World Telecommunication and Information Society Day|17 May

 

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day-17 May

        According to UN, The purpose of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, a way to bridge the digital divide.

        The theme of WTISD 2021 is "Accelerating Digital Transformation in challenging times"

History behind the day

 World Information Society day

        Since 1969, May 17 has been celebrated as World Information Society day to commemorate the foundation of International Telecommunication Union (ITU)  and the signings of the first International Telegraph Convention.

World Telecommunication Day

        According to UN, In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society called upon the UN General Assembly to declare 17 May as World Information Society Day to focus on the importance of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the wide range of issues related to the Information Society raised by World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The General Assembly adopted a resolution in March 2006 stipulating that World Telecommunication Day shall be celebrated every year on 17th May.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

        In November 2006, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, decided to celebrate both events on 17th May as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.