August 2026

Welcome a New Affiliate Member

We are delighted to announce that AST SpaceMobile Japan K.K. has joined the APT as our newest Affiliate Member, effective 30 July 2026.

Becoming a member of the APT means joining a vibrant network that encourages collaboration, innovation, and the sharing of knowledge among governments, regulators, service providers, and industry leaders. We will continue to foster the development of telecommunications across the Asia-Pacific region.

We warmly welcome the AST SpaceMobile Japan K.K. to the APT community.

Recent Events:

· The 23rd APT Telecommunication/ICT Development Forum (ADF-23)

· The 3rd Meeting of the APT Conference Preparatory Group for WRC-27 (APG27-3)

Upcoming Events:

· The 5th Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (APT PP26-5)

· The 37th Meeting of the APT Wireless Group (AWG-37)

· The 26th APT Policy and Regulatory Forum (PRF-26)

· The 2nd Meeting of the Correspondence Group for the Strategic Plan of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity for 2027 – 2029 (CGSP-2)

· SATRC Workshop on Recent Trends and Technologies

· APT Symposium on Digital Transformation and the Universal Service Fund

· The 27th Meeting of South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-27)

Join the Friends of Spectrum (FoS) Community!

Friends of Spectrum (FoS) is a global platform for spectrum professionals, policymakers, regulators, industry experts, and researchers available in English, French, and Spanish.

FoS provides access to knowledge resources on international spectrum management, including radio-frequency allocations under the ITU Radio Regulations, the evolution of spectrum use across frequency bands, key outcomes of World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs), and connects spectrum professionals from around the world to learn, exchange experiences, and contribute to the future of spectrum management.

Through knowledge sharing, mentoring, and collaboration, FoS also helps strengthen spectrum management capacity and supports the development of future spectrum leaders worldwide. Please visit the site and explore more at https://www.friends-of-spectrum.com/.

Recent Events

The 23rd APT Telecommunication/ICT Development Forum (ADF-23):

14 – 15 July 2026, Bangkok, Thailand

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), in collaboration with the Office of The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) of Thailand, successfully convened the 23rd APT Telecommunication/ICT Development Forum (ADF-23) from 14 to 15 July 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. The Forum was held as a physical meeting with remote participation modality.

The Forum opened with welcome remarks by Dr. Masanori Kondo, Secretary General of the APT, followed by remarks from Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, Director of Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), ITU. The inaugural address was delivered by Ms. Orada Teppayayon, Principal Legal Expert, Acting Deputy Secretary General, NBTC, Thailand.

A total of 141 participants attended the Forum, with 99 attending in person, representing APT Members, Affiliate Members, and International Organizations, along with invited speakers and moderators from both the public and private sectors. Their active participation reaffirmed the region's strong commitment to advancing digital connectivity, ICT development, and regional cooperation.

During the Plenary session, Dr. Ahmad Reza Sharafat (Islamic Republic of Iran) was elected as Chair of ADF, while Mr. Suzuki Katsuhiro (Japan) and Ms. Ishariyaporn Smiprem (Thailand) were elected as Vice-Chair. Across three thematic sessions, participants exchanged views and shared experiences on key priorities for ICT development in the Asia-Pacific region, in line with the APT Strategic Plan 2024–2026 and the Tokyo Statement, including:

- Strengthening digital connectivity in the Asia-Pacific, from access to advanced infrastructure

- Enabling digital transformation through emerging technologies, including AI and sovereign data centres

- Enhancing trust, safety and resilience in the digital environment, including cybersecurity and post-quantum cryptography

ADF-23 also featured five sessions showcasing the outcomes and achievements of ICT pilot projects implemented through Extra-Budgetary Contributions (EBCs) from Japan (EBC-J), Republic of Korea (EBC-K), and People’s Republic of China (EBC-C), along with an introductory session on the EBC project framework to encourage broader participation among APT members. The Forum also included a simple project showcase, where EBC project teams presented their work and project outcomes through posters.

The Forum achieved several important milestones, including the presentation of practical case studies from APT members on connectivity, AI governance, disaster early-warning systems, as well as the collection of participants' feedback to further enhance the relevance and effectiveness of future ADFs.

The next ADF, ADF-24, is planned for 2027, with the APT Secretariat to begin consultations with Members on host country, dates, and venue.

Click here for more details and photo gallery

The 3rd Meeting of the APT Conference Preparatory Group for WRC-27 (APG27-3): 27 – 31 July 2026, Sapporo, Japan

APG27-3 was held in Sapporo, Japan from 27 to 31 July 2026. It was hosted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan. The Meeting was attended by 856 delegates of which 493 in-person participants. 33 APT Members, 1 Associate Members, 37 Affiliated Members and 4 International Organizations were represented at the meeting.

The objectives of the meeting were:

1) to consider the progress in ITU-R Study Groups in relation to WRC-27 Agenda items, and take necessary actions as appropriate

2) to develop APT preliminary views on WRC-27 Agenda Items based on input contributions from APT Members

3) to review the activities of other regional organisations, in particular, their preliminary views/positions with a view to fostering inter-regional cooperation

4) to review of issues related to RA-27 and develop preliminary views of APT, if any

APG27-3 received more than 142 contributions which were allocated to Plenary and relevant WPs. WPs and relevant DGs under each WP has extensive discussion on the contributions received in many meeting sessions. 67 sessions were held during 5 working days of the meeting. Considering the input contributions and as well as the current status of studies on agenda items of WRC-27, APG27-3 reviewed Preliminary Views of APT on WRC-27 agenda items developed at APG27-2 and updated Preliminary Views of APT on WRC-27 agenda items. APG27-3 had a session on the preparation for RA-27. The session reviewed the outcomes 33rd RAG meeting discussed the issues related to RAG CG on CPM matters. APG27-3 agreed to extend the mandate of CG-RA/RAG to include the matters related to the structure and framework of ITU Study Groups. Mr. David Murray of Australia would continue as Chair of the CG which would correspondence via the APG’s web-portal at http://apg.apt.int.

APG27-3 also had a session on APT Network of Women for WRC-27 (APT NOW4WRC-27) which was Chaired by Ms. Cheng Fenhong. APG27-3 encouraged women delegates to participate in the APT Mentoring Program as associated activities of NOW4WRC-27 which will be conducted using the APT Friends of Spectrum web-portal.

The meeting agreed to organize APG27-4 in Thailand from 25 to 30 January 2027 and APG27-5 will be held from 4 to 11 August 2027 in Republic of Korea.

Click here for more details and photo gallery

Upcoming Events

The 5th Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (APT PP26-5)

24 - 28 August 2026, Brisbane, Australia

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) will organize the 5th Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (APT PP26-5) from 24 to 28 August 2026 in Brisbane, Australia via physical meeting with remote participation modality. The Meeting will be hosted by the Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.

The APT PP26-5 is expected to conduct the following activities:

· To consider the Input contributions of the APT members;

· To review the outcomes of the Council, Working Groups and Expert Groups;

· To review the outcomes of the preparatory process of ITU and other regional organizations for PP-26;

· To develop the Preliminary APT Common Proposals, if any;

· To develop the APT views, if any;

· To consider the nominations of office bearers for PP-26;

· To develop necessary procedures and arrangements for APT coordination meetings; and

· To organize special sessions for the candidates running for the elected official positions of the ITU.

The 37th Meeting of the APT Wireless Group (AWG-37)

7 - 11 September 2026, Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) will organize the 37th Meeting of the APT Wireless Group (AWG-37) from 7 to 11 September 2026 in Dhaka, People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The Plenary Sessions will be conducted as Physical Meeting with Remote Participation, and the Non-Plenary Sessions will be conducted as Fully Virtual modality. The meeting will be hosted by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

AWG covers various aspects of wireless systems to meet the emerging digital convergence era in the Asia-Pacific region. It also assists in providing effective radiocommunication solutions and facilitating the transfer of technology and knowledge. In its 37th meeting, the AWG will continue to study the existing work items, report on the progress of studies, and discuss the proposal of new work items as well as other relevant issues.

In addition, to provide a comprehensive overview and to facilitate the updating of APT Member’s information in the APT Frequency Information System (AFIS), a training session will be conducted in physical mode from 5 to 6 September 2026, back-to-back with AWG-37. APT would also like to encourage the in-person participation of relevant officials from APT Members in this training session.

The 26th APT Policy and Regulatory Forum (PRF-26)

15 - 17 September 2026, Paro, Bhutan

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) will organize the 26th APT Policy and Regulatory Forum (PRF-26) from 15 to 17 September 2026 in Paro, Bhutan as a physical meeting with remote participation modality. The Forum will be hosted by the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) of Bhutan.

PRF-26 will consist of the following special features:

· High-Level Dialogue: A session among Ministers, Vice Ministers and high-level officials to reaffirm their commitment to the Tokyo Statement and exchange views on national strategies, policy frameworks, and regional cooperation to advance digital transformation.

· Regulators’ Roundtable: A roundtable among the Heads of the Regulators to share their experiences and express their views on shaping policies and regulatory approaches that strike a balance between enabling innovation and ensuring appropriate regulation.

· Business Dialogue: A session to provide a platform for industry stakeholders to exchange experiences, discuss emerging trends and challenges, identify investment opportunities, and strengthen partnerships for sustainable digital transformation.

PRF-26 will also include the following specific thematic sessions:

· Digital infrastructure as the engine of digital transformation

· Promoting connectivity for all – Expanding network access, last-mile connectivity, spectrum policy and harmonized use of spectrum

· Regulating next generation – Policy challenges in 6G era

· Inclusiveness and digital empowerment – Breaking the barriers for inclusion

· Strategy for online safety and data protection - Cybersecurity workforce development as priority

The 2nd Meeting of the Correspondence Group for the Strategic Plan of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity for 2027 – 2029 (CGSP-2)

22 - 23 September 2026, Fully Virtual Meeting

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) will organize the 2nd Meeting of the Correspondence Group for the Strategic Plan of the APT for 2027-2029 (CGSP-2) from 22 to 23 September 2026 in fully virtual modality via the Zoom platform.

The objectives of the CGSP-2 are to continue to discuss the initial draft and deliberate further inputs from the Members and develop the first draft of the Strategic Plan of the APT for 2027-2029.

SATRC Workshop on Recent Trends and Technologies

6 - 8 October 2026, Kathmandu, Nepal

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) will organize the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC) Workshop on Recent Trends and Technologies from 6 to 8 October 2026 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The workshop will be conducted as a hybrid event, allowing both physical attendance and remote participation. The workshop will be hosted by Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA), Nepal.

The SATRC Workshop on Recent Trends and Technologies will be organized as part of the implementation of the SATRC Action Plan Phase X. The workshop will focus on recent developments, emerging trends and innovative technologies that can support and accelerate the digital transformation of economies and societies across SATRC Member countries. In this context, the workshop aims to enhance participants’ understanding of the evolving telecommunication/ICT landscape and provide insights into the emerging technologies shaping the future of the digital economy.

APT Symposium on Digital Transformation and the Universal Service Fund

13 - 15 October 2026, Islamabad, Pakistan

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) will organize the APT Symposium on Digital Transformation and the Universal Service Fund from 13 to 15 October 2026 in Islamabad, Pakistan. The event will be hosted jointly by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and the Universal Service Fund Pakistan. Please note that the Symposium was originally scheduled for 25–27 March 2026 but had to be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. We are pleased that, with the renewed support and preparations of the host administration, arrangements have now been made to hold the Symposium as rescheduled.

The objective of the Symposium is to provide APT members with a platform to discuss and explore new technologies, policies, and financing models that will ensure that digital transformation becomes sustainable, inclusive and equitable for all in Asia-Pacific taking into account the roles of the Universal Service Fund (USF) in digital transformation. The Symposium aims to encourage dialogue among high-level policy makers, regulators, and other stakeholders in the region on the following issues:

· highlight connectivity and inclusion gaps

· explore emerging technologies and innovative models

· discuss affordability and sustainable financing

· promote digital readiness and inclusive content ecosystems

· strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks

· foster regional collaboration and partnerships.

The 27th Meeting of South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-27)

20 - 22 October 2026, Colombo, Sri Lanka

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) will organize the 27th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-27) in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 20 to 22 October 2026. The meeting will be hosted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL). SATRC-27 will be held as a physical meeting with remote participation modality. Remote participation will be arranged through Zoom meeting platform.

The SATRC meeting is convened annually to discuss and coordinate regulatory and other related issues in the fields of telecommunications and ICT that are of common concern to the regulators of SATRC Member countries. The meeting brings together the heads of telecommunications regulatory authorities and designated senior-level officials from SATRC Member countries.

SATRC-27 will discuss the key policy and regulatory issues in the SATRC countries and review the implementation of SATRC Action Plan Phase X adopted at SATRC-26. SATRC-27 will include sessions for Regulators’ Roundtable, Industry-Regulator Dialogue, Industry Session and Sharing Regulatory Experiences Sessions to facilitate the development of the telecom/ICT sector in South-Asia. The Regulators’ Roundtable will be held exclusively for the heads 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.

Other Upcoming Events in 2026
Title	Date	Venue
1. The 14th Meeting of the Working Group of MC on APT Legal Instruments (WGMC-14)	29-30 Oct	Virtual
2. Preparatory Meeting for the 17th Session of the General Assembly (GA-17 Prep.)	13 Dec	TBD
3. The 17th Session of the General Assembly of the APT (GA-17)	14-15 Dec	TBD
4. The 50th Session of the Management Committee of the APT (MC-50)	16-18 Dec	TBD