Certainly! Here’s the translation:
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The ITU commemorates over a century and a half of leading the evolution of communications, from the telegraph to artificial intelligence, on a day that highlights the key role of ICT in social and economic transformation.
This May 17, 2025, we celebrate the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, a date that holds special significance as it coincides with the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an organization that has been at the center of international cooperation in communications since 1865.
The choice of this date is not coincidental: it commemorates the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention, the foundational stone of the ITU, which has evolved into an essential institution for developing technical standards, allocating radio spectrum, and promoting inclusive connectivity policies.
From Telegraphy to 5G: the ITU as the Digital Backbone
In these 160 years, the ITU has accompanied and guided the evolution of communications, integrating new technologies as they emerged: from broadcasting and telephony to the Internet, mobile networks, and communication satellites.
Currently, thanks to its efforts, 68% of the global population has access to the Internet, although significant disparities remain: while 84% of people in high-income countries have 5G coverage, in low-income countries that figure remains marginal. To close this gap, the ITU promotes digital public infrastructure, technological literacy, and the development of common standards to enable global, secure, and sustainable connectivity.
Devices, Networks, and Space: Three Global Action Fronts
- 📱 Mobile Technology for Development: the ITU fosters improvements in networks and access in rural and underserved areas, where millions still lack basic connectivity services.
- 🌍 Standards for an Interconnected Internet: its work on standardization allows digital devices and platforms to work together, facilitating trade, education, health, and civic engagement.
- 🛰️ Management of Satellite Spectrum: with orbital space becoming increasingly crowded, the ITU plays a crucial role in frequency allocation and protecting satellite systems from harmful interference.
From Telecommunications Day to Information Society Day
Originally established in 1969, World Telecommunication Day was celebrated for decades to recognize technological advancements and global cooperation in this field. In 2005, during the World Summit on the Information Society, it was proposed to expand the focus to also acknowledge the impact of digital technologies on all aspects of social and economic life.
Since 2007, both commemorations have been unified under the current name: World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. The UN resolution supporting it aims to promote universal access to the Internet, reduce the digital divide, and encourage responsible and inclusive use of ICTs.
A Call for a More Connected and Equitable Society
Now more than ever, telecommunications are an enabling right for all other rights, from education and healthcare to employment and freedom of expression. The ITU, with 160 years of history, continues to work to ensure that no person or community is left behind in the digital revolution.
May 17 is more than a commemorative date; it is an opportunity to reflect on the transformative power of networks and renew the commitment to connectivity that is accessible, secure, sustainable, and for everyone.
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