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World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12)

A World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) will be convened in 2012, the first ever WCIT in the history of the International Telecommunication Union.

By its Resolution 146, the Plenipotentiary Conference (Antalya, 2006) resolved that a review of the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) should be carried out and that a world conference on international telecommunications (WCIT) be convened in 2012, on the basis of the recommendations arising from this process of review.

The ITRs establish general principles relating to the provision and operation of international telecommunication. They are designed to facilitate global interconnection and interoperability of telecommunication infrastructure, underpin the harmonious development and efficient operation of technical facilities, and promote the efficiency and availability of international telecommunication services. The International Telecommunication Regulations is a treaty instrument of the ITU. These Regulations succeeded the Telegraph Regulations (1973) and Telephone Regulations (1973) in a new treaty adopted at WATTC-88 (Melbourne).

Date and Venue
At its 2011 session (11-21 October), the ITU Council adopted Resolution 1335 (see Council Document C11/98) by which it resolved that the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12) shall be convened, with the concurrence of a majority of the Member States, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for a duration of ten working days from 3 to 14 December 2012.

By ITU Circular-letter No. 48 dated 21 October 2011, all Member States of ITU were invited to inform the Secretary-General whether they were in agreement with the venue and dates of WCIT-12 as set forth in Resolution 1335 of the Council. The consultation on this recommendation received the agreement of the required majority of the Member States of the ITU in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention. The results of this consultation are announced in ITU Circular-letter No. 58 dated 29 November 2011, and are published in ITU Notification No. 1528 dated November 2011.

WCIT-12 will follow immediately after the Global Standards Symposium (GSS) on 19 November 2011 and the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-12) from 20-29 November 2011, also convened in Dubai.

Agenda
Resolution 171 (Guadalajara, 2010) resolves that the agenda as fixed in Council Resolution 1317 be adopted for the work of WCIT-12.

Invitation and Admission
The conditions for admission to the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT 12) are specified in Article 3 (provision No. 49) and Article 24 of the ITU Convention.

Letters of invitation to WCIT-12 have been sent to ITU Member States by ITU Circular letter No. 63 dated 5 December 2011, and to the United Nations (CV 269A), Regional telecommunication organizations (CV 269B), Intergovernmental organizations operating satellite systems (CV 269C), Specialized agencies of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (CV 269D), and ITU Sector Members (CV 280) by ITU Letter DM-11/1024 dated 6 December 2011.

Preparatory Process
Pursuant to the creation of a Council Working Group to Prepare for WCIT 12 (CWG-WCIT-12) at Council 2009 (Council Resolution 1312), and consideration by the Plenipotentiary Conference (Guadalajara, 2010) of the CWG-WCIT-12 report, and contributions from Member States, the Plenipotentiary Conference adopted Resolution 171 on Preparations for the 2012 WCIT. PP-10 resolved that the agenda and dates for the Conference as fixed in Council Resolution 1317 be adopted for the work of WCIT 12, and that the CWG-WCIT-12 shall constitute the preparatory process.

Detailed information of the preparatory process can be found at the CWG-WCIT-12 website.

Regional Preparatory Meetings
While the CWG-WCIT-12 constitutes the preparatory process for WCIT-12, Resolution 171 (Guadalajara, 2010) instructs the Secretary-General to support any regional preparatory meetings, in coordination with the regional telecommunication organizations, which may be called prior to WCIT-12. The Secretary-General has sent a letter to these organizations requesting their assistance. Regional preparatory meetings for WCIT-12 will be held back-to-back with the regional preparatory meetings for WTSA-12.

Organizational Arrangements
Information related to Organizational arrangements for WCIT-12, including proposals for the work of the conference, credentials, and participant registration, can be found in ITU Circular letter No. 64 dated 6 December 2011.