are constantly reshaping the way the world communicates while creating
opportunities for a better life through long-term, sustainable development, not
least among the most disadvantaged sections of our society.
This year, as we celebrate ITU’s 146th anniversary, we focus our attention on
the world’s rural communities in our quest to connect the remotest corners to
the benefits of ICTs.
Today, ICTs are the powerhouses of the global economy and offer real
solutions towards generating sustainable economic growth and prosperity. ICTs
also act as catalysts in accelerating progress towards meeting the Millennium
In the rural context, ICTs provide enhanced opportunities to generate income
and combat poverty, hunger, ill health and illiteracy. ICTs and related
e-applications are key instruments in improving governance and rural services,
such as providing community health care, safe drinking water and sanitation,
education, food and shelter; improving maternal health and reducing child
mortality; empowering women and the more vulnerable members of society; and
ensuring environmental sustainability.
Half the world’s population — nearly 3.5 billion people — resides in rural
districts and far flung communities, representing the poorer, less educated, and
more deprived cousins of the world’s urban citizens. Among them are as many as
1.4 billion of the world’s extremely poor people, who are also among the least
connected to the benefits of ICTs. We cannot allow this situation to continue.
It is time for global action to connect rural communities to the opportunities
offered by ICTs.
ITU is committed to connecting the world and to ensuring that the benefits of
ICTs reach the remotest corners as well as the most vulnerable communities. I am
proud to say that our work at ITU in developing the standards for ICTs, managing
vital spectrum and orbital resources, mobilizing the necessary technical, human
and financial resources, and strengthening emergency response in the aftermath
of devastating natural disasters has met with unprecedented success as we enter
the second decade of this millennium.
Although mobile penetration has spread rapidly with over 5.3 billion
subscribers worldwide, the thrust now is to drive content through enhanced
broadband access aimed at establishing the information and communication
highways — networks that will feed both rural communities and urban centres with
the means to meet their development goals and aspirations. ITU’s leadership role
in the Broadband Commission for Digital Development is aimed at increasing the
roll out of this state-of-the-art technology to firmly establish a universally
accessible knowledge-based information society.
I urge you to celebrate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day
this year by focusing on connecting people around the world and harnessing the
full potential of ICTs so that we can all enjoy a more productive, peaceful and
— in every way — a better life, particularly in rural areas.
Hamadoun I. Touré