As the world becomes more and more interconnected with each generation, the demand for natural resources continues to grow at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, in some cases, human greed has overshadowed the need for providing the global population with its essentials in a safe and sustainable way. Rapid deforestation is one of the ways in which this greed has manifested itself physically.

Read more: Saving the planet one used cellphone at a time

As the Chief Growth Officer at Bankai Group and member of the Pacific Telecommunications Council Organization (PTC), Nakul Rege is responsible for successfully expanding the Group's footprint globally across all segments – wholesale, retail and technology solutions. Telecom Review explores PTC’s vast influence on the ICT sector and what this means for the future of telecoms in the Pacific Rim.

Read more: PTC spearheads success of ICT industry in the Pacific

In an attempt to control the spread of the Covid-19, a significant part of the global population which is currently on lockdown has been forced to work and keep its businesses afloat without the convenience of daily workplace communication methods. Staff meetings, business events and travel have all been put on hold or cancelled for the time being, urging many companies to turn to video conferencing platforms such as Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts and Webex to maintain operations and client relationships.

Read more: The surge of video conferencing platforms during Covid-19

The telecommunications industry in the Asia Pacific region is one that is simultaneously rich in history and revolutionary in its vision for the future. In the past couple of decades, we have witnessed radical transformations within the industry worldwide as a growing number of consumers with smart devices are continuously demanding for higher bandwidths and larger data to enhance their digital experience. This predicament is no different in Asia Pacific, where the number of mobile subscribers has grown exponentially; 2.8 billion people in the year ending 2018. According to the GSMA, it is estimated that 370 million more new subscribers will be added by 2025; equivalent to 72% of the population or 3.1 billion, with many of these new users hailing from China and India.

Read more: An era of tremendous progress for telcos in Asia Pacific

In the past decade, Asia Pacific has achieved tremendous economic progress. Many of the countries in this region have surpassed expectations and dominated a diverse range of industries, specifically tech and telecommunications. Despite its immense success and continued growth in those two fields, the region is still battling one of its most pressing issues; poverty.

Read more: Telecoms access in Asia Pacific: A gateway to poverty reduction

Recently, China Telecom officially announced the results of its 2019 centralized PON equipment procurement, which has a total value of 1.2 billion Yuan, and includes three bid packages: GPON, 10G-EPON and XG-PON. Among them, the number of new-built GPON ports reaches 19,000, 10G-EPON ports reaches 210,000, and XG-PON ports reaches 396,000. That is, the number of 10G PON ports accounts for more than 97% of the total number of new-built ports.

Read more: Embracing the mutual development of fixed broadband and 5G

Telecom Review Asia secured an exclusive interview with Mr. Yuan Zhigui, senior network architect at ZTE Corporation to discuss the company’s FDD Assisted Super TDD (FAST) 5G technology and why it is a fundamental ingredient to the success of operators and their businesses.

Read more: ZTE’s FAST technology creates opportunities for the advancement of 5G

The world has been hit by an unimaginable impasse. The coronavirus or COVID-19 has irrevocably transformed lives and industries in the most startling ways. The pandemic has directly resulted in the near-complete shutdown of all social and economic activity across the globe. Considering that there is no modern precedent to such a catastrophe in existence that can inform us of what lies ahead, the road to recovery will undoubtedly be a long and arduous one. Even with the inevitable risks and damages the pandemic has caused to major industries, the communications sector has managed to overcome these hurdles and has continued to remain relevant during this period.

Read more: Answering the call to serve during a global crisis

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