M360 APAC 2024 opens with the launch of the GSMA Digital Nations Report, charting the digital transformation of 18 countries across Asia-Pacific
1 October 2024, Seoul: GSMA M360 APAC returned to Seoul today with Host Sponsor KT, marking the beginning of the two-day event focused on the role of AI in supporting the growth of digital nations in Asia-Pacific (APAC).
Key topics on this year’s agenda include the boundless potential of AI across industries and society, the role of next-generation networks in enabling digital nations, and the connectivity innovations heralding a new age in smart mobility. The GSMA welcomes a distinguished line-up of speakers from the global connectivity ecosystem, including executives from CelcomDigi Berhad, GSM Systems, Huawei, Kingfisher, KT, Reliance Jio, Samsung Electronics, Sendbird, SAP, Telstra and Veon.
The GSMA also launched its new Digital Nations in Asia Pacific [RA1] report finding that Singapore, Australia and South Korea ranked highest out of 18 APAC countries when it comes to digital transformation, across the five components that make up a digital nation – infrastructure, innovation, data governance, security and people.
The GSMA’s Director General, Mats Granryd, said: “It’s great to be back in Seoul for M360 APAC and to see regional innovators using connected technologies in new and exciting ways. This year, Generative AI is making headlines throughout the world and is unlocking countless possibilities in every sector and I look forward to discussing at M360 APAC how the technology is enabling a shift from building digital societies to building digital nations across APAC.”
KT’s CEO, Young Shub Kim, said: “Advancements in Generative AI have fuelled KT’s transition into an AICT company that integrates AI across all of our telecommunications capabilities. We look forward to hearing innovators at M360 APAC discuss how they have been using AI, and exploring what’s next for this exciting technology.”
Digital Nations in Asia Pacific: Preserving Digital Trust
The newly published Digital Nations report features an index developed by GSMA Intelligence which tracks each country’s progress and allows them to identify areas that require improvement. Singapore (80), Australia (77) and South Korea (75) ranked highest overall of the 18 countries benchmarked.
Digital trust has risen to the top of the agenda for policymakers and digital stakeholders, as a result of emerging threats that undermine countries’ digital nation building ambitions. The report identified five key measures for governments, industry players and other stakeholders to preserve digital trust:
- A policy environment that drives investments
- A whole-of-government approach to streamline efforts
- Private sector commitment and collaboration to tackle threats
- International cooperation to tackle cross-border threats
- The development of a response mechanism to reassure and support victims
Given the increasing importance of digital trust, the GSMA is working with industry partners around the world to help develop new anti-fraud and online security services through the GSMA Open Gateway initiative. The Fintech Forum taking place on Day 2 of M360 APAC will bring together mobile operators, technology and financial services firms to discuss these needs. Yesterday, South Korean operator LG Uplus became the latest mobile operator to join the initiative, meaning that more than 60 mobile operator groups representing three-quarters of mobile connections around the world are now supporting the initiative.
In addition, the GSMA has published its 5G Case Study Report, [RA2] [CC3] showcasing how 5G is transforming industries including healthcare, manufacturing, shipping, smart cities and more. The document features eight case studies from telecoms providers in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Set up exclusively for policymakers, regulators and industry leaders, the Policy Leaders Forum at M360 APAC is set to explore issues that require collaboration from policymakers, regulators and the private sector to shape vibrant and sustainable digital nations in APAC.
Presented by the GSMA, M360 is a series of global events that unify the regional mobile ecosystem. The events aim to discover, develop and deliver innovation that serves as the foundation for positive business environments and societal change. The next event in the M360 calendar will be M360 MENA, hosted in Doha, from 18-19 November 2024. Find out more about the GSMA here.
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About GSMA
The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
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