The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) is participating in the World Telecommunications Development Conference (WTDC-21) being organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Kigali, Rwanda. The event will run until June 16.
The conference is being held under the theme “Connecting the unconnected to achieve sustainable development”.
WTDC is held every four years, and this year it has brought together more than 2,000 members of the international community, including heads of states, government ministers, national delegations from 153 countries, prominent leaders from the digital sector, high-level representatives of regional bodies including the African Union and European Union, and top officials from non-governmental bodies.
WTDC is dedicated to driving digital transformation in line with the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out by the United Nations (UN). The conference represents an opportunity for the international community to forge innovative digitally focused strategies to help break down chronic socio-economic development barriers.
WTDC aims to adopt a global roadmap for digital transformation and ultimately help put meaningful access to digital technologies in the hands of billions worldwide.
The ITU is the UN’s specialised agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), driving innovation in ICTs together with 193 Member States and a membership of over 900 companies, universities, and international and regional organisations.
CRA is keen to participate in the WTDC to exchange views and experiences with the stakeholders and effectively be part of the key discussions to contribute to the development of the global ICT sector and the achievement of the SDGs and the greater digital inclusion around the globe.
During the WTDC-21, the Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Development Roundtable was held from June 7-9 in a hybrid format combining virtual and physical participation. The roundtable discussed effective digital development strategies and participants were informed about the needs, commitments, and resources available from each stakeholder to bridge the digital divide.
It gave an opportunity for member states, private sector, academia, civil society, international organisations, and other entities to announce their pledges related to the P2C Digital Coalition and advance together digital transformation for all.
The expected outcomes of the WTDC-21 include announcing more than 360 pledges and commitments, in addition to adopting the Kigali Declaration and Action Plan which is considered a global roadmap for national, regional, and global digital development and set out the priorities of the ITU’s Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) for the next four years.