October 2024

Recent Events:

· SATRC Workshop on Recent Trends and Technologies (SAPIX-WSRTT)

· The 12th Meeting of the Working Group of MC on APT Legal Instruments (WGMC-12)

Upcoming Events:

· APT SATRC Web Dialogue: Smart Cities and Societies for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development

· The 25th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators' Council (SATRC-25)

· Seminar on Progress in APT for the year 2024

· The 48th Session of the Management Committee of the APT (MC-48)

· The 2nd Correspondence Group Meeting of APT-MM (CGMM-2)

· The 2nd Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-25 (APT WTDC25-2)

Recent Events

SATRC Workshop on Recent Trends and Technologies (SAPIX-WSRTT):

30 September - 2 October 2024, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

SATRC Workshop on Recent Trends and Technologies was held from 30 September to 2 October 2024 in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, as part of the implementation of SATRC Action Plan Phase IX. It was hosted by the Communications Regulatory Authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Workshop focused on recent trends and technologies for supporting the digital transformation of the economy and society in SATRC Member countries. Its primary aim was to give an in-depth analysis on various trends in innovation and technologies for fostering the growth of economy and society including technical details, policy and regulatory aspects and other aspects.

The workshop was attended by 64 delegates from 9 SATRC Members, 2 other APT Members, 9 Affiliate Members, 1 international organization and observers. H. E. Mr. Hamid Fattahi, Deputy Minister of ICT and President of the Communications Regulatory Authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran delivered the inaugural address. The keynote presentation of the workshop focused on ‘Shaping the digital interconnected future: The trends in technology’. The workshop included 7 sessions which covered the following topics:

• Enhancing digital transformation in South Asia

• Connectivity from space - The evolution of satellite communications

• Status of 5G deployment and moving forward to future generation

• Status of the deployment of fixed broadband networks in SATRC Countries – Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH)

• Balancing privacy, security and innovation in ICT

• Leveraging emerging technologies – The pace of progress in Artificial intelligence.

A total of 32 insightful presentations were delivered on those topics. SATRC Members shared their experiences, policy and regulation on digital transformation initiatives, 5G deployments, FTTH deployments. accelerating innovation taking into account the data privacy and data security and way forward for new technologies like Artificial Intelligence. Affiliate Members, especially global industry, shared the recent developments in technologies such as 5G, 6G, high-throughput satellites and satellite constellations. The workshop presentations concluded with interactive questions and answers.

The workshop was supported by the Extra Budgetary Contributions of the Government of Japan towards the activities of the SATRC.

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The 12th Meeting of the Working Group of MC on APT Legal Instruments (WGMC-12): 8 October 2024, Virtual/Online Meeting

The 12th Meeting of the Working Group of Management Committee on APT Legal Instruments (WGMC-12) held on 8 October 2024 as a virtual/online meeting was attended by 39 participants from APT Members and an Affiliate Member.

WGMC-12 considered the issue of guidelines for hybrid meeting including background of APT hybrid meeting, mode of APT meetings, benefits/challenges of hybrid/virtual meeting arrangements, legal implications for remote participation, practice of ITU and other UN organizations as well as experience from hosting APT hybrid meetings. The APT Secretariat was requested to provide more information covering the assessment of APT meetings for the potential mode for future conduct as well as the financial impact to the forthcoming 48th Session of the Management Committee of the APT (MC-48) for further consideration.

WGMC-12 also developed a document as a guideline for implementation of APT Focal Points for ITU Conferences and/or Assemblies (PP/WTDC/WTSA) based on previous discussion at WGMC-11. The document will be submitted to MC-48 for further consideration.

The WGMC-13 meeting will be held in Q3 in 2025 subject to the approval of the MC-48.

A screenshot of a video conference

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Upcoming Events

APT SATRC Web Dialogue: Smart Cities and Societies for Sustainable

Socio-Economic Development

30 October 2024, Virtual/Online

The APT SATRC Web Dialogue aims to explore the role of smart cities and societies for sustainable development, highlight policy and regulatory frameworks, showcase best practices and innovations, facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration. It is being organized as part of the activities of the SATRC Action Plan Phase IX. Join us to explore how Smart Cities and Societies, powered by cutting-edge ICT, can offer transformative solutions to enhance living standards, promote economic development, and ensure environmental sustainability.

The 25th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators' Council (SATRC-25)

11 - 13 November 2024, New Delhi, India, Hybrid Meeting

The APT will organize the 25th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-25) in New Delhi, India from 11 to 13 November 2024. The meeting will be hosted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). SATRC-25 will be held with physical attendance as well as virtual/online participation through Zoom meeting platform (i.e., hybrid meeting).

The SATRC meeting is held annually to discuss and coordinate regulatory and other related issues in the area of telecommunication and ICT that are common for the regulators of SATRC Members. The meeting will be attended by the heads of telecommunication regulatory bodies of SATRC Member countries and designated senior level officers.

The SATRC-25 will discuss the key policy and regulatory issues in the SATRC Member countries. SATRC-25 will include sessions for Regulators’ Roundtable, Industry-Regulator Dialogue, Sharing Regulatory Experiences and Industry Sessions to facilitate the development of the telecom/ICT sector in South-Asia. The Regulators’ Roundtable will be held exclusive for the head of regulators to discuss and share thoughts on important regulatory issues that need regional collaboration specifically for the SATRC Member countries and generally to the Asia-Pacific region.

Seminar on Progress in APT for the year 2024

18 November 2024, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hybrid Meeting

The APT will organize the Seminar on Progress in the APT for the year 2024 (SPA-2024) on 18 November 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with physical attendance as well as virtual/online participation through APT Zoom meeting (i.e., hybrid meeting). The Seminar is being held in conjunction with the 48th Session of the Management Committee of the APT (MC-48) scheduled to be held from 19 to 22 November 2024, and hosted by Ministry of Communications, Malaysia.

The 48th Session of the Management Committee of the APT (MC-48)

19 - 22 November 2024, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hybrid Meeting

The 48th Session of the Management Committee of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (MC-48) is scheduled to be held from 19 to 22 November 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with physical attendance as well as virtual/online participation through APT Zoom meeting (i.e., hybrid meeting). MC-48 will be hosted by Ministry of Communications, Malaysia and organized by the APT. MC-48 will review the activities in 2024 and consider and approve the Work Programme and Annual Budget for 2025.

The 2nd Correspondence Group Meeting of APT-MM (CGMM-2)

3 - 5 December 2024, Virtual/Online Meeting

The 2nd Correspondence Group Meeting of APT-MM (CGMM-2) will be held virtually from 3 to 5 December 2024. The objective of CGMM-2 is to review and address the feedback and comments received on the zero draft of the APT Ministerial Statement (“Tokyo Statement”). Additionally, it will engage in further discussions on any additional contributions and proceed with the formulation of the first draft of the APT Ministerial Statement.

The 2nd Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-25

(APT WTDC25-2)

10 - 11 December 2024, Virtual/Online Meeting

The 2nd Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-25 (APT WTDC25-2) will be held virtually from 10 to 11 December 2024. The objective of the APT WTDC25-2 is to assist APT members to prepare for the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 (WTDC-25), scheduled to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 28 November 2025. The meeting will discuss key issues to be identified for WTDC-25 and develop preliminary positions on those matters, based on the input contributions submitted by APT members, in particular APT WTDC25-2 meeting would discuss members’ views on Regional Initiatives of Asia-Pacific region.