Connectivity, public trust must advance together for inclusive digital Asean
KUALA LUMPUR: Echoing Malaysia’s drive for an equitable and secure regional digital ecosystem, Asean nations must accelerate connectivity while bolstering public trust to ensure rural and remote communities are not left behind.
In Kuala Lumpur, Asean nations have acknowledged the necessity of advancing connectivity and public trust to ensure inclusive digital growth. This consensus emerged during a panel discussion at the M360 Asean 2026 conference, where regional leaders emphasized the importance of inclusive digital expansion. Indonesian Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry secretary-general Dr Ir Ismail highlighted the role of government intervention in areas where private operators find telecommunications infrastructure unprofitable.
He stressed that infrastructure and connectivity are crucial for economic and societal improvement, including in education and healthcare. Given Indonesia's vast geographical complexity, comprising over 17,000 islands, the government supports open-access infrastructure to extend services to underserved regions. As of now, Indonesia has achieved 50% 5G coverage, with plans to expand this coverage to secondary cities and rural areas.
However, Dr Ismail stressed that physical connectivity alone is not sufficient without fostering public trust, particularly for digital financial services. He noted that trust is a collective responsibility, requiring collaboration among all stakeholders. Timor-Leste's National Communications Authority chairman, Flavio Cardoso Neves, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the country's focus on connectivity, cybersecurity, and public trust as it advances its digital transformation.
Neves highlighted the importance of connectivity for rural areas, underscoring that digitalisation without accessibility will be challenging. Timor-Leste is currently working on nationwide connectivity and submarine-cable infrastructure while learning from the experiences of other Asean nations. Digital literacy is also a priority to ensure responsible and beneficial use of technology.
The M360 Asean 2026 conference, organized by the GSMA, gathered ministers, regulators, and industry leaders to discuss digital trust, artificial intelligence, resilient infrastructure, and regional digital integration. The event was launched by Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
