Regulators, standards organisations and leading operators gathered in Bangkok on 14 July for the region’s inaugural summit, where the World Broadband Association outlined a shared agenda for AI‑era network infrastructure and selected XLSmart as its first AI‑Net Champion.

Government officials, international standards bodies and the region’s leading telecom operators convened in Bangkok on 14 July for the inaugural Broadband Development Summit APAC 2026, the first regional event organised by the World Broadband Association (WBBA). Under the theme “AI‑Powered Connectivity: APAC Innovation for Accelerated Impact,” the summit aimed to forge regional consensus on the evolution of broadband, computing and cross‑border digital infrastructure as artificial intelligence reshapes network demand.

The gathering featured representation from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Thailand’s National Board of the Digital Economy and Society, the WBBA, the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), the Fiber Network Council Asia‑Pacific (FNCAP), the World WLAN Application Alliance (WAA), the Network Infrastructure Development Alliance (NIDA), the ITU‑WG1 Working Group and the IPv6 Council Expert Committee. Operators from across the region such as Telkomsel, XLSmart, Surge, Globe Telecom, AIS, China Mobile International and HKT, together with industry partners including Huawei, participated. Over a single day of sessions, discussions repeatedly highlighted AI‑driven network upgrades, broadband infrastructure expansion, target‑network evolution, network‑computing convergence, cross‑border connectivity, and the standards and ecosystem work required to support them.

“To realise the opportunities of the AI era, we urge the industry to accelerate broadband evolution, advance computing‑network synergy, and strengthen cross‑border connectivity. Together, let us build faster, smarter and greener digital infrastructure for Asia‑Pacific,” said Denny Deng, President of Asia Pacific Carrier Business, Huawei.

A converging view

According to the WBBA, a unified perspective emerged from the sessions: artificial intelligence is propelling the digital economy into a more intelligent phase, prompting network infrastructure to evolve from mere connectivity toward what speakers call “intelligent connectivity.” Delegates underscored the growing convergence of broadband, IP, computing and cross‑border digital infrastructure as essential for supporting AI‑driven innovation, industrial digitalisation and tighter regional coordination. Bridging the gap between current networks and this future will require closer alignment on standards, sustained technical and commercial innovation, and deeper ecosystem collaboration.

Operators weigh in

Operators across the region echoed this shift toward intelligent, AI‑native networks, each illustrating how the transition is already unfolding on their own networks.

“We address issues before they are felt. AIS is redefining premium home broadband by combining ultra‑fast connectivity with AI‑driven network intelligence and a smart‑home ecosystem — delivering proactive, invisible service excellence that transforms connectivity into differentiated customer value and sustainable ARPU growth,” said Thanit Chaiyaboonthanit, Head of Technology Department, Broadband Business, AIS.

“We no longer treat AI as an add‑on feature. Instead, our approach at Globe begins with architecture, embedding intelligence into the very core of how we build, sell and operate… By maintaining minute‑level awareness of network health, our systems automatically resolve 30 % of Wi‑Fi issues without human intervention,” said Danny Theseira, Head of Broadband Business Group, Globe Telecom.

AI‑Net certification launched

At the summit, the WBBA launched its AI‑Net Certification, a globally recognised benchmark for the data communications sector aimed at countries and operators worldwide. The association identified three critical metrics for evaluating modern digital infrastructure: national policy guidance, collaborative industrial ecosystems, and the intelligence density of network infrastructure. Within this framework, XLSmart was named the first AI‑Net Champion, making Indonesia one of the first nations where an operator has attained the certification — a result the WBBA linked to the country’s Net5.5G roadmap released last year and its subsequent industrial deployment.

“The evolution toward Net5.5G AI WAN is a crucial step in strengthening XLSmart’s transport network for the future. By progressively adopting AI‑assisted operations, SRv6, SDN, service differentiation and higher‑capacity transport infrastructure, we are enhancing network intelligence, operational efficiency and service resilience while supporting long‑term sustainability,” said Regie Ginanjar, Head of Transport Autonomy & Orchestration, Transport Network Transformation, XLSmart.

Gigacity certification awarded

In a separate segment, WBBA Director General Martin Creaner presented the WBBA Gigacity Certification to KOMDIGI (Indonesia), PT Solusi Sinergi Digital Tbk (SURGE), Telkomsel, AIS, TRUE, HKT and Globe. The association said the certifications are intended to set regional benchmarks, showcase best practices and encourage more cities and operators to accelerate their digital transformation.

Standards bodies set the agenda

Standards bodies at the summit stressed that AI‑ready networks cannot scale without shared global frameworks, with representatives from the ITU and WBBA’s working groups pointing to a common roadmap spanning access, optical infrastructure and governance.

“Connectivity is not just about technology; it is a lifeline, a platform for opportunity and a driver of sustainable development. I believe the intersection of connectivity and artificial intelligence will shape the future of smarter, more resilient networks. To advance regional partnerships, we must focus on three priorities: investing in AI‑ready infrastructure to meet future demand; ensuring no one is left behind by closing the digital divide; and strengthening regional and global collaboration to scale impact and governance,” said Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU.

“ION‑2030 develops the global standard for next‑generation optical networks in the AI era. It delivers exceptional AI applications and service experiences. The WBBA and ITU will jointly accelerate its development, offering Asia‑Pacific stakeholders a unique opportunity to actively influence the future of optical broadband networks,” said Dr. Marcus Brunner, Chief Expert Standardization, WBBA WG1 Chair and Vice‑Chair of ETSI ISG F5G.

The summit closed with a joint call to action, urging governments, international organisations, operators and industry partners to deepen open collaboration by building standards, innovating and sharing ecosystems together. Delegates were encouraged to accelerate coordinated development of broadband, computing and cross‑border digital infrastructure, and to drive deeper convergence across cloud, network, compute, intelligence and security. The stated ambition is a new generation of digital infrastructure that supports high‑quality digital growth across Asia‑Pacific and moves the region toward a future defined by intelligent connectivity and open collaboration.

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