The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) got some visibility for Amateur Radio at ITU Telecom World 2013, sponsored by the International Telecommunication Union. The event was held November 19-22 in Bangkok, Thailand. The IARU and IARU Region 3 leaders arranged the display in cooperation with the ITU. A large, flat-screen TV in the booth displayed videos of Amateur Radio activities. Special event station HS2013ITU was on the air from the site. IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, spoke at one of the forums. A highlight of the show for the IARU contingent was a visit by ITU Secretary General Dr Hamadoun Toure, HB9EHT. He took a turn at the operation position of HS2013ITU while there.

“We had a number of high-profile visitors to the booth, including ministers of communications and government regulators from various countries,” said IARU Region 3 Director Peter Lake, ZL2AZ, and Region 3 Chairman Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN, in a report. “They were keen to discuss the situation in their respective countries and the association with IARU and to learn about Amateur Radio and its capabilities. Telecom World 2013 gave the IARU a unique opportunity to showcase Amateur Radio at the highest level.”

ITU Telecom World 2013 also offered an opportunity for the IARU representatives to influence leaders who can favorably impact radio regulations and national attitudes toward Amateur Radio. “The presence of IARU, and its effort to showcase Amateur Radio and its capabilities, was well appreciated by all who visited the booth, and the effort was well worthwhile,” said the IARU’s report. “We also laid a foundation under the new ITU Telecom World structure to gain some similar space at the next event in 2014 in Qatar.”

Immediately following ITU Telecom World, Lake was invited to help Thailand’s IARU member-society, the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST), at a public hearing held by Thailand’s telecoms regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). The NBTC had recently drafted new Amateur Radio regulations for Thailand, and at the public session attended by some 200 radio amateurs from throughout Thailand, Lake was able to offer guidance from an international perspective.

RAST President Pornchai “Joe” Semjang, HS2JFW, said afterward that the hearing, held to obtain feedback about the proposed regulations, went well and that RAST’s proposals were well-received. More meetings are planned to refine the draft regulations.