The 39th World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 20 November to 15 December 2023. Over 3,900 delegates from 163 Member States attended WRC-23, including 88 ministerial-level participants. Women made up 22 per cent of all WRC-23 delegates, an increase from 18 per cent at WRC-19 in 2019. The WRC-23 negotiations were led by conference Chair, H.E. Eng. Mohammed Al Ramsi from the United Arab Emirates with assistance from six committee chairs: Basebi Mosinyi (Botswana); Cindy Cook (Canada); Hiroyuki Atarashi (Japan); Anna Marklund (Sweden); Abdouramane El Hadjar (Cameroon); and Christian Rissone (France).

By the close of the conference, ITU Member States had agreed on revisions to the global treaty governing the use of the radio frequency spectrum, both on Earth and in space. The agreement on updates to the Radio Regulations identifies new spectrum resources to support technological innovation, deepen global connectivity, increase access to and equitable use of space-based radio resources, and enhance safety at sea, in the air, and on land.

Overall, WRC-23 approved 43 new resolutions, revised 56 existing ones, and suppressed 33 resolutions. A total of 151 Member States signed the WRC-23 Final Acts. The Final Acts constitute a record of the decisions taken at the conference including both the new and revised provisions of the Radio Regulations, all Appendices, and the new and revised Resolutions and ITU-R Recommendations incorporated by reference into the treaty by the conference. 

This summary includes excerpts from the ITU Press Release dated 15 December 2024. You can view the full press release here.