ITU Conference sets agenda for future ICT development

The Dubai Action Plan, adopted by the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference, sets the agenda for telecommunication and information and communication technology development over the next four years.

Under the theme ‘Broadband for Sustainable Development’, the Conference focused on development priorities and agreed on the programmes, projects and initiatives to implement them. The theme underlines ITU’s commitment to leverage broadband as a catalyst to meet the goals of sustainable development.

The Dubai Declaration states that “Universal and affordable access to telecommunications and information and communication technologies is essential for the world’s economic, social and cultural development, and contributes to building a global economy and information society. Widespread access to and accessibility of telecommunications and information and communication technologies applications and services provide new socio-economic opportunities for all people.”

The Dubai Action Plan is a comprehensive package that promotes the equitable, affordable, inclusive and sustainable development of telecommunications/ICT networks, applications and services. The objectives outlined in the Plan are:

1. To foster international cooperation on telecommunication and ICT issues
2. To foster an enabling environment conducive to ICT development and foster the development of ICT networks as well as relevant applications and services, including bridging the standardization gap
3. To enhance confidence and security in the use of ICTs and roll out of relevant applications and services
4. To build human and institutional capacity, promote digital inclusion and provide concentrated assistance to countries in special need
5. To enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation, and disaster management efforts through telecommunications and ICTs