February 2022

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Recent Events

APT Young Professional and Student Programme (APTYPS) 2021 in Vanuatu

APTYPS 2021 in Vanuatu was held from 6 – 8 December 2021 with theme “SheHacks Vanuatu– empowering Young Professionals in Advanced Real Technology”. The hackathon was organized by SMART Sistas with collaboration with local partners: Peace Corp Vanuatu, Telecommunications, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). SMART Sistas organizes an ICT Camp annually from 2014 to empower girls of ages 11-15 years to pursue educational opportunities in the ICT field.

The hackathon was attended by 32 participants, 29 participants attended physically while 3 participants joined virtually. There was total of 8 teams where each team consist of Hipster (Designer), Hacker (Programmer) and Hustler (Pitcher).  During the three-day hackathon, first day was Introduction round where the participants were divided into groups, provided the guideline for challenges and technology materials were provided. In the second day, the participants were fully engaging in Hackathon where technical support and guidance provided by the mentor. On the last day, the participants pitched their presentations. The Mobile apps and Website app prototype were developed during Hackathon which included:

•        Recycle made Fun App

•        Water Management App

•        SMART Manager App

•        Time Management App

•        Social Media Management App

•        Ituani Centre App

•        Unemployment Website]- Sistas Safety Website. The program was followed by prize distribution.

The annual SMART Sistas camp program was organized successfully with the support from Vanuatu government and the private sector in Vanuatu. The main outcomes of this program achieved was to encourage young girls to venture into the ICT arena, where the hackathon event boosted the interest of these young and potential future ICT professional in Vanuatu.

The 26th Meeting of the Regional Interagency Working Group on Information and Communication Technology (IAWG)

18 January 2022, Virtual Meeting

The 26th meeting of Regional Interagency Working Group on Information and Communication Technology (IAWG) was organized by ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (APT is one of co-organizers along with UN ESCAP) on 18 January. In addition to the organizers, 23 UN other agencies also attended. This was the biggest number of participation ever. Each organization shared its own activities and plans for 2022 followed by a discussion on what would be possible areas/ activities for the collaboration among the relevant organizations. During the discussion, participants acknowledged the in-dept knowledge and experience sharing amongst the organizations and continued to build up the successful coordination platform.

The next 27th meeting of IAWG will be hosted by APT at the beginning of 2023.

Regional Interagency Working Group on Information and Communication Technology (IAWG) originates from The Interagency Coordination Meeting on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which was held in Bangkok on 22 August 2001. It was jointly organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and the Asia Pacific Tele community (APT) and it has been organized regularly once a year. The objectives of IWG are to share activities with ICT-related measures, discuss areas for cooperation, encourage coordination of activities with a view to promote optimum utilization of resources and promote partnerships projects. Each year, ESCAP, APT, and ITU take turns as hosts.

The 4th Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-21
(APT WTDC21-4)

24 - 28 January 2022, Bangkok, Thailand/Online (Hybrid Meeting)

The 4th Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-21 (APT WTDC21-4) was held from 24 to 28 January 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand as a hybrid meeting. The meeting was hosted by the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, Thailand. Mr. Trairat Viriyasirikul, Acting Secretary General of the Office of NBTC inaugurated the meeting. Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director, BDT, ITU was also presented at the opening session through Zoom meeting. 

APT WTDC21-4 was attended by 165 participants representing Members, Affiliate Members, International/Regional Organizations, and other organizations. The meeting was successful in fulfilling its objective to develop Preliminary APT Common Proposals and reaffirmed Preliminary APT Common Proposals (PACPs) adopted at the previous meeting and developed additional PACPs and APT Views.  

