UPU conference on postal regulation (S1) 2026

Theme – Beyond the mailbox: redefining the boundaries of the postal sector

The conference will be streamed live on UPU TV here.

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) holds a conference on postal regulation during each Council of Administration (CA) session, as a forum for the dissemination of information and sharing of experiences and best practices in the field. Previous editions of the conference have attracted a great deal of attention and interest from governmental, regulatory and operational entities, as well as from external stakeholders.

The first conference of the Dubai Congress cycle will be held on Tuesday, 5 May 2026 (14.00–17.45) at UPU headquarters in Berne, Switzerland.

In a changing socio-economic environment marked by the adoption of new technology by postal users and society in general, as well as the entry of new active players in relevant postal markets, it is important to revisit the definitions of the postal sector. In particular, this is necessary to enable and ensure effective regulatory oversight and to increase the relevance of postal economic activity.
 
Consequently, the S1 edition of the conference on postal regulation will be aimed at defining postal markets and services as a basis for informing the regulatory remit of the postal sector.

For inquiries, please contact the CA C2 secretariat: CA.C2.Secretariat@upu.int.

Programme
 
Moderator: Ms Amanda Martinez
 
14.00–14.10     Opening remarks
                           Mr Masahiko Metoki, UPU Director General
 
14.10–14.30     Keynote speech
                           Dr Roel Gevaers, Professor, University of Antwerp

The keynote speech will take the form of a scene-setting presentation on the main drivers and trends that affect the definition of the postal sector; postal and delivery services provided by the industry (in terms of the providers active in the postal and delivery market) and the distinc­tions and overlaps between postal and other delivery services.

14.30–16.00     Panel 1: Defining postal markets and services

This panel will explore the markets that are part of or relevant to the postal sector, as well as the players that are active in those markets. In particular, it will examine the criteria used to delineate markets and analyze which services are substitutable with similar services offered by non-postal enterprises. The main purpose of market definition is to identify, in a systematic way, the main boundaries of competition between postal and non-postal delivery service pro­viders to inform regulatory decisions regarding licensing, pricing, accessibility, delivery fre­quency, regulatory oversight and other aspects of postal services.

Panellists:
 

• Dr Joakim Levin, Acting Head of Postal Affairs Unit, Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS)

• Mr Brian Mwansa, Acting Executive Secretary, Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (CRASA)

• Dr Michael Funk, Principal Economist, Swiss Economics

16.00–17.30     Panel 2: Regulatory remit – defining the boundaries of the postal sector

Traditional postal operators, including designated operators, are increasingly repositioning themselves as delivery agents for packets and parcels, whereas vertically integrated platforms that started out as online marketplaces connecting buyers and sellers have moved to integrate operations and delivery services, either by developing their own logistics network or acquiring existing delivery companies. The convergence of these two trends raises questions about the definition of the postal sector and the markets and services that fall within the regulatory remit. Panel 2 will explore the boundaries of the postal sector and question whether those vertically integrated platforms are performing (traditional) postal services and consider the implications of these trends on the postal sector’s regulatory remit.

Panellists:
 

• Mr Paolo Alagia, Head of the Regulation and Universal Service Unit, Dept. for postal services, Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM)

• Mr Adam Tomczak, Group Head of International Delivery and Solutions Development, Allegro

• Ms Antonia Niederprum, Head of Postal Services and Logistics, WIK Consult

​17.30–17.35     Main conclusions and takeaways
                           Ms Amanda Martinez, Moderator

17.35–17.45     Closing remarks
                           Mr Marjan Osvald, UPU Deputy Director General