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ITU and ANE, Colombia’s National Spectrum Agency, sign a Cooperation Agreement on the efficient use of radiofrequency spectrum

14 June 2013

ITU and ANE, Colombia’s National Spectrum Agency, signed a Cooperation Agreement to foster research, knowledge and the efficient use of radiofrequency spectrum. The Colombian Administration have a longstanding partnership with ITU in large-scale development projects. The conclusion of this Framework Cooperation Agreement, paves way for future collaborative initiatives between both Agencies in the agreed areas. The Agency, created in 2010, in coordination with the Colombian Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies, has since been actively involved in a wide range of activities within ITU’s Radiocommunication and Development Sectors.

At the signing of the agreement in Geneva Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) highlighted the importance of this agreement and of continued cooperation. He noted that, “By combining our efforts and innovating for better and more efficient management of spectrum, we will go a long way in making wireless communications a reliable medium for communications. Wireless communications, which in most cases are cheaper and easier to deploy have proven to be making immense contribution to ICT development particularly in developing countries. But for us to succeed, we need strong and result-oriented partnerships such as this one.”

Juan Manuel Wilches, ANE’s Deputy Director, Spectrum Management and Planning, took the opportunity to confirm their interest in joining ITU Academy’s Spectrum Management Training Program (SMTP) and said: “Knowledge management on spectrum is a priority for the Colombian government. We believe that efficient use of this resource can be achieved by getting users to know more about what it is and how it is managed by administrations at a national level. This should be done in conjunction with ITU as the platform to both gather and disseminate this knowledge worldwide”.

ITU and ANE will continue to work together in the future with the aim of making an invaluable contribution to the establishment of an Information and Knowledge Society.