectrum regulation – a working group under ATRC	SSM was established through an annual forum organised by ATRC since 2011 to discuss spectrum management issues and ASEAN’s positions at the ITU World Radio Conferences.	1 annual meeting, held back-to-back with the ADGSOM-ATRC JWG meeting

Key Documents

Strategic Action Plans

Framework Agreements

Policy Frameworks and Guidelines

Ministerial Declarations

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