Doha, November 09 (QNA) - The Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Doreen Bogdan-Martin said that the 2026 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha (PP-26) should open new horizons and create opportunities for over two billion people who remain without internet coverage.

In her remarks during the first plenary session of the PP-2026, she emphasized the need to make digital transformation socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable for the benefit of everyone worldwide. She noted that true inclusion must encompass access to higher education, better wages and job opportunities, and more efficient public services, all underpinned by greater security and resilience in the digital infrastructure upon which individuals rely during times of disruption, as well as the ability to harness emerging technologies.

She noted that the ITU, through its strategic plans, aims to achieve two primary objectives: universal connectivity and development, and sustainable digital transformation. She called for integrating technical expertise and strengthening the ITU's regional presence, via its regional offices, to bring the organization closer to the local communities it serves. Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of continued investment in people by fostering skills, leadership, and organizational excellence. This also entails modernizing the systems that enable the ITU to operate with greater speed and transparency, while leveraging artificial intelligence, in a responsible manner, to enhance services, refine decision-making and design mechanisms, and strengthen the alignment between strategic, operational, and financial plans.

Martin highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation, expertise, and the institutions that assist nations in responding to digital challenges. She emphasized that the benefits of technological advancements, regardless of where such cross-border technologies are developed, should accrue to all of humanity. She noted that we live in a rapidly transforming, risk-laden digital world, where the number of people connected to the internet has surged from just over 5 billion in 2022 to approximately 6.3 billion today. Furthermore, an ever-growing number of people are gaining access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities online, with this trend accelerating day by day.

She noted that at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, four out of every five world leaders addressed the subject of digital technology and the choices it entails regarding competitiveness, sovereignty, and strategic autonomy, with technology lying at the very heart of all these decisions. Digital technology provides populations with access to essential public services and creates new opportunities for financial inclusion; furthermore, it enables the overcoming of persistent barriers and opens up new pathways for development.

Martin provided a historical overview of the key milestones and features of the ITU, established in 1865, highlighting its role in coordinating the global use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits, setting international technology standards, and advancing universal connectivity and digital services. She noted that establishing common rules has maximized the benefits of telecommunications and laid the foundations for a new era in the field, a progression that has spanned generations and evolved alongside technological shifts, from the telegraph and the telephone to radio communications, the internet, and, ultimately, AI.

She indicated that reliance on technology has grown significantly, making it essential to ensure interoperability between systems and to assist countries in leveraging artificial intelligence. This should be achieved through international standards, capacity building, and inclusive policy dialogue, with a particular focus on protecting the most vulnerable, namely children. Furthermore, while artificial intelligence can help identify risks, it also makes containing them more difficult, as digital technology is now deeply intertwined with geopolitics, security, and trade.

She added that we need a shared commitment to the implementation process and a sustained willingness to keep working to overcome our differences. She emphasized that no single country can face the challenges of the digital world on its own, underscoring the importance of establishing a solid foundation and greater confidence in our collective ability to address digital challenges, while strengthening the digital systems upon which local communities rely.

Concluding her remarks, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin said that now, the gathered must translate the decisions adopted here in Doha into opportunities that individuals can experience in their everyday lives. (QNA)