International
	Telecommunication Union
	United Nations specialized agency
		for telecommunications			
	Release	
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(For information media, not an official record)	

ITU/93-7
17 May 1993
Original: English	

Development partners agree on telecommunication
development plans for Asia and the Pacific
The first Telecommunication Development Conference for Asia and the Pacific, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), concluded Saturday with the adoption of 15 resolutions and 4 recommendations thus setting a general framework for telecommunication development of the region. 
The Conference, which took place in Singapore from 10 to 15 May 1993, was attended by 246 delegates from 53 countries. It was inaugurated by His Excellency Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for Communications of the Republic of Singapore. Mr Hong Yew Ng, Director-General of Telecommunication Authority of Singapore (TAS) was elected chairman of the conference assisted by Mr. Cai LUI, Deputy Director, Ministry of P&T, China, Mr. Shushi KUSHUDA, Director-General, International Affairs Department, Ministry of P&T, Japan and Mr. Inatio TEANAKO, Managing Director, Telecom Kiribati Ltd., Kiribati.
The Resolutions adopted by the Conference cover a wide spectrum of issues and set goals. The commitment of countries to achieve these objectives was expressed by a panel of Ministers and high ranking officials on the penultimate day of the Conference when the results of the Committee work was presented. Resolutions also define the role of all development partners in the implementation of the resolutions and provide guidelines on the action to be taken. 
In his closing address, Mr Ng, Chairman of the Conference, stressed the profound importance of the conference to the development of telecommunications in the Asia-Pacific region. He also underlined the fact that not only were the needs of the region immense but that they were equally diversified. "Yet, the resources to meet these needs," Mr Ng said, be they financial resources, technical expertise or training facilities and materials are in short supply". "Huge needs coupled with very limited resources", Mr Ng added, "make coordination efforts of utmost importance for international, regional and sub-regional organizations concerned with telecommunication development in this region, if they are to truly serve the needs of their members."
Mr Ng also commended the adoption of common directives in which the region hopes to proceed in terms of telecommunications policies and strategies. "That we were able to meet on common ground in this way is indeed a good indication of the warm and cordial relations which the Member countries of the region enjoy" he said. 
Dr P. Tarjanne, ITU Secretary-General,  expressed his satisfaction at what can be considered a clearly action-oriented output and balanced plan of action. He also said that the follow-up mechanisms were probably the most important steps taken to produce real results – concrete telecommunication development for the people of the region.
The Director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau, Mr Arnold Ph. Djiwatampu hailed the very frank and open discussions of the problems being faced as well as the identification of possible solutions to those problems. "The resolutions and recommendations touch upon providing our Members with a good understanding of the required policy and regulatory environment for a conducive telecommunication investment environment" Mr Djiwatampu said. Mr Djiwatampu also indicated that resources from the private sector, whether in kind, in the form of expertise and support to seminars, or in cash through voluntary contributions, would be intensified. "It is my conviction that each and every private contribution will see returns beyond its expectations", he said. "We have the capability to provide you with the business information you need and we have the trust of our Members" concluded Mr Djiwatampu. 
A summary of the results achieved by the Conference is annexed.

Summary of results
Coordination mechanism for regional cooperation
This Resolution provides for the holding of regular coordination meetings to serve as fora for exchange of views and information for coordination, monitoring and follow-up activities for the implementation of the Resolutions of the Conference. 
The first meeting is scheduled to take place prior to the World Telecommunication Development Conference planned to be held from 21 to 29 March 1994. The Resolution also calls for increased coordination among all organizations involved in the region to ensure complementary of the action taken and to avoid duplication of work among development partners.
It was also agreed that reports be compiled on the progress made in the implementation of the Conference Resolutions and on ITU activities in the Region. Such reports will be disseminated once a year to each country of the region and interested international and regional organizations.
Telecommunication strategies and policies for the Asia-Pacific Region
The Resolution defines seven common directives for formulating telecommunications policies  and strategies dealing with:
	separation of regulatory and operating functions
	adoption of an investment base as wide as possible
	introduction of intelligent networks in each country of the region
	access to telecommunications to all users, at least to basic telecommunications services, in a competitive environment
	local manufacturing of telecommunications equipment and components whenever appropriate
	harmonization of networks to promote global inter-operability and to strengthen of integration
	use of telecommunications for protecting the global environment

