The ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) opened on 20 November 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) is held every three to four years to review and, if necessary, revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio frequency spectrum and geostationary and non-geostationary satellite orbits.

WRC-23 brought together national government authorities and telecommunication regulators, together with representatives of key users and providers of radiocommunications, for important policy and technical regulatory discussions at the global level.

The inaugural event was opened by Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority.

Opening remarks were made by ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin and ITU Radiocommunication Bureau Director Mario Maniewicz.

A congratulatory message on behalf of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres was also read out.

Representatives of the Communications Administrations of the Regional Commonwealth in the field of communications: the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the leadership of the RCC Executive Committee take part in the work of WRC-23.

The first plenary session was held as part of the opening of WRC-23.

Mohammed Al Zarouni, Deputy Director of the Information and Digital Government Sector of TDRA and ITU Secretary-General Dorin Bogdan-Martin opened the plenary session.

Mohammed Al Ramsi was elected as the Chair of WRC-23.

The Vice-Chairmen of WRC-23 were also elected and the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Committees 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 were elected.

From the Liaison Administrations of the Regional Commonwealth in the field of communications, the following were elected to the above-mentioned positions:

1. Albert Nalbandyan (Republic of Armenia) - Vice-Chairman of WRC-23;

2. Agzam Tazhibaev (Republic of Kazakhstan) - Vice-Chairman of Committee 2 (Credentials);

3. Serikbolsyn Myrzakhmet (Republic of Kazakhstan) - Vice-Chairperson of Committee 3 (Budgetary control);

4. Avaz Hashimkhodjaev (Republic of Uzbekistan), Vice-Chairman of Committee 4 (Agenda items allocated for consideration);

5. Aftab Kalantarli (Republic of Azerbaijan), Vice-Chairperson of Committee 5 (Agenda items allocated for consideration);

6. Ulugbek Azimov (Republic of Uzbekistan), Vice-Chairman of Committee 6 (Agenda items allocated for consideration);

7. Dmitry Cherkesov (Russian Federation) - Vice-Chairman of Committee 7 (Drafting).

The agenda of the plenary session of WRC-23 included the following:

- Election of the Conference Chair;

- Election of the Conference Vice-Presidents;

- Conference Structure;

- Election of the Chair and Vice-Chairs of Committees;

- Composition of the Conference Secretariat;

- Distribution of documents to the committees;

- Report of the Director on ITU-R activities;

The first meeting of Committee 4 and the first meeting of Committee 5 followed.

The 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference will be held at the end of the year.