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International Issues

Issue

This FAQ provides an overview of international issues in general.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the Australian Government represent Australia's interests in international telecommunications?
• What are Australia's objectives in APEC TEL (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Telecommunication Working Group)?
• What are Australia's objectives in the ITU (International Telecommunication Union)?
• What are Australia's objectives in the APT (Asia-Pacific Telecommunity)?
• What Are Australia’s Objectives in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) ?
• How do businesses in Australia and the Asia Pacific benefit from increased liberalisation of telecommunications sector?
• What opportunities are there for industry participation in the activities of APEC TEL, the ITU and the APT?

1. How does the Australian Government represent Australia's interests in international telecommunications?

The Government's objective in international telecommunications is to improve Australia's trade opportunities through effective competition in global trade in communications services. To do so, Australia actively seeks to influence the international telecommunications environment through its membership of multilateral global and regional telecommunications organisations - such as APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), ITU (International Telecommunication Union), APT (Asia-Pacific Telecommunity), WTO (World Trade Organisation) and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development)- where decisions are made that may affect national interests in telecommunications.

At the bilateral level, the Department aims both to develop reciprocal trading arrangements and to assist developing economies in enlarging their telecommunications technical and governance capacity. In addition, through bilateral cooperation, the Department seeks to increase Australia's influence in the development of international policy in ways that reflect Australia's priorities for information and communications services. On trade related issues, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has primary carriage of Australia's trade policy. The Department advises DFAT on telecommunications-specific issues and attends international negotiations as subject matter experts.

Specific areas of Australian interest include:

• representing Australia's telecommunications interests in multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations;
• promoting efficiency, transparency, accountability and non-discrimination in international telecommunications regulation under the ITU;
• promoting best practice technical regulation and skills development in the Asia-Pacific region; raising awareness of Internet policy issues in multilateral forums such as APEC, APT, ITU and the WTO; and
• promoting progress in Australia and internationally toward transparent and competitive Internet charging arrangements.

2. What are Australia's objectives in APEC TEL?

The Department contributes to work of the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group (TEL) which works closely with the business sector, policy makers and regulatory agencies providing a focus for cooperation on market liberalisation, skills development, business facilitation, and technical and economic development.

Australia 's objectives in APEC TEL are to:

Promote a vigorous liberalisation agenda

• focusing on regulatory reform and pro-competitive arrangement to support access to the network services of all kinds, security and network of consumers;
• supporting development of liberalisation projects;
• stimulating reform of regulatory structures;
• focusing on user needs for efficient information and communication services, including areas of e-business and capacity building; and
• extending the influences of the TEL in the broader APEC agenda

Strengthen the focus on user concerns in the areas of e-business and skills development

• defining more clearly the scope for cooperation on e‑government and e‑commerce activities, including work on user needs, website accessibility, skills standards and e‑security;
• building support and participation in AusAID-funded work to develop skills standards that provide useful benchmarks and frameworks for the uptake of electronic commerce in developing economies; and
• expanding cooperation on e‑security issues including electronic authentication, and information infrastructure protection issues.

Extend the influence of TEL in the broader APEC agenda

• setting an example of lateral, open and cooperative information sharing;
• providing leadership in key areas of expertise including: responses to the digital divide; pro-competitive approaches to ICT markets; interoperability of information and communications services required for e‑business and e‑government; and user-oriented priorities for ICT skills development.

3. What are Australia's objectives in the ITU (International Telecommunication Union)?

The ITU is the specialised agency of the United Nations concerned with international cooperation for the development and improvement of telecommunication networks around the world.

Australia 's objectives within the ITU are twofold:

The primary objective is to assist Australian industry and consumers through participation in the activities of the Union. There are currently 22 study groups spanning the three Sectors which together produce around 550 new or revised recommendations every year. The Department, in partnership with ACMA and industry, plays an active role in shaping the global communications environment.

• The Telecommunication Standardisation Sector helps foster the growth of new technologies such as mobile telephony and the Internet, as well as setting an important framework for the emerging global communications infrastructure.
• The Radiocommunications Sector plays a vital role in the management of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.
• The Development Sector's mandate is based on the right of all inhabitants of the planet to communicate through access to infrastructure, information and communication.

The secondary objective is an oversight role. As a Member State and significant financial contributor to the Union, Australia has an important role in making sure that the Union runs both efficiently and effectively, and acts in the best interests of its membership.

4. What are Australia's objectives in the APT (Asia-Pacific Telecommunity)?

Australia ’s APT membership provides capacity for the Australian government and industry members to influence outcomes of the APT regional coordination processes, and of regional positions presented at the ITU. APT capacity-building programs in the communications industry and regulations support Australia’s objectives for the development of effective communications market systems in our regional trading partner economies.

