Malaysia to Host Inaugural GSMA M360 ASEAN 2026, Anchoring Region’s Digital Future

GSMA Chief Regulatory Officer John Giusti and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Executive Chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim bin Fateh Din sign an agreement at MWC25 Shanghai, China, on June 19, 2025, confirming Kuala Lumpur as host of the inaugural M360 ASEAN 2026 event. (GSMA)

Malaysia is ramping up preparations as its capital, Kuala Lumpur, prepares to host the inaugural GSMA M360 ASEAN conference, a global series of regional summits focused on the mobile industry, digital technology, and the growth of local digital economies, from September 9 to 10.

In a press briefing following a roundtable discussion on event preparations on August 6, Malaysian Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that Kuala Lumpur’s selection to host the 2026 conference will strengthen the country’s position as a regional digital hub for telecommunications, artificial intelligence (AI) and connectivity.

“This is the first time the event will be held in Malaysia and also the first time it will be held in ASEAN. Kuala Lumpur’s selection as the host city is an honour for Malaysia,” he said.

The 2026 GSMA M360 is expected to bring together telecom operators, technology providers, investors, experts and government representatives from across the Southeast Asia region. The Minister added that the region must also leverage on this opportunity as the event will “provide a platform for ASEAN countries to discuss the direction of the digital sector, including efforts to expand connectivity and harness AI responsibly”.

Additionally, the conference will feature the launch of GSMA’s Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2026 report, a major research publication highlighting how mobile technologies are driving economic growth, 5G expansion and AI integration across the region. The study forecasts that the broader Asia-Pacific mobile ecosystem will contribute 1.4 trillion US dollar to the regional economy by 2030, marking a 40% jump from current levels.

Crucially, the report outlines that the next phase of Asia-Pacific’s digital growth is shaped by four core priority pillars, namely the rapid rise of AI, declining digital trust, demand for resilient infrastructure, as well as growing interest in digital sovereignty.

What does this mean for businesses?

Malaysia’s hosting of the GSMA M360 ASEAN 2026 conference, combined with the insights from the Mobile Economy report, places the country at a critical juncture; if successfully executed, this opportunity will enable the nation to leapfrog into a true digital powerhouse, driving foreign direct investment into 5G infrastructure and data centres while ultimately accelerating its “AI Nation” 2030 vision. Furthermore, the event acts as a powerful catalyst for regional integration by driving unified data policies and robust cybersecurity frameworks across ASEAN, while simultaneously offering international businesses direct access to a telecom sector that is investing heavily in next-generation infrastructure and AI.

Kala Advisory helps investors transform ASEAN’s 1.4 trillion US trillion digital boom into targeted, country-by-country market entry plans for infrastructure, AI, and telecom sectors. Visit kala-advisory.com.