• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) twin events are taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from November 13 to December 15.
• Delegates to the conference are expected to consider the results of technical studies on specific matters on the agenda, and to revise the Radio Regulations accordingly.

More than 4,000 delegates are expected to take part in World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) and Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-23), taking place in Dubai next year.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) events are taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from November 13 to December 15.

Also, in attendance, as observers will be representatives from the 278 ITU Radiocommunication Sector Members, representing varied stakeholders including equipment manufacturers, telecommunications companies, network operators, international organisations, and industry forums, as well as representatives from ITU’s United Nations sister agencies, regional telecommunication organisations and intergovernmental organisations operating satellite systems, and academia.

WRC-23 will happen from November 20 to December 15 while the RA-23 will be from November 13-17.

Quadrennial opportunity

Held every four years for a period of four weeks, the WRC is mandated to update the Radio Regulations, the sole international treaty governing the use of the radio frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary satellite orbits for crucial policy and technical regulatory discussions at the global level.

ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao said that the world has come through the Covid-19 pandemic relying on digital technologies and services like never before.

“WRC 23 provides our quadrennial opportunity to update the Radio Regulations, ensure the sustainable evolution of information and communication technologies for all, and establish a coordinated roadmap for expanding radiocommunication services,” he said.

As a major hub and global leader in the digital economy, Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), said the UAE is keen on supporting ITU in the vital task of allocating global resources such as radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbit positions to create a seamless, reliable, and innovative global communication system.”

Shaping the future

Delegates to the conference are expected to consider the results of technical studies on specific matters on the agenda and to revise the Radio Regulations accordingly.

Such revisions will serve to expand access to radio frequencies for various services and applications, including broadcast services, emergency communications, and satellite and space services, wherever needed worldwide.

“WRC‑23 will play a key role in shaping the future of technical and regulatory framework for the provision of radiocommunication services in all countries,” said Mario Maniewicz, Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau.

“The economic opportunities brought about by technology should be available not only for some of us but for all. I am delighted to see ITU Members making steady progress to ensure a successful conference next year.” 

The multi-stakeholder approach enables consensus-building, essential for each WRC to foster a stable, predictable, and universally applied regulatory environment.