GOM - the Global Overlay Mapping System

Layer Notes - ITU Zones

The ITU Zone overlay shows how the world has been divided into 90 regions. These zones can also referred to as 'IARU' zones. This zone system is not as popular as the more common CQ Zone system, but is still used in a number of contests and operating awards.

The many published definitions of each zone can be contradictory, and some of the lists have definite discrepancies. They were supposedly sorted out earlier, when a proposal was put to the IARU Region 1 Conference in 1996 by the HF Committee of RSGB that common boundaries be identified and a common list be drawn up. This was then tabled at Lillehammer in 1999, then in Darwin, Region III in 2000 and then at the Region II meeting in 2001. At each of these meetings the paper (as originally drafted by John Forward, G3HTA, and based on the ITU CIRAF regions used in the broadcasting service) was accepted for use by the amateur radio service and approved by all Regions of IARU. However, even today, the lists given by a number of major IARU member societies contradict each other, so you should be aware that conflicts might be noticed. The information currently on each of the ITU Zone overlays is however believed to be the most accurate of any map presently available, and if any changes become necessary, the updated overlays will be made available for download. For more information, see the Updates page.

Note that any list of regions is normally composed of the countries represented, so therefore any lines across sea or ocean are generally representational, and should not be regarded as strictly definitive.

A free world map of all ITU Zones is available from the EI8IC website by clicking Here.