ANACOM - Portuguese Communications Authority

12/19/2024 | News release | Archived content

ANACOM participated in the Internet Governance Forum

The closing ceremony for the 2024 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) https://intgovforum.org/entook place on 19 December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main results of this international forum are brought together in Messages from Riyadh https://intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/305/28526.

The 2024 edition of the IGF took place at a strategic moment, immediately after the United Nations (UN) Future Summit and the adoption of the "Pact for the future and the global digital compact" in September. These decisions marked the beginning of a new chapter in the global digital transformation, while preparing for the review of the WSIS+20 process, which marks the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society. In 2025, the UN General Assembly will lead this review, reassessing, inter alia, the mandate of the IGF.

During IGF2024, many sessions focused directly on these developments, underlining the importance of a multisectoral dialogue in the global digital ecosystem.

The Chair of ANACOM and Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission during the bilateral meeting.

ANACOM, represented by the Chair of the Board of Directors, Sandra Maximiano, actively attended IGF2024, from which we highlight several important initiatives:

  • Open Forum #75: ANACOM organised and participatedhttps://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1800188in the panel "The Portuguese Speaking Community as a Case Study on Digital Cooperation", which praised the dynamics of digital cooperation in the Portuguese-speaking space. The official report of the session that was sent by ANACOM to the IGF Secretariat.
  • Interview with D4D Hub: ANACOM's Chair gave an interview to the Digital for Development (D4D) Hub, a strategic platform that aims to strengthen digital cooperation between the European Union (EU) and its Member States (Team Europe) and partners in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in countries bordering the EU. In this interview, Sandra Maximiano highlighted ANACOM's policy of cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries, in line with the European Global Gateway strategy. This interview is scheduled for publication in January 2025.
  • Bilateral Meeting with the Governor of CST: Bilateral meeting with Saudi regulator. ANACOM Chair and Dr Mohammed Saud Al-Tamimi, Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), discussed topics concerning the digital transformation, including funding for infrastructure that supports technological growth.

Sandra Maximiano during an interview with the Digital for Development platform (D4D) Hub.

Recognised as the leading international forum for the discussion of digital public policies, the IGF brings together influential voices from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society. Although it does not produce binding decisions, the Forum plays a critical role in inspiring and informing political and strategic decisions.

ANACOM's participation in this space has evolved over the years. Initially focused on connectivity, the entity's presence has become more comprehensive, reflecting its broad role in the digital ecosystem and in the global debate on internet governance.

Further information: