International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

12 Nov 2024 13:24:29 pm

Tags : International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Topic: Multilateral Organizations

Why in the news?

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates the International Telecommunication Union - World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. WTSA is the governing conference for the standardization work of the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Agency for Digital Technologies, organized every four years.
It is for the first time that the ITU-WTSA will be hosted in India and the Asia-Pacific. It is a pivotal global event that will bring together more than 3,000 industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over 190 countries, representing telecom, digital, and ICT sectors.
WTSA 2024 will provide a platform for countries to discuss and decide the future of standards of next-generation critical technologies like 6G, AI, IoT, Big Data, cybersecurity, etc.

Source: PIB

About International Telecommunication Union (ITU):

It is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies.
It was established in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union.
In 1947 the ITU became a specialized agency of the United Nations.
It is an intergovernmental organization that coordinates between governments and private sector bodies with respect to global telecommunication and information communication technology (ICT) services.
It has a membership of 193 countries and more than 1000 companies, universities and international and regional organizations.
Functions:
- allocate global radio spectrum and satellite orbits;
- coordination and setting of technical standards related to telecommunication/ICT;
- work to improve access to ICTs in underserved communities worldwide;
India and ITU: India has been an active member of the ITU since 1869 and has been a regular member of the ITU Council since 1952.
Its headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland.