The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) is an international confederation of national organisations that allows a forum for common matters of concern to amateur radio operators worldwide, and collectively represents matters to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The International Amateur Radio Union was founded in 1925 and, as of November 2019, it is composed of 172 national member societies.
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 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 Macau Amateur Radio Society is a non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Macau, China. ARM was established during Portuguese Macau. The organization's primary mission is to popularize and promote amateur radio in Macau and to serve the community of the Special Administrative Region. One membership benefit of the organization is a QSL bureau for members who regularly make communications with amateur radio operators in other countries. ARM is the member society representing Macau 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 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 Rede dos Emissores Portugueses (REP) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Portugal. REP was founded in 1926 by Eugenio de Avillez P1AE, an early Portuguese radio experimenter. Key membership benefits of the REP include a QSL bureau for those amateur radio operators in regular communications with other amateur radio operators in foreign countries, and the sponsorship of amateur radio operating awards and radio contests. The REP represents the interests of Portuguese amateur radio operators before Portuguese and international regulatory authorities. REP is the national member society representing Portugal in the International Amateur Radio Union, which it joined in 1931.
The Eesti Raadioamatööride Ühing (ERAU) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Estonia. Key membership benefits of ERAU include the sponsorship of amateur radio operating awards and radio contests, and a QSL bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries. ERAU publishes a semi-annual membership magazine called ES-QTC. ERAU represents the interests of Estonian amateur radio operators before Estonian and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. ERAU is the national member society representing Estonia in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Liga Colombiana de Radioaficionados (LCRA) is a national non-for profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Colombia. The organization was founded in 1933 by Italo Amore, Gustavo Uribe, Roberto Jaramillo Ferro, and other radio enthusiasts. At the time, all radio transmissions were authorized by the Ministry of Posts, who opposed a private amateur radio service. With LCRA lobbying efforts, private radio broadcasts were authorized in Colombia in 1936, and amateur radio was first licensed in Colombia in 1939.
The Radio Club Venezolano (RCV) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Venezuela. Key membership benefits of RCV include the sponsorship of amateur radio operating awards and radio contests, and a QSL bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries. RCV represents the interests of Venezuelan amateur radio operators before Venezuelan and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. RCV is the national member society representing Venezuela in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Radio Club Uruguayo (RCU) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Uruguay. RCU was founded on August 23, 1933. The RCU operates a QSL bureau for those amateur radio operators in regular contact with amateur radio operators in other countries. Radio Club Uruguayo represents the interests of their associated amateur radio operators in Uruguay before national and international regulatory authorities. RCU is the national member society representing Uruguay in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Radio Club Paraguayo (RCP) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Paraguay. The RCP 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. Radio Club Paraguayo represents the interests of Paraguayan amateur radio operators before national and international regulatory authorities. RCP is the national member society representing Paraguay in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Radio Club Peruano (RCP) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Peru. RCP was founded on December 6, 1930 and the first General Meeting of the organization was held in the halls of the Library of the Geographical Society in Lima, Peru in January, 1931. The RCP 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. Radio Club Peruano represents the interests of Peruvian amateur radio operators before national and international regulatory authorities. RCP is the national member society representing Peru in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Israel Amateur Radio Club (IARC) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Israel. The organization uses IARC as its official international abbreviation, based on the English translation of the Hebrew name. IARC promotes amateur radio by sponsoring amateur radio operating awards and radio contests. The IARC operates a QSL bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries. The IARC represents the interests of Israeli amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before Israeli and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. IARC is the national member society representing Israel 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 Unió de Radioaficionats Andorrans (URA) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Andorra. URA operates a QSL bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries. URA represents the interests of Andorran amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before Andorran and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. URA is the national member society representing Andorra in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Aruba Amateur Radio Club (AARC) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Aruba. AARC operates a QSL bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries. The organization operates amateur radio repeaters located at points of high elevation on Sero Yamanota that can be accessed from around the island, from Curaçao, and parts of Venezuela. AARC represents the interests of Aruban amateur radio operators before Aruban and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. AARC is the national member society representing Aruba in the International Amateur Radio Union.
