​​ Objectives

In accordance with WTSA Resolution 54 (Creation of regional groups), Resolution 72 (Measurement concerns related to human exposure to electromagnetic fields), Resolution 73 (Information and communication technologies, environment and climate change) and Resolution 79 (The role of telecommunications / information and communication technology in handling and controlling e-waste from telecommunication and information technology equipment and methods of treating it), ITU-T Study Group 5, at its meeting in 2009, created the SG5 Regional Group for Africa and updated its terms of reference in May 2017.

The objectives of this Regional Group include, but are not limited to, the dissemination of the studies on electromagnetic environment, human exposure to electromagnetic field (EMF), e-waste and circular economy, achieving energy efficiency, smart energy and utilizing ICTs for climate change; to encourage the participation of its countries^[1] in the SG5 events; and to establish a link to attend to the needs of African countries’ on the issues covered by SG5 mandate. 

Terms of Reference

The terms of reference are in cognizance with the key focus areas and work structure of the ITU-T SG5 as well as international and regional commitments, which include:  

• The Paris Agreement (November, 2016) on keeping global temperature rise below 2◦C in all countries;
• Connect 2020 Agenda for Global Telecommunication/ICT Development: The global agenda to shape the future of the ICT sector was unanimously adopted at the ITU 2014 Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-14), by Resolution 200 'Connect 2020 Agenda for Global Telecommunication/ICT Development' setting out the shared vision, goals and targets that Member States have committed to achieve by 2020 in collaboration with all stakeholders across the ICT ecosystem. Goal 3 on “Sustainability” deals with managing challenges resulting from telecommunications/ICT development and includes the followings targets: To encourage active participation of African administrations, regulators and operators in the work of SG5 and to report to them SG5 outcomes and deliverables
• Target 3.2: Volume of redundant e-waste to be reduced by 50% by 2020
• Target 3.3: Green House Gas emissions generated by the telecommunication/ICT sector to be decreased per device by 30% by 2020
• Implementation of Resolution 86 (Hammamet, 2016) on the Smart Africa Manifesto
• Studying human exposure to electromagnetic fields and EMC aspects, keeping in view the development of 5G and small cell networks.

Accordingly, this Regional Group will:

• Encourage the participation of the African countries, regulators and operators in the work of SG5 in order to establish a link to attend to their needs as well as contribute to the development of new or revised ITU-T Recommendations, Supplements and Technical Reports on the issues covered under SG5 mandate;
• Boost the discussions on current issues, challenges as well as priorities in the African continent in line with SG5 mandate;
• Enhance the development of contributions from the African continent in cognizance to the international and regional commitment in line with the SG5 mandate;
• Disseminate relevant and timely information provided by ITU-T on various Recommendations;
• Provide adequate follow up through the focal points identified on the various activities launched by ITU;
• Collaborate with the African Telecommunication Union (ATU);
• Foster debate examine the major challenges linked to climate change, environmental sustainability, e-waste and circular economy faced by African member states, operators and regulators within the region; 
• Collaborate with all stakeholders to contribute to international agreement and instruments including the Connect 2020 Agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement;
• Support any initiative leading to the Regional Group’s evolution;
• Act as a liaison body between member states, operators, regulators and ITU-T in matters under the SG5 mandate.

Working methods

• TSB secretariat will provide necessary support to the regular meeting of this Regional Group in accordance with available budgetary resources.
• The regional group will be encouraged to hold physical meetings. The regional group is also encouraged to use remote collaboration tools and co-locate with existing meetings to the maximum extent.
• The regional group progress reports are to be provided to the parent study group meeting.

SG5RG-AFR Mailing List

​In order to subscribe to the new sg5rgafr mailing list, a TIES or a Guest account is required. TIES users can subscribe directly. If you do not yet have a TIES account, but are eligible for one, please apply for one here: http://www.itu.int/TIES. If not, you can create a Guest account here: http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/services/. Once you have your Guest account, please send your request via email to tsbsg5rgafr@itu.int.

[1] Countries include: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.