Page 10 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

FEATURED SAMENA TRENDS

a device; or a lack of digital skills
prevent them from getting the
most out of their devices and
services. ITU is committed to
working with all relevant stake-
holders, through all connec-
tivity efforts including our Giga
initiative in partnership with
UNICEF to connect every school
to the Internet, and leveraging our
newly launched Partner2Connect
Digital Coalition, to ensure that
these targets are not just aspira-
tional, but achievable." 2
“Meaningful connectivity is key to “Among today's estimated 4.9
achieve digital transformation," billion Internet users, many have Doreen Bogdan-Martin
said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, to limit their usage because Director of ITU's
Director of ITU's Telecommu- connectivity is unreliable, too Telecommunication
nication Development Bureau. slow or too expensive; they share Development Bureau

The Partner2Connect Digital Coalition SAMENA Telecommunica-
Actions to accelerate global digital is a multistakeholder alliance
cooperation, seizing on the opportunities launched by ITU to foster meaningful tions Council is among the
that are presented by technology – while connectivity and digital transformation first private-sector repre-
mitigating the risks – so that progress globally, with a focus on but not limited sentative entities that have
towards achieving the Goals by 2030 can to hardest- to-connect communities entered the P2C pledge,
be made collectively: in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), focusing on access by con-
• United Nations to serve as a platform for Landlocked Developing Countries
multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on the (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing necting people everywhere;
emerging technologies States (SIDS). adoption by empowering
• Accelerate discussions on connectivity communities; value creation
and Promote the development of “In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, through building digital eco-
enabling regulatory environments ITU has redoubled its efforts to help systems; and accelerating
• deploying digital public goods as part of countries around the world expand incentivized investments.
their immediate efforts connectivity, to reach communities
• to respond to critical situations, where connectivity remains too As the UN’s specialized agency for
including pandemics fragmented or unreliable to offer ICTs, ITU serves as a neutral and
• accelerate the promotion of an inclusive meaningful benefits," said Houlin impartial platform to coordinate
digital ecosystem Zhao, ITU Secretary-General. “The the development of the P2C Focus
• promote holistic, inclusive approaches to Partner2Connect Coalition reflects Areas Action Framework. The P2C
digital capacity-building for sustainable these efforts, helping put new and Focus Areas Action Framework, will
development emerging technologies truly at the help further identify the key issues
• build global artificial intelligence service of humanity and sustainable driving change across each of the
cooperation development." 3 Focus Areas, define specific gaps, and
• Deploy digital technologies in a safe and propose high quality interventions,
trustworthy manner that narrows the P2C will support the implementation of pledges, and policies to fill those gaps.
digital divide the United Nations Secretary General’s ITU will play a significant role in the
• Create strategic and empowered multi- Roadmap for Digital Cooperation and mobilization, tracking, and monitoring
stakeholder high-level cooperation- the United Nations Secretary General’s of commitments and pledges.
building body to address urgent issues Our Common Agenda report.

Source: Adapted from ITU content.
2 https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/Pages/PR-2022-04-19-UN-targets-universal-meaningful-connectivity.aspx
3 https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/Pages/PR-2022-03-16-P2C-commitments-for-connectivity.aspx
10 MARCH-APRIL 2022