At the WSIS Forum 2026 - Sandra Maximiano highlights international cooperation as a pillar of digital infrastructure resilience

On 9 July 2026, Sandra Maximiano, the Chairwoman of ANACOM's Board of Directors, took part in the "Leaders TalkX 8 - Strengthening International Cooperation for the Information Society" session at the WSIS Forum 2026 in Geneva. The session focused on the importance of international cooperation in creating a more inclusive, secure and sustainable information society.

In her speech, Sandra Maximiano emphasised the importance of international cooperation in strengthening the resilience of critical digital infrastructure, highlighting submarine cables as the backbone of the global digital economy. She explained that this infrastructure supports cloud services, financial transactions, digital public administration, e-commerce, and increasingly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. Consequently, its resilience is also essential for the robustness of the AI global ecosystem.

The ANACOM Chairwoman also emphasised that no single stakeholder can guarantee the security and resilience of submarine cable systems on its own, advocating a multi-sectoral approach that brings together governments, regulators, operators, industry, academia, and international organisations. In this context, she presented the work of the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience, which is co-chaired by Portugal and Nigeria and supported by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC). This body is a specific example of results-oriented international cooperation.

Sandra Maximiano noted that the Advisory Body had produced detailed recommendations over the past two years to strengthen the resilience of international submarine cable networks. These recommendations included measures relating to resilience right from the design stage, such as route diversification, reducing repair times, identifying and mitigating risks, and strengthening coordination amongst all stakeholders. She also recalled that these recommendations were reinforced at the Porto Summit on Submarine Cable Resilience, which took place in February 2026.

The speech also emphasised the importance of national-level cooperation through collaboration between public and private bodies, advocating that resilience should be built in digital infrastructure right from the design stage. To this end, the Chairwoman emphasised the need to invest in route diversity and reducing repair times, as well as strengthening monitoring capabilities and ensuring effective coordination between public authorities and industry.

In concluding her remarks, Sandra Maximiano stated that this vision is fully aligned with the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and the objectives of the Global Digital Compact. These recognise that meaningful connectivity hinges not only on access, but also on the existence of secure, reliable and resilient digital infrastructure. She also argued that cooperation between governments, regulators, industry, academia, and international organisations is key to achieving a safer, more inclusive, and more resilient digital future for all.

Sandra Maximiano, Chairwoman of the ANACOM Board of Directors, speaks at the session "Leaders TalkX 8 - Strengthening International Cooperation for the Information Society" at the WSIS Forum 2026, on 09.07.2026.