TRA Bahrain Chairman elected to chair RPM Coordination Meeting of the International Telecommunication Union

TRA Bahrain Chairman Dr. Mohammed Al Amer was elected chairman of the RPM coordination meeting of the International Telecommunication Union which was held in Geneva on the 9th of December in view of the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2014 (WTDC-14) which will be held from 31 March to 11 April 2014. This came in recognition of the Kingdom and TRA’s initiatives and leading role in regulating the telecommunications sector and stimulating competition and investment at the local level as well as its effective contributions at both the regional and international levels through its participation in international events and hosting of conferences and meetings where decision-makers meet.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Brahima Sanou, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau explained that the purpose of the meeting was to consolidate the outcome of six Regional Preparatory Meetings (RPM) held in preparation for WTDC-14. The six meetings were as follows:

The regional preparatory meeting for CIS region, Chisinau, Moldova, in February 2013, the regional preparatory meeting for Asia and the Pacific region, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in May 2013, The RPM meeting for the Americas, held in Montivideo, Uraguay in August 2103, The meetings of the Africa region in Accra Ghana and the Arab states region in Manama, Bahrain during October 2013 and the RPM for the Europe region in Belgrade, Serbia.

“It is an honor and great opportunity to be elected chairman of this important, global meeting, which is a significant achievement for TRA and the Kingdom of Bahrain” Said Chairman Dr. Al Amer “Each meeting had agreed upon objectives; The Arab Regional Initiatives in particular, are intended to address the specific ICT priority areas through partnerships and resource mobilization to implement small- medium- and large scale projects. Under each Regional Initiative, projects will be developed and implemented to meet the regions needs.”, he added.

The International Telecommunication Union, through the Telecommunication Development Bureau, organizes a World Telecommunication Development Conference every four years. The Telecommunication Development Conferences serve as forums for free discussion by all concerned with the Development Sector. In addition, they review the numerous programmes and projects of the Sector and BDT. Results are reported and new projects are launched. The World Conferences set the agenda and the guidelines for the following four-year cycle, while the Regional Conferences review "work-in-progress" towards the overall objectives and ensure that goals are met.

 Each Regional Preparatory Meeting brings together the countries in its region to explore and discuss their needs and the present and future initiatives of the Sector. The African Group’s initiatives which includes: Strengthening human and institutional capacity building, Strengthening and harmonizing policy and regulatory frameworks for integration of African telecommunications/ICT market, Development of broadband infrastructure and achievement of regional interconnectivity and universal access, Spectrum management and transition to digital broadcasting.  

 The Asian Pacific Group’s initiatives which includes: Unique ICT needs of least developed countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) including Pacific Islands Countries and landlocked developing countries, Emergency Telecommunications, Harnessing the benefits of New Technologies, Broadband Access and Uptake, in urban and rural areas

The Americas Group’s initiatives which includes: Emergency communications, Broadband Access and Uptake, Reduction of Telecommunication Services Prices and Internet Access Costs, Capacity building to engage in global ICT policy, with special focus on improving cybersecurity and developing countries’, participation in the existing Internet Governance Institutions

The European Group’s initiatives which includes: Building capacities in the field of spectrum Management, Transition to Digital Broadcasting and Spectrum Management, Broadband ubiquity including smart grids, Making ICT applications more accessible, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Youth

The Commonwealth Independent States (CIS) Group’s initiatives Includes: Creating a child online protection centre for the CIS region, Ensuring access to telecommunications/ICT services for persons with disabilities, Introduction of training technologies and methods using telecommunications/ICTs in order to develop human potential, Development of broadband access in the CIS countries, Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs in the CIS countries

The International Telecommunication Union, through the Telecommunication Development Bureau, organizes a World Telecommunication Development Conference every four years. The Telecommunication Development Conferences serve as forums for free discussion by all concerned with the Development Sector. In addition, they review the numerous programmes and projects of the Sector and BDT. Results are reported and new projects are launched. The World Conferences set the agenda and the guidelines for the following four-year cycle, while the Regional Conferences review "work-in-progress" towards the overall objectives and ensure that goals are met.

Each Regional Preparatory Meeting brings together the countries in its region to explore and discuss their needs and the present and future projects of the Sector.