Forum Programme - Themes

Second World Telecommunication Policy Forum to be held in Geneva, from 16-18 March 1998, will meet to discuss and exchange views on the theme of trade in telecommunication services, with the following agenda:

a) the general implications of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on trade in basic telecommunication services for the ITU membership with respect to:

• the telecommunications policies, regulations and regulatory structures of ITU Member States;

• the implications of the WTO agreement for developing countries, particularly with respect to policies, regulations and financial strategies to promote the development of telecommunication networks and services, as well as on their national economy;

b) actions to assist Member States and Sector Members in adapting to the changes in the telecommunications environment including analysing the current situation (e.g. by case studies) and formulating possible cooperative actions involving ITU Member States and Sector Members to facilitate adaptation to the new environment;

c) the evolution of the international telecommunications environment, particularly the accounting and settlement system, having taken into account activities being undertaken by ITU-T Study Groups.

The First World Telecommunication Policy Forum was held on October 21-23 , 1996, on the topic of Global Mobile Communications by Satellite (GMPCS), and resulted in the creation of a Memorandum of Understanding on the free circulation of GMPCS terminals. The second WTPF was convened as a result of ITU Council Decision No. 475.