Latest news with #ITU
Coin Geek
a day ago
- Business
- Coin Geek
EU, UN push digitalization initiatives in Caribbean, Africa
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... As the global digital economy skyrockets, more governments are stepping up digital transformation efforts to transition into the new era. In the Caribbean, the United Nations has launched a new initiative to digitize the justice systems of nearly a dozen nations, while in Africa, the European Union and the World Bank are funding digitization projects in Congo and Gabon. Digitizing the justice system in the Caribbean The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized a course for 29 government officials from 11 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Titled 'Building Digital Foundations for Justice Transformation,' the course took place in the coastal city of Bridgetown in Barbados. It was funded by the EU through its Global Gateway Initiative, with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) also playing a part in the administration. 'Justice systems worldwide face increasing pressure from case backlogs, limited digital infrastructure, and rising demands for efficient service,' commented UNDP's chief digital officer, Robert Opp. 'Digital transformation provides a pathway to reimagine justice delivery—enhancing transparency and rebuilding citizen trust. With the support of the European Union, this training empowers professionals with practical tools to modernize their systems and drive inclusive change across the region.' The three-day program pooled together government officials, ICT professionals, policymakers, and legal specialists and equipped them with the tools and knowledge needed to push digital transformation across the courtrooms, public justice systems, and other avenues. It centered on regulation, governance, infrastructure, and people development. Digitalization of the justice system is critical in Latin America, a region in which 80% of the nations have recorded a decline in the Rule of Law index since 2016. The region also has high distrust in the legal processes, with 42% and 45% perceiving judges and the police as corrupt, respectively. Beyond the training, the UNDP and ITU have delivered essential hardware to hundreds of courtrooms across the region, from digital recording systems to advanced servers, the agency's deputy resident representative for Eastern Caribbean, Stephanie Ziebell, revealed. Africa's digital transformation In Congo, the government has launched a new digitalization initiative funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the EU. 'It can't be said enough these days that digital technology is key to growth, transparency, government modernisation and job creation,' stated Léon Juste Ibombo, the Minister of Telecommunication and the Digital Economy, who presided over the launch. 'We must create the optimal conditions for a more dynamic, resilient and sovereign digital ecosystem. We must work together to build a digital Congo that is more open to the world and is better able to serve its people and its future generations.' The goal is to spur the growth of Congo's digital economy to create employment for the country's 6.5 million residents. According to the latest data, over 40% of the youth remain unemployed. Overall, 80% of the employed residents work in the service industry and agriculture. Beyond employment, the initiative intends to modernize governance and public administration, easing access to government services. While the EU spearheads the project, it only accounted for $18 million of the XAF 88.4 billion ($158 million) total through a grant. The EIB extended a $30 million loan, while the World Bank contributed $110 million in financing. 'The project we are launching today is not just a technology project, but is rather also a social project and a genuine way to transform governance, jobs and inclusion, providing young people and women with new opportunities in an increasingly digital world,' commented EIB Vice-President Thomas Östros. Elsewhere, the president of Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, is rallying support for his government's digitalization campaign. During the United States-Africa Business Summit this week, Nguema met political and business leaders to discuss his Digital Gabon program, which aims to increase the digital economy's gross domestic product (GDP) contribution from 5% to 12%. Digital Gabon has received XAF 44 billion (approximately $79 million) from the World Bank, with U.S. cybersecurity firm Cybastion pledging to develop a national data center and train 1,000 young Gabonese citizens on digital careers. Watch: Boosting financial inclusion in Africa with BSV blockchain title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Saba Yemen
2 days ago
- Business
- Saba Yemen
Palestine Telecom: Occupier destroyed 74% of Gaza telecom assets
Ramallah - Saba: Huda Al-Wahidi, Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Economy in Palestine, said that the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip caused widespread damage to the telecommunications sector, destroying approximately 74% of its assets. According to the Sanad News Agency on Monday, Al-Wahidi stated in a speech during the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Board of Directors meeting in Geneva that direct losses to the telecommunications sector in Gaza are estimated at $164 million, as a result of the destruction of 580 cellular towers and major fiber networks. According to a statement by the Ministry of Telecommunications, the expected economic losses over the next five years are estimated at $736 million. Al-Wahidi warned of the continued deterioration of the digital infrastructure in Gaza, stressing that the Strip is experiencing an "unprecedented crisis" that has caused widespread disruption to telecommunications services. She criticized the absence of any practical steps to implement UN Resolution 1424 (2014), which relates to the reconstruction of the Palestinian telecommunications sector. She called on the ITU Council to develop an urgent implementation plan to implement the resolution. Calling for the protection of the digital infrastructure from Israeli targeting, which has almost completely destroyed the infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, Al-Wahidi indicated that Israeli military incursions and closures have caused losses estimated at $215.4 million. She added, "In addition to the illegal expansion of Israeli networks, which has disrupted Palestinian development and expansion projects." Since October 7, 2023, Palestinian telecommunications companies have repeatedly announced widespread service outages in the Gaza Strip due to shelling and fuel shortages. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
China to host WRC 2027; India, US fume
