IARU Region 3 and APT agreement

International Amateur Radio Union Region 3 and the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to achieve further collaboration. The agreement which had to pass through various stages of approval has been formalised by IARU Region 3 Chairman Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN, (pictured) and APT Secretary-General Toshiyuki Yamada.

Gopal VU2GMN explained that while the IARU Region 3 regionally looks after the development and protection of the Amateur Service, the APT based in Bangkok Thailand, sets spectrum allocation, fosters telecommunication services and information infrastructure. He said IARU Region 3 representatives have been attending APT meetings and submitting documents for years. The MoU further strengthens the working relationship of the two regional bodies.

Gopal VU2GMN said: "The drafting of the MoU began at the IARU Region 3 directors meeting in Canberra 2010 just before the WIA Centenary. "It was felt highly desirable that there be a formal arrangement covering the presence at the various APT meetings where amateur issues are being discussed." He said the first draft of the MoU was made in Canberra with IARU President Tim Ellam VE6SH and then IARU Region 3 Chairman Michael Owen VK3KI (sk), both lawyers who greatly helped with its wording.

Gopal VU2GMN said at the IARU Region 3 conference in Ho Chi Minh City, the MoU was identified as a priority. Work began on an illustrated presentation with its first step a showing to Toshiyuki Yamada and his APT colleagues in Bangkok, Thailand. Then several APT committees had to then see it and finally the APT General Assembly held recently in Yangon, Myanmar, agreed to the MoU.

The APT was founded in 1979 out of steps taken by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the International Telecommunication Union. It is an inter-government organisation in Asia-Pacific for communication, information and innovation technologies. It has sister organisations, the CEPT in Europe and CITEL for the Americas. APT has 38 member administrations that develop a regional perspective on World Radiocommunication Conference agenda items.

WRC-2015 is to be held in Geneva Switzerland in November 2015 includes the proposal for a secondary allocation to the Amateur Service in the 5 MHz band. The IARU Region 3 is funded by its societies which pay dues for its international representation on a per member basis, holds general assembly every three years and its directors attend various meetings including the WRC.

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