As Asia’s leading telco and ICT event marked its 20th year, ACC, formerly known as the Asian Carriers Conference returned to Shangri-La Mactan in Cebu, Philippines this 2024, with the theme “Amplify, Cultivate, and Celebrate.”
This milestone event reflected on two decades of connecting industry leaders and enabling a future of advanced digital transformations.
20 Years of Driving the Industry Forward
Organized with the help of the PLDT Group, ACC has long served as a platform in fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth within the industry. This year, ACC provided an opportunity for global carriers to envision the next 20 years and beyond, setting the stage for continued progress and development.
Leaders from national and international tech companies lead the opening ceremony of the 20th year of ACC.
In his opening remarks, PLDT Global President and CEO Albert V. Villa-Real underscored the important role of telco and tech leaders in a constantly evolving world. "We have to lead those changes by constantly pushing the frontiers of digital transformation, starting from within our organization and branching out to our customers."
From its inception as a regional meeting of carriers, ACC has evolved into one of the most prestigious conferences in the telco and ICT industry, attracting change-makers from Asia and beyond. Over the years, ACC has been instrumental in driving the growth and evolution of the global digital ecosystem through thought leadership, business networking, and comprehensive delegate experiences. The PLDT Group has been a steadfast partner of ACC throughout the years, contributing to its growth and success.
Transformative Highlights of ACC’s 20th
The 5-day event featured a rich program of forums and workshops, addressing current industry challenges and future trends. A key highlight was the Strategy Summit, titled “The Art and Science of Wow: Great Customer Experience in the Phygital World,” which was delivered by Brand and Customer Engagement Expert and Former Head of Digital for the Virgin Group, Alex Hunter.
PLDT and Smart FVP and Group Head of Corporate Communications Cathy Yap-Yang facilitates the interview with Brand and Customer Engagement Expert Alex Hunter after he delivered his keynote speech during the Strategy Summit.
Hunter’s keynote speech emphasized the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in creating “wow moments” for customers. He likewise highlighted the concept of “phygital”—the merging of physical and digital experiences as a key driver of unique and extraordinary customer interactions.
ACC also featured a roundtable forum on maximizing 5G investments through effective monetization strategies. The session provided valuable insights for telecom operators looking to capitalize on their 5G infrastructure.
Various workshops which covered critical industry topics also took place, addressing issues ranging from AI and cloud integration to cybersecurity threats and the evolution of telco networks.
Showcase of Local Products at ACC’s Shopping Village
ACC 2024's Shopping Village showcases Cebu's locally made products.
The 20th year of the ACC brought back its ‘Shopping Village’ which showcased products from Cebu’s micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). This initiative provided local businesses with a global platform to promote Cebuano products, demonstrating ACC’s commitment to supporting regional economies.
“Our dream has always been to expand our reach internationally, as handloom weaving, though deeply rooted in local traditions, deserves global recognition. This opportunity allows us to showcase the excellence of Filipino handicrafts on the world stage and affirm that they can stand among the finest globally,” said Dr. Jorelyn P. Concepcion, University Director for Viable Demonstration Project at Cebu Technological University, and Project Director of social enterprise Hinablon sa Cebu.
The PLDT Group’s support for the ACC is aligned with its drive to enable the creation of opportunities for collaboration among telco and technology partners that will benefit the global industry.
