ARLA/CLUSTER: Promoção da IARU na World Telecom 2013 na Tailandia

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

IARU well received at 2013 World Telecom

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) had a promotional booth
at 2013 World Telecom in Bangkok, Thailand, held over four days last
month.

The Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) provided volunteers and
equipment for the strategically located booth opposite the media
centre and along the main walkway.

Specially designed posters setting out the various aspects of Amateur
Radio were displayed in English and Thai and provided to visitors.

Among the users of the special callsign
of HS2013ITU through a rotary dipole for HF and a local VHF repeater,
were IARU Region 3 Chairman Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN, and IARU President
Tim Ellam VE6SH. A model of a Cubesat made by RAST was also on
display.

They greeted many visitors including Ministers of Communications and
regulators from various countries. The visitors were keen to discuss
their respective countries, association with IARU, and learn about
Amateur Radio and its capabilities.

The highlight was a visit of Dr Hamadoun Toure HB9EHT, Secretary
General of International Telecommunications Union, who spent some time
at the booth.

The exhibitors included various countries. From Thailand it had the
regulator the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission
(NBTC), Thai landline and cellular companies, other government
departments, and an emergency operations centre demonstration set up.

The presence of IARU, and its effort to showcase Amateur Radio was
well appreciated by all who visited the booth and the effort was well
worthwhile.

It was a unique chance to influence those leaders who can favourably
impact the radio regulations and national country attitudes to Amateur
Radio. The foundation was made to gain some similar space at the next
event in 2014 in Qatar.

IARU Region 3 Director Peter Lake ZL2AZ attended the event and
afterward participated with RAST in meetings with the Thailand
telecommunication regulator related to new Amateur Radio regulations.

Peter ZL2AZ was asked to help RAST as an advisor on Saturday 23
November, immediately following ITU Telecom World.

The NBTC had recently published draft new Radio Regulations. A public
forum was held with about 200 radio amateurs attending.

While the NBTC objectives are commendable, many of the regulations
negatively impact Amateur Radio and contrary to what the IARU R3 is
seeking.

This includes rules on licensing and type approval of equipment,
mobile and portable use. It seems that NBTC wanted a more status quo
approach, while Peter ZL2AZ offered some guidance from an
international perspective.

A more liberal and open regulatory regime was wanted, with the NBTC
listening carefully to these views. More meetings are planned.

Jim Linton VK3PC