Egypt, represented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), is hosting the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), on October 28- November 22, in Sharm El Sheikh, under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
It is preceded by the Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-19), on October 21-25, and followed by the first session of the Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) of the WRC-23, on November 25-26.
The WRC is attended by more than 3,500 participants from 140 countries, over 50 ICT ministers and vice ministers from all over the world, and more than 50 international companies and organizations specializing in ICTs.
During the opening ceremony, the ICT Minister Amr Talaat delivered a speech, where he shed light on the conference topics and highlighted Egypt’s efforts in hosting this major international event.
On the sidelines of the WRC, Talaat met with the Special Assistant to the US President for Technology, Telecom, and Cyber-Security Policy at the National Economic Council Ambassador Grace Koh and the accompanying delegation.
The two sides discussed the main topics of the WRC and the wish of all participating parties to develop services through advanced infrastructure and technologies that serve people and help achieve the economic development.
In addition, they discussed the significance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications and the possibility of joint cooperation in this important field, especially in light of establishing a research center for AI applications in the City of Knowledge in the New Administrative Capital.
WRCs are held every three to four years. It is the job of WRC to review and revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits. Revisions are made on the basis of an agenda determined by the ITU Council, which takes into account recommendations made by previous world radiocommunication conferences.
