APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-21

Introduction:

World Telecommunication Development Conferences (WTDCs) are convened in the period between two Plenipotentiary Conferences to consider topics, projects and programmes relevant to telecommunication development. WTDCs set the strategies and objectives for the development of telecommunication/ICT, providing future direction and guidance to the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D).

The ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-21) will be hosted by the Government of Ethiopia. The conference will take place in Addis Ababa from 8-19 November 2021.

The 43rd Session of the APT Management Committe decided to establish the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-21(APT WTDC-21) to assist APT Members to prepare for a World Telecommunication Development Conference 2021 (WTDC-21) in coordinating issues of regional interest and preparing coordinated regional contributions to the Conference.

Objectives:

To assist APT members to prepare for World Telecommunication Development Conferences in coordinating issues of regional interest and the submission of regional contributions to the Conference;
To develop proposals from APT members that considers the interest of the Asia-Pacific region as inputs for WTDCs;
To assist APT Members during the WTDC.

Terms of Reference:

The Terms of Reference of the APT Preparatory Group for the WTDC are as follows:

To hold meetings during a preparatory cycle of a WTDC;
To establish necessary Working Methods including Documents Approval Procedure and Structures of the Group in line with the APT practices and for the effective delivery of the objectives of the Group. The Working Methods of the Group are to be approved by the Management Committee;
To identify and develop inputs from APT members for ITU Regional Preparatory Meeting (RPM) for Asia and the Pacific;
To identify and study issues associated with the agenda of the WTDC, taking into account, where appropriate, the developments on the decisions of the previous WTDCs, and any relevant decisions of the PP, ITU Council and the TDAG;
To develop Preliminary APT Common Proposals (PACPs) and any other appropriate documents on the agenda items of the WTDC, in accordance with APT's Document Framework;
To develop APT Positions as may be required on issues for consideration at the WTDC and on proposals from other regions to the WTDC;
To develop APT Views as may be required on issues for consideration at the WTDC and on proposals from other regions to the WTDC;
To represent APT in other regions' preparatory meetings;
To review the preparatory work of other regions and undertake with those regions if deemed necessary;
To arrange coordination meetings during the WTDC for the APT members attending the WTDC and provide collaborative support and guidance for the APT Common Proposals presented at the WTDC;
To report the activities and the progress of the work of the Group to the Management Committee on an annual basis as appropriate.

Structure:
Structure of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-21 was established at the 1st Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-21 (APT WTDC21-1). The structure of the Working Groups and the name of office bearers are shown below.

Chair

Vice Chair(s)

APT WTDC Preparatory Group

Dr. A. R. Sharafat

(Islamic Republic of Iran)

Mr. Yoichi Kanda

(Japan)

Dr. Sangwon Ko

(Republic of Korea)

Working Group 1 (WG1):

Programme, Study Groups and

Associated Questions