World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12)

Overview

ITU will convene the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 3-14 December 2012. This landmark conference will review the current International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs), which serve as the binding global treaty designed to facilitate international interconnection and interoperability of information and communication services, as well as ensuring their efficiency and widespread public usefulness and availability.

General Schedule of Work of the Conference

Monday/Tuesday

• Meeting of Heads of delegation 
• Opening Ceremony 
• First Plenary 
• Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Conference 
• Establishment of committees and working groups; 
• Election of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of committees and working groups 
• Allocation of proposals from Member States and of reports of the Council Working Group to prepare for WCIT-12 and the Secretary-General to Committees and Working Groups 
• Organization and commencement of work of Committees 4, 5 and Working Groups 

Wednesday/Thursday/Friday 

• Organization and commencement of work at Sub Working Group level 
• Organization and commencement of work of Committees 2 and 3 
• Continuation of work of Committees 4, 5 and Working Groups 
• Progress of work reviewed in Plenary 

Second week (10-14 December) 

Monday/Tuesday 

• Continuation of work of Committees, Working Groups and Sub-Working Groups

Wednesday 

• Report of Credentials Committee (COM2) to Plenary 
• Completion of work of Committees and Working Groups 
• First and second reading by Plenary of the texts of the Final Acts   

Thursday 

• Report of the Budget Control Committee (COM3) to Plenary 
• Complete first and second reading by Plenary of the texts of the Final Acts

Friday 

• Declarations and Reservations 
• Signing Ceremony and close of the Conference 

NOTE 1 – Plenary Meetings will be scheduled throughout the conference as necessary. 

NOTE 2 – This schedule is subject to change.

Admission 

                       

The conditions for admission to the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT 12) are specified in Article 3 (provision No. 49) and Article 24 of the ITU Convention.

 

 

Invitations

Letters of invitation to WCIT-12 have been sent to ITU Member States by ITU Circular Letter No. 63 dated 5 December 2011, and to other organizations (the United Nations, Regional telecommunication organizations, Intergovernmental organizations operating satellite systems, Specialized agencies of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and ITU Sector Members) by ITU Letter DM-11/1024 dated 6 December 2011.

 

Credentials

In accordance with Article 31 of the ITU Convention, accreditation of delegations sent by Member States to a world conference on international telecommunications shall be by means of instruments signed by the Head of State, by the Head of Government, by the Minister for Foreign Affairs or by the Minister responsible for questions dealt with during the conference.

 

• Information on credentials: Circular Letter No. 84 (25 April 2012) and Circular Letter No. 129 (19 October 2012).
• Procedure for depositing credentials for WCIT-12 (WCIT-12 Document 2).
  
  Member States are invited to deposit the original credentials before the opening of the conference by registered letter to the following address:

  ITU Secretary-General
  WCIT-12 Secretariat (Credentials Committee) - Office T.1313
  International Telecommunication Union
  Place des Nations, CH - 1211 GENEVA 20, Switzerland

  Credentials may also be deposited with the WCIT-12 Credentials Committee secretariat at the conference venue in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as from 19 November 2012.