Asia-Pacific Telecommunity

Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT)
Headquarters		Bangkok, Thailand
Membership		38 countries 4 associate states 131 affiliates
Leaders
•	Secretary-General	Areewan Haorangsi
Establishment		1 July 1979
Website http://www.apt.int

The Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) was founded on the joint initiatives of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The APT was established by treaty; the treaty was concluded in Bangkok in March 1976 and came into force in February 1979. After the treaty came into force, APT was formally organized on 1 July 1979. The APT is an intergovernmental organization and operates in conjunction with telecom service providers, manufacturers of communications equipment, and research and development organizations active in the field of communication, information and innovation technologies.

APT serves as the organization for information and communications technology (ICT) in the region. The APT covers 38 member countries, with 4 associate members and 131 affiliate members.

Throughout the past years, APT has been able to assist members in the preparation of Global conferences such as ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP), World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC), World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) and the ITU meetings. APT is also involved in promoting regional harmonization of their programmes and activities in the region.

Membership

There are currently 38 member countries, 4 associate members, and 131 affiliate members in the APT. Any member of the ESCAP which is within the region is eligible to be part of the APT while to be an associate member, any territory, part or group of territories within the region which is an associate member of ESCAP is eligible. Associate members are highlighted in green. A state becomes a member of APT by ratifying the founding treaty, the Constitution of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity.

Member Date joining APT Afghanistan 1979 Australia 1979 Bangladesh 1979 Bhutan 1998 Brunei 1986 Myanmar (Burma) 1979 Cambodia 2007 China 1979 Cook Islands 1987 Fiji 1999 Hong Kong 2009 India 1979 Indonesia 1985 Iran 1980 Japan 1979 North Korea 1994 South Korea 1979 Laos 1989 Macau 1993 Malaysia 1979 Kiribati 2011

Member Date joining APT Maldives 1980 Marshall Islands 2005 FS Micronesia 1994 Mongolia 1991 Nauru 1979 Nepal 1979 New Zealand 1993 Niue 2002 Pakistan 1979 Palau 1996 Papua New Guinea 1993 Philippines 1979 Samoa 2000 Singapore 1979 Solomon Islands 2010 Sri Lanka 1979 Thailand 1979 Tonga 1992 Tuvalu 2011 Vanuatu 2010 Vietnam 1979

Objective

The objective of the Telecommunity shall be to foster the development of telecommunication services and information infrastructure throughout the region with a particular focus on the expansion thereof in less developed areas.

In furtherance thereof, the Telecommunity may:

• Promote the expansion of telecommunication services and information infrastructure and the maximization of the benefits of information and telecommunications technology for the welfare of the people in the region;
• Develop regional cooperation in areas of common interest, including radio communications and standards development;
• Undertake studies relating to developments in telecommunication and information infrastructure technology and policy and regulation in coordination with other international organizations, where pertinent;
• Encourage technology transfer, human resource development and the exchange of information for the balanced development of telecommunication services and information infrastructure within the region; and
• Facilitate coordination within the region with regard to major issues pertaining to telecommunication services and information infrastructure with a view to strengthening the region’s international position.

Structure

The APT has three major functioning organs: the General Assembly, Management Committee and General Secretariat. The General Assembly consists of the President and the Vice Presidents; the Management Committee consists of the Chairman and the Vice Chairmen; the General Secretariat consists of the Secretary General, the Deputy Secretary General and other professional staff.

The APT is divided into five sectors each managing different aspects of the matter handled by the Telecommunity. These sectors are , Policy and Regulations (PRF), Radiocommunication (RF), Standardization, Human Resource Development (HRD), and ICT Development (APTICT).

Leadership

The APT is headed by a Secretary General who is elected to a three-year term by the member states of the conference at the General Assembly. The Chief Executive of the Telecommunity holds a D-2 rank in the United Nations.

Chief Executives

• Loqman Husain (T.Q.A)
• Boonchoo Phienpanji
• Chao Thongma
• Hiroyasu Sonaki
• Jong Soon Lee
• Amarendra Narayan
• Toshiyuki Yamada
• Areewan Haorangsi

See also

• African Telecommunications Union (ATU)
• European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)
• Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL)