The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) is an international confederation of national amateur radio organisations that allows a forum for common matters of concern and collectively represents matters to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Following an informal meeting in 1924 of representatives from France, Great Britain, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, Canada, and the United States, a plan was formulated to hold an International Amateur Congress in Paris, France in April 1925. This Congress was held for the purpose of founding an international amateur radio organization. The Congress was attended by representatives of 23 countries in Europe, Americas, and Asia. A constitution for the IARU was adopted on April 17, and the formation of the International Amateur Radio Union was ratified on April 18, 1925. In the current era, this is the date on which the Amateur Radio Day is celebrated.
In times of crisis and natural disasters, amateur radio is often used as a means of emergency communication when wireline, cell phones and other conventional means of communications fail.
The Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in India. ARSI is recognized by the Indian government under the provisions of Section 13 of the Indian Societies Registration Act as amended and extended. ARSI operates a QSL bureau for those amateur radio operators in regular contact with amateur radio operators in other countries, and supports amateur radio operating awards and radio contests. The Amateur Radio Society of India represents the interests of Indian amateur radio operators before national and international regulatory authorities. ARSI is the national member society representing India in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club e.V. (DARC) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Germany. As of 9 July 2019, the organization had 34,009 members, approximately 53% of all licensed amateur radio operators in Germany. Key membership benefits of the organization include QSL bureau services, a monthly membership magazine called CQ DL, and the promotion and sponsorship of radio contests. DARC promotes amateur radio by organizing classes and technical support to help enthusiasts earn their amateur radio license. The DARC also represents the interests of German amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before German and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. DARC is the national member society representing Germany in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Réseau des Émetteurs Français (REF) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in France. Key membership benefits of the organization include QSL bureau services, a monthly membership magazine called Radio REF, and the promotion and sponsorship of radio contests and operating awards. REF promotes amateur radio by organizing classes and technical support to help enthusiasts earn their amateur radio license. The REF-Union also represents the interests of French amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before French and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. REF is the national member society representing France in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Federacion Mexicana de Radio Experimentadores, A.C. (FMRE) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Mexico. Key membership benefits of the organization include QSL bureau services, the promotion and sponsorship of radio contests and operating awards, and an organization dedicated to emergency communications. FMRE promotes amateur radio by organizing classes and technical support to help enthusiasts earn their amateur radio license. Members receive a bimonthly magazine published by the organization, Onda corta. The FMRE also represents the interests of Mexican amateur radio operators before Mexican and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. FMRE is the national member society representing Mexico in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Thailand. The organization is founded under the royal patronage of the King of Thailand, and qualifies as a charitable entity pursuant to a Thai Ministry of Finance declaration. The organization was founded on August 22, 1963 by a group of amateur radio operators who met at a restaurant in Bangkok. Among the first orders of business was to address official objections to the communications of radio amateurs in Thailand with amateur radio operators in other countries. The RAST represents the interests of Thai amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before Thai and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. RAST is the national member society representing Thailand in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Hong Kong Amateur Radio Transmitting Society is an organization representing a majority of the amateur radio operators in Hong Kong. HARTS is a charitable institution recognized by the Inland Revenue Department since early 2008. HARTS was established in the Oct 1929, when Hong Kong was a dependent territory of the United Kingdom. HARTS is the member society representing Hong Kong in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Unión de Radioaficionados Españoles (URE) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Spain. The organization has approximately 8,000 members, predominantly amateur radio operators in Spain. URE promotes amateur radio by sponsoring amateur radio operating awards and radio contests. The URE also represents the interests of Spanish amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before Spanish and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. URE is the national member society representing Spain in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Russian Amateur Radio Union is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Russia. The organization often uses SRR as its official abbreviation, based on the standard Romanization of the Russian name. The organization was founded in 1992.
The Associazione Radioamatori Italiani is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Italy.
The Radio Club Argentino (RCA) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Argentina. RCA was founded in Buenos Aires on October 21, 1921. Key membership benefits in the organization include the use of a QSL bureau for those amateur radio operators in regular contact with amateur radio operators in other countries, a group insurance policy, and a quarterly membership journal called Revista del Radio Club Argentino. The Radio Club Argentino represents the interests of Argentine amateur radio operators before Argentine and international regulatory authorities. It is also the national member society representing Argentina in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Suomen Radioamatööriliitto (SRAL) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Finland. SRAL was founded in 1921 and has approximately 5,000 members. SRAL supports amateur radio operators in Finland by sponsoring amateur radio operating awards and radio contests. SRAL was one of the sponsor organizations for the 2002 World Radiosport Team Championships held near Helsinki. The SRAL also represents the interests of Finnish amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before Finnish and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. SRAL is the national member society representing Finland in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Radio Society of Sri Lanka (RSSL) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Sri Lanka. RSSL was founded on July 1, 1950 as the Radio Society of Ceylon by amateur radio operators, most of whom had originally been licensed under the authority of the British colonial administration. The organization would formally change its name to Radio Society of Sri Lanka in 1974, two years after the official name change of the country. RSSL operates a QSL bureau for those amateur radio operators in regular contact with amateur radio operators in other countries, and supports amateur radio operating awards and radio contests. The Radio Society of Sri Lanka represents the interests of Sri Lankan amateur radio operators before national and international regulatory authorities. RSSL is the national member society representing Sri Lanka in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Club de Radioexperimentadores de Nicaragua (CREN) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Nicaragua. Key membership benefits of the CREN include a QSL bureau for those amateur radio operators in regular communications with other amateur radio operators in foreign countries, and a network to support amateur radio emergency communications. CREN represents the interests of Nicaraguan amateur radio operators before Nicaraguan and international regulatory authorities. CREN is the national member society representing Nicaragua in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Syrian Scientific Technical Amateur Radio Society (SSTARS) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Syria. The organization was founded in 1947 as the Technical Institute of Radio by a group of amateur radio enthusiasts in Damascus. Rashid Jalal YK1AA served as the organization president from 1947 until 1983. The organization formally incorporated under its new name in 2005.
The Amateurs Radio Algeriens is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Algeria. The organisation was founded on March 23, 1963. Key membership benefits of the ARA include a QSL bureau for those amateur radio operators in regular communications with other amateur radio operators in foreign countries, and a network to support amateur radio emergency communications. The ARA represents the interests of Algerian amateur radio operators before Algerian and international regulatory authorities. The ARA is the national member society representing Algeria in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Association Royale des Radio Amateurs du Maroc (ARRAM) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Morocco. Key membership benefits of the ARRAM include a QSL bureau for those amateur radio operators in regular communications with other amateur radio operators in foreign countries, and a network to support amateur radio emergency communications. The ARRAM operates a club station with the call sign CN8MC. The ARRAM represents the interests of Moroccan amateur radio operators before Moroccan and international regulatory authorities. The ARRAM is the national member society representing Morocco in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Iraqi Amateur Radio Society (IARS) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Iraq. The organization uses IARS as its official international abbreviation, based on the English translation of the organization's name. IARS operates a QSL bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries and distributes a selection of Arabic-language books on amateur radio and radio technology. The IARS represents the interests of Iraqi amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before Iraqi and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. Recognized in May, 2005, IARS is the national member society representing Iraq in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Kuwait Amateur Radio Society (KARS) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Kuwait. The organization uses KARS as its official international abbreviation, based on the English translation of the organization's name. KARS operates a QSL bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries, and offers radio equipment to its members for their use. KARS represents the interests of Kuwaiti amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before Kuwaiti and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. KARS is the national member society representing Kuwait in the International Amateur Radio Union. Board members:Hamad Alnusif, 9K2HN, Eng. Faisal Alajmi, 9K2RR, Waleed Abul, 9K2OK, Basel Albaker, 9K2RX, Ahmad Ali, 9K2QA, Nawaf Almuharib, 9K2NM, Ali Mubarak, 9K2SS
