Internet Governance policies top issues @WTPF, as ITU supports multi-stakeholderism

Dr Toure, ITU Scribe

A three-day conference hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva came to a close Thursday, with participants throwing their weights on the stakeholders’ approach to Internet Governance policy issues.
 

The participants, DigitalSENSE Business News gathered were drawn from government, industry and civil society debated international Internet public policy-related issues in order to significantly make progress within the Internet community, under the aegis of fifth World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum (WTPF) 2013.

The secretary general of ITU, Dr. Hamadoun Touré pointed out that HamHHthis year’s WTPF focus was on international Internet-related public policy matters came at the right time as we stand at a “‘tipping point’, with the Internet making the transition from a mass-market in industrialized countries, to strong demand and widespread usage around the world.”

 

He also said that they created a shared vision that could now be transformed into effective action to bring connectivity to the two-thirds of the world's people who are still offline.

“… That is our bottom line, connecting the unconnected and achieving full digital inclusion for all citizens of the world," he said.

The WTPF was chaired by Mr. Ivo Ivanovski, Minister of Information Society and Administration, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, who was supported in his task by six vice-chairs.

Ivanovski said that the WTPF came hot on the heels of the difficult discussions in Dubai last December during the revision of the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) treaty.

“So, it is all the more remarkable to have witnessed such an incredible and constructive spirit of cooperation and consensus. Representatives from governments, private sector and civil society have worked side-by-side, understanding what was at stake and fully focused on our common goal - nothing less than the responsibility to ensure safe and affordable access for everyone to the future Internet,” he said.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that this year’s Forum theme was unanimously chosen by the ITU membership at its last Plenipotentiary Conference in 2010. The Plenipotentiary is the main governance body of the ITU and meets every four years.

Remmy Nweke/DigitalSENSE Business News
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