By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief
With 3 weeks to go before its 12th Annual Latin America & Caribbean meeting of regulators, industry and civil society, holding in Panama between 7-8 May, 2025, the International Institute of Communications(IIC) is well under way with planning a stimulating set of balanced discussions tailored to the regional policy environment, Cyber Era NG learns, following a heads-up over WhatsApp from the Director-General at IIC, Ms. Lynn Robinson.
We gather that to maximise interaction and openness there will be simultaneous translation Spanish/ English and the Forum will be held under the Chatham House Rule.
Here is a taster of the first day of this year’s Forum:
Closing the digital divide: where to focus? Accessibility? Affordability? Relevance?
This will be handled by:
- Adjunct Instructor at New York University, José Felipe Otero Muñoz.
- Executive Director, Alianza por una Internet Abierta Mercedes Aramendía
- Manager Policy and Research, Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago Ryan Biran
- Head of Government and Policy Advocacy, Ericsson, Elizabeth Peña Jáuregui
- General Secretary, Asociación Interamericana de Empresas de Telecomunicaciones (ASIET) Maryleana Méndez Jiménez
Market structure and investment policies to close funding gaps and drive digital transformation
This will be addressed by:
*Head of Latin America, GSMA, Lucas Gallitto
*Managing Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, Welchman Keen, Víctor Martínez
*Digital Development Specialist, The World Bank, Maribel Dalio
*Presidential Advisor for the Digital Transformation of Colombia, Saúl Kattan
Infrastructure deep dive: policy and regulatory decision making to leverage the optimum technology choices and resolve national connectivity/ affordability challenges
This topic will be discussed by:
-International Regulatory Affairs Manager, Project Kuiper, Amazon, Zachary Blackburn
-Executive Director, Commissioner, Communications Commission Session, CRC, Claudia Ximena Bustamante
-National Director of Telecommunications, National Public Services Authority (ASEP), Panamá, Alkin Saucedo
-Director, Government Relations – Latin America, Nokia, Celedonio von Wuthenau
Registration is ongoing. Visit: www.iicom.org
The forum will be hosted by Millicom Tigo and sponsored by Apple.