It also creates a Working Group to develop guidelines which will assist countries of the region to evaluate policies and strategies which will promote the restructuring of the telecommunication sector within the framework of each country's national strategies for economic, social and cultural development. The Working Group is asked to complete its work before August 1994. 
Financing strategies
The Resolution on financing strategies calls for the exchange of information and experience of the various financing strategies so as to assist countries in developing their own. It requests countries to achieve sufficient development of telecommunications by the reinvestment of revenues for maintenance and expansion and to establish an appropriate tariff system. It also underlines the importance of private capital in telecommunication development in the region.
Finally, it instructs the BDT to conduct research on various options and merits and demerits of financing strategies and of conditions for introducing the various strategies.
Access to all users
Access of all users to telecommunication services is provided for in a Resolution which invites each country to develop a telecoms development plan to be included in comprehensive regional development programmes. The Resolution also requests that a calendar for its implementation be adopted with the objective of :
	providing at least one public phone in every community or village including national/international dialing facility
	providing public pay phones extensively in urban areas 
	setting up telecommunications service centres for fax, telex and other value-added services in every business/commercial community in urban/semi-urban areas or in rural areas where economic activities would be enhanced
	increasing radio and TV coverage to rural areas

The introduction of disaster prevention telecommunications systems to promote safety of life is also highlighted. 
Finally, it instructs the BDT to study low-cost appropriate technology options for rural telecommunications including multiple access systems, cellular radio, VSAT as well as to prepare guidelines for planning of rural telecommunications and for the choice of technology.
Telecommunication Indicators
The Conference approved a Resolution which resolves to set up a working group on Telecommunication Indicators under the coordination of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau. The Working Group will involve the participation of specialists from national regulatory, planning and policy decision-making authorities and telecommunication operators as well as from international and regional organizations. The role of the Working Group is to further develop the set of standardized indicators to be collected including human resources indicators. The first meeting of the Group is scheduled to take place within the next six months. 
The Resolution also requests the Working Group to propose programmes and projects for regional cooperation in the development and adaptation of Management Information Systems for telecommunication operators which will at the same time meet their requirements and facilitate their task of supplying the indicators required by the end-users of such MIS. The ITU is also requested to study the possibility of merging the regional working groups set up in other regions into one global forum for development of telecommunication indicators.
Standardization
The promotion of standardization in the region is addressed in a Resolution aimed at:
	fostering the exchange of information on international standardization within the region 
	studying, formulating and promoting international standardization
	facilitating the participation of countries in the standard-setting and application process

The Resolution also requests ITU:
	to promote the dissemination, interpretation, application of international standards to users in the region through handbooks, seminars/workshop, standard harmonization meetings on specific new technology or standard-setting issues
	to support efforts in developing national customer equipment standards in countries of the region

Radio Frequency Spectrum
The Conference resolved that a study on the pricing of radio frequency spectrum fees should be implemented to determine an appropriate method or methods for spectrum pricing. The objective is to provide guidelines which could be readily adopted by countries of the region, given that the setting of adequate fees is essential for equitable access to and efficient use of the spectrum. The study should be completed by the end of 1994 and disseminated to all countries of the region.
A second Resolution concerning regional mechanisms for strengthening frequency management planning and coordination, proposes:
	the establishment by each country of goals and objectives to facilitate the use of the radio frequency spectrum with minimal regulatory constraints
	improved regional cooperation on frequency management
	the exchange information about available tools for frequency management
	the establishment of national long-range spectrum plans
	comparison of national spectrum policies and plans in the region
	the promotion the use of common frequency bands for specific purposes such as FPLMTS and digital audio satellite broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific 

