Tanzania works closely with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technology matters.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and with regional offices on every continent, ITU is made up of a membership of 193 Member States and more than 1000 companies, universities and international and regional organizations. Tanzania joined ITU in 1962 and has been participating actively in ITU decision making processes through experts from capital and the Permanent Mission in Geneva, working in close cooperation; working in close cooperation, by engaging colleagues from other ITU Member States in reaching mutual understanding through transparency and constructive dialogue, and thereby contributes to global issues on information and communication, which include such matters as allocation of global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, development relevant regulations and standards for radio and tele communication and improving worldwide access to digital technologies.
The ITU comprises three sectors: Radio communication (ITU-R), for managing the international radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbit resources; Standardisation (ITU-T), for standardisation global telecommunications; and Development (ITU-D), for spreading of equitable, sustainable and affordable access to information and communication technologies (ICT). The ITU Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General, manages the day-to-day work of the ITU and its sectors.
The Plenipotentiary Conference is the supreme organ of the ITU that is composed of all ITU Member States and meets every four years to determine the policies, direction and activities of the Union, as well as to elect the Secretary-General; Deputy Secretary-General; Director of Radio Communications, Director of Telecommunications Standardization (TSB), Director of Telecommunications Development (BDT), members of the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) and members of the Council. In the interval between Plenipotentiary Conferences, the ITU Council acts as the Union's governing body, and meets every year to ensure the smooth operation of the Union, as well as to consider broad telecommunication policy issues. Meanwhile, the Secretariat is tasked with the administrative and budgetary planning of the Union, as well as with monitoring compliance with ITU regulations.
Tanzania is among 48 members of the Council, being among 13 countries representing Region D (Africa). Previously, Tanzania was elected to the Council for the period 2014 - 2028.
ITU buildings, Geneva Switzerland
