Riyadh: The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) issued today the 'Riyadh Outcome Statement' to mark the conclusion of the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR25). Hosted by Saudi Arabia's Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), the event saw the participation of over 6,500 national and international guests.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the 'Riyadh Outcome Statement' is based on the GSR25 Best Practice Guidelines, which include: Make Innovation a Core Regulatory Practice, Adapt Our Institutional Capacity, Leverage Technology for Regulatory Excellence, Strengthen Cross-Border Cooperation, Champion Collaborative Governance, and Prioritize a Human-Centric Digital Future.
The GSR25 and its side events were successful in terms of attendance and diversity of topics. A new roadmap was also adopted through the Connecting Humanity study, providing innovative and affordable solutions to achieve inclusiveness and economic and social well-being, especially for developing countries.
Held from August 31 to September 3, 2025, the GSR25 gathered ministers, heads of regulatory bodies, policymakers, private sector leaders, and ICT stakeholders. The symposium featured the Heads of Regulators Executive roundtable, the Industry Advisory Group on Development Issues and Private Sector Chief Regulatory Officers' (IAGDI-CRO) meeting, and the Digital Regulation Network meeting. Other sessions included the Arab States Preparatory Meeting for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26), the Network of Women (NoW) session, and a high-level meeting on satellite integration.
The GSR25 Side Event witnessed the launch of the 10th edition of 'Media Oasis' in collaboration with the Ministry of Media. It also included the Sync Digital Wellbeing Summit and the TEDxRiyadh global event, as well as several pavilions that showcased notable innovations and regulatory technologies (RegTech).
Throughout the sessions, panel discussions explored a wide range of topics, including internet sustainability, strategic foresight for regulators, the future of quantum technologies, digital diplomacy, powering the future of gaming and esports, AI collaborative frameworks, Earth-to-Space connectivity, rebuilding trust in the digital era, and building an inclusive digital future. Experts also led in-depth dialogues on regulatory collaboration, innovative solutions to connect the unconnected, and the 5GXtreme innovative solution, charging toward the 6G.
Saudi Arabia's hosting of the GSR25 reflects the international community's confidence in the Kingdom and its pioneering leadership in the digital domain. It highlights Saudi Arabia's contributions to achieving the objectives of the ITU and its role as a hub for innovative digital dialogue and regulation. The Kingdom continues to actively support the SDGs, drive global connectivity solutions, and advance transformative digital regulations worldwide.