Global regulators and industry figures have warned that decisions on spectrum policy are now exerting a tangible influence on consumers and businesses, as senior officials convened in Dubai for the DSA Global Summit 2025.
The three-day meeting, held this week and organised by the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, was co-located with the Wi-Fi World Congress 2025.
It drew senior representatives from the International Telecommunication Union, Ofcom, the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, South Africa’s ICASA, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, among others.
Martha Suarez, President of the DSA, said the Summit had attracted some of the most distinguished speakers to appear at a spectrum-focused gathering. She added that the event had brought together regulators, governments, academia, and technology companies committed to narrowing the global digital divide.
Keynotes were delivered by Ilham Ghazi, Head of the ITU’s Broadcasting Services Division; Tariq Al Awadhi, Executive Director of Spectrum Affairs at the TDRA UAE and Chairman of the Arab Spectrum Management Group; Chris Szymanski, Director of Product Marketing and Technology Strategy at Broadcom; Chris Woolford, Ofcom’s Director of International Spectrum Policy; Charles Cooper, Associate Administrator at the NTIA’s Office of Spectrum Management; Charley Lewis, Councillor at ICASA; Martijn Meijers, Director at the Dutch Authority for Digital Infrastructure; and Alessandra Lustrati, the FCDO’s Head of Digital Development. The Summit was chaired by Jennifer McCarthy of Policy Impact Partners.
McCarthy said the attendance reflected a growing recognition that international co-ordination on spectrum use had become critical. She noted that contributions from global regulators, technology firms, and academic researchers had underscored the need for an equitable digital future.
Industry and research institutions, including Amazon, Cisco, Meta, Broadcom, HPE, and the Wireless Broadband Alliance, joined universities such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Telkom University, Notre Dame University, and the Technology Innovation Institute to broaden the discussion beyond policymaking.
Suarez said the geographic breadth of keynote contributors ensured comprehensive debate on regulatory, technical, and social implications of spectrum management, adding that the organisation planned to build on the Summit’s momentum in the coming years.
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