Delegates gather in Dubai for telecoms conference

The two-week conference, which begins Sunday, March 30, will focus on the development priorities and strategies for growth in telecoms, information and communication technologies.

More than 1,600 delegates are in Dubai to discuss the future of broadband connectivity as part of the sixth International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Telecommunication Development Conference, which is held every four years.

Under the theme of Broadband for Sustainable Development, the two-week conference, which begins today at the Dubai World Trade Centre, will focus on the development priorities and strategies for growth in telecoms, information and communication (ICT) technologies.

The outcome of the conference will set the agenda for the telecoms and ICT development of the ITU for the next four years.

Access to broadband could be a catalyst to lift developing countries out of poverty by providing access to health care, education and basic social services to all communities, according to the UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development.

Delegations are in town to discuss 74 proposals that have been put forward by member states.

“It will be a very congested agenda which will address many resolutions and issues. Around 74 resolutions will by addressed, mainly on the development of the sector,” said Naser bin Hammad, senior manager of international affairs at the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

The Arab delegation, headed by the UAE has put forward 20 proposals. While some are highly technical, others are less so. One put forward is on smart and electronic learning and education.

If the proposed resolution is passed, then the ITU will assign a budget to the smart-learning programme and provide support and campaigns to help run it.

The last ITU conference, the World Conference on International Telecoms (WCIT) in Dubai, was shrouded in controversy as a proposal from a delegation of European telecoms operators suggested taxing internet companies for using their mobile networks, while some other proposals were thought to limit freedom of speech.

“The issues that were discussed at 2012 WCIT, these issues will not be addressed at this conference. This is a peaceful conference, we are just tackling the resolutions which are mandated by the sector itself,” said Mr bin Hammad.

While it may be peaceful, its outcomes are resounding and will affect billions of people who are still not connected to the internet, something that has bypassed many organisations according to analysts.

“It is still puzzling to see that the many UN bodies and NGOs are not well informed about the inclusions of ICTs in order to achieve the outcomes they are working so hard for,” said Paul Budde, founder of BuddeComs research firm. “Unless far more emphasis is given to the critical role ICTs can play, they will not be able to achieve the outcomes that they are aiming for. ICT and broadband as the key utility will need to be far more prominently included in the UN policies and strategies.”

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