The next World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-23, will take place between November 20 and December 15, 2023, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) confirmed following a consultation with the ITU Member States around the world.
The conference, where governments, regulators, and industry gather to update the ITU Radio Regulations, will take place in one of the main cities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), either Abu Dhabi or Dubai.
Held every four years for a period of four weeks, the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) is mandated to update the radio regulations, the sole international treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has proven the essential nature of digital technologies and services," said ITU secretary-general Houlin Zhao. “Yet challenges persist in efforts connect the other half of the world's population by 2030. ITU Member States will use WRC-23 to pave the way for new, more innovative ways to connect the world using both terrestrial and space-based communication technologies."
Preparations underway
The preparatory process for WRCs involves extensive studies and preparatory discussions among stakeholders, from governments, regulatory authorities, network operators, and equipment suppliers to industry forums and spectrum users at national, regional, and global levels.
The multi-stakeholder approach enables consensus-building, essential to ensure the WRC fosters a stable, predictable, and universally applied regulatory environment that ensures the provision of and future investment in radiocommunication services that are free of harmful interference.
“Despite COVID-related challenges and fewer physical meetings, ITU Members are making significant progress by preparing for WRC-23 through virtual meetings and online consultations," said Mario Maniewicz, director of the ITU radiocommunication bureau.
“However, I am pleased to announce that from the beginning of 2022 the ITU-R (ITU Radiocommunication Sector) study group and working party meetings will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, as physical meetings, which will further accelerate the final stages of consensus-building in preparation for the conference. Of course, those who cannot attend the physical meetings will still be able to participate remotely."
