What is the role of SATRC & Asia-Pacific Telecommunity?

• The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) organised the 25th meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-25) in New Delhi from November 11 to 13. The meeting was hosted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). 

• SATRC is an initiative under the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) that promotes regional cooperation and harmonised regulatory practices across South Asia’s telecommunications sector.

• The SATRC meeting is held annually to discuss and coordinate regulatory and other related issues in the area of telecommunication and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that are common for the regulators of SATRC Members. 

• The SATRC-25 discussed the key policy and regulatory issues in the SATRC Member countries. 

What is SATRC?

• South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC) functions under the umbrella of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) as one of the sub-regional activities. 

• At present, the Council is composed of the heads of the regulatory bodies of nine South Asian countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 

• Affiliate members from these countries are also taking active participation in SATRC activities. 

• The SATRC meets annually to discuss the key policy and regulatory issues of concern to the SATRC members.

• The SATRC was formed in 1997 by an initiative of APT and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. 

• The SATRC is responsible for discussion and coordination of all the issues relating to regulations in telecommunication and ICT which are of common interest to the telecommunication regulators in South Asian countries. 

• These issues include radio frequency coordination, standards, regulatory trends and issues, strategies for telecommunication development and telecommunication related international affairs. 

• The Council also identifies and promotes areas of potential cooperation in telecommunication among South Asian countries, and facilitates the exchange of information in these areas.

• SATRC activities are conducted by involvement of the highest level representations by the regulatory bodies of the South Asian countries.

Asia-Pacific Telecommunity

• Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) is an inter-governmental organisation established in February 1979 with the aim of promoting ICT development in the Asia-Pacific region.

• It was founded by the joint initiative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

• APT has 38 member administrations (Member), four administrations who are under the category of Associate Members, and 135 private companies and academia (Affiliate Members) whose works are relevant to ICT field.

• As the only inter-governmental organisation focusing on ICT field in the Asia-Pacific region, APT provides important platforms for ICT policy and regulatory coordination, and for consolidating regional voices for international fora such as Conferences of International Telecommunication Union (ITU). 

• APT also organises a variety of capacity building programmes related to ICT topics, and implements several pilot projects to promote ICT development in the region.

• In addition, APT provides sub-regional platforms to facilitate achieving sub-regional common interests. For example, South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC), under the umbrella of APT, organises working groups for policy and regulation, and spectrum to facilitate harmonisation among parties concerned.

Objectives of APT:

i) Promote the expansion of telecommunication services and information infrastructure and the maximisation of the benefits of information and telecommunications technology for the welfare of the people in the region.

ii) Develop regional cooperation in areas of common interest, including radio communications and standards development.

iii) Undertake studies relating to developments in telecommunication and information infrastructure technology and policy and regulation in coordination with other international organisations, where pertinent.

iv) Encourage technology transfer, human resource development and the exchange of information for the balanced development of telecommunication services and information infrastructure within the region.

v) 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.

• The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the APT and it is composed of all the Members and Associate Members of the Telecommunity. It meets in ordinary session every three years and in extraordinary session when circumstances require.

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