By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) has played a key role in
shaping global digital policy discussions at the 2026 World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS) Forum, with its leadership contributing to
high-level sessions focused on connectivity, digital public infrastructure and
ICT policy development.
CTO
Chairman Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum participated as a panellist in the
Leaders TalkX session titled “From Access to Impact: Leading ICT Infrastructure
Development,” where he highlighted the importance of Universal Service Funds
(USFs) in advancing meaningful connectivity across Commonwealth countries.
Chedumbrum
emphasized that USFs should evolve beyond supporting infrastructure deployment
to become broader instruments for digital inclusion by supporting areas such as
digital skills development, education, healthcare access and economic
participation.
Drawing
on CTO’s experience in policy development, capacity building and implementation
initiatives, including the delivery of the World Bank-funded Universal Service
Fund framework for Malawi, he called for stronger collaboration among
governments, regulators, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and
development partners to maximize the impact of USFs.
CTO
Secretary-General Bernadette Lewis also participated in the Leaders TalkX
session on “Building Resilience: Secure and Trusted Digital Public
Infrastructure,” where she stressed the importance of developing secure,
reliable and citizen-centred digital public infrastructure.
Lewis
noted that governments remain the primary institutions through which citizens
access essential services throughout their lives, making trust, security and
effective governance critical elements in the design of digital public
infrastructure.
She
called for increased cooperation, stronger governance frameworks and capacity
building efforts to ensure digital public infrastructure delivers inclusive
benefits and supports sustainable digital transformation.
In
another session, CTO Head of Digital Development Leonard Obonyo moderated the
Leaders TalkX discussion on “Frameworks that Enable: Policy Leadership in ICT
Development,” which explored the role of regulatory frameworks and policy
leadership in accelerating innovation and strengthening digital economies.
The
discussions examined how governments and stakeholders can create enabling
environments that support technological advancement, digital governance and
inclusive ICT development.
The
CTO’s participation at WSIS Forum 2026 reflects its continued commitment to
advancing international cooperation and supporting Commonwealth countries in
building secure, resilient and inclusive digital ecosystems.
The
engagements come as the organisation marks its 125th anniversary, reinforcing
its role in global digital development discussions and its efforts to support
member countries in navigating the opportunities and challenges of the digital
era.
