In brief
The ITU’s 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha began with Secretary‑General Doreen Bogdan‑Martin stressing that the world’s digital transformation is uneven and that only collaborative action can ensure reliable, trustworthy networks. She called on members to expand connectivity, lower costs, and navigate emerging technologies. The conference, themed "Together for a connected digital future," will elect new leadership and set the ITU’s strategic and financial plans for four years.
Doha, Nov. 9 – At the opening of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference, Secretary‑General Doreen Bogdan‑Martin warned that nations are entering a new era of digital transformation from vastly different starting points and urged them to strengthen international cooperation to bridge the digital divide.
Speaking in front of delegates and industry leaders, Bogdan‑Martin emphasized the critical need for communication networks to remain resilient, reliable and available during crises. She said, no single country or institution can make those systems “resilient, secure and inclusive on its own.”
“No country, and no institution, can make those systems resilient, secure, and inclusive on its own.”
She called for a concerted effort to expand meaningful connectivity, to make technology more affordable and trustworthy, and to help countries navigate the fast‑moving wave of emerging technologies that are outpacing institutional adaptation.
The conference, which runs through Nov. 27 under the theme “Together for a connected digital future,” will see delegates elect new ITU leadership and decide on its strategic and financial plans for the next four years.
Sources: Xinhua
