The SATRC Action Plan (SAP) aims at addressing the regulatory issues and challenges of common concern to its members that arise due to technological, market dynamic, and innovations and developments in services in the field of information and communications so as to harness their full potential in a harmonious manner for the benefit of all by utilizing the expertise and financial resources available from within its member countries.

The concept of developing SATRC Action Plan was initiated in 2005 from the fact that the key issues can be addressed in a more focused and concentrated manner by adoption of an Action Plan. The Action Plan provides a common charter to SATRC members for deriving the synergy of collaborative wisdom and action. Action Plan implementation mechanism includes Working Group activities, organizing seminars/workshops, training for capacity building and information sharing through web portal. For financing the implementation of the various activities and projects under the Action Plan, a core fund was created from the extra-budgetary contributions made by the SATRC members. The 19th Meeting of SATRC adopted SATRC Action Plan Phase VII for implementation for the duration of 2019-2020.

SATRC Action Plan Phase I was implemented during 2004-2006, Action Plan Phase II was implemented in 2007-2009, Action Plan Phase III was implemented in 2010-2012, Action Plan Phase IV was implemented in 2012-2014, Action Plan Phase V was implemented in 2015-2016 and Action Plan Phase VI was implemented in 2017-2018. Please click on the relevant link below to see about the detail of the different Action Plan Phase.

Action Plan Phase IX

The 24th SATRC Meeting, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 3-5 October 2023, adopted SATRC Action Plan Phase IX (SAP-IX) for the duration of year 2024-2025. SAP-IX has following components:

1. Working Groups:To conduct the work items taken under SAP-IX
2. Capacity Building: To organize workshops/trainings for the personnel of regulatory bodies on the recent trends in telecommunication/ICT sector
3. SATRC Web Portal: To collect the information from regulatory bodies and publish it on SATRC webpage for information sharing among the regulators
4. SATRC Web Dialogues: To share knowledge and experiences of policy/regulatory issues, challenges and best practices. It is aimed to fulfill intellectual curiosity of SATRC Members and provide opportunity to learn diversified perspectives in the field of Telecommunication/ICT.                   

SATRC Action Plan Phase IX accommodated two Working Groups (WG) to deal with various working items proposed by the members. The Working Groups are:

1. Working Group on Policy, Regulation and Services (WG PRS): To deal with the issues related to policy, regulation and services in the region. This WG is chaired by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
2. Working Group on Spectrum (WG SPEC): To deal with the issues related to spectrum management, monitoring, sharing and coordinated efficient use of spectrum for different service in the region. This WG is chaired by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

Action Plan Phase VIII

The 22nd SATRC Meeting, held vritually/online, from 1-3 November 2021, adopted SATRC Action Plan Phase VIII for the duration of year 2022-2023. Action Plan Phase VIII has three basic components:

1. Working Groups:To conduct the work items taken under Action Plan Phase VIII
2. Capacity Building: To organize workshops/trainings for the personnel of regulatory bodies on the recent trends in telecommunication/ICT sector
3. SATRC Web Portal: To collect the information from regulatory bodies and publish it on SATRC webpage for information sharing among the regulators

Action Plan Phase VIII accomodated two Working Groups (WG) to deal with various working items proposed by the members. The Working Groups are:

Working Group on Policy, Regulation and Services (WG PRS): To deal with the issues related to policy, regulation and services in the region. This WG is chaired by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
Working Group on Spectrum (WG SPEC): To deal with the issues related to spectrum management, monitoring, sharing and coordinated efficient use of spectrum for different service in the region. This WG is chaired by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

Action Plan Phase VII

The SATRC Action Plan Phase VII (SAP-VII) was adopted by the 19th Meeting of SATRC (SATRC-19) held from 13 to 15 December 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan for the period 2019-2020. However, due to situation arose by COVID-19, it was not possible to implement SAP-VII as planned earlier. Based on the situation, the 21st Meeting of SATRC (SATRC-21) approved the extension of the implementation period of SAP-VII until 2021 (prior to SATRC-22).

