ITU's commitment to Bridging the Standardization Gap

This year, ITU celebrate the 50th anniversary of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day which has been celebrated annually since 1969. The Day marks the founding of ITU on 17 May 1865 when the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris.

Setting standards is a fundamental pillar of ITU's mission as the specialized agency of the United Nations for information and communication technologies (ICTs). ITU standards help accelerate ICTs for all Sustainable Development Goals.

The 2019 theme will allow ITU Membership and other key stakeholders to focus on the opportunities for:

* participation of developing countries in ITU's standards-making process;

*    empowering local experts in the standardization process at the national, regional and international levels; and

*    promoting the implementation of international standards in developing countries.

Bridging the Standardization Gap (BSG) is a fundamental part of ITU's mission to connect the world. BSG is also one of the 5 strategic objectives of ITU’s standardization sector (ITU-T). The overarching goal of the BSG programme is to address the disparities in the ability of developing countries, relative to developed ones, to access, implement and influence ITU's international standards. In this context, the BSG programme aims to facilitate the efficient participation of developing countries in ITU's standards-making process, to disseminate information about existing standards, and to assist developing countries in the implementation of standards.

ITU and its Membership work continuously on standards for telecommunication networks and services and radiocommunication services. This year, the theme of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, 'Bridging the standardization gap', celebrates how different countries, including a growing number of developing countries, are contributing and participating in standards-setting for different digital technologies, and how ITU standards are accelerating greater and more widespread use of ICTs for all Sustainable Development Goals. National celebrations and workshops will showcase relevant initiatives for ICT standards to improve the lives of people and communities around the world. This year also marks the milestone of the 50th anniversary of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, which has been celebrated annually since 1969.

ITU invites all to organize activities in their countries to mark WTISD-2019 to raise awareness of the importance of getting more countries involved in "Bridging the standardization gap" through ICT standards.