The text also calls for the organization of regular information meetings within the region to enhance knowledge of regulatory and technical procedures concerning radiocommunication services in general and broadcasting and broadcasting-satellite services in particular.
Broadcasting
A resolution was adopted requesting the ITU to assist broadcasting organizations to carry out VHF/UHF propagation measurements under different topographical and climatic conditions at selected centres in the tropical areas of the region.
A Resolution on technical assistance to broadcasters as a follow up to a regional broadcasting project implemented by the ITU in the region was also adopted. In the framework of this Resolution, the BDT of the ITU will elaborate project proposals to address the high priority needs identified by the countries of the region in cooperation with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union.
Human resources development and management
The Resolution on Human resources development and management calls for the strengthening of cooperation between telecommunication and broadcasting centres within the framework of ITU's International Sharing System; it also supports the creation of new training centres for the region and requests Member countries to upgrade and enhance education in the universities and graduate schools that serve as higher educational institutions in telecommunication fields. 
Finally, the Resolution requests the ITU, APT and other regional and sub-regional organizations to assess ways to further improve the exchange of information in the field of human resources management and development with a view to improving coordination of activities. 
Technology transfer
Two resolutions on technology transfer were adopted: one on technology transfer in the field of broadcasting technologies and one on technology transfer on telecommunications including new technologies.
The Resolution on technology transfer in the field of broadcasting technologies requests the ITU to organize seminars and workshops on emerging broadcast technologies at regular intervals (typically once a year).
The Resolution on technology transfer on telecommunications reaffirms the need to transfer technology to developing countries including through the exchange of experts, the organization of seminars and meetings, the networking of telecommunication research institutions by electronic mail, teleconferencing and computer conferencing facilities. It also requests the ITU to review, update and improve handbooks which deal with technical questions of particular concern to developing countries. In addition, the Resolution invites manufacturers and their clients in developing countries to include, as part of equipment purchasing contracts, the transfer of relevant new technology and know-how.
Special Assistance programme for the least developed countries (LDCs) in the Asia and Pacific Region
There are currently 48 LDCs throughout the world, 29 of which are in Africa (south of the Sahara), 13 in Asia and the Pacific, five in the Arab States Region and one in the Americas. 
The ITU allocated 2.2 million Swiss francs in 1992 and 2.3 million Swiss francs in 1993 from its own funds for LDCs and adopted a joint programme approach for the provision of ITU assistance to LDCs concentrating on four main areas: management, maintenance, planning and training. 
The Conference decided to request the ITU to increase the funds made available for LDCs in its regular budget with a view to enhancing their impact. It requests the ITU and the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) to strengthen the regional technical cooperation among developing countries and encourages the developed countries to enhance their assistance programme for the benefit of LDCs. 
Specific activities to be included in the LDC programme of the ITU and for which financing is to be sought from external sources are:
	assistance on the reform and restructuring of the telecommunication sector
	improvement of the maintenance of the telecommunication networks
	development of networks and services, including those in rural areas, to attain better efficiency and self-reliance
	human resources development

Implementation of the Conference resolutions
The first Asia-Pacific Coordination Meeting, to take place as a result of the adoption of Resolution N° 1, will analyze and review the detailed programmes of action elaborated by various organizations in their respective fields of activities for the implementation of the Conference Resolutions and will prepare a report for submission to Executive organ of each organization. The forthcoming World Telecommunication Development Conference will be called upon to review the activities undertaken for implementing the Resolutions of the AS-RDC conference.
Moreover, the broad objectives of the projects which were submitted by the APT, ABU and the ITU in support of the Resolutions were endorsed by the Conference. It however decided that the project documents be reformulated and consolidated to avoid duplication of effort. The revised set will then become part of the action programme for implementing the AS-RDC Resolutions. 
Recommendations
Four recommendations were adopted. Recommendations are the expression of desired broad objectives which cannot be achieved other than by a combination of factors outside the control of any individual country. 
assistance from the manufacturing sector in operation and development of broadcasting services
This Recommendation calls for improved participation of manufacturers in human resources development and improved after-sale support. It also recommends streamlined procedures for the supply of spare parts and the collation of statistical information on equipment performance.
telecoms tariffs for broadcasting
Given the relationship between the tariff structure and the distribution and exchange of television programmes and news at the international level, a Recommendation was adopted with a view to setting tariffs at level which would enhance the growth of international news exchange and information flow.
Maritime and Safety
Through a Recommendation on maritime and safety matters, all countries are urged to support a project to be undertaken by the ITU to elaborate maritime radiocommunication master plans for the implementation of the GMDSS and the development of maritime radiocommunication services in the region.
Mobile Satellite
The Recommendation on the use of advanced satellite services and technologies in support of telecommunications development in the Asia-Pacific region invites countries to consider the potential opportunities which new and emerging satellite communication services and technologies may offer. It also requests the Telecommunication Development Bureau of the ITU to assist in identifying these opportunities, establishing rules, regulations and policies whenever required to take advantage of these systems.