The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), held once every four years, sets priorities for experts from around the world who work year-round to develop standards established by the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Organized jointly with India Mobile Congress, WTSA is being held in the Asia-Pacific region for the first time.
The program was inaugurated in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It echoed universal connectivity, the need for ethical artificial intelligence (AI) and steps to bring meaningful change to people’s lives through digital inclusion.
ITU Secretary General Doreen Bogdan-Martin said on the occasion that the world has a lot to learn from what India has achieved with its digital public infrastructure.
“This global gathering calls for bold, collective action,” he said, adding, “In the next ten days, we can build the foundation for global digital governance by strengthening the role of international standards.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the event, “Whatever benchmark we set in this field, it will determine our future path.” Therefore, we need to work on the principles of ‘safety, respect and equality’ and that should be at the center of our discussions.”
He said, our aim should be that no country, region or community is left behind in this digital era.
ITU’s standardization work is driven by the contributions and consensus of the agency’s member states, which include 194 member states and more than 1,000 member companies, universities, and international and regional organizations.
WTSA reviews the strategy, structure and working methods of ITU’s standardization arm every four years. It approves mandates for international standardization and appoints expert group leadership teams.
