Page 99 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY NEWS

ITU Asia-Pacific Formulates Regional Digital Priorities Ahead of The World

Telecommunication Development Conference 2021

The second in the series of six
preparatory meetings for the ITU World
Telecommunication Development
Conference (WTDC-21) took place on 9 and
10 March 2021. Held virtually, the Regional
Preparatory Meeting (RPM) for Asia and
the Pacific gathered 158 delegates from 33
countries to ensure regional coordination
ahead of WTDC-21, set to be hosted in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 8-19 November
2021. WTDC-21 is expected to develop
innovative approaches and new models of
collaboration for connectivity and digital
solutions in this final Decade of Action
to achieve the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United
Nations in 2015. "This is a good opportunity
to consolidate and express regional developed countries, small island Asia and the Pacific Common Proposals
priorities as Asia-Pacific, which will developing states including Pacific for WTDC-21.
contribute to the discussion at the WTDC- island countries and territories, and Launch of Digital Trends in Asia and the
21," noted Masanori Kondo, Secretary landlocked developing countries; Pacific 2021
General of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity • Harnessing information and A report released at the regional meeting,
(APT). Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of communication technologies to support Digital Trends in Asia and the Pacific
the ITU Telecommunication Development the digital economy and create inclusive 2021, provides an overview of trends and
Bureau said: "I believe the next WTDC has digital societies; developments in ICT infrastructure, access
the potential to be hailed as a landmark • Fostering development of infrastructure and usage trends across the region,
conference in rewriting the global to enhance digital connectivity; which includes 38 ITU Member States
connectivity agenda, and our enhanced • Enabling policy and regulatory and is home to a population of 4.2 billion
preparatory process has been developed to environments; people. The report finds that just over 96.1
support this ambitious vision. By bringing • Contribute to a secure and resilient per cent of the population is now within
together Member States, the private information and communication reach of a 3G mobile signal, and that 94.2
sector, financial institutions, such as technology (ICT) environment. per cent is within reach of a long-term
regional development banks, and key civil "I am humbled by your trust in me. I am evolution (LTE) mobile broadband signal.
society organizations, WTDC-21 offers us also grateful to you for a very successful Only a decade ago, some countries in
a unique opportunity to harness a swelling RPM and for a clear elaboration of our the region had no 3G or 4G infrastructure
tide of political will around connectivity regional initiatives, in which we emphasize in place. Despite these developments, a
and to build long-lasting partnerships the needs of developing countries, the significant gender gap and a rural-urban
that advance our digital transformation least developed countries (LDCs), the divide persist. In 2019, only 41.3 per cent
agenda." small island developing states (SIDS), of women across the region used the
Proposed regional priorities and landlocked developing countries Internet, compared with 48.3 per cent of
WTDC-21 aims to forge a global plan for (LLDCs)," said the RPM Asia-Pacific Chair, men, the report shows. Moreover, only 37
digital development over the next four Dr. Ahmad Reza Sharafat. Preparations per cent of rural households had access
years, providing future direction and by Asia-Pacific countries for WTDC-21 to the Internet in 2019, compared with
guidance to the ITU Telecommunication will continue within the framework of the almost twice as many urban households
Development Sector (ITU-D). Participants Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), where (70.4 per cent). The report further finds
at RPM Asia-Pacific proposed several key stakeholders will continue preparing that, despite progress made since the last
priorities for the years 2022-2025: contributions for ITU Inter-Regional World Telecommunication Development
• Addressing the special needs of least Preparatory Meetings and finalizing their Conference in 2017, some long-standing

99 FEB-MAR 2021