Archived Newsroom • Press Release |
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World’s youngest nation joins ITU
South Sudan becomes ITU’s 193rd
Member State
Geneva, 5 October 2011 –
The International Telecommunication Union is
proud to announce that the world’s newest country, South Sudan, has joined ITU
to become the Union's 193rd Member
State, effective from 3
October 2011.
The country, which gained its independence on 9
July, 2011 has already been allocated the international dialling code +211 by
ITU, following the country’s
recognition by the UN General Assembly. The dialling
code became active on 28 September.
"We
are delighted to be able to welcome South Sudan as an ITU member state so soon
after attaining full nationhood. The government of South Sudan clearly
recognizes the importance of information and communication technology (ICT) as
an engine of social and economic development. We will work alongside the
national authorