Director General of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (ITSO)

Director General of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (ITSO), Mr. Patrick Masambu paid a courtesy call on HE Ambassador Dr. Ngosa Simbyakula at the Embassy on Wednesday April 24th,2019. Mr. Masambu briefed Dr. Simbyakula about the functions of ITSO and upcoming events.

Originally established in 1973 as INTELSAT, the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation is an intergovernmental organisation with 149 member States including Zambia that incorporates the principle set forth in Resolution 1721 (XVI) of the General Assembly of the United Nations, which established that communication by means of satellite should be available to all nations of the world on a global and non-discriminatory basis. ITSO's mission is to monitor the performance of Intelsat's public service obligations and to safeguard the Parties' Common Heritage.

Upcoming events include the 22nd ITSO Advisory Committee Meeting scheduled for 30-31 May,2019; the 23rd ITSO Advisory Committee Meeting for 6-7 February, 2020 and the 39th Assembly of Parties scheduled for 3-5 June, 2020. Dr. Simbyakula and the Director General also discussed Capacity Building Training Programs offered by ITSO in the areas of policy, regulation and technical concepts and practices.