The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) is a partnership between governments, businesses and other organisations which works:

• to extend the provision and use of telecommunications and other information and communication services;
  
• to meet the communications needs and aspirations of citizens and consumers;
  
• to support the social and economic development objectives of governments and civil society;
  
• and to facilitate the successful development of telecommunications and other businesses.
  

ICT focus:

The CTO works in the area of telecommunications and Internet, and more general information and communication technology (ICT)-related questions. It has special expertise in the supply side of the sector, including telecoms technology and operations, policy and regulation.

Programme activities:

• The Programme for Development and Training (PDT) provides about SDR3million (UKå£2.5 million) worth of training and expert assistance each year for the Commonwealth's developing country telecommunications businesses. Since 1983, it has implemented over 3,000 bilateral technical assistance programmes, and 100 international conferences and seminars at a total value of some UKå£45million. In addition to planned projects, the PDT Programme sets aside enough funds to undertake about 15 urgent projects during the course of each year. In 1998/9, this included a special allocation for projects relating to the Year 2000 (Y2K) Problem.

• International conferences and seminars are organised by the CTO each year. These week-long events focus on key issues in telecommunications technology, policy and management. Events in 1999/2000 cover issues such as regulation, network planning, universal access, new satellite services, mobile telecommunications and the relationship between telecoms and development.

• CTO Business & Development Partnerships offer private sector companies a unique opportunity to work with the CTO to promote the use of information and communications technology in development. BT and Cable and Wireless fund assistance and scholarships respectively.

• The Commonwealth Government & Business Guide to ICT is an interactive multimedia information resource bringing government and telecommunications businesses into closer communication than ever before, facilitating policy development, project initiation & better decision-making. It is available via the Internet, on CD ROM or as an official publication.

• Building Digital Opportunities (BDO). The CTO is responsible for the component of the DFID programme BDO, concerning capacity-building for policymaking and regulation. This will provide workshops, information resources and other initiatives over the next three years. CTO also provides expertise to DFID under an Enabling Agreement with the Department.

• The facilitation of networking and sharing of experience between Commonwealth telecommunications sectors.

• Provision of information resources and membership services.
  

Resources:

This organisational brief is republished from Annex D to the ‰Û÷ICT in the Commonwealth‰Ûª report (see CTO: ICT in the Commonwealth). This report was prepared by the CTO for the ICT Expert Group established by the Commonwealth High Level Review Group on the future of the Commonwealth.

Website: http://www.cto.int