Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation
AbbreviationCTO
Formation11 May 1948 (75 years ago) (1948-05-11)
TypeInternational organization
PurposeTelecommunications
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Coordinates51°29′40″N 0°13′53″W / 51.4945173°N 0.2314831°W / 51.4945173; -0.2314831
Area served
Commonwealth of Nations
Membership
33 full state members
Secretary-General
Bernadette Lewis
Websitewww.cto.int
Sketch map of the All Red Line drawn in 1902 or 1903

The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) traces to the British Empire's Pacific Cable Board in 1901, though in its current form, was created by international treaty, the Commonwealth Telegraphs Agreement between Commonwealth nations signed in London on 11 May 1948.[1]

The CTO connects government and non-government entities to enhance cooperation in information and communication technology (ICT).[2]

History

To oversee the completion of the All Red Line telegraph system interlinking the British Empire, the Pacific Cable Board was formed in 1901.[3]

In the final years of the British Empire, with a number of states federated or close to independence, a treaty with clearer financial divisions, responsibilities, and governance was established that would eventually replace the Pacific Cable Board. The Commonwealth Telegraph Agreement was signed between Commonwealth nations in London, 1948 that formed the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation.[3]

Members

The government members of the CTO are:[4]

 Bangladesh  Barbados  Botswana
 Cameroon  Eswatini  Fiji
 Ghana  Grenada  Guyana
 India  Jamaica  Kenya
 Lesotho  Malawi  Mauritius
 Mozambique  Nigeria  Pakistan
 Rwanda  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Samoa
 Seychelles  Sierra Leone  South Africa
 Sri Lanka  Tanzania  Tonga
 Trinidad and Tobago  Tuvalu  Uganda
 United Kingdom  Vanuatu  Zambia
 Bermuda (Affiliate)  Gibraltar (Affiliate)  Montserrat (Affiliate)
 Saint Helena (Affiliate)
 The Bahamas (ICT Sector)  Namibia (ICT Sector)  Zimbabwe (ICT sector)

ICT sector members include Avanti Communications, British Telecom, Facebook, Huawei, Intelsat, PwC London, Safaricom, and Vodafone.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Commonwealth Telegraphs Agreement, and Protocol [1957] ATS 21". www3.austlii.edu.au. Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  2. ^ "About - CTO: Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation". www.cto.int. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b "The CTO – a brief history | CTO: Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation". www.cto.int. Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Our members - CTO: Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation". www.cto.int. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  5. ^ "ICT Sector Members - CTO: Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation". www.cto.int. Retrieved 19 June 2017.

See also

Categories