No. In addition to Member States, ITU offers Membership solely to corporate entities from the ICT industry, international/regional organizations, associations and academia active within the field of ICTs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
ITU Membership Eligibility
Yes, a corporation can have memberships through its subsidiaries or branches. However, a subsidiary of a multinational corporation with executive headquarters based in a developed country will be charged a full fee.
Approval of Membership applications is a prerogative of Member States, except for international and regional organizations. Applications not approved by the relevant Member State are not processed by the ITU Secretariat.
Application Process
- To assess the overall benefits and costs of ITU Membership for your company/organization, we recommend that you start by consulting the wide range of marketing materials available on the JOIN ITU Section of this website.
- To determine the type of Membership that best suits the needs or your organization, please contact the Membership Team (membership@itu.int),
- Then fill in and submit the online Application Form. We will then review your application and contact you if needed. Email/scan a signed copy to membership@itu.int.
- Applications from companies, organizations and Academia must be approved by the relevant national telecommunication administration in the Member State where your organization is located. If you are not already in contact with your national telecommunication administration, we recommend that you inform them directly about your intention to join the ITU. A full list is available here.
For your application to be valid, it must be signed by a senior official/manager, with the authority to sign legally binding agreements with third parties on behalf of your company/organization, including payment of fees.
In general, this process can take between a few days to a few weeks. By following up on your application with your national telecommunication administration, you may reduce the delay for participation in our activities. Applications from international and regional organizations do not require approval by a Member State and are usually processed within a few days by the General Secretariat of ITU in Geneva (Switzerland).
Fees & Payment
Here is a guide to the cost of different types of membership. The fees vary depending on the options selected and the location/nature of the company/organization, as outlined in our “Terms & Conditions”. For more information and/or guidance, please contact membership@itu.int.
| Sector | Sector Member | Associate | Academia |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITU-R (Radiocommunication) | CHF 31’800 CHF 3’9751 |
CHF 10’600 | CHF 3’975 CHF 1’987.502 |
| ITU-T (Standardization) | CHF 31’800 CHF 3’9751 |
CHF 10’600 | |
| ITU-D (Development) | CHF 7’950 CHF 3’9752 |
CHF 3’975 CHF 1’987.502 |
1 Developing Countries with annual per capita income <2,000.00 USD (UNDP), not yet joined either or both Sectors and shall not be subsidiaries of a multinational corporation with HQ in a developed country.
2 Developing Countries & LDCs
Regional and international organizations may be exempted from financial contribution subject to reciprocity and upon several criteria in particular being a non-profit-making organization. Lower/reduced fee is also available for Members located in developing countries and for companies/organizations that qualify as SMEs. For further information, please contact membership@itu.int.
SMEs can participate as Associates in any of the three Sectors of the Union with reduced fees. To be eligible for these reduced fees, companies must be approved by their respective Member State as meeting national criteria for an SME.
In addition, companies must also have fewer than 250 employees as well as annual revenues below a maximum of CHF 15 million.
Membership fees are payable in Swiss francs (CHF) and must be paid through a bank transfer upon issuing of a bill. ITU needs to receive the required funds prior to activating a new Membership.
No. Only payments in Swiss francs (CHF) are accepted.
Membership is automatically renewed every year, with payment fees due before 31st of March of each year.
General Procedure
Yes, for all official correspondence relating to your membership and participation, you need to designate an official contact.
Yes, you can establish user accounts to access ITU documents for as many of your colleagues participating in ITU activities and events as required.
To change the official contact name, or contact details, please notify membership@itu.int.
No, it’s a standard agreement that cannot be modified.
Upon receipt of advanced payment for the first year of Membership.
You need to inform membership@itu.int or your ITU-Sector Membership Representative of your intention to upgrade your Membership status to full Membership before the 31st of December. A new Membership Agreement must be signed, including a new calculation of your dues for the new financial year, payable before 31st March of the year where your full membership takes effect.
Membership of ITU will tacitly be renewed each 31st March, unless official notification by the Member company/organization has been received by the ITU General Secretariat. Cancellation takes effect six months following the end of the month of the date of receipt of the official notification by the Secretary General of the ITU. Your membership can be cancelled by sending an official letter to membership@itu.int.
