Nepali telecom expert Anandaraj Khanal has been appointed as the head of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) South Asia regional office and Innovation Centre in New Delhi, India. He assumed his new responsibilities on October 1.
The ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) officially appointed Khanal to the position on September 22. The South Asia regional office, located in New Delhi, was inaugurated on March 22, 2023, to foster technology cooperation across the region.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialised agency of the United Nations for information and communication technologies (ICT). Established in Paris on May 17, 1865, its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. The ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) serves as the secretariat for the ITU’s Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D), dedicated to bridging the global digital divide and accelerating digital transformation worldwide.
Khanal’s Extensive Experience
Anandaraj Khanal has over three decades of experience spanning the telecommunication and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors. His expertise encompasses areas such as digital transformation, public policy, regulatory frameworks, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure development, and innovation.
Before this international role, Khanal served for more than 15 years in senior leadership positions at the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), Nepal’s telecom regulatory body. The NTA was established on Falgun 20, 2054 (BS), under the Telecommunications Act, 2053 (BS). During his tenure, he was instrumental in various initiatives, including the formulation of national cybersecurity policy, cybersecurity awareness and assessment programs, the development of wireless broadband master plans, and the establishment of legal provisions related to cybercrime.
Role of the ITU South Asia Office
The ITU South Asia Regional Office and Innovation Centre in New Delhi, which opened on March 22, 2023, was established following a Host Country Agreement signed between the Government of India and the ITU in March 2022. Its primary objective is to strengthen technological collaboration and advance regional telecommunication development across South Asia.
Under Khanal’s leadership, the office is expected to drive significant progress in telecommunication and ICT development, digital transformation, and innovation within the South Asian region. The ITU’s South Asian team will focus on key initiatives such as establishing new innovation centres, promoting advanced technologies, contributing to the expansion and enhancement of ICT and telecommunication networks and services, and actively supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) will continue to facilitate digital transformation in member states, promote ICT-based national strategies, build capacity, and provide assistance in the development and implementation of national digital transformation strategies.
