From 29 October to 16 November 2018, a delegation composed of Christophe Pierre, Director of Development of Digital Uses, and Johannes De Millo Terrazzani, Counselor at the Permanent Mission of Monaco to the United Nations in Geneva, takes part in the work of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Dubai.
The ITU, which is one of the oldest organizations of the United Nations system, is mandated to promote the development of telecommunications. Among its activities, the ITU is responsible for, among other things, harmonizing the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) internationally, allocating resources to Member States (frequency and numbering), and work towards the deployment of ICTs to connect the entire world population. The Principality of Monaco has been a member since 1 July 1908.
The Plenipotentiary Conference is the supreme body of the ITU that meets every 4 years and determines the general principles of the Union, adopts the strategic and financial plan, elects the Secretary-General and analyzes the issues in the field of telecommunications.
Among the issues discussed during this conference, the Monegasque delegation pays particular attention to those relating to the online protection of children, the development of the Internet of Things and smart cities, cybersecurity and the Telecommunications Regulations International.
In addition, aware of the progress of ICT, Member States are currently discussing topics such as Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in two new resolutions.
In his opening address, Mr Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General of the newly re-elected International Telecommunications Union, recalled that more than half of the world’s population is still not connected and therefore excluded from the economy digitalis.
He also reaffirmed ITU’s role in promoting access to ICTs to increase people’s access to information in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals through digital technology.