I.1-1 Intersectoral world conferences, fora, events and platforms for high-level debate (such as such as WCIT, WTPF, WSIS, WTISD, ITU TELECOM)
ITU celebrated its 150th anniversary throughout 2015, from 1 January to 31 December, with 17 May as the key date, although many ITU events in 2015 also had an anniversary component. On 17 May 2015, ITU celebrated both its 150th Anniversary and WTISD 2015 in Geneva. This historic event in the presence of Ms Doris Leuthard, President of the Swiss Confederation, brought together more than 900 participants from all over the world, representing governments, the private sector, academia, UN agencies, and international organizations. The event was also an opportunity to review ITU's history and put its founding members and
its longstanding members from the ICT industry in the spotlight. The
ITU 150 Awards recognized individuals from governments, the ICT industry, academia, and civil society who have contributed to improving the lives of the world's citizens through ICT innovations developed, promoted or implemented by ITU. Some 50 nominations were received, and the ITU 150 Award Laureates were Bill Gates, Robert E. Kahn, Thomas Wiegand, Mark I. Krivosheev, Martin Cooper and Ken Sakamura.
The ITU membership responded in high numbers to the call for national celebrations. A special toolkit and visual guidelines were prepared by ITU to support the membership in the organization of events. The mobilization was very successful and more than
140 celebrations were organized around the world. In addition, over 30 Member States issued
stamps and philatelic products. ITU membership contributed generously to the Anniversary Fund.
A total of 13 ITU members responded to the Resource Mobilization Campaign by becoming a partner, while other also provided support in kind.
The milestone anniversary year was accompanied by a communication campaign to raise awareness about ITU and its role in the advancement of ICTs and innovation. The following collateral material was produced: a
visual identity; a
calendar of thematic months with
stories; a
dedicated ITU 150 website; an
historical timeline; a
social media campaign; the
ITU 150 mobile app; a
poster competition for children ("Let's draw the future");
Golden Book; a platform for video greetings; various
videos; a commemorative publication ("Paris 1865: Birth of the Union"); a
special Issue of ITU News; a Press Kit; ITU
souvenirs; and ITU 150 branding of ITU buildings. See
www.itu150.org and in documents
C15/17 and
C16/13.
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD)
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) [93] has been marked since 2007 to raise awareness of the opportunities of ICTs and ways to bridge the digital divide. WTISD marks the anniversary of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of ITU on 17 May 1865. In 2015, the 150th Anniversary of ITU was celebrated with several events around the theme of "Telecommunications and ICTs: Drivers of Innovation", culminating in an extraordinary day of celebration in Geneva. For 2016, the Secretary-General, under the theme "ICT entrepreneurship for social impact", issued a call for action to showcase and leverage relevant strategies and initiatives to promote SMEs and foster and discover new ICT solutions to accelerate sustainable development. "Big Data for Big Impact" was the chosen theme for 2017, when ITU hosted an interactive panel discussion during Council-17. The theme chosen by the ITU Council for 2018 is "AI for Good". WTISD-18 will be celebrated during the AI for Social Good Summit. Detailed reports on WTISD may be found in documents
C15/17,
C16/17,
C17/17, and
C18/17.
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
The WSIS [94] Forum process engages governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations and the academic/technical community to strengthen collaboration and partnership in the ICT ecosystem, in particular ICTs for advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In 2015, the WSIS Forum attracted more than 1 800 WSIS stakeholders from over 150 countries, which increased to 2 500 ICT experts and advocates from over 150 countries in 2017. Several high-level representatives of the wider WSIS stakeholder community took part, with a number of high-level participants (including ministers and deputies, ambassadors, CEOs and civil society leaders) contributing passionately to the programme.
The WSIS Forum is hosted by ITU and co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD, in close collaboration with all WSIS action line facilitators/co-facilitators (UNDESA, FAO, UNEP, WHO, UN Women, WIPO, WFP, ILO, WMO, ITC, UPU, UNODC, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNHCR and UN Regional Commissions). It has proven an efficient mechanism for the coordination of multi-stakeholder implementation activities, information exchange, creation of knowledge, and sharing of best practices, and continues to provide assistance in developing multi-stakeholder and public-private partnerships to advance the SDGs.
