The ACC 2025 Team shares insights from the Asian Carriers Conference, where industry leaders came together to explore the evolving landscape of telecommunications and digital innovation. Over five days, delegates exchanged ideas, discovered emerging trends, and connected with peers, offering a glimpse into the opportunities, challenges, and future possibilities that extend beyond traditional connectivity.
The Asian Carriers Conference (ACC) 2025 brought together nearly 1,000 delegates from almost 300 companies across 50 countries at Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu, for one of the world’s most influential gatherings of telecommunications and ICT leaders.
Led by title partner PLDT Global, ACC 2025 convened global innovators, thought leaders, and decision-makers to explore this year’s business theme: “ Shaping the World’s Digital Future Beyond Connectivity.” The five-day conference emphasized how the telco industry is evolving—beyond network speed and infrastructure—to building intelligent, sustainable, and human-centric digital ecosystems.
Reshaping the Future of Connectivity
As digital transformation accelerates worldwide, ACC 2025 challenged participants to look beyond traditional infrastructure and focus on emerging forces shaping the future—artificial intelligence, data centers, digital sovereignty, and the convergence of telecom and enterprise.
While the industry faces challenges such as fraud, regulatory constraints, and OTT competition, these were also recognized as opportunities for innovation and collaboration.
“Telecom companies are no longer just about reliable networks. They are enablers of smarter, more connected ecosystems—driving innovation, collaboration, and transformative solutions across industries” said Albert V. Villa-Real, President and CEO of PLDT Global
Insights and Innovation Across Five Days.
ACC 2025 in Cebu was a truly impactful gathering of the global telecom and digital ecosystem—once again proving why it’s a cornerstone event for our industry,” MEF Advisors Matt Ekram and Gavin Patterson.
From September 15 to 19, ACC 2025 empowered delegates to explore the multidimensional future of ICT through forums, workshops, and networking sessions.Highlights included:
- CXO Forum: Headlined by global change leadership expert Friska Wirya, this year’s CXO Forum tackled the transformative power of leadership in an age of rapid disruption. Friska’s keynote, “ Sustaining a Digitally-Connected Future,” inspired C-level executives to navigate digital transformation through empathy, adaptability, and innovation.
- Data Center Forum: Six key operators—A-Flow, Digital Edge, Digital Halo, ST Telemedia, VITRO, and YCO Cloud—shared insights under the theme “ Rethink Philippines: The Next Hub for Hyperscale and AI.”
- B2B2C Workshop: Industry experts from PLDT Global, Infobip, Starpay, CSG, Tableau, and Appsflyer discussed how customer experience, real-time insights, and growth strategies ar reshaping digital ecosystems.
- Roundtable Forum: Led by the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF), “Beyond the Pipe: Data, Trust, and Innovation in the Evolving Mobile Ecosystem” featured panelists from MEF, Huawei, Infobip, CSG, and PLDT.
- Keynote by Simone Heng: The globally acclaimed author and speaker delivered “ Humanity Unplugged : Human Connection in a Digital World,” inspiring leaders to balance technology with authentic human connection.
Connection Beyond Business
Beyond the conference halls, ACC 2025 fostered genuine connections through curated networking experiences, dinner events, and cultural activities. Delegates described these as “high-value engagements” that deepened partnerships and opened new opportunities for collaboration.
“ACC 2025 in Cebu was a truly impactful gathering of the global telecom and digital ecosystem—once again proving why it’s a cornerstone event for our industry, ” said MEF Advisors Matt Ekram and Gavin Patterson.
Looking Ahead to ACC 2026
As ACC 2025 concluded, organizers reaffirmed their commitment to continue driving innovation, partnership, and dialogue across the global telco ecosystem. Plans for ACC 2026 are already underway, with the goal of delivering an even more forward-looking and transformative experience.Here’s to the next chapter. See you in ACC 2026!