In relation to the outcomes of the meeting, the meeting adopted two (2) APT Views on Action Plan Outputs and Outcomes, and Draft WTDC Declaration to be submitted for the consideration of the third meeting of the Inter-Regional Meeting to Prepare WTDC-21 (IRM-3).  The meeting reaffirmed 6 PACPs adopted at the previous meeting, and adopted addition 9 PACPS which includes new Resolution, Modifications to existing Resolutions, and Modification to the existing Study Question. Final list of PACP adopted by the APT WTDC-21 includes proposals on WTDC Declaration, Regional Initiatives, Thematic Priorities, Resolutions, and Study Questions. Those Resolutions include:

·       Res. 1: Rules of Procedure of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector 

·       Res. 8 : Collection and Dissemination of Information and Statistics 

·       Res. 37: Bridging the Digital Divide 

·       Res. 45 Mechanisms for enhancing cooperation on cybersecurity, including countering and combating spam 

·       Res. 48: Strengthening cooperation among telecommunication regulators 

·       Res. 64: Protecting and Supporting Users/ Consumers of Telecommunication/ Information and Communication Technology Services 

·       Res. 67: The Role of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector in Child Online Protection 

·       Res. 69: Facilitating creation of national computer incident response teams, particularly for developing countries, and cooperation between them 

·       New Resolution: Use of Information and Communication Technologies to Combat Pandemics 

In terms of Study Question, the proposals were on Q1/1-Strategies and policies for the deployment of broadband in developing countries, Q6/1- Consumer information, protection and rights: laws, regulation, economic bases, consumer networks, and Q7/1-Access to telecommunication/information and communication technology services by persons with disabilities and other persons with specific needs. 

For each PACP, the meeting also nominated focal points who are encouraged to exchange information with other regions as well as to be the leading / assisting country for the proposal at the WTDC-21.  

The Extraordinary meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-21 was planned to be held in April 2022 to share views on other regions’ proposals and to coordinate as necessary. 

Click here for more details.

Upcoming Events

The 2nd Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for PP-22 (APT PP22-2)

15 - 17 February 2022. Virtual/ Online Meeting

The 2nd Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for PP-22 (APT PP22-2) will be held on
15-17 February 2022 virtually. APT PP22-2 is expected to conduct the following activities:

·       To review outcomes of Council WGs and Expert Groups on ITRs;

·       To consider Issue Papers prepared by Working Groups of APT PP-22;

·       To consider the input contributions from APT Members;

·       To review outcomes of the preparatory process of other regional organizations;

·       To develop APT views on PP-22 issues; and

·       To develop APT contribution, if any, to 2022 Session of the Council.

Intersessional Meeting of the Ad Hoc Group on
Working Method (APG23-IMAHWM)

2 - 3 March 2022, Virtual/Online Meeting

The 3rd Meeting of the APT Conference Preparatory Group for WRC-23 (APG23-3) held virtually from 8 to 13 November 2021 decided to organize an intersessional meeting of the Ad Hoc Group on Working Methods of APG virtually. With this regard, based on the consultation with the Chairman of Ad Hoc Group on Working Methods as well as the Chairman of APG-23, it has been decided that APT would organize the Intersessional Meeting of the Ad Hoc Group on Working Method (APG23-IMAHWM)
from 2 to 3 March 2022 as a virtual/online meeting.

The objective of this intersessional meeting would be to further consider possible revisions to the APG Working Methods and to discuss in detail the issues identified above that were raised at APG23-3. The output of the meeting would be a consolidated revised working document towards the possible revision of the APG Working Methods for consideration by APG23-4. APG23-4 may then decide to submit a proposed revision to the APG Working Methods to the Management Committee of the APT for consideration at its next meeting.

The 29th Meeting of the APT Wireless Group (AWG-29)

21 - 29 March 2022, Virtual/Online Meeting

The 29th Meeting of AWG (AWG-29) will be held from 21 to 29 March 2022 as a virtual/online meeting.

AWG covers various aspects of emerging wireless systems to meet the upcoming digital convergence era in the Asia-Pacific region. It also assists to provide effective radiocommunication solutions and to facilitate the transfer of technology and knowledge. At its 29th meeting, the AWG will continue to study on the work items, report on the progress of studies and discuss the relevant issues. The activities at AWG-29 will be conducted
based on the new structure of AWG adopted at AWG-28.

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