SAP-VII was implemented through the two SATRC Working Groups (WGs). Each WG was assigned with a number of Work Items. The WGs are:

•  Working Group on Policy, Regulation and Services (WG PRS): To deal with the work items related to policy, regulation and ICT development in the region. It was chaired by Mr. Ehsan Yar Khan, Director (Strategy & Development), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
•  Working Group on Spectrum (WG SPEC): To deal with the work items related efficient use of Spectrum resources. It was chaired by Mr. S. T. Abbas, Advisor, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Action Plan Phase VI

SATRC Action Plan Phase VI (SAP-VI) was adopted by the 17th Meeting of SATRC (SATRC-17) held on 4 - 6 October 2016 in Dhaka, Bangladesh for the implementation period 2017 -2018. SAP-VI was successfully implemented in time frame and its' completion was reported to the 19th Meeting of SATRC (SATRC-19) held on 13 - 15 December 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan.

SAP-VI was implemented through the two SATRC Working Groups (WG). Each WG was assigned with a number of Work Items. The WGs are:

WG Policy, Regulation and Services (WG PRS): To deal with the work items related to policy, regulation and ICT development in the region. It was chaired by Mr. Wangay Dorji, Head of Telecommunication, Bhutan Infocom and Media Authority (BICMA).
WG Spectrum (WG Spec): To deal with the work items related efficient use of Spectrum resources. It was chaired by Mr. Asit Kadayan, Adviser, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Action Plan Phase V

SATRC Action Plan Phase V (SAP-V) was adopted by the 15th Meeting of SATRC (SATRC-15) held on 5-7 August 2014 in Paro, Bhutan for the implementation period 2015 -2016. SAP-V was successfully implemented in time frame and its' completion was reported to the 17th Meeting of SATRC (SATRC-17) held on 4 - 6 October 2016 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

SAP-V was implemented through the two SATRC Working Groups (WG). Each WG was assigned with a number of Work Items. The WGs are:

WG Policy, Regulation and Services (WG PRS): To deal with the work items related to policy, regulation and ICT development in the region. It was chaired by Mr. Wangay Dorji, Head of Telecommunication, Bhutan Infocom and Media Authority (BICMA).
WG Spectrum (WG Spec): To deal with the work items related efficient use of Spectrum resources. It was chaired by Mr. Sanjeev Banzal, Adviser, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Action Plan Phase IV

The SATRC Action Plan Phase IV (SAP-IV) was adopted by the 13th Meeting of SATRC (SATRC-13) held from 18 to 20 April 2012 in Kathmandu, Nepal for the period 2012-2014.

SAP-IV was implemented through the two SATRC Working Groups (WGs). Each WG was assigned with a number of Work Items. The WGs are:

Working Group on Policy, Regulation and Services (WG PRS): To deal with the work items related to policy, regulation and ICT development in the region. It was chaired by Mr. Sudhir Gupta, Principle Advisor, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
Working Group on Spectrum (WG SPEC): To deal with the work items related efficient use of Spectrum resources. It was chaired by Dr. Mina Dashti, Head of ITU and APT Study Groups, Communications Regulatory Authority of Islamic Republic of Iran (CRA).

Action Plan Phase III

SATRC Action Plan Phase III (SAP-III) was adopted by the 11th Meeting of SATRC held on 24-26 November 2009 in Colombo, Srilanka for the implementation year 2010 -2011. SAP-III was successfully implemented in time frame and it's completion was reported to the 13th Meeting of SATRC held on 18-20 April 2012 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Outcomes of the SAP-III were approved by the 13th Meeting of SATRC.

