Dr. Jiun-Yu Wen, Director General, Dept. of Planning of National Communications Commission (NCC) with NCC colleagues, Communications Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Lithuania (CRA) held a second-time video conference on November 25th, 2023. CRA took the opportunity to share the current situation and conditions under the EU Digital Services Act with NCC; both sides also exchanged policies and views on National Roaming and Network Resilience and Satellite Connection, and relevant issues.

CRA highlighted how the EU DSA aims to protect consumer rights on the internet, develop a clear accountability and transparency for online platform activities so as to foster market innovation, growth and competitiveness. CRA also explained how Lithuania complies with EU DSA to promote the domestic legal framework and supervision system, as well as the cooperation with other EU member states to implement the EU DSA regulations.

With regards to National Roaming, CRA explained that Lithuania has taken measures such as activating national roaming of the 3 major telecom operators, building network integrity, and connecting cable and satellite communications with neighbor countries, and kept checking and renewing related plans to maintain network resilience, to ensure that communication services won’t be stopped due to emergencies such as natural disasters or wartime. NCC shared that Taiwan’s telecommunications network is a free competition market, built and used by telecommunications operators. Exceptionally, in accordance with Article 37, Item 5 of the Telecommunications Management Act, operators are allowed to national roaming in remote areas and other special conditions. In addition, NCC explained the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) is responsible for network resilience, and an assessment is currently processing for how to activate national roaming mechanism when communications are interrupted during wartime.

As for satellite communications, CRA ensures national security and the resilience of communication services through formulating regulations and policies to facilitate technological innovation and competitiveness, and maintain functionally of communication networks during wartime or natural disasters. CRA explained that despite the high coverage of 4G and 5G in Lithuania, other communication alternatives (such as the deployment of communication satellites in different altitude orbits) should be prepared to address critical emergencies. CRA also emphasized that more adequate communication solutions should be prepared for critical situations, such as wartime. Since MODA wasn’t attending the meeting, NCC introduced the current development status of Taiwan satellite communication services and explained Taiwan’s communication network resilience mechanism in case of war and explained how Taiwan is currently developing a "diversified and heterogeneous" communications network, ensuring the command and contact operates under emergency situations.

After the first meeting on October 25 this year, sharing respective experiences in addressing disinformation and telecommunications scams, both sides recognize that the outcomes of these two meetings have been very fruitful. In view of the fact that Taiwan and Lithuania are currently in very similar situations and both are working hard to strengthen digital resilience. In the future, both sides plan to seek opportunities for exchanges and collaborations in the field of communications. NCC and CRA agreed to maintain subsequent exchanges and promote mutual visits to enhance the friendships between Taiwan and Lithuania.