August 2024

 

Recent Events:

 

·       The 24th APT Policy and Regulatory Forum (PRF-24)

·       The 1st Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-25 (APT WTDC25-1)

·       The 1st Meeting of the Correspondence Group for the APT Ministerial Meeting (CGMM-1)

·       The 21st APT Telecommunication/ICT Development Forum (ADF-21)

 

Upcoming Events:

 

·       The 5th Meeting of APT Preparatory Group for WTSA-24 (APT WTSA24-5)

·       The 17th APT Policy and Regulation Forum for Pacific (PRFP-17)

·       The 33rd Meeting of the APT Wireless Group (AWG-33)

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

 

Recent Events

 

The 24th APT Policy and Regulatory Forum (PRF-24):

16 - 18 July 2024, Chiang Mai, Thailand

 

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) organized the 24th APT Policy and Regulatory Forum (PRF-24) from 16 to 18 July 2024 in Chiang Mai, Thailand in hybrid format. The Forum was attended by 147 participants (86 in-person) from APT Members, Associate Members, Affiliate Members, International Organization and other organizations.

 

PRF provides an opportunity to share and address the key issues and concerns of APT members and to facilitate intra-regional collaboration on policy and regulatory issues as required. Industry leaders and other key stakeholders also share their views on major issues the sector currently faces. The following features illustrate PRF-24:

 

Election of Chair and Vice-Charis:  PRF-24 reelected Mr. Ilyas Ahmed (Maldives) as the Chair of PRF, and elected Fiji and Malaysia as the Vice-Chairs of PRF.

 

High-level Dialogue on ‘Smart Governance: Navigating Digital Transformation and Innovation’: Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, State Minister from Pakistan and High-level officials from APT Member Administrations shared strategies, insights, experiences and policies being implemented in their countries regarding smart governance.

 

Regulator’s Roundtable on ‘Conducive ICT Policies and Regulations for Inclusive and Universal Digital Landscape’: The Heads of Regulators from APT Member Administrations shared their insights and experiences and engaged in dialogue to identify the challenges, opportunities and possible way forward towards an inclusive and universal digital landscape.

 

Business Dialogues on ‘TechForesight: Charting the Future of ICT in the Era of Innovation and Connectivity’ and ‘Evolutionary Leap: Unveiling the Potential of 6G/IMT-2030’: Industry representatives expressed their views on technology foresight and 6G/IMT-2030 and discussed ways on how industry and policy makers and regulators collaborate to achieve a common goal.

 

Thematic sessions: The sessions covered connectivity catalysts, innovative policy approaches to connect the unconnected, cyber wellness, climate change and disaster management, and inclusive internet.

 

In addition, PRF-24 approved an APT Guideline on Good Practices for Public Consultation based on the report of the Rapporteur Group on Public Consultation.

 

PRF-24 also featured collaborative sessions with the Internet Society (ISOC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Further, one of the sessions with ISOC was organized as a small group discussion among the participants. These sessions have expanded the scope of cooperation, opening new avenues for partnerships and capacity building.

 

The 25th APT Policy and Regulatory Forum (PRF-25) will be held in Q2/Q3, 2025.

 

Click here for more details / Click here for photo gallery

 

The 1st Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-25

(APT WTDC25-1): 19 July 2024, Chiang Mai, Thailand

 

The 1st Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 (APT WTDC25-1) was held on 19 July 2024 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The meeting was attended by 86 participants, including representatives from APT Members, Affiliate Members, and various International and Regional organizations.

 

Mr. Kila Gulo-Vui, Papua New Guinea was unanimously elected as the Chair of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-25 (APT WTDC-25). The election of the Vice-Chairs was deferred to the next physical meeting i.e. the 3rd Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-25 (APT WTDC25-3) in March 2025 for further coordination. The meeting also appointed the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Working Groups of APT WTDC-25. In addition, the meeting approved the Structure, Working Methods, and Work Plan of the APT WTDC-25.

 

The 2nd Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-25 (APT WTDC25-2) is scheduled to be held virtually in December 2024, with the exact date to be confirmed.

 

 

Click here for more details / Click here for photo gallery

 

The 1st Meeting of the Correspondence Group for the APT Ministerial Meeting (CGMM-1): 19 July 2024, Chiang Mai, Thailand

 

The 1st Meeting of the Correspondence Group for the APT Ministerial Meeting 2025 (CGMM-1) was held on 19 July 2024 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The meeting was attended by 82 participants from APT Members and Affiliate Members.

 

The meeting deliberated exclusively on the structure, theme, priority areas, and drafting processes of the APT Ministerial Statement (Tokyo Statement). Subsequently, a draft initial structure was developed, which would serve as a basis to create the initial draft APT Ministerial Statement. This draft document will be circulated with the CGMM members to seek their feedback/comments and deliberated during the 2nd Meeting of the Correspondence Group for the APT Ministerial Meeting 2025 (CGMM-2).

 

The CGMM-2 is scheduled to be held from 3 -5 December 2024 as a virtual/online meeting.

 

 

Click here for more details / Click here for photo gallery

 

The 21st APT Telecommunication/ICT Development Forum (ADF-21):

6 - 8 August 2024, Jakarta, Indonesia

 

The 21st APT Telecommunication/ICT Development Forum (ADF-21) was held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 6 to 8 August 2024 in hybrid format. The meeting was organized by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity and hosted by the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, Indonesia. It was attended by 186 participants from APT Members, Associate Members, Affiliate Members, International Organizations, and other organizations.

 

The opening session was graced by Mr. Budi Arie Setiadi, Minister of Communications and Informatics Indonesia.

 

Mr. Kishore Bhagtani (India) and Mr. Ishida Eiji (Japan) were elected as Vice-Chairs of the APT Telecommunication/ICT Development Forum (ADF) at ADF-21.

