Kingdom Runs for ITU Council Membership Among 193 Countries

The Kingdom intends to run for membership of the ITU Council for the next four years to retain its Council membership held since 1965, during its participation in the Plenipotentiary Conference 2018 next Monday, held in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, during the period (29 October - 16 November 2018).

The Kingdom is running for Council membership to strengthen its international and regional leadership position within the Union, and its effective role in building consensus during discussions, and its contribution alongside member states in shaping the Union's present and paving the way for its future excellence.

The Kingdom is considered one of the most important member states on the Union's Council as a result of its supportive efforts for the Union, and its harnessing of its specialized human capabilities and expertise in the telecommunications and information technology sector to support its activities since it became a member of the Union and a member of its Council, in addition to its contribution to continuing to work with the international community to develop the telecommunications and information technology sector in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

During the conference, the Kingdom will lead several important files at the international level, foremost among them formulating the Union's strategic and financial plan, discussing international public policy issues related to the Internet and the Union's role in them, enhancing the Union's role in building trust and cybersecurity, adopting artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, and considering holding the World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum to address public issues related to regulating the sector at the international level.

In a related context, the Kingdom is also running, during the conference, for membership of the Radio Regulations Board, which consists of 12 elected members chosen from among 193 countries, a specialized committee concerned with examining cases of frequency interference between countries, and considering appeal requests submitted by countries regarding decisions taken by the Radiocommunication Bureau.

It should be noted that the Plenipotentiary Conference is the supreme policy-making body of the Union, and this conference, held every four years, represents the main event in which the Union's member states decide the organization's future role, thereby determining the organization's ability to influence and direct the development of information and communication technology (ICT) globally.