DOHA: The World Telecommunication Development Conference, which opens in Doha today, is to lay the foundation for ITU's role in achieveing the goals of the 'Doha action Plan' following the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and implementing its objectives.
This conference will have a number of proposals "to meet the needs of rural communities to create digital opportunities and foster development in these underserved areas," according to Roberto Blois, ITU's general vice-secretary.
"The Doha Action Plan will focus on utilising the full potential of information and communication technologies (ICT) to connect the unconnected and accelerate the pace of social and economic development" a spokesperson of the ITU said. In other words the Doha Action Plan will set out ways to implement these goals over the next four years with the the main focus being to find ways and means to bridge the digital divide between the haves and the have-nots in the developed and developing countries.
The worldwide launch of the 2006 World Telecommunication Development Report was highlighted at yesterday's press conference held at the Doha Sheraton Convention Centre.
Reports include Measuring ICT for Social and Economic Development and the 2006 Trends in Telecommunication Reform: Regulating in a broadband world by Francine Lambert (ITU Head of Corporate Communication), Roberto Blois (ITU General Vice-Secretary), Dr Hessa Al Jaber (Secretary-General of ictQatar and newly appointed Chairperson of World Telecommunication Development Conference), Hamadoun Toure (Director Telecommunication Development Bureau), Vanessa Gray (Telecommunication Analyst Market, Economics and Finance Unit) and Doreen Bogdan (Head of ITU Regulatory Reform Unit).
Roberto Blois said the main objectives of this conference was "to connect the world to the benefits of information and communication technologies for humanity to ensure all villages, schools, libraries and local governments will be connected to information and communication technologies by 2015".
Blois said that the conference "will consider new global objectives for disaster prevention and mitigation as well as provide special services for the least developed countries (LDCs) and others with special needs, such as indigenous and disabled people". Blois also highlighted the importance of fighting against cyber crime, calling it "a necessity" that a global culture of security has to be developed.
Dr Hessa described the WTDC-06 as a "historical gathering" in which the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, "has set forth the vision for a progressive State of Qatar where thought and creativity can prosper, where political reforms and the people's participation in decision-making are no longer an option but a necessity".
Qatar, stressed Dr Hessa, "is uniquely positioned to contribute to the global effort through out own experience in ICT development and through our collaboration with international forums, experts and agencies".
Hamadoun Toure highlighted the driving force for this conference as "getting ICTs to all the people in the developing world", because ICTs are essential for all peoples of the world.
© The Peninsula 2006
