The ITU Development Sector and the Information Society

1. The ITU Development Sector andthe Information Society Internet Governance Forum30 Oct – 2 Nov 2006 Athens, Greece Mr. Jean-Jacques Massima-Landji Head of Delegation, Gabon Please note that this is not an ITU presentation

2. International Telecommunication Union • UN Specialized Agency for telecommunications • Oldest inter-governmental organization • Global organization with broad membership • 191 Member States • Over 640 sector members • Triple global mandate • Coordinate use of radio-communications resources • Establish global telecom standards • Promote the development of ICT sector worldwide • ITU Development Sector (ITU-D) dedicated to developing countries international telecommunication union

3. ITU Structure international telecommunication union

4. Moscow Geneva Cairo Bridgetown Dakar Tegucigalpa Addis Ababa Bangkok Yaounde Brasilia Jakarta Santiago Harare Regional Office Area Office ITU Field Offices international telecommunication union

5. Building the Information society • World Telecommunication Development Conference 1994 - Buenos Aires Action Plan • World Telecommunication Development Conference 1998 - Valletta Action Plan • World Telecommunication Development Conference 2002 - Istanbul Action Plan • World Telecommunication Development Conference 2006 - Doha Action Plan international telecommunication union

6. From Istanbul Action Plan To Doha Action Plan At WTDC 2006 Dr Hessa Al Jaber, Secretary-General of ictQatar, and ITU Secretary-General Mr Yoshio Utsumi bid farewell to HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister of Qatar H.E. Sheikha Mayassa Bint Hamad Al-Thani, Chairperson of the Reach Out To Asia initiative international telecommunication union

7. Istanbul Action Plan 6 programmes • Regulatory reform • Technologies and telecommunication/ICT network development • E-strategies and e-services/applications • Economics and finance, including costs and tariffs • Human capacity building • Special Programme for Least developed Countries (LDDCs) • Doha Action Plan • 6 programmes • Regulatory reform • Information and communication infrastructure and technology development • E strategies and ICT applications • Economics and finance, including costs and tariffs • Human capacity building • Least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS), and emergency telecommunications international telecommunication union

8. WTDC 06: Prog 1. Regulatory reform • The focus of ITU-D’s work in the area of policy, regulation and strategy will be on assisting Member States and national regulatory authorities in developing and implementing an enabling environment that fosters a supportive, transparent, pro-competitive and predictable policy, legal and regulatory framework. Such a framework would provide the appropriate incentives for investment and promote universal, ubiquitous and affordable access to information and communication technologies (ICT). The programme will take into account accelerated convergence between technologies and services and the development of next generation networks Building the Information society international telecommunication union

9. WTDC 06: Prog 2. Information and communication infrastructure and technology development • To assist Member States and ITU D Sector Members to maximize the utilization of appropriate new technologies in the development of their information and communication infrastructure, by taking due account of the accelerated convergence of the telecommunication networks and services.. Building the Information society international telecommunication union

10. WTDC 06: Prog. 3 E strategies and ICT applications: • To assist developing countries, through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and telecommunication networks, to advance the achievement of national, regional and the internationally agreed development goals, by promoting the use of ICT-based products, networks, services and applications, and to help countries overcome the digital divide. Building the Information society international telecommunication union

11. WSIS Action Lines and Facilitators Prog. 2 Prog. 3 international telecommunication union

12. Priorities related to Internet and ICT • a) Cybersecurity: Enhance security and build confidence in the use of ICT applications • b) Internet protocol: Integrate IP-based applications and value‑added services in the development of all kinds of telecommunication networks • c) ICT applications: Promote ICT applications (e.g. e‑government, e‑business, e‑learning, e‑health, e‑employment, e‑environment, e‑agriculture, e‑science, etc.) in developing countries • d) Internet multilingualization: Contribute the ITU's expertise to the development of multilingualization of the internet and support the process of introduction of various tools for multilingualization international telecommunication union

13. WTDC 06: Prog.4 Economics and finance, including costs and tariffs: • Make available information on financing policies and strategies appropriate to the economic situation, including, where appropriate, cost-oriented pricing, with a view to fostering equitable and affordable access to innovative and sustainable services. Building the Information society international telecommunication union

14. WTDC 06: Prog.5 Human capacity building: • Strengthen human, institutional and organizational capacity through human resource management and development activities, so as to facilitate a smooth transition to the current telecommunication and ICT environment. WTDC 06: Prog.6 Least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS), and emergency telecommunications: Seek to deploy appropriate technologies and to develop strategies aimed at responding to particular needs of LDCs and SIDS and to develop comprehensive ICT solutions for disaster risk reduction for all countries. Building the Information society international telecommunication union

15. Building the Information society Activities • Activity 1: Statistics and information on telecommunication/ICT • Activity 2: Partnerships and promotion international telecommunication union

16. Building the Information society Special initiatives • Initiative 1: Private sector • Initiative 2: Gender • Initiative 3: Youth and children • Initiative 4: Indigenous peoples and communities • Initiative 5: People with disabilities • Initiative 6: Communities living in underserved areas international telecommunication union

17. Countries expectations • 1- Efficiency and affordability of networks access • 2- Protection of National and Territorial Integrity • 3-Simple and equitable distribution of Internet Resources with Regional facilities for a suitable cooperation • 4- Approved mechanisms for the management of Internet networks • 5- Compatibility of different releases taking into consideration the needs of Developing Countries to gather financial resources for updating their equipment international telecommunication union

18. Broadening ITU mandate • All ITU members in the developing world consider that ITU mandate is matching the related WSIS outcomes, • Broadening ITU mandate is necessary for a better cooperation with other UN agencies , in a multi-stakeholder approach, • Civil society contribution in ITU activities need to be enhanced, • Private Sector should improve partnership and give support to the promotion of ICT technologies. international telecommunication union

19. Conclusions • ITU-D - Doha Action Plan: Internet multilingualization: Contribute the ITU's expertise to the development of multilingualization of the internet and support the process of introduction of various tools for multilingualization. • ITU-D role in contributing towards building a global information society and closing the digital divide can only be fully achieved through partnership and collaboration with other players. Internet Capacity Building and Internet Governance and Regional Initiatives are key success issues • ITU-D broad mandate, experience and large membership which includes both public and private sector are unique features that would facilitate the transformation from digital divide to digital opportunities for all. international telecommunication union

20. Thank you Mr. Jean Jacques Massima-Landji Head of Delegation, Gabon international telecommunication union