The Ratel delegation took part in the International Regulatory Conference (IRC) organized by the Agency for Electronic Communications of North Macedonia (AEK), from 19 to 20 May 2026 in Ohrid. The conference, under the motto "Tomorrow's rules meet today", brought together representatives of state institutions, international and regional organizations, academia, operators, international companies and regulatory bodies from the region, who had the opportunity to discuss current challenges, plans and results, and exchange experiences in the field of electronic communications.

The conference was opened by AEK Director Jeton Akiku, who thanked the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for its partnership and recalled the results of its work to date, emphasizing that technological progress and modern trends are redefining the role of regulators, adding that the main goal of regulation is to provide all citizens with access to services and trust in new technologies. The gathering was then addressed by the President of the Council, Orce Simov, who highlighted the necessity of digital transformation, which brings enormous changes in the way we work, as well as the importance of innovation for the region's high positioning in the world. Jaroslav Ponder, Director of the ITU Office for Europe, reminded that the focus of this year's Telecommunication and Information Society Day, which is celebrated on May 17, is system resilience and international cooperation.

The first session was dedicated to the implementation of the new EU regulatory framework in the region and the extension of the application of the “roam like at home” rule in the European Union to the Western Balkans. Representatives of Ratel presented the results of the implementation of the Law on Electronic Communications in the method of calculating fees and financing the regulator and showcased the successful application of the “roaming like at home” regime in the Western Balkans, as well as the current steps being taken to expand the application of this regime. A panel discussion on the implementation of international standards in electronic communications and security challenges in telecommunications in the era of artificial intelligence followed, highlighting the importance of security protocols and end-user awareness.

The second day of the conference was mostly themed around the exchange of experience in the field of information security and end-user protection. The first session was opened by an ITU representative, who gave a presentation on the topic of system resilience and cybersecurity and presented projects related to the protection of children on the Internet and an early warning system in case of disasters, the implementation of which is underway in the Western Balkans region.

As part of the session dedicated to the results of regulatory bodies, representatives of Ratel held presentations about expert supervision performed by authorized individuals as regards the technical inspection of radio stations, as well as protecting the rights of end-users and preventing non-transparent contract terms in the field of electronic communications.

Participation in the International Regulatory Conference contributes to the strengthening of cooperation with colleagues from other regulatory bodies, as well as with representatives of regional and international organizations, mainly through the exchange of experiences and information on current challenges and possible solutions.