International Telecommunication Union and related engagement

Collaboration by the department with other agencies ensures that the Australian Government represents consistent positions in international forums. Other Australian agencies active in these areas include the Australian Communications and Media Authority, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austrade and AusAID.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 

The department coordinates Australia's participation in the ITU—the specialised United Nations agency responsible for international cooperation in the use of telecommunications and the radiofrequency spectrum. Australian organisations—both government and private—participate in many of the specialist ITU meetings

Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT)

The APT is a regional, communications development cooperation organisation that was established by treaty. Its membership extends to most governments of the Asia-Pacific, Oceania and the Pacific Islands with 38 countries now holding membership of the APT. It acts as a regional caucus for the ITU.

Australia aims to promote, in this forum, the adoption by member governments of policies and regulatory approaches that enhance the development of open and competitive telecommunications markets as well as the adoption of online services within those markets. Australia holds a treaty-based membership of the APT, with the department as the responsible government agency. Australia’s membership contribution to the APT is A$256 000 per annum.

Australia hosts a range of APT events and workshops that encourage the regional harmonisation of regulatory arrangements and foster capacity-building activities for developing economies. Australia hosted one APT event during 2011. The Canberra-based workshop on e-applications and e-government held in October promoted the development, availability and adoption of applications that encourage the use of ICT and broadband infrastructure by governments, the business sector and the community. It also aimed to encourage the advancement and use of e-enabled services in the Asia-Pacific region, and shared information and practical experiences on best practice measures for implementing the digital economy.

Asia-Pacific Telecommunity home page

Document ID: 127457 | Last modified: 11 January 2012, 10:34am