Australia ’s objectives in the APT are to:

• continue supporting activities that will increase the effectiveness of the APT Secretariat;
• promote activities with realistic and measurable outcomes that contribute to regional cooperation and capability building in regulation and infrastructure development; and
• foster relationships with non-APEC economies, including Pacific Islands, ASEAN members and ES CAP.

5. What are Australia’s Objectives in the OECD?

OECD work generally reinforces the fundamental benefits of liberal democracy and free markets in improving the economic and social well being of citizens in member countries and globally.

DCITA’s objectives within the OECD are:

• Accessing global know how so that policy making in Australia can be strengthened by overseas experiences and lessons;
• Supporting and projecting Australia’s profile internationally (including through OECD statistics and publications);
• Influencing other OECD members and beyond; and
• Using the OECD to promote Australian policy objectives in e-security policy.
• Developing policy positions and Australian interest in the Future of the Internet.

6. How do businesses in Australia and the Asia-Pacific benefit from increased liberalisation of telecommunications sector?

Liberalisation of telecommunications markets in the Asia Pacific region results in increased growth for the business sector.

For example, the implementation of the MRA helps reduce technical barriers to trade, allowing savings for traders and enhancing opportunities for exporters. There is also strong industry participation in TEL meetings from Australia and other economies, and Australian contractors have won various APEC tenders for projects ranging from international training courses to research on interconnection and universal access.

Australian industry and academic institutions also have a forum for their interests through the linkage between APEC and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Committee (PECC).

APEC TEL also provides the opportunity for businesses to:

• identify opportunities for participation in APEC projects and initiatives; and
• develop opportunities, through PECC and other contacts, to give industry impetus to liberalising reforms by APEC governments.

7. What opportunities are there for industry participation in the activities of APEC TEL, the ITU, OECD and the APT?

APEC TEL

APEC TEL welcomes private sector participation in delegations from each economy and has an active work program in its technical cooperation agenda that provides opportunities for business involvement. Businesses can participate in delegations, PECC activities and other business-to-government contacts to inject ideas into the TEL program, and to give industry impetus to liberalising reforms by APEC governments.

There is also scope to develop industry-to-industry links, as has been done in the context of Mutual Recognition Arrangement issues.

Practical industry-based demonstration projects can support and accelerate the APEC agenda. Indeed, they may demonstrate, more effectively than can be done in any negotiation, the benefits from achieving results in, for example,

• advanced health and education applications,
• modernised technical regulation,
• development of advanced networks, or
• accelerated access to telecommunications services.

Such projects can be used to showcase Australian initiatives and demonstrate Australian capabilities, especially where particular applications or technologies are relevant to developing economies. These strengthen operational contacts in the APEC region, and can also demonstrate the importance of implementing policy reforms as a prerequisite for significant investment and expansion of the Asia-Pacific Information Infrastructure (APII).

ITU

Industry can participate in the activities of the ITU at a high level as a Sector Member of the Telecommunications, Radiocommunications or Development Sector or at a lower level as an Associate.

Sector Members and Associates include carriers, equipment manufacturers, funding bodies, research and development organisations and international and regional telecommunication organisations.

Sector Members have access to various meetings within the Sector they belong to, at which they engage in discussions that can result in business opportunities and joint ventures. Sector Members also have access to a large volume of restricted data such as draft documents, statistics, development plans and training modules through the Telecom Information Exchange Service, an account that allows the member access to restricted databases, documents and technical databases.

Associates are only able to participate in meetings of the Study Group that they belong to, and have access to information from those meetings. This type of membership is beneficial to organisations which have specific interests in the ITU.

OECD

The Organisation is expanding its relationship with Industry. Initially focused on relations with business and labour, these have broadened to include a wide range of non-government organisations. The OECD also increasingly invites public comment on various aspects of its work.

Working with Industry

• Consulting with business

represented by the Business and Industry Advisory Committee

• Consulting with labour

represented by the Trade Union Advisory Committee

• Expanding relations with civil society
• Making information available to the public on www.oecd.org
• Public comment always welcome!

The annual OECD Forum (www.oecdforum.org), held in conjunction with the annual ministerial meeting, enables leaders from business, labour and non-governmental organisations to discuss key issues on the ministerial agenda with government ministers and senior officials of international organisations. The Forum is open to the public.

A small delegation will also attend the ministerial meeting of the Future of the Internet in June 2008. Industry participation will be welcome to attend the meeting and influence the direction of OECD policy.

APT

Affiliate Membership of the APT is available to industry organisations which are prepared to participate in, and contribute to, the work and activities of the Telecommunity.

• Document ID: 3376 |
• Last modified: 6 February 2008, 12:14pm