The Sky is the limit

EVENT
ITU Telecom World 2016
Connectivity and
collaboration in the
ICT industry: The key
to socio-economic
development
Why is it so important
to ensure that as
many people in the
world as possible have
access to information
and communication
technologies? And why does collaboration
within and across the ICT industry matter
so much in driving socio-economic
development?
These questions are at the very heart of ITU
Telecom World 2016, the annual platform
for governments, corporates and small
and medium enterprises (SMEs) within
the ICT industry. Organized by ITU, the
United Nation’s specialized agency for
ICT matters, and taking place this year in
Bangkok, Thailand, from 14 – 17 November,
ITU Telecom World features an international
exhibition of digital solutions, a worldclass
forum of debates, a programme of
targeted networking activities and an
Awards programme recognizing the best in
innovative ICT solutions with social impact.
On the agenda in the forum, on the stands
and pavilions in the exhibition and amongst
the networking leaders of governments and
businesses big and small, the focus will be
on working together to speed up innovation
in ICTs to improve lives everywhere.
ICTs are the cross-cutting enablers behind
sustainable development throughout
the world, in emerging and developed
markets alike. This means, quite simply,
that ICTs are the essential backbone, the
infrastructure behind development in
economies, businesses, societies and homes
everywhere. The transformative potential
for ICTs is unprecedented: from e-health
to e-education, digital financial services to
e-government, agriculture and transport,
there is not one vertical sector or field of
activity which does not both rely on and
benefit from ICTs.
The Sustainable Development Goals,
adopted by the global community in
September 2015, set a new international
agenda for the period up to 2030 – and
recognize the enormous potential of ICTs
in improving development outcomes
worldwide. Not just by measuring progress
and enhancing the effectiveness of
initiatives designed to meet the SDGs, but
by providing access to a whole range of new
digital products and services which can grow
local economies, build on local innovation
and strengthen local communities.
Millions of children currently without access
10 November 2016