APNIC has introduced a comprehensive update to its stand-alone conference host and location selection process, aiming to provide prospective hosts with clearer guidance earlier in the planning cycle while addressing the significantly growing scale and complexity of its regional events.
The announcement outlines a modernized framework designed to manage the expanding footprint of APNIC gatherings, which have grown exponentially since the organization’s inception. Reflecting on the organization’s history, APNIC points out that its very first conference, held in Bangkok in 1995, drew a modest attendance of just 82 participants. Today, stand-alone APNIC conferences routinely attract roughly six times that number, underscoring the enduring relevance and vital importance of these gatherings for members and the broader internet community across the Asia-Pacific region.
These conferences serve as a crucial nexus for members, technical experts, industry partners, and a wide array of internet stakeholders. They facilitate vital discussions on network operations, policy, and infrastructure development, while fostering a collaborative environment that defines APNIC’s member-based, community-governed model. The educational and technical programs at these events are driven by a dedicated Program Committee composed of community members, working hand-in-hand with local hosts who manage ground-level organization, community outreach, and engagement.
Hosting an APNIC conference offers local organizations a unique platform to showcase their technological advancements, infrastructure achievements, and overall internet development to a wider regional and international audience. For the host economy, these events strengthen professional relationships with APNIC members and stakeholders, elevate the profile of local internet initiatives, and bring high-level regional expertise directly to domestic engineers, policymakers, academics, and students. By lowering traditional barriers to participation—such as travel costs and international expenses—local professionals and students gain invaluable opportunities for learning, networking, and professional development, which in turn nurtures local internet operational expertise and community leadership.
To ensure equitable access and maintain a balanced regional presence, stand-alone APNIC conferences operate under an established sub-regional rotation framework. Regulated by the APNIC Executive Council (EC), this rotation spans across East Asia, South Asia, and Oceania, ensuring the organization remains closely connected to diverse communities throughout its expansive service region.
According to the upcoming schedule, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, is set to host the stand-alone conference in 2027. Following Mongolia, the rotation moves to Oceania in 2028, South Asia in 2029, East Asia in 2030, Oceania again in 2031, and South Asia in 2032.
APNIC notes a distinct governance structure for conferences held in conjunction with the APRICOT Summit. Host and location decisions for the APRICOT-affiliated events fall under the purview of the Asia Pacific Network Operators Group (APNOG) board. The APNOG board has previously indicated that APRICOT will generally not rotate across the same sub-regional schedule and will predominantly be held in Southeast Asia by default, following the specific selection processes administered by the APNOG board.
The newly updated process for stand-alone APNIC conferences is designed to inject greater transparency, predictability, and clarity into how prospective hosts and the wider community prepare for future events. The revised framework establishes explicit guidelines regarding key milestones, evaluation methodologies, and the exact criteria used for final decision-making.
Central to this updated process is a standardized Expression of Interest (EoI) mechanism. Under the new guidelines, the EoI process will officially open approximately 30 months prior to the commencement of each stand-alone conference. This extended timeline is intended to grant prospective hosts ample runway to prepare comprehensive proposals, secure necessary local partnerships, and coordinate early planning stages with regional stakeholders.
To illustrate the timeline under the updated model, APNIC highlights the planning schedule for the September 2029 stand-alone conference designated for South Asia. For this event, the EoI period will span a six-month window from March to September 2027. This extended window gives interested organizations sufficient time to formulate robust proposals and maintain an active dialogue with the APNIC Secretariat before officially submitting their documentation.
Once the EoI submission window closes, the APNIC Secretariat will evaluate all proposals against a newly published, transparent assessment framework. This evaluation mechanism covers a rigorous set of criteria evaluated by the EC, including the suitability of the proposed location and venue, accessibility for regional participants, the operational and organizational capability of the local host, financial viability, and comprehensive risk management. Following this detailed assessment, the EC will make the final determination regarding the host and location, after which the Secretariat will publish the official decision alongside the supporting evaluation information.
The publication of these clear assessment criteria is intended not only to streamline the selection process for the EC and Secretariat but also to assist prospective hosts in crafting well-prepared, high-quality proposals during the initial EoI phase. Furthermore, the updated framework builds in a controlled exception mechanism for rare situations where the standard rotation schedule or key timeline milestones cannot reasonably be met. In such instances, the Secretariat will thoroughly review the unique circumstances, document the rationale to ensure complete transparency and accountability, and present a formal recommendation to the EC for approval.
Organizations interested in putting forward their economy or city to host a future APNIC conference are encouraged to review the detailed EoI requirements, assessment criteria, and logistical expectations available directly on the APNIC website. The very first Expression of Interest cycle under this modernized framework will officially commence in March 2027, focusing on candidates for the 2029 stand-alone conference in South Asia. Prospective hosts seeking clarification or guidance during the preparation phase can direct their inquiries to the APNIC conference team via email.
