For the last 140 years, the ITU has adapted to embrace all important evolutions in communication technologies. By providing a framework for international cooperation and partnership, ITU ‘s aims are:

• To assist in bridging the international digital divide in Information and Communication Technologies (from radio to wireless Internet), by facilitating the development of fully interconnected and interoperable networks to promote global connectivity

• To give priority to the development of infrastructures for least served countries and areas.

• To assist developing countries in the migration of new generation technologies.

ITU assists developing countries to formulate and implement economic and financial policies as well as strategies. ITU provides:

• Databases on main sources of financing telecommunication development

• Softwares for the calculation of costs, tariffs and rates for fixed and mobile telephone services and to estimate sensitivity to market risk For more information

• Research papers and studies on financing infrastructures and lowering the cost of access

• Regulatory studies

ITU also organizes regional forums to promote ICT infrastructure development and foster partnerships between public, private sectors, regional and international organizations, financial institutions and service providers.

Other programs include:

• Special programs for LDCs

• Setting up community multipurpose telecentres

• Online library on rural connectivity

• Studies on technical characteristics for low cost satellite terminals

• ITU Study Group 3 of the Telecommunication standardization Sector is carrying out extensive studies on the International Internet Connectivity since 1998.

  In 2000 the World Standardization Assembly adopted Recommendation D 50 on peering or transit arrangements between Internet service providers and Internet backbone providers.

• ITU also issued study on creation of local and regional IXPs to save money and bandwidth.

• ITU News : International Internet Connectivity, Are poor countries subsidizing the rich ? 
   

Through regional Centers of Excellence and a World-wide network of Internet Training Centers, ITU offers training on Internet (IP) networks and services, on calculation of costs and tariffs, interconnection, rural connectivity, spectrum management.   

Advances in technology and competitive access are driving the revolution towards wireless access infrastructure and broader convergence of broadcasting, telecommunication and informatics. The convergence also offers sizeable opportunities for the implementation of appropriate new technologies by developing countries. ITU main activities comprise:

• International standardization, frequency spectrum and technical specification.

• Countries assistance to plan, build, operate, upgrade, manage and maintain technologies applicable to their networks and services.

• Experts advice and transfer of know how through symposia, workshops, conferences and seminars on digital broadcasting, mobile communication, innovative technological applications.

• Production of technology oriented guides, planning manuals and professional engineering training material on a new approach for planning evolving network architectures to Next Generation Network, mobile network transition for 2G and 3G and spectrum management.

• IMT-2000

• Wireless Access Systems and broadband