South Asian Internet Pioneers Honoured at SANOG 44 in Kathmandu

Internet pioneers from five South Asian countries were honoured at the 44th South Asian Network Operators Group (SANOG) conference held in Kathmandu for their contributions to expanding internet access and developing commercial internet services in the region.

The Internet Enablers Awards were presented twere Dilip Agrawal (Nepal), Neeraj Sonker and Suchit Nanda (India), Tariq Mustafa (Pakistan), Sumon Ahmed Sabir (Bangladesh), and Jichen Thinley (Bhutan) in recognition of their role in shaping the region's digital landscape.

Nepal's Dilip Agrawal, founder of WorldLink, was recognised for transforming the company from a dial-up internet provider into the country's largest internet service provider and for expanding broadband connectivity across Nepal, including remote areas.

According to Internet Enablers, the awards recognise individuals whose technical leadership and vision helped lay the foundation for internet infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific region, preserving the history of the internet while acknowledging the pioneers behind its growth. The three-day SANOG conference began in Kathmandu on Sunday.