Introduction

The Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) was founded on the joint initiatives of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The APT was established in Bangkok in July 1979. The APT is an Intergovernmental Organization operates in conjunction with telecom service providers, manufacturers of communications equipment, and research and development organizations active in the field of communication, information and innovation technologies.

APT serves as the focal organization for ICT in the region. The APT covers 36 member countries, with 4 associate members and 124 affiliate members. Through its various programmes and activities, APT has made a significant contribution to the development growth in ICT sectors.

Throughout the past years, APT has been able to assist members in the preparation of Global conferences such as ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP), World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC), World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) and the ITU meetings. APT is also involved in promoting regional harmonization of their programmes and activities in the region.

APT continues to support and facilitate its members in bringing about a qualitative and sustainable growth and ICT services. APT plays an active role in bridging digital divide that separates the region.

Membership

There are currently 36 member countries and 4 associate member and 124 affiliate members in the APT. Any member of the ESCAP which is within the region is eligible to be part of the APT while to be an associate member, any territory, part or group of territories within the region which is an associate member of ESCAP is eligible. Associate members are higlighted in green.

Member economy (name as used in APEC)	Date of accession
Afghanistan	1979
Australia	1979
Bangladesh	1979
Bhutan	1998
Brunei	1986
Cambodia	2007
Mainland China	1979
Cook Islands	1987
Fiji	1999
Hong Kong	2009
India	1979
Indonesia	1985
Iran	1980
Japan	1979
North Korea	1994
South Korea	1979
Laos	1989
Macau	1993
Malaysia	1979
Maldives	1980
Marshall Islands	2005
	1994
Mongolia	1991
Myanmar	1979
Nauru	1979
Nepal	1979
New Zealand	1993
Niue	2002
Pakistan	1979
Palau	1996
Papua New Guinea	1993
Philippines	1979
Samoa	2000
Singapore	1979
Solomon Islands	2010
Sri Lanka	1979
Thailand	1979
Tonga	1992
Vanuatu	2010
Vietnam	1979

Objective

The objective of the Telecommunity shall be to foster the development of telecommunication services and information infrastructure throughout the region with a particular focus on the expansion thereof in less developed areas.

In furtherance thereof, the Telecommunity may:
· Promote the expansion of telecommunication services and information infrastructure and the maximization of the benefits of information and telecommunications technology for the welfare of the people in the region;
· Develop regional cooperation in areas of common interest, including radio communications and standards development;
· Undertake studies relating to developments in telecommunication and information infrastructure technology and policy and regulation in coordination with other international organizations, where pertinent;
· Encourage technology transfer, human resource development and the exchange of information for the balanced development of telecommunication services and information infrastructure within the region; and
· Facilitate coordination within the region with regard to major issues pertaining to telecommunication services and information infrastructure with a view to strengthening the region’s international position.

Principal Organs

The APT has three major functioning organs.
The General Assembly, The Management Committee and The General Secretariat.
The General Assembly consists of the President and the Vice Presidents.
The Management Committee consists of the Chairman and the Vice Chairmen.
The General Secretariat consists of the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General and other professional staff of the secretariat.

The APT sectors

The APT comprises of five sectors each managing different aspects of the matter handled by the Telecommunity:
Policy and Regulations (PRF

PRF

PRF is an acronym and can stand for:* Platelet Rich Fibrin, A combination of platelets and fibrin used to regenerate tissue* PRF-3, the call letters of the now defunct TV Tupi, Brazil's first television station* Pain Relief Foundation...

).
Radiocommunication (RF

RF

-Science and technology:* Radiative forcing, a measure of the change in balance of the energy absorbed and emitted by the Earth's atmosphere* "Rate of flow", as in Volumetric flow rate* Radio frequency...

).
Standardization (ASTAP

ASTAP

ASTAP was a general purpose analog electronic circuit simulator developed primarily for in-house use by IBM from 1973...

).
Human Resource Development (HRD

HRD

HRD can refer to:*Hertzsprung-Russell diagram which shows the relationship between celestial stars*HRD Motorcycles A motorcycle company*Home Run Derby, an event in Major League Baseball that showcases a hitter's ability to hit big flies....

).
ICT Development (APTICT).

Acceptance and Recognition

Over the decades APT has worked in close conjunction with various Regional, International and UN organizations. The list of the related organizations are as follows.

ICAO
International Civil Aviation Organization

ITU
International Telecommunication Union

UNDP
United Nations Development Programme

UN
United Nations

UN-ESCAP
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

ABU
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union

ADB
Asian Development Bank

APEC
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

APSCC
Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council

ATU
African Telecommunications Union

CEPT
European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations

CITEL
Inter-American Telecommunication Commission

CTO
The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization

ECO
European Communications Office

InfoDev
The Information for Development Program

PECC
Pacific Economic Cooperation Council

PIFS
Pacific Islands Froum Secretariat

PITA
The Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association

PTC
Pacific Telecommunications Council

UMTS
UMTS Forum

WB
The World Bank

Wimax Forum
Wimax Forum

WTO
The World Trade Organization

Leadership

The APT is headed by a Secretary General who is elected to a three year term by the member states of the conference at the General Assembly.

List of Chief Executives of The Telecommunity

Loqman Husain  Bangladesh
Boonchoo Phienpanji  Thailand
Chao Thongma  Thailand
Hiroyasu Sonaki  Japan
Jong Soon Lee  Korea
Amarendra Narayan  India
Toshiyuki Yamada  Japan