Page 10 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

The Forum brought to- COVID-19 and future pandemic and technologies and services to facilitate
the use of telecommunications/ICTs
epidemic preparedness and response
gether representatives Member State representatives for sustainable development, were both
from all stakeholder acknowledged the Opinions as enablers approved. “Now, more than ever, our
collective focus must be on extending
for ICT development and shared insights
groups belonging to 90 on the key drivers of digital transformation the right digital skills to everyone,
ITU Member States, 40 in their own countries. Discussions fostering digital empowerment and
Effective
inclusion.
future-oriented
approving the set of Opinions took place
Sector Members and in three working groups, focusing on: policy approaches, as set down in these
some 10 Observers and Supporting enabling environments, Opinions, will be essential to building
our digital future," said Working Group 2
began with the presen- boosting connectivity Chair, Lidia Stepinska-Ustasiak (Poland).
Stressing the importance of an equitable
Working group one approved Opinions 1
tation of the ITU Secre- and 2, which explored actions that can distribution, Chaesub Lee, Director,
tary-General's report. be taken to mobilize new and emerging Director of the ITU Telecommunication
technologies and ICTs for sustainable Standardization Bureau, said: “New and
now provide guidance and support development, as well as measures to emerging technologies and services
to ITU Member States in formulating boost universal, affordable and secure must be widely distributed and shared
future policy, and the task ahead for connectivity. Summing up, Roberto fairly. Technology is always going to
ITU members as stakeholders is to Mitsuake Hirayama (Brazil), Chair of evolve, but we must stay true to our
work towards implementing them." The Working Group 1, said: "These two mission and vision – that is, building
Forum brought together representatives Opinions set down clear, actionable human potential, building trust, and
from all stakeholder groups belonging steps for ITU's Membership to move enabling technological advances on a
to 90 ITU Member States, 40 Sector forward, fostering productive enabling global scale."
Members and some 10 Observers and environments and harnessing new and
began with the presentation of the ITU emerging telecommunications/ICTs ICTs to tackle COVID-19 and in readiness
Secretary-General's report. “The report for sustainable development through for future pandemics
by the Secretary-General is a balanced affordable and secure connectivity. The Forum then moved to approve
text recognizing the complexities of the Forging consensus around these two Opinion 5, which sets down crucial steps
current digital ecosystem," explained Opinions at WTPF-21 will help the to be taken to mitigate and respond
ITU Deputy Secretary-General Malcolm whole sector thrive and address the to COVID-19 as well as to be prepared
Johnson. “The key public policy questions major challenges it faces and harness for future pandemics and epidemics.
at its core provides a solid framework for opportunities towards a digital future." "COVID-19 is one of the biggest topics
discussion at WTPF-21, which will help of our time. We must all learn from the
build a digital future where no one is left “The crippling cost of digital exclusion experiences we have endured, and work
behind and where opportunities have no is real and growing, jeopardizing the as a global community to see how
boundaries." achievement of the United Nations ICTs have been used to respond to the
Sustainable Development Goals. We pandemic. We must figure out how we
The report outlined the topics of the five have a once-in-a-generation opportunity can do more to protect jobs, support
Opinions: to use the technologies and services education and health services, and how
• Enabling environment for the at the heart of this Forum, combined to build our economies and societies
development and deployment of new with the power of multistakeholder more inclusively," said Jim Paterson
and emerging telecommunication/ partnerships, to re-energize sustainable (South Africa), Chair of Working Group
ICT services and technologies to development and drive faster and more 3. “Government and industry are called
advance sustainable development; inclusive connectivity everywhere. Let's upon to keep using the momentum
• Affordable and secure connectivity seize this opportunity with both hands," gained during these challenging times
in mobilising new and emerging said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director, to accelerate digital transformation
telecommunications/ICTs for ITU Telecommunication Development and extend it to the almost 3 billion
sustainable development; Bureau speaking at the opening of people who are still offline around the
• Digital literacy and skills for inclusive Working Group 1. world. Going forward, our priority must
access; be to bridge the digital divide and make
• New and emerging technologies Importance of digital skills, new and access to communications affordable
and services to facilitate the use emerging technologies and services for everyone," said Mario Maniewicz,
of telecommunications/ICTs for Opinions 3 and 4, looking at how to ramp Director, ITU Radiocommunication
sustainable development; up digital skills, and best policies and Bureau.
• Use of telecommunications/ICTs in practices for using new and emerging

10 NOV-DEC 2021