Objectives
ITU-T Study Group 5, at its meeting in February 2013, established the ITU-T SG5 Regional Group for the Arab Region in accordance with WTSA Resolution 54 (Rev. New Delhi, 2024) on “Regional groups of study groups of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector”, Resolution 72 on “Measurement and assessment concerns related to human exposure to electromagnetic fields” (Rev. New Delhi, 2024), Resolution 73 on “Information and communication technologies, environment, climate change and circular economy” (Rev. New Delhi, 2024) and Resolution 79 on “Role of telecommunications/information and communication technologies in handling and controlling e-waste from telecommunication and information technology equipment and methods of treating it” (Rev. New Delhi, 2024). The Terms of Reference were updated in September 2025.
The objectives of this Regional Group include disseminating studies on electromagnetic environment, human exposure to electromagnetic field (EMF), e-waste and circular economy. Additionally, the group aims to promote the development and implementation of standards on energy efficiency, smart energy utilization and the use of ICT for addressing climate change. The Regional Group endeavours to encourage the participation of its member states countries[1], sector members and academia in the SG5 events and to establish a link to address the specific needs of Arab countries within the scope of SG5's mandate.
Terms of Reference
- Disseminate information and studies on the relevant work of ITU-T Study Group 5 within the region;
- Encourage the active participation of the Arab region administrations, regulators, operators and manufacturers in the work of ITU-T SG5, and to report the outcomes and deliverables of SG5, if needed;
- Foster discussions and studies on the challenges related to the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), electromagnetic fields (EMF) effects on health, circular economy, environmental protection, and other relevant topics , within the Arab region, aligning with SG5’s mandate;
- Promote participation from Arab countries, regulators, and operators in SG5's work to address their specific needs and contribute to the development of new or revised ITU-T Recommendations, Supplements, and Technical Reports;
- Encourage the participation of the Arab region countries in the Regional Group’s meetings, forums, workshops and other SG5 events;
- Encourage the Arab countries to contribute actively to SG5 work, particularly in developing or revising ITU-T Recommendations and take active roles in SG5 such as Rapporteur, Associate Rapporteurs, or Editors;
- Promote Arab countries' active involvement in discussions on environment, e-waste, EMF, climate change, circular economy, and related topics, especially when meetings are held in the Arab region;
- Disseminate the work and the activities of ITU-T SG5 within the industry in the region, especially SMEs, interested in joining the mailing lists and informal debates, to increase expert participation in the ITU-T SG5 Questions’ work;
- Act as a liaison between Arab region administrations, regulators, operators, manufacturers and the SG5 parent group in topics under SG5’s mandate, if needed;
- Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to work towards the objectives of international agreements and instruments including the ITU Connect 2030 Agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, among others;
- Coordinate with the Arab Standardization Group, and other regional groups addressing environment, climate change, EMF and circular economy issues in order to avoid duplication of work;
- Support initiatives leading to the Regional Group’s growth and consolidation;
- Propose new work items to SG5 as required by the region;
- Encourage the use of artificial intelligence and software for a sustainable green environment;
- Promote and encourage sustainable digital transformation;
- Strengthen the standard-making capabilities of the Arab States in accordance with Resolution 44 (Rev. New Delhi, 2024) – Bridging the standardization gap between developing and developed countries, in particular with the four Programmes of the action of this Resolution (Programme 1, Programme 2, Programme 3 and Programme 4);
- Encourage cooperation with other SG5 regional groups to maximize synergies when necessary;
- Encourage the collaboration amongst universities, scientific collectives, public authorities, development banks, stakeholders in the environment sector in the region with the regional group, in order to facilitate interdisciplinary research and policy dialogue on topics such as biodiversity, environmental efficiency and monitoring and sustainable infrastructure. These efforts aim to strengthen data availability and scientific inputs for the inclusion of environmental variables in the pre-feasibility stages of public infrastructure investment.
Working Methods
- TSB secretariat will provide necessary support to the regular meetings of this Regional Group within available budgetary resources;
- The regional group will be encouraged to hold physical meetings. The regional group is also encouraged to use remote collaboration tools and co-locate with existing meetings to the maximum extent. The regional group is also encouraged to hold a meeting before the meeting of the parent group to allow the preparation of Contributions and a more active participation;
- The regional group progress reports are to be provided to the parent study group meeting;
- SG5RG-ARB will appoint a Chair and Vice-chairs for a period of four years and will inform the SG5 accordingly. The term of office for both chair and vice-chair shall not exceed two terms of office between consecutive assemblies.
SG5RG-ARB Mailing List
To subscribe to the sg5rgarb mailing list, a TIES access is required. Users with TIES access can subscribe directly. Others, please send your request to:
tsbsg5@itu.int.
[1] Countries include: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine*.
* Palestine is not an ITU Member State; the status of Palestine in ITU is the subject of Resolution 99 (rev. Dubai, 2018) of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference.