World Telecommunication and Information Society Day – May 17

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is celebrated on May 17 annually. The date marks the anniversary of the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 17 May 1865, when the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris, in 1973.

In March 2006 the General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/60/252) stipulating that World Information Society Day shall be celebrated every year on 17 May. In November 2006 in ITU Plenipotentiary Conference it was decided to celebrate both the days on May 17 as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

On World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, a specific theme is adopted relating to the main challenges which the changing telecommunication and information and communication technology (ICT) environment pose for both developed and developing countries.

The theme for 2023 is “Empowering the least developed countries through information and communication technologies.”

With just 10 years to go, UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched a ‘Decade of Action’ last January to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. In the months since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the fundamental importance of ICTs to economies and societies everywhere, showing the world that nobody is safe until we are all safe – and that we will not be able to use the full potential of ICTs until we are all connected. 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.

The main objective of celebrating World Telecommunication and Information Society Day was to get everyone exposed to social changes brought by the Internet and new technologies and to provide information and communication to people living in remote areas in today’s era of mobile phones. And the internet has become a necessity of people, it is very difficult to imagine life without mobile, internet and phone.

The main objective of this day is to reduce technical distances and increase mutual communication links through the internet, telephone, and television. In the modern era, phones, mobile, and the internet have become the first needs of the people. It has been very difficult to imagine life without it. Today it has penetrated from the individual’s personal life to professional life.

Previously, where people had to struggle a lot to get in touch with someone, today, mobile and the internet have made it very easy. A person can easily contact friends, family, and relatives in a few seconds. This is the revolution of telecommunications, due to which some developing countries like India are also counted in some countries of the world, whose economy is growing rapidly.

The connection of telecom technology is very deep in our life. In today’s time, telecommunication technology is moving so fast that when we reached from 2G to 4G, we did not realize that there was a time when we had to listen to someone only by listening to his voice. We could talk, but in today’s time, we can talk to the person we want to talk to through video calling. Today, the ease with which we do many such things through our mobile phones, for which a lot of effort was made a few years ago, due to the telecom revolution, India is counted today in some such countries of the world, Where this revolution has contributed a lot in economic prosperity.

In India, there will be a seminar on enhancing teaching using ICT at the National Institute of Technology Calicut. The National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) has been envisaged as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to leverage the potential of ICT, in teaching and learning processes for the benefit of all the learners in Higher Education Institutions at any time anywhere mode.

This year’s WTISD event will address the importance of enhancing collaboration and cooperation among countries, the UN family, and others to strengthen the role of ICTs as we embark on the ‘Decade of Action’ to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to advance the role of ICTs in the global response to COVID-19.