ITU Plenipotentiary Conference brings more than 2500 ICT decision-makers together from around the world to ‘work as one’ to advance power of ‘Tech for Good’

Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, join ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao in welcoming international delegates for three weeks of intensive decision-making on the future of global ICT

The International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU’s) 20th Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-18) opened on October 29th with a global call for the world to “act as one” to connect the world’s nearly four billion people who remain unconnected to the Internet.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are already empowering billions of individuals around the world – by providing access to education, healthcare, e-government, and mobile banking, among many other key services.

The Plenipotentiary Conference is the highest decision-making body of ITU, the United Nations specialized agency for ICTs. Held every four years, the Conference is the key event at which ITU Member States build consensus on key international ICT issues, elect leaders for the Union’s top posts, and decide on a roadmap for ITU’s work over the next four-year period, including strategic and financial plans.

ITU is unique in the United Nations family in bringing together 193 Member States, over 700 private sector companies and more than 150 academic institutions. It plays an integral role in enabling the development and implementation of ICTs worldwide by coordinating the shared global use of the radiofrequency spectrum; promoting international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits; working to improve communication infrastructure and digital skills everywhere; and establishing worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communication systems.

More than 2500 participants are expected to attend PP-18, including heads of government, ministers and other delegates from most of ITU’s 193 Member States, as well as representatives from private companies, academic institutions, and national, regional and international bodies. PP-18 takes place from 29 October to 16 November and is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE.

Original source: ITU
Published on 29 October 2018