The focus of much of telecommunications activities world wide is to harmonize national policies, bridge technological differences, foster interconnectivity and interoperability of systems on a global scale. The result is to bring the world closer - through a phone call, via an email, by watching TV or surfing the web.
One of the key objectives of the World Telecommunications Day is to increase global awareness of the advantages that information and communications technologies have to offer and increase access to ICTs for a greater percentage of the population, especially the lower income groups in developing countries.
Since 2006, the World Telecommunication Day carries added significance as 17 May has also been identified by the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society as "World Information Society Day".. The day is now officially called the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD)
2025
This year, the World Telecommunications Day focuses on
"Gender Equality in Digital Transformation"
 |
The world is moving slowly towards gender parity in Internet use ? Based on the ITU Facts and Figures 2024 report, an estimated 70 per cent of men use the Internet worldwide in 2024, compared with 65 per cent of women. Although there are 189 million more men than women using the Internet, the world has been moving towards gender parity except in least developed countries. Gender, geographic, and economic divides prevent equitable access to the Internet. Equality for women and girls in the ICT sector remains an ongoing challenge of extending the benefits of new technologies to all the worldfs inhabitants, regardless of age, gender, ability, or location.
|
|
Additional Resources:
 |
GDRC has been working on themes related to this international day/observance, in its programme on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
GDRC reaffirms its committment to uphold the objectives of the World Telecommunications Day, and work towards better understanding of, and action on, " ... bringing the world a little closer".
|
|