SAP-III was implemented through three Working Groups. Each WG was assigned with a number of Work Items. The WG are:

WG Policy and Regulation: To deal with the work items related to policy, regulation and ICT development in the region. It was chaired by Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
WG Spectrum: To deal with the work items related efficient use of Spectrum resources. It was chaired by Communication Regulatory Authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
WG Network and Services: To deal with the work items related to network deployment, innovative technologies and different aspects of netwrok services. It was chaired Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka.

SATRC Working Group on Policy, Regulation and Services (WG PRS) is dealing with issues related to policy, regulation and services that are common in SATRC Members.  

Working Procedures:
SATRC WG PRS maintains the following working procedure:

•  Working Group will be chaired by nominee from one of the regulators
• There should be at least one expert from each member regulator in each Working Group
•  Regulators may nominate and encourage experts on relevant work from the  industry  sector of their country
• Working Group will work on a number of work items relevant to the need of the SATRC region 
• Work items will be proposed by the regulators, working group experts and SATRC consultant considering the needs of the regulators and the industry 
• Working Group will have one physical meeting in a year. Beside physical meetings Working Group should conduct online activities through email reflector. 
•  For attending the Working Group meeting one fellowship per SATRC Member will be granted 
• Working Group will decide the scopes of work of each working items 
•  The output of each work items could be a SATRC Report or Guideline or Opinion as decided by the Working Group. All the outputs of the Working Group must have to be approved by the next immediate meeting of the SATRC.

Assigned Work Items:
The Work Items of WG PRS during the implementation of SATRC Action Plan Phase IX (2024-2025) are as follows:

• Work Item 1: Study of the regulatory challenges concerning new technologies and smart solutions for Fixed and Mobile Broadband
  Work Item 2: Enhancing the Utilization of Universal Service Obligation Fund for Digital Inclusion
  Work Item 3: Enhancing ICT E-Waste Management Regulations for Sustainable Development
  Work Item 4: Study on challenges and addressal of online scams and digital financial frauds taking into account the consumer information protection and rights
  Work Item 5: Analyzing the impact of convergence and emerging services on the tariff policies in SATRC countries
  Work Item 6: Smart Cities and Societies: Experience and Case Studies in SATRC countries in deploying IoT, Big Data and similar technologies

SATRC Working Group on Spectrum (WG SPEC) is dealing with issues related to spectrum that are common in SATRC Members.  

Working Procedures:
SATRC WG SPEC maintains the following working procedure:

•  Working Group will be chaired by nominee from one of the regulators 
• There should be at least one expert from each member regulator in each Working Group
•  Regulators may nominate and encourage experts on relevant work from the  industry  sector of their country
• Working Group will work on a number of work items relevant to the need of the SATRC region
• Work items will be proposed by the regulators, working group experts and SATRC consultant considering the needs of the regulators and the industry 
• Working Group will have one physical meeting in a year. Beside physical meetings Working Group should conduct online activities through email reflector. 
• For attending the Working Group meeting one fellowship per SATRC Member will be granted 
• Working Group will decide the scopes of work of each working items 
• The output of each work items could be a SATRC Report or Guideline or Opinion as decided by the Working Group. All the outputs of the Working Group must have to be approved by the next immediate meeting of the SATRC.

Assgined Work Items:
The Work Items of WG SPEC during the implementation of SATRC Action Plan Phase IX (2024-2025) are as follows:

• Work Item 1: Spectrum approaches and regulatory requirements for NGSO satellite constellations for space-based communication services
  Work Item 2: Current practices of licensing and spectrum assignment in land mobile radio systems particularly in VHF and UHF person-to-person voice communication system in SATRC countries
  Work Item 3: Spectrum approaches and regulatory requirements to enable Satellite-IMT integration
  Work Item 4: a) Spectrum outlook in SATRC countries, b) Registration of frequency assignments in MIFR by SATRC countries
  Work Item 5: Backhaul infrastructure readiness and requirements for 5G deployment in SATRC countries
  Work Item 6: Efficient valuation and pricing of spectrum in SATRC countries