World Telecommunication Development Conference 2006

World Telecommunication Development Conference 2006

to agree on telecommunication development priorities to bridge the digital divide

The first world development conference following the landmark World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is due to open in six weeks in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Doha, Qatar.

The purpose of the conference is to focus on development priorities in telecommunications and agree on the programmes, projects and initiatives to implement them. It will take into account the WSIS Geneva Plan of Action and Tunis Agenda, which aim at bridging the digital divide. A key objective is to promote international cooperation, regional initiatives and partnerships that can sustain and strengthen telecommunication infrastructure and institutions in developing countries. The Doha Action Plan will set out ways to implement these goals over the next four years.

Over a thousand policy-makers and practitioners from government, the private sector, international and regional organizations are expected to attend WTDC-06 to fast-track ITU’s objectives of bridging the Digital Divide in all its dimensions — technical, societal and economic — and to harness the power of ICTs for socio-economic development of the widest number of people, particularly the world’s most deprived.

Following the opening ceremony on 7 March, the conference will focus on new action lines for global and regional development of telecommunications and ICT, the role of ITU in the post-WSIS paradigm and promoting new initiatives and partnerships to give concrete shape to the global vision enunciated in the WSIS process.

In addition to the adoption of a comprehensive strategy to achieve balanced telecommunication development worldwide in cooperation with development partners from both governments and private sector, the Conference will consider two new global initiatives benefiting persons with disabilities, and telecommunications for disaster prevention.

Several regional initiatives that have been tabled by countries through a regional preparatory process are also being considered. They focus on:

·         Rural connectivity including broadband access

·         Regional Internet exchange points

·         Public Internet access in remote areas

·         Internationalization of domain names

·         Enhancement of regional roaming capabilities

·         Financial schemes to achieve universal service objectives

·         Development of government portals to expand E-government

·         Security and reliability of information and communication technologies

·         Development of digital signatures and public keys for E-commerce

·         E-Health and telemedicine for rural areas

Journalists are invited to accredit now for this event, which will take stock of recent developments as well as lay down the road map for the next four years. A press conference is planned for 6 March to launch the event.

Media Accreditation

Media accreditation is compulsory for this event.

Details of the accreditation procedure can be found at www.itu.int/newsroom/wtdc/2006/accredit/procedure.html. Please carefully read the procedure before completing the online accreditation form.

Pre-registered and unannounced journalists should proceed directly to the Press Office (Room Al Dukhan), where they will be requested to present their confirmation letter, together with their passport or ID card in order to receive an official WTDC-06 Media badge or undergo the full accreditation process. In the latter case, please ensure you have available the necessary supporting documentation (see procedure).

Delegates registration

The Conference is open to ITU Member States (see www.itu.int/members/states/) and members of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (see www.itu.int/members/itu-dsector/).

Registration to the Conference can only be done through designated focal points. For further information on registration, please see www.itu.int/ITU-D/wtdc06/registration/ or contact the WTDC-06 Registration Service at wtdc2006-registration@itu.int.

For further information, please contact:

Tel: +41 22 730 6039/+41 22 730 5192
Fax: +41 22 730 5933
Email: pressinfo@itu.int

About ITU

ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues, and the global focal point for governments and the private sector in developing networks and services. For more than 140 years, ITU has has coordinated shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoted international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, worked to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and established the worldwide standards that assure seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems.

From broadband Internet to latest-generation wireless technologies, from aeronautical and maritime navigation to radio astronomy and satellite-based meteorology, from phone and fax services to TV broadcasting and next-generation networks, ITU continues to play a central role in helping the world communicate.

The Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) is the development arm of the ITU, the main responsibility of which is to foster telecommunication development in developing countries through policy advice, provision of technical assistance, mobilization of resources and initiatives to extend access and bridge the digital divide.

ITU was the lead agency of the United Nations system for the organization of the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005).