The purposes of the Union are achieved through the activities of its three Sectors, through the Sector conferences and assemblies, and through general-purpose activities such as the Plenipotentiary Conference, the world conference on international telecommunications and the Council, as well as the world telecommunication policy forum and TELECOM exhibitions and forums.

The ITU is a federal organization. Although financial resources are centrally controlled, each Sector has its own "governance structure" which defines the goals, strategies and activities necessary to achieve its mission in a given period of time. However, just as the purposes of the Union set out in Article 1 of the Constitution apply to all Sectors, so they share a number of strategic orientations and goals.