GSMA opens Digital Nations Summit in Tokyo, highlights 6G cooperation and digital transformation
Date: 2026-04-15
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
GSMA has officially opened its Digital Nations Summit in Tokyo, bringing
together global telecom leaders to discuss the next phase of digital
transformation, including advancements in artificial intelligence and 6G
connectivity.
The
summit was opened by GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath, who highlighted
Japan’s long-standing leadership in technology development and its strong
position to play a central role in shaping future global digital
infrastructure.
Discussions
at the summit focused on accelerating digital transformation across regions,
with emphasis on strengthening next-generation networks, adopting best
practices in digital service delivery, and enhancing trust and security
frameworks to protect citizens and businesses.
Badrinath
noted that strong mobile and 5G foundations will be critical as countries
transition into the AI and 6G era, with increasing attention on building
interoperable, secure, and scalable digital ecosystems.
A
key highlight of the summit was the signing of the Tokyo Accord by major
telecommunications operators including KDDI Corporation, NTT DOCOMO, Rakuten
Mobile, SoftBank Group Corp., as well as regional partners such as Globe
Telecom and LG Uplus, alongside three APAC 6G alliances.
The
agreement signals a shared commitment to developing an open, secure, and
globally aligned 6G future, reinforcing cooperation between industry
stakeholders in shaping next-generation connectivity standards.
The
GSMA said the summit underscores the importance of international collaboration
in driving innovation and ensuring that digital transformation delivers
inclusive economic and social benefits.
