CTO/05
2026
From Earth to Orbit: Advancing Resilient Digital Futures Across the Commonwealth BY LEONARD OBONYO
Digital resilience is becoming a defining priority for governments seeking to build inclusive and sustainable digital economies. Beyond expanding access to technology, countries are increasingly focused on ensuring that connectivity infrastructure is secure, adaptable, and capable of supporting long-term national development goals. Within this evolving landscape, partnerships and emerging space technologies are playing a growing role in reshaping how nations approach connectivity and digital transformation. These issues were central to discussions at the Commonwealth Partnership Breakfast Meeting convened by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) in partnership with Viasat during the ITU Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) 2026 in Ankara, Türkiye May 12 to 15. Bringing together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, development partners, and international organisations, the meeting explored how collaboration can strengthen resilient digital futures in an increasingly interconnected world. A key message emerging from the discussions was that digital development challenges can no longer be addressed through isolated approaches. Expanding connectivity, strengthening cybersecurity, and building resilient infrastructure increasingly require collaboration across governments, industry, regulators, academia, and development institutions. Participants highlighted the growing role of satellite and space-based technologies in reaching remote and underserved communities, particularly where traditional infrastructure remains difficult or costly to deploy. Beyond expanding access, these technologies are also supporting emergency communications, strengthening disaster resilience, and enabling broader participation in the digital economy.
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