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Digital innovation can help tackle the world’s most pressing challenges

From fighting climate change to eliminating hunger and poverty, digital technologies can help achieve 70% of targets under the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Now more than ever, building a sustainable future demands innovative thinking and action in the digital world. 

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2024 offers the chance to explore how digital innovation can help connect everyone and unlock sustainable prosperity for all. 

With 2.6 billion people still unconnected, glaring digital gaps hinder innovation across much of the world. Many countries – lacking key policies, investments, and digital skills – are struggling to keep up in today’s fast-changing digital landscape. 

WTISD 2024 reminds the world of the progress yet to be made to ensure that everyone can benefit from digital technologies. 

Be part of the celebration!

A virtual hour on 17 May, will bring together digital experts and innovators to celebrate ITU’s birthday and chat about impact. The discussion, livestreamed from the ITU TV Studio in Geneva, Switzerland, explores how digital innovation can strengthen sustainable development.

You, too, can be part of the conversation.

  • Raise awareness: Download our campaign materials and spread the word about the importance of closing the digital divide and harnessing technology for a sustainable future.
  • Host your own WTISD event: Tell us about your event and help make WTISD 2024 a truly global celebration.
  • Submit your innovation story: Share how your digital innovation is helping to build a better future.

 

 

Background

The purpose of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide. 17 May marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

 

History

World Telecommunication Day

World Telecommunication Day 1969 poster

World Telecommunication Day has been celebrated annually on 17 May since 1969, marking the founding of ITU and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865. It was instituted by the Plenipotentiary Conference in Malaga-Torremolinos in 1973 as Resolution 46.

World Information Society Day

In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society called upon the UN General Assembly to declare 17 May as World Information Society Day to focus on the importance of ICT and the wide range of issues related to the Information Society raised by WSIS. The General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/60/252) in March 2006 stipulating that World Information Society Day shall be celebrated every year on 17 May.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

In November 2006, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, decided to celebrate both events on 17 May as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. The updated Resolution 68 invites Member States and Sector Members to celebrate the day annually by organizing appropriate national programmes with a view to:

  • stimulating reflection and exchanges of ideas on the theme adopted by the Council
  • debating the various aspects of the theme with all partners in society
  • formulating a report reflecting national discussions on the issues underlying the theme, to be fed back to ITU and the rest of its membership

SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda

Poster for the 2023 observance with the focus on: empowering the least developed countries through information and communication technologies


The SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda, shaped by ITU and UNDP, in collaboration with IDB and BCG, highlights the wide-ranging importance of digital technologies and data. With a range of real-world examples, it shows how game-changing digital solutions can accelerate progress in climate action, education, hunger, poverty and more.

Listen

A professional microphone and a title: ITU podcasts - Technology for good

Technology for Good - is an ITU series that focuses on how technology is helping to shape the world around us.

Resources

Useful websites

Documents

Related events

ITU greets us on World Telecommunication & Information Society Day 2023 with this video and avatar generated by artificial intelligence.

group of people at computer

While the digital era and new technologies have brought societies many benefits, we also face challenges such as growing digital divides, cyber threats, and human rights violations online. This report lays out a roadmap in which all stakeholders play a role in advancing a safer, more equitable digital world.

 

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.