Information Session on Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Meaningful Connectivity: Connect2Recover Initiative
ITU organized a virtual information session on Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Meaningful Connectivity on 2 May 2023 from 12:00 – 15:00 CEST. The session was conducted in English with interpretation in French. Watch the webcast archive.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent increase of online activities and provision of services in education, medicine, government services and e-commerce, stress the importance and need for digital connectivity and resilient infrastructure.
Many countries unfortunately are confronted by coverage gaps. As part of implementing the outcomes of the Kigali Action Plan especially on expansion of broadband infrastructure for better connectivity, this session was organised to provide a platform to exchange views on best practices and share knowledge under the Connect2Recover initiative. Connect2Recover focuses on ensuring available, affordable, and resilient digital infrastructure in beneficiary countries that are recovering from COVID-19 or from natural hazards. In addition, this session provided the opportunity for Member States to request technical assistance under Connect2Recover.
Programme Agenda
Opening
| Time (CEST) | Programme |
|---|---|
| 12:00 – 12:20 | Welcome Remarks: Mr. Osamu Onodera, Director-General for International Affairs, Global Strategy Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan Opening Remarks: Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU |
| 12:20 – 12:30 | Group Photo |
| 12:30 – 13:00 | Connect2Recover Initiative: Mr. Sameer Sharma, Head, Special Initiatives, ITU Download presentation |
Sessions
| 13:00 – 13:30 | Session 1: Measures to increase resilient infrastructure This session shared the role played by an assessment of gaps and bottlenecks in increasing resilience of digital infrastructure. In addition, migration to IPv6 enhances resilience and security of the network, in assisting a country transition to a digital economy. Panellists: 1) Resilience assessments conducted in Armenia and Kazakhstan: Lessons learned Mr. Farid Nakhli, Programme Coordinator, Regional Office for CIS, ITU Download presentation 2) Establishing IPv6 laboratory in Montenegro: An update Mr. Jaroslaw Ponder, Head of the ITU Office for Europe Download presentation |
| 13:30 – 14:00 | Session 2: Focus on emergency preparedness Emergency preparedness is an important aspect of resilience infrastructure, to better prepare for natural hazards. In this session, there was sharing on early warning systems, as well as lessons learned from Haiti in the aftermath of their natural hazard. Panellists: 1) Early warning systems Ms. Vanessa Gray, Head, Environment & Emergency Telecommunications Division, ITU Download presentation 2) Post-disaster resilience assessment in Haiti: Lessons learned Mr. Gregory Domond, Chairman, Promotic Download presentation |
| 14:00 – 14:30 | Session 3: Capacity building and skills development Skills development and capacity building are fundamental pillars in ensuring resilience and to transform the economy into a digitally oriented economy. Panellists: 1) Collaborating with BDT Skills and capacity development initiatives (Digital Transformation Centres & ITU Academy Training Centres) Mr. Emil Iuga, Capacity and Skills Development Officer, ITU Download presentation 2) Partnering with academia under C2R research competition Mr. Leonard Mabele, Research Fellow, Wireless Networks, Strathmore University Download presentation |
Way forward and Closing
| 14:30 – 15:00 | Resilient digital infrastructure in Africa and way forward: Ms. Karen Woo, Project Officer, ITU Download presentation Closing Remarks: Mr. Sameer Sharma, Head, Special Initiatives, ITU |