Kuala lumpur: Kuala Lumpur's selection as the host city for M360 ASEAN 2026 on September 9 and 10 is expected to strengthen Malaysia's position in the region's telecommunications, artificial intelligence (AI), and connectivity sectors. Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil announced that the event, organized by the GSM Association (GSMA), will gather industry players, vendors, experts, investors, academics, and government representatives from ASEAN countries.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, this is the first time the event will be held in Malaysia and the ASEAN region. Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil emphasized that Kuala Lumpur's selection as the host city is a significant honor for Malaysia. The event will serve as a platform for ASEAN countries to discuss the future direction of the digital sector, including efforts to expand connectivity and harness AI responsibly.

In a statement, GSMA highlighted the issues to be discussed at M360 ASEAN 2026, which are outlined in their report "The Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2026." The report projects that mobile technologies and services will contribute US$1.4 trillion to the Asia-Pacific economy by 2030, marking a 40 percent increase from the current US$1 trillion.

The report indicates that the region's next phase of digital growth will be influenced by connectivity, as well as the responses of governments, operators, and technology providers to four converging priorities. These priorities include the rapid rise of AI, declining digital trust, demand for more resilient digital infrastructure, and growing interest in digital sovereignty.