International Telecommunication Union Committed To Connect The World

International Telecommunication Union Committed To Connect The World Teacher Amara Saeed

Introduction • ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues • ITU is committed to connecting the world • ITU is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and its membership includes 191 Member States and more than 700 Sector Members and Associates

ITU’s History • Founded in Paris in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union • ITU took its present name — the International Telecommunication Union — in 1934 • In 1947, became a specialized agency of the United Nations

A New Industry Evolves • 1906 Radio conference- to study the question of international regulations for radiotelegraph communications • The first International Radiotelegraph Conference held in 1906 in Berlin signed the first International Radiotelegraph Convention.

A New Industry Evolves(2) • In 1927, the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) was established at a conference held in Washington D. C • At the 1932 Madrid Conference, the Union decided to combine the International Telegraph Convention of 1865 and the International Radiotelegraph Convention of 1906 to form the International Telecommunication Convention

A Modern Approach • In 15 November 1947, an agreement between ITU and the newly created United Nations. • The ITU coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum. • The ITU is also active in the areas of broadband Internet, latest-generation wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, satellite-based meteorology, convergence in fixed-mobile phone, Internet access, data, voice, TV broadcasting, and nextgeneration networks.

ITU Mission • Bringing the benefits of ICT to all the world’s inhabitants • ITU’s mission is to enable the growth and sustained development of telecommunications and information networks • ITU assists in mobilizing the technical, financial and human resources needed to make this vision a reality • A key priority lies in bridging the so called Digital Divide by building information and communication infrastructure • ITU also concentrates on strengthening emergency communications for disaster prevention and mitigation.

Role In Global Communication • ITU successfully regulated worldwide use of the radiofrequency spectrum, ensuring all international wireless communications remain interference-free to ensure the relay of vital information and economic data around the world. • ITU also fosters the deployment of telecommunications in developing countries by advising on development policies, regulatory frameworks and strategies

Role In Global Communication(2) • The Union’s consensus-based approach gives a voice to all its members and its work helps deploy infrastructure, achieve connectivity, and provide efficient telecommunication services worldwide • ITU's biggest achievement is undoubtedly the pivotal role it has played in the creation of the international telecommunications network

ITU Regional Presence • ITU currently manages a network of eleven field offices. These include regional offices in Addis Ababa (for Africa), Brasilia (for Americas), Cairo (for the Arab States), Bangkok (for Asia and Pacific) and Moscow (for Europe and CIS countries) and a number of area offices in each of these regions • ITU field offices provide support for all Union activities, helping implement its strategic and policy objectives through direct, sustained contact with national authorities, regional telecommunication organizations and other relevant bodies

ITU Regional Presence(2) • They also assist developing and least developed countries to meet their development goals • In addition to providing technical and logistical support to development activities, field offices fulfill the basic functions of the development sector as a specialized and executing agency, resource mobilizer and information centre

ITU Regional Presence(3) • ITU's regional presence serves also to assist the ITU General Secretariat, the ITU-R and the ITU-T in fulfilling their missions by: 1. promoting their work, representing them at regional and national events representing ITU's elected officials at regional events expressing the visions and the needs of the countries in the different domains of activities and proposing actions for responding to their needs 2. 3.

ITU’s Membership • Membership of ITU is open to governments, which may join the Union as Member States as well as to private organizations • Membership of ITU gives governments and private organizations the opportunity to play an active role in the organization, which can boast more than 140 years’ experience in building the world’s communications networks.

ITU’s Membership(2) • Direct involvement in the work of ITU gives all members a chance to influence, learn and play a part in forging a new world for a new millennium • ITU Sector Members also develop the technical standards which will underpin future telecommunication systems and shape tomorrow’s networks and services • Because of its unique role and track record in worldwide telecommunications, ITU provides the ideal forum for governments and the private sector to come together to set agendas and policy frameworks that will have tremendous impact on the future of global business.

Finances • The Union’s main source of financing is the contributions of its Member States, which account for 67. 3% of the overall budget • income from cost recovery for services like the sale of publications, project execution, satellite notifications (15. 1% ) • other income, such as withdrawals from the Reserve Account and income from interest (5. 3% of total funding)

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