ANACOM takes part in the Global Symposium for Regulators 2026

Sandra Maximiano, Chairwoman of the ANACOM Board of Directors, participated in two high-level panels at the Global Symposium for Regulators 2026 https://www.itu.int/itu-d/meetings/gsr-26/ (GSR-26), an event organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) taking place from 12 to 15 May 2026 in Turkey.

Sandra Maximiano participated in the "Heads of Regulators' Executive Roundtable", which focused on regulatory policy for digital markets. The discussion brought together representatives of regulatory authorities from various countries to discuss more agile and proportionate regulatory models focused on outcomes in the public interest.

Photo: © ITU/D. Woldu.

In her speech, Ms. Maximiano emphasised the importance of adopting regulatory models based on proportionality, as well as evidence-based decision-making processes. This can be achieved by developing performance indicators that are linked to regulatory objectives.

The Chairwoman of ANACOM also emphasised the difficulties involved in digital regulation, alluding to institutional fragmentation and the cross-border nature of digital markets as key challenges. In this context, she called for greater cooperation between regulators, regular information sharing, and the development of common approaches to address emerging risks. Sandra Maximiano stressed that ensuring regulatory predictability while enabling adaptability to rapid technological change is essential, and that this requires coordinated regulation to reduce duplication and eliminate supervisory gaps.

Photo: © ITU/D. Woldu.

As part of the same event, Sandra Maximiano took part in the high-level panel discussion, "Anticipating: Are we ready for what's next?", focusing on the challenges of digital governance, artificial intelligence and the evolution of regulatory frameworks in the face of emerging technologies such as 6G, space, and quantum computing.

Photo: © ITU/D. Woldu.

In her speech, Ms. Maximiano addressed the concept of "smart simplification" in relation to the European Commission's recent proposal for a new Digital Network Act. She argued that regulatory simplification should not be equated with deregulation, but rather with "better regulation", involving the reduction of complexity and the elimination of overlaps without compromising on essential objectives such as competition, consumer protection, predictability, and technological neutrality. She also emphasised the importance of preserving the flexibility needed to accommodate the varying economic, geographical, and digital maturity levels of Member States.

Photo: © ITU/D. Woldu.

Regarding multi-stakeholder collaboration, Sandra Maximiano argued that building a more inclusive and responsible digital future requires close cooperation between various stakeholders. According to the ANACOM Chairwoman, this cooperation is vital for incorporating diverse viewpoints into public policy formulation, enhancing transparency and public trust, and anticipating the risks posed by artificial intelligence and emerging digital models. She concluded by emphasising that this collaborative approach aligns private incentives with the public interest, promoting a digital transformation based on inclusion, responsibility, and the protection of fundamental rights.

Photo: © ITU/D. Woldu.

Siva Somasundram, Director of Regulation and Markets at the Universal Postal Union (UPU), also participated in this panel discussion. As well as reflecting on the shared challenges and goals of the postal and digital sectors, he congratulated ANACOM on the STAT.ANACOM tool, which was recently made available to the public. He highlighted its interactivity, user-friendliness, and capacity for cross-sectoral analysis.

Please note that STAT.ANACOM https://stat.anacom.pt/en-US/ is a new digital platform designed to share statistical information on sectors regulated by ANACOM. It provides accurate, interactive data on electronic communications, postal services, prices, coverage, and market trends.