On 15 and 16 December 2015, a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly on the overall review of the implementation of the WSIS outcomes was held in New York. ITU contributed substantively to the meeting, which reaffirmed global commitment to the WSIS vision to build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society. Since 2015, the WSIS Forum has built upon the outcomes of the UN General Assembly Overall Review of the implementation of the WSIS outcomes (UNGA Resolution
70/125), which recognized the necessity of holding the Forum on an annual basis and called for a close alignment between WSIS and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development processes. As we approach 2025, the WSIS Forum will serve as a key forum for discussing the role of ICTs as a means of implementing the SDGs and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UNGA Resolution A/70/1). The format, agenda and thematic focus of the Forum are the result of an open consultation process with the involvement of all WSIS stakeholders. All relevant documentation and the agenda can be found at
www.wsis.org/forum.
The outcomes of the WSIS Forum are submitted annually to the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), the UN General Assembly and ITU Council.
The WSIS-SDG Matrix developed by UN WSIS action line facilitators serves as the mechanism for mapping and coordinating the implementation of WSIS Action Lines, and ICTs as enablers and accelerators of the SDGs.
All three Sectors and the General Secretariat have carried out important activities and projects that enhance the WSIS outcomes and objectives. Effective coordination of ITU's activities in relation to WSIS has been ensured by a WSIS Task Force, chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General. ITU is chairing the UN Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) in 2017-2018 and is carrying out a series of actions to strengthen the link between WSIS and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
More information on ITU's activities related to WSIS may be found in the report on ITU's contribution to the implementation of the WSIS Outcomes at
www.itu.int/itu-wsis, and in the reports of the Council Working Group on WSIS (CWG-WSIS) (documents
C15/8,
C16/8,C17/8, and
C18/8).
ITU TELECOM WORLD EVENTS [95]
ITU TELECOM WORLD EVENTS
ITU Telecom World events provide a neutral platform to accelerate ICT innovation for social and economic development through a global exhibition of digital solutions, high-level forum, diverse networking opportunities and an international Awards programme, recognizing innovative ICT-based solutions with social impact. Taking place annually, events are hosted by governments and convene a highly influential audience, including Heads of State, Ministers, regulators, C-level executives from major ICT players, heads of international organizations, representatives from SMEs, academia, media and more. In 2015, the events were reformed in order to engage more deeply with SMEs, exploring their crucial role within the global ICT ecosystem, and to move towards becoming an international platform connecting ICT SMEs. This engagement and outreach to the global SME community has grown and continued since.
ITU Telecom World events convene stakeholders from across the ICT ecosystem, helping them share knowledge and insights, build meaningful collaboration, explore cutting-edge technologies and award innovation. In so doing, they help improve the efficiency of ICT operating environment, in line with outcomes 1-1 as well as helping enhance international dialogue.
Key numbers: Event growth 2014-2017
Participant numbers saw steady year-on-year growth in numbers, almost tripling from 3500 in 2014, to reach 9100 in 2017. Number of countries represented increased 2014-2015, then remained steady, reaching 126 in 2017. Numbers of entities exhibiting in the exhibition showed very healthy growth in the time period, increasing from 169 in 2014 to reach 458 in 2017. Also of note is the fact that the outreach to global SMEs helped ensure that, by 2017, the exhibition also included 271 cutting-edge SMEs.
ITU Telecom World 2014
ITU Telecom World 2014 took place from 7 to 10 December 2014 in Doha, Qatar, welcoming 3 500 participants from 112 countries and 169 show-floor entities from 46 countries. The event was hosted by the Government of Qatar with the support of leading communications company Ooredoo. It highlighted the innovations, technologies and ideas shaping the future of ICTs and their impact on society, in the exhibition as well as in the forum. Other highlights included showcases of the future of innovation in the Lab, the Young Innovators Competition, the launch of the Global Cybersecurity Index, plus a host of networking opportunities. Further information on ITU Telecom World 2014 can be found in document C15/19.