 

ADF is part of APT’s continuous effort to provide assistance to members in bridging the digital divide. This has become important amid the rapid changes of technology, fast changing telecommunications scenarios, and tremendous growth of the ICT sector. The ADF is a platform that provides an opportunity to identify the specific issues that hinder the development of telecommunication networks in rural areas and to discuss the appropriate use of new technologies available for rural telecom development.

 

ADF-21 included Thematic Sessions on topics including high-speed digital infrastructure, satellite communications, the latest AI technology, digital transformation, the role of ICT in disaster management, and promoting digital inclusivity. Various eminent speakers including regulators, policymakers, industry, and academia from APAC region participated in the sessions.

 

Further, the sessions highlighted processes of formulating APT projects with mobilization of Extra-Budgetary Contributions (EBCs) followed by discussion on outcomes and achievements of projects supported by EBC-J, EBC-K and EBC-C.

 

 

Click here for more details / Click here for photo gallery

 

Upcoming Events

 

The 5th Meeting of APT Preparatory Group for WTSA-24 (APT WTSA24-5)

19 - 23 August 2024, Bangkok, Thailand, Hybrid Meeting

 

The 5th Meeting of APT Preparatory Group for WTSA-24 (APT WTSA24-5) will be held from 19 to 23 August 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand with physical attendance as well as virtual/online participation through Zoom meeting (i.e. hybrid meeting). The Meeting will be organized by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and hosted by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) of Thailand.

 

The objective of APT WTSA24-5 is to assist the APT members to prepare for the ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2024 (WTSA-24) which will take place in New Delhi, India from 15 to 24 October 2024. APT WTSA24-5 will review the ITU Preparation and outcomes of TSAG meeting, review the outcomes of the preparatory process of other regional organizations, finalize the development of Preliminary APT Common Proposals (PACPs), review the proposals to WTSA-24 by other regions and develop possible APT Positions, as appropriate, and develop necessary procedures and APT coordination arrangements during WTSA-24.

 

 

 

 

 

The 17th APT Policy and Regulation Forum for Pacific (PRFP-17)

3 - 5 September 2024, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, Hybrid Meeting

 

The APT will organize the 17th APT Policy and Regulation Forum for Pacific (PRFP-17) from 3 to 5 September 2024 in Nuku’alofa, Tonga with physical attendance as well as virtual/online participation through Zoom meeting platform (i.e. hybrid meeting). The forum will be hosted by the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change, Communications and CERT, Tonga and supported by the generous contributions from Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, Australia and Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan. 

 

Since 2009, the PRFP has become one of the premium forums for regulators and policymakers in the Pacific region and is a key sub-regional activity of the APT, attracting high-level participants from the Ministries and Regulatory authorities from the Pacific each year. It continues to cover a wide range of topics in line with the common concerns and issues of the Pacific region, such as connectivity, innovation, trust and safety, capacity building and disaster management. 

 

PRFP-17 will organize its session based on the priority areas of the “Lagatoi Declaration” adopted at the 4th Pacific Ministerial Dialogue (28-29 August 2023, Papua New Guinea) as in previous year. These priority areas include Digital Transformation, Digital Innovation, Digital Infrastructure, Security and Trust, Digital Capacity Building and Skills and Disaster Management, which are also strategic pillars of the APT’s Strategic Plan for 2024-2026. Through this forum, we aim to support the development of telecommunications and ICT policies in Pacific countries, share policy and regulatory trends, and enhance the capacity to address emerging opportunities and challenges. It is also hoped that it will contribute to the successful implementation of the Action Plan on the “Lagatoi Declaration”

 

PRFP-17 will also host a Roundtable for Ministers and Heads of Regulators to share their recent policy and regulatory issues and experiences. Additionally, there will be a Business Dialogue, providing a platform for the ICT industry to share their insights and experiences, while ICT policymakers and regulators discuss new challenges and opportunities to drive Digital Transformation.

 

 

 

The 33rd Meeting of the APT Wireless Group (AWG-33)

9 - 13 September 2024, Bangkok, Thailand, Hybrid Meeting

 

The APT will organize the 33rd Meeting of the APT Wireless Group (AWG-33) from 9 to 13 September 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. The Plenary will be conducted in the hybrid mode (remote participants can join via Zoom meeting while physical participants will have desk microphones) and the breakout meetings will be conducted in entirely virtual mode (all participants join the meeting via Zoom meeting from their own PCs).

 

AWG covers various aspects of emerging wireless systems to meet the emerging digital convergence era in the Asia-Pacific region. It also assists in providing effective radiocommunication solutions and to facilitate the transfer of technology and knowledge. In its 33rd meeting, the AWG will continue to study on the existing work items, report on the progress of studies and discuss the proposal of new work items as well as other relevant issues.

 

 

 

 

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

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

 

The APT will organize the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC) Workshop on Recent Trends and Technologies from 30 September to 2 October 2024 in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. The workshop will be hosted by Communication Regulatory Authority (CRA) of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

 

The SATRC Workshop on recent Trends and Technologies will be held as part of implementation of SATRC Action Plan Phase IX. The emphasis of the Workshop will be on recent trends and technologies for supporting the digital transformation of the economy and society in SATRC Member countries. The objective of the workshop will be 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.

 

 

 

 

Other Upcoming Events in 2024

Title

Date

Venue

1.     APT Symposium on Spectrum Management (Postponed)

TBD

Dhaka, Bangladesh

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

8 - 9 October

Virtual

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

11 - 13 November

New Delhi, India

4.     Seminar on Progress in APT for the year 2024

18 November

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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

19 - 22 November

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

 

 

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