PTC and APTelecom Establish Fabrizio Civitarese Fellowship to Honor Legacy and Support New Talent

Five-year fellowship will provide financial support, mentorship, and access to the PTC Annual Conference in Hawaiʻi

HONOLULU, HI, UNITED STATES, October 15, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- PTC and APTelecom today announced the launch of the Fabrizio Civitarese PTC Fellowship, honoring the memory of the late Fabrizio Civitarese, a respected telecommunications leader whose work helped expand international network infrastructure and digital connectivity across Asia Pacific.

The fellowship will support one recipient each year to attend the PTC Annual Conference in Hawaiʻi, beginning with PTC’27 in January 2027. APTelecom has committed US$25,000 over five years to provide up to US$5,000 in financial support per fellow, while PTC will provide complimentary conference registration. The selected fellow will also receive guidance from an industry mentor and tailored introductions to leaders and professionals across the digital infrastructure sector.

“Fabrizio was a long-time supporter of PTC and a deeply respected member of the global connectivity community,” said Brian Moon, CEO of PTC. “He understood that this industry is built not only on infrastructure, but on relationships, trust, and shared purpose. Through this fellowship, we want to make the PTC experience accessible to someone who might otherwise be unable to attend, while honoring Fabrizio’s contribution to our industry.”

Fabrizio served as President of Asia Pacific for Global Cloud Xchange (GCX), having earlier held senior roles with Telecom Italia, FLAG Telecom and Reliance Globalcom. With more than three decades in telecommunications, he helped develop international telecommunications business and relationships across the region, connecting carriers, enterprises, and markets through global network infrastructure.

His legacy lives on in those he worked with. Colleagues remember the encouragement and independence he gave them to grow professionally, along with the warmth and friendship he brought to the international telecommunications community. The fellowship carries that forward by giving someone entering the field access to the relationships, knowledge, and opportunities that could shape a career.

“Fabrizio meant a great deal to many of us in this industry,” said Eric Handa, Co-Founder and CEO of APTelecom. “His contribution went well beyond the positions he held, and we wanted to remember him in a way that gives someone else a chance. One introduction or conversation at PTC can open a door that someone didn’t know existed. If this fellowship helps someone find footing and take a meaningful next step, it will be the right way to carry his memory forward.”

The fellowship is open to professionals within their first five years in digital infrastructure, postgraduate students in relevant fields, and people seeking to move into the sector. Relevant disciplines include telecommunications, subsea cables, internet infrastructure, data centers, engineering, commercial development, policy, and research.

Applicants should demonstrate a need for financial assistance and explain what they hope to learn, whom they would benefit from meeting, and how they would use and share the experience. Selection will be undertaken by a panel comprising representatives of PTC, APTelecom, and an independent industry representative.

Applications for the inaugural fellowship will open on October 15, 2026 and close on November 15, 2026. The successful applicant will be notified by November 30, 2026, ahead of attendance at PTC’27 in Honolulu from January 17–20, 2027.

Application details: https://www.ptc.org/fc-ptc-fellowship/#apply

ABOUT PTC
Founded in 1978, PTC is a non-profit membership organization committed to advancing digital infrastructure, telecommunications, and ICT on a global scale, with a focus on the Pacific Rim. PTC serves as a central hub within the digital infrastructure community, nurturing innovation, fostering business growth, and promoting collaboration among stakeholders through a diverse range of events and initiatives. Foremost among these is the PTC Annual Conference, a prestigious gathering held in Honolulu, Hawaii, in January, where C-level executives, technologists, thought leaders, investors, researchers, and academicians convene to share knowledge, cultivate valuable relationships, and catalyze new business. Visit us at www.ptc.org.

ABOUT APTelecom
APTelecom is a global digital infrastructure and telecommunications advisory firm specializing in subsea cable systems, international connectivity, commercial strategy, market development and infrastructure implementation. The firm supports telecommunications carriers, infrastructure developers, investors, governments and other participants across the global digital infrastructure sector. For additional information, visit www.aptelecom.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
APTelecom
Sean Bergin
sean@aptelecom.com

PTC
media@ptc.org
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