ITU Telecom World 2015
ITU Telecom World 2015 took place from 12 to 15 October in Budapest, Hungary, welcoming 4000 participants from 129 countries and 238 Exhibitors from 54 countries. The event was hosted by the Government of Hungary and explored the core themes of accelerating innovation for social impact and the ways in which SMEs are driving this innovation. This focus was a key part of the event reform, and was in evidence throughout. The event featured an exhibition, a leadership summit and forum, targeted networking activities, as well as a first-time awards programme - the ITU Telecom World Awards - recognizing innovative ICT-based solutions with social impact. A full report on ITU Telecom World 2015 is available in document C16/19.
ITU Telecom World 2016
ITU Telecom World 2016 took place from 14 to 17 November in Bangkok, Thailand, welcoming 8,800 participants from 128 countries and 250 exhibitors from 37 countries. The event was hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand and explored the theme of “Collaborating in the Digital Economy.” It featured an exhibition, leadership summit and forum, targeted networking opportunities, plus the ITU Telecom World Award. The event also benefited from a major involvement from all ITU, covering all aspects of the event, from the Forum agenda to organizing a number of key side events spanning ITU’s key work areas and more. The event provided opportunity for ITU to partner with other organizations to organize joint sessions, plus many networking opportunities. Further information on ITU Telecom World 2016 is available in document C17/19.
ITU Telecom World 2017 and 2018
ITU Telecom World 2017 took place from 25 to 28 September in Busan, Republic of Korea, welcoming 9,100 participants from 126 countries and 458 exhibitors from 35 countries, including 271 SMEs. The event was hosted by the Republic of Korea and explored the theme of “Smart digital transformation, global opportunities.” It featured an exhibition, leadership summit and forum, targeted networking opportunities and the ITU Telecom World Awards. The event also offered a series of side events, offering contrasting perspectives from across ITU, its Membership and partners and the SME programme of masterclasses, networking, and debate, helping SMEs connect with buyers and investors. It also included a business matchmaking service, providing B2B and B2G matchmaking opportunities. The Telecom Secretariat itself also provided key services to Bureaux and Secretariat.
ITU Telecom World 2018 takes place from 10 to 13 September in Durban, South Africa, hosted by the Government of South Africa. As in previous events, it will include an exhibition, a forum, multiple networking occasions, and the ITU Telecom World Awards. Other highlights will include an enhanced programme for participating SMEs, business matchmaking programme, continued broad-reaching collaboration with ITU Bureaux and close involvement with the Host Country, including shaping the Forum programme, helping provide a high-level regional perspective on areas spanning financing models, new partnerships, future policies, investment and more. A full report on ITU Telecom World events is available in document
C18/19.
Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development
The Broadband Commission [96] met three times in 2016, meetings comprised: a Special Session of the Commission at Davos in January; a meeting hosted in conjunction with the Global Education & Skills Forum (GESF) by the Sunny Varkey Foundation in Dubai, UAE, in March; and the Commission's annual meeting in New York in September, ahead of UN GA week.
In 2016, the Commission published a number of reports, including its annual State of Broadband 2016 report, which is now widely referenced; the report by the Working Group on Demand; and the report of the Working Group on Health for publication at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2016. ITU prepared an estimate of the investment needed to connect the next 1.5 billion people by 2020 to achieve the Connect 2020 goals (USD 450 billion dollars), which was published at the Commission's Special Session in Davos and is available from the Commission's website: www.broadbandcommission.org/Documents/publications/davos-discussion-paper-jan2016.pdf. The Commission continues to engage in a number of outreach activities, and has a social media presence.
[93] WSIS Action Lines C1, C11; SDG Target 9.
[94] PP Res. 140; WSIS Action Lines C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11; SDG Targets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.
[95] PP Res. 11; WSIS Action Lines C1, C11; SDG Targets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 , 16 and 17
[96] WSIS Action Lines C1, C2, C3, C4 and C6; SDG Targets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 , 16 and 17
