What Happened
Panama will host the 48th meeting of the Permanent Consultative Committee I on Telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies, known as CCP.I-TIC, from April 20 to 24, 2026. The gathering will bring OAS member states together in Panama City for five days of discussions on telecommunications policy, coordination, and technical standards.
This will be the second time the Panamanian capital has hosted the event, reinforcing the country’s role as a regional meeting point for telecom and digital policy issues.
Key Topics on the Agenda
Delegates will discuss a broad set of issues tied to the future of connectivity in the Americas, including service quality, broadband expansion, universal access, digital inclusion, gender equality, infrastructure, cybersecurity, the digital economy, smart cities, and regulatory improvement.
Representatives from regulatory bodies in the region, including Panama’s National Authority of Public Services, known as ASEP, will join national and international specialists from the telecommunications ecosystem. Their work is expected to focus on cooperation and coordination around telecommunications and ICT development across the hemisphere.
Panama’s Regional Role
The meeting adds to Panama’s image as an international telecommunications hub. That positioning reflects the country’s broader role as a center for regional connectivity, logistics, and business activity, supported by its location and infrastructure.
ASEP general administrator Zelmar Rodríguez highlighted the importance of the event and its value in confirming Panama’s standing in the telecom sector. The meeting also aligns with wider regional efforts to strengthen digital development and promote more inclusive access to technology.
About CITEL
The Inter-American Telecommunications Commission, or CITEL, is a specialized body of the Organization of American States with technical autonomy. It works to promote the ongoing development of telecommunications and information and communication technologies in the hemisphere in support of sustainable development.
The commission is led by Executive Secretary Óscar León. Its Panama meeting will place the country at the center of discussions involving policy, regulation, and the next phase of digital cooperation in the Americas.