November 2021

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Recent Events

The 3rd Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-21
(APT WTDC21-3)

5 - 8 October 2021, Virtual/Online Meeting

The 3rd Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-21 (APT WTDC21-3) was held virtually from 5 to 8 October 2021. Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director, BDT, ITU was also presented at the opening session.

APT WTDC21-3 was attended by 133 participants representing Members, Affiliate Members, International/Regional Organizations, and other organization. The meeting was successful in fulfilling its objective to discuss issues for the WTDC-21 and developed candidates for the Preliminary APT Common Proposals (PACPs). The meeting also appointed Mr. Yoichi Kanda (Japan) and Mr. Sangwon Ko (Republic of Korea) as  Vice-Chairmen of APT WTDC-21.

In relation to the outcomes of the meeting, the meeting adopted three (3) APT Views on Revised Proposal for ITU-D Thematic Priorities (WTDC), Asia-Pacific Vision for ITU-D, and Draft Addis Ababa Declaration to be submitted for the consideration of the forthcoming TDAG meeting as well as the second meeting of the Inter-Regional Meeting to Prepare WTDC-21 (IRM-2). The meeting also adopted 8 PACPS which includes new Resolution, Modifications to existing Resolutions, and Modification to the existing Study Question. Those  Resolutions include:

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

·       Res. 13: Protecting and Supporting Users/ Consumers of Telecommunication/ Information and Communication Technology Services

·       Res. 37: Bridging the Digital Divide

·       Res. 48: Strengthening cooperation among telecommunication regulators

·       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 proposal was on Q6/1- Consumer information, protection and rights: laws, regulation, economic bases, consumer networks.

For each PACP, the meeting also nominated focal point who are encouraged to exchange information with other regions as it deemed necessary and to share the information to APT members in due course.

The meeting reviewed the Work Plan for the upcoming preparatory meetings in 2022.

The 4th meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-21 (APT WTDC21-4) was planned to be held from 24 to 28 January 2022.

Click here for more details.

The 9th Meeting of the Working Group of Management Committee on APT Legal Instruments (WGMC-9)

20 - 21 October 2021, Virtual/Online Meeting

The 9th Meeting of the Working Group of Management Committee on APT Legal Instruments (WGMC-9) was held virtually on was held virtually from 20 to 21 October 2021. The meeting was attended by 50 participants from 17 APT Members.

WGMC-9 developed a draft guideline on APT Information/Document Access Policy and will submit to the 45th Session of the Management Committee of the APT (MC-45) for its consideration and approval. WGMC-9 also developed a recommendation on Gender-neutral languages in the proceedings of the APT and will submit to MC-45 for its consideration and to provide an instruction for further action. WGMC-9 also recommended MC-45 to instruct APT Secretariat to have MOU with League of Arab States (LAS), Arab Spectrum Management Group (ASMG) and ASEAN.

Click here for more details.

The 22nd Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-22)

1 - 3 November 2021, Virtual/Online Meeting

The 22nd Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-22) was held virtually from 1 to 3 November 2021. The Meeting was attended by 93 delegates representing 9 SATRC Members, 2 other Members of APT, 11 Affiliate Members and other organization.

The objectives of the meeting included the approval of the outcomes of SATRC Action Plan Phase VII and adoption of SATRC Action Plan Phase VIII. SATRC-22 considered the report implementation of Action Plan Phase VII during the implementation period 2019-2021. SATRC-22 also approved six new SATRC Reports on work items under Action Plan Phase VII. Those SATRC Reports had been made public for the membership of APT.

SATRC-22 considered the necessity to continue SATRC activities through SATRC Action Plan. In this regard SATRC-22, considered and approved SATRC Action Plan Phase VIII for the implementation period of 2022-2023. The Action Plan Phase VIII included the core activities such as Working Groups, Capacity Building Workshops and Web Portal. Estimated budget for the Action Plan is US$204,000 which is to be secured by the EBC of SATRC Members and Japan. SATRC-22 noted the commitments of SATRC Members for EBCs towards the implementation of SATRC Action Plan Phase VIII.

As part of regular activities SATRC-22 included Regulators’ Roundtable where Heads of the Regulators of SATRC Members discussed the important issues on the role of regulators to accelerate the digital transformation of the society and creating a digital connected future. Heads of the Regulator shared their experiences in this regard and the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

SATRC-22 also included Regulator-Industry Dialogue Session on the theme ‘Advancing Digital Transformation in South Asia’. Senior officials from regulators and industry leaders were among the panelists. This session aimed to facilitate discussion among SATRC Member regulators and concerned industries so that views of the stakeholders are realized to achieve  positive outcomes in the region. Four key components of digital transformation were addressed in the discussion. 

In addition, SATRC-22 elected H.E. Mr. Hossein Fallah Joshaghani, President of Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) as the new Chairman of SATRC. Brig, Gen. Md. Nasim Parvez, Director General of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) was elected as the Vice-Chairman of SATRC. 

The 23rd Meeting of the SATRC will be held in Islamic Republic of Iran in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Click here for more details.

Upcoming Events

The 3rd Meeting of the APT Conference
Preparatory Group for WRC-23 (APG23-3)

8 - 13 November 2021, Virtual/Online Meeting

The objectives of the APG23-3 are to review the results of the APG23-2 meeting; update APT preliminary views on WRC-23 Agenda Items based on input contributions from APT Members; consider the progress in ITU-R Study Groups in relation to WRC-23 Agenda items and take necessary actions as appropriate; review the activities of other regional organizations, in particular, their preliminary views/positions with a view to fostering inter-regional cooperation.

APG23-2 will also review issues related to RA-23 and develop preliminary views of APT, if any; contribute, where necessary, to the activities of APT Preparatory Group related to PP-22 with respect to the issues relevant to the purview of the APG; finalize review of the Working Methods of APG in relation to preparation for RA-23 and WRC-23 and submit draft amendments accordingly to the APT Management Committee; and discuss APT preparations for the ITU Inter-regional Workshop on WRC-23 Preparations.

Extraordinary Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group
for WTSA-20 (APT WTSA20-e)

17 - 19 November 2021, Virtual/Online Meeting

The main objectives of the meeting are to review the status of APT Members’ endorsement to the Preliminary APT Common Proposals (PACPs); review the ITU Preparation and outcomes of TSAG meeting; review the outcomes of the preparatory process of other regional organizations; review the proposals to WTSA-20 by other regions and develop possible APT Positions as appropriate; finalize the nomination of Office Bearers for WTSA-20; and develop necessary procedures and APT coordination arrangements during WTSA-20.

Seminar on Progress in the APT for the year 2021 (SPA-2021)

29 November 2021, Virtual/Online Meeting

The SPA-2021 is being held in conjunction with the 45th Session of the Management Committee of the APT (MC-45) to be held from 30 November to 3 December 2021.

SPA-2021 is a place where the progress made in the implementation of the APT Work Programmes and APT activities during the year 2021 are explained. 

The 45th Session of the Management Committee of the APT (MC-45)

30 November - 3 December 2021, Virtual/Online Meeting

The MC-45 will review the activities in 2021, which have been implemented under the Strategic Plan of the APT for 2021-2023 and will consider and approve the Work Programme and Annual Budget for 2022.

Quick Links to APT Work Programmes and Activities