The APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group (TEL or TELWG) was established in 1990 and meets biannually.
TEL aims to advance the development of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and services as well as to promote cooperation, information sharing and the development of effective ICT policies and regulations in the Asia-Pacific region. TEL also aims to enhance social and economic development through effective use of ICT and promote a secure and trusted ICT environment.
In practice, TEL aims to ensure that all people in the Asia-Pacific region have affordable access to ICT and the internet, for which broadband connectivity has become an essential component. In the first APEC Telecommunications and Information Ministerial Meeting (TELMIN1) in 1995, ministers released the Seoul Declaration for the Asia Pacific Information Infrastructure (APII), through which they agreed to making the telecommunications and information sector a model sector in achieving the Bogor Goals by intensifying Asia-Pacific development cooperation and improving the region’s information infrastructure.
In 2000, APEC Leaders set the Brunei Goal of universal internet access by 2010 and aimed to triple internet access within the Asia-Pacific region by 2005.
In the TEL Bangkok Declaration of 2008, telecommunications and information ministers noted with satisfaction that the Leaders' Brunei Goal of tripling internet access had been achieved and affirmed the commitment to achieving universal access to broadband by 2015.
In the 2010 Okinawa Declaration, TEL ministers set the ambitious goal of access to next-generation high-speed broadband by 2020 to nurture the growth of knowledge-based economies in the APEC region.
In 2017, leaders noted the importance of promoting the internet economy and welcomed the adoption of the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap (AIDER). TEL contributed to drafting the AIDER and plays an important role in its implementation.
TEL also supports APEC’s efforts in pursuit of the Putrajaya Vision 2040, in the field of Innovation and Digitalisation.
TEL conducts its work program through the following steering groups:
- ICT Development and Policy Steering Group (DPSG), which focuses on advancement and use of ICT infrastructure, services and applications to create digital opportunities (e.g. broadband access, tele-centers, e-inclusion, e-government); development, implementation, promotion, and application of advanced and emerging technologies (e.g. mobile broadband, IoT, artificial intelligence, IPv6, Grids), including knowledge transfer on ICT research; capacity building and enhance digital literacy and skills for socio-economic development; enabling environment including policies and regulations; telecommunication/ICT policy and regulation; and facilitating trade and investment liberalization.
- ICT Security and Trust Steering Group (STSG), which focuses on secure and trusted networks (including converged networks), infrastructure, services, technologies, applications, and e-commerce; cybercrime prevention; incidence response; malicious use of ICT (e.g. spam/malware); emergency preparedness and response; e-authentication; and cybersecurity awareness and education.
- ICT Conformity Assessment and Interoperability Steering Group (CISG), which focuses on ICT Conformity Assessment topics; ICT Interoperability topics; Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment (MRA CA); Mutual Recognition Arrangement for the Equivalence of Technical Requirements (MRA ETR); Maintenance (and development as needed) of MRA publications.
The steering groups propose and implement projects that address priorities set by both TEL ministers and APEC Leaders.
Last page update: October 2024
Contacts
TEL Co-Chair
TEL Co-Chair
Program Director
Current Activities
In 2020, TEL endorsed the TEL Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for 2021–2025, with the following priority areas:
- Telecommunication / ICT infrastructure and connectivity
- Trusted, secure and resilient ICT
- ICT policies and regulations to enable innovation, economic integration and inclusiveness
- Collaboration in telecommunications / ICT and applications
TEL’s project work
- In support of these core areas of focus, TEL’s three steering groups have a number of active APEC projects currently underway related to digital inclusion, online scams, low earth orbit satellites, Internet of Things, cybersecurity, and conformity assessments of telecommunications equipment, the details of which are accessible here.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, TEL adopted the APEC TEL Initiative on Global Challenges and Cooperation Utilizing ICT – COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond in October 2020. The initiative outlines possible areas for APEC member economies to propose initiatives and projects in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent global challenges through cooperation and utilization of ICT and emerging digital technology:
- Share information and best practices
- Strengthen cooperation and outreach in the Asia‐Pacific region
- Enhance utilization of ICTs in addressing global challenges
- Learn from COVID‐19 and plan