NEW DELHI: China will be hosting the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC)-2027 in Shanghai following a 'secret ballot' voting by as many as 43 countries on Thursday at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), dashing efforts from the United States and India. 'It has been decided that the next World Radiocommunication Conference will be held in China's Shanghai in October 2027, as per the majority of countries who voted in favour of the proposal,' an industry source told ETTelecom. The conference is crucial for the future radio frequency regulations for next-generation 6G technology and satellite-based connectivity worldwide. On June 13, the Secretary, Department of Commerce of the United States, Howard W Lutnick, in a letter to ITU General Secretary Doreen Bogdan-Martin challenged China's bid and proposed to host the top multinational regulatory event in Washington DC. 'From a historical perspective, there is no better place to host the WRC – 27; 2027 marks the centennial of the 1927 International Radiotelegraphy Conference hosted by the United States, Washington DC, where the first table of frequency allocations was approved. The table unlocked multitudes of new radio spectrum-based services, which have greatly contributed to economic prosperity and innovation around the world. We look to build on this for the next century,' Lutnick said in a letter. ETTelecom has seen a copy of the letter. The development comes following the withdrawal of the Republic of Rwanda from hosting the prestigious conference. The top US official further said that the United States stands 'ready and willing to step up to provide a free and open environment' to host the critical conference. The outcome has come at a time when President Donald Trump-headed US adopted an aggressive tariff strategy and entered a trade pact with China. India too did not want China to host world's top spectrum management symposium. The WRC-27 is expected to identify frequency bands such as 4400-4800 MHz, 7125-8400 MHz, and 14.8-15.35 GHz for the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), particularly for sixth generation (6G) technology, shaping the roadmap of 2030 and beyond. The countries that exercised secret voting include Algeria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Following the latest development, China, as a host country, will preside over the world's top forum and may employ 'soft influence' over the telecom and satellite communication (satcom) decisions globally. China's homegrown Huawei Technologies and ZTE —the two dominant telecom gear makers—may also have their say in shaping global spectrum policy matters. The conference is scheduled between October 18 and November 12, 2027.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
China to host WRC 2027; US, India fume
NEW DELHI: China will be hosting the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC)-2027 in Shanghai following a 'secret ballot' voting by as many as 43 countries on Thursday at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), dashing efforts from the United States and India. 'It has been decided that the next World Radiocommunication Conference will be held in China's Shanghai in October 2027, as per the majority of countries who voted in favour of the proposal,' an industry source told ETTelecom. The conference is crucial for the future radio frequency regulations for next-generation 6G technology and satellite-based connectivity worldwide. On June 13, the Secretary, Department of Commerce of the United States, Howard W Lutnick, in a letter to ITU General Secretary Doreen Bogdan-Martin challenged China's bid and proposed to host the top multinational regulatory event in Washington DC. 'From a historical perspective, there is no better place to host the WRC – 27; 2027 marks the centennial of the 1927 International Radiotelegraphy Conference hosted by the United States, Washington DC, where the first table of frequency allocations was approved. The table unlocked multitudes of new radio spectrum-based services, which have greatly contributed to economic prosperity and innovation around the world. We look to build on this for the next century,' Lutnick said in a letter. ETTelecom has seen a copy of the letter. The development comes following the withdrawal of the Republic of Rwanda from hosting the prestigious conference. The top US official further said that the United States stands 'ready and willing to step up to provide a free and open environment' to host the critical conference. The outcome has come at a time when President Donald Trump-headed US adopted an aggressive tariff strategy and entered a trade pact with China. India, represented by the Department of Telecommunications , on its part, made initial attempts and sought to host the mega regulatory event in New Delhi. ETTelecom's query to DoT did not elicit any response. The WRC-27 is expected to identify frequency bands such as 4400-4800 MHz, 7125-8400 MHz, and 14.8-15.35 GHz for the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), particularly for sixth generation (6G) technology, shaping the roadmap of 2030 and beyond. The countries that exercised secret voting include Algeria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Following the latest development, China, as a host country, will preside over the world's top forum and may employ 'soft influence' over the telecom and satellite communication (satcom) decisions globally. China's homegrown Huawei Technologies and ZTE —the two dominant telecom gear makers—may also have their say in shaping global spectrum policy matters. The conference is scheduled between October 18 and November 12, 2027.
Zawya
24-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman rises to 18th globally in ICT regulatory ranking
Muscat – Oman has moved up to 18th place globally out of 194 countries in the 2024 ICT Regulatory Tracker index issued by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) marking a significant step in its digital development journey. The sultanate now ranks second in both the GCC and the Arab world, underscoring its leadership in telecommunications regulation and digital governance. Oman's score rose from 88 in 2022 to 90 in 2024, driven by stronger regulatory independence, clearer legal frameworks, and measures to encourage fair competition and innovation in the telecom and digital sectors. Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said the improved performance reflects its sustained efforts to enhance regulation, support competition and attract investment, all in line with Oman Vision 2040, which puts digital transformation at the centre of sustainable economic growth. The ICT Regulatory Tracker is part of the broader Global Network Readiness Index, which measures countries' capacity to adopt new technologies and advance digital governance. It uses 50 indicators grouped into four clusters – regulatory authority, regulatory mandate, regulatory regime and competition framework. Oman scored 17 out of 20 for regulatory authority, 20 out of 22 for regulatory mandate, 26 out of 30 for regulatory regime, and 27 out of 28 for competition framework. The tracker is updated every two years using data from national ICT regulators and verified by the ITU Secretariat before publication. TRA said the higher ranking shows Oman's commitment to building a robust and future-ready digital ecosystem that supports economic diversification and long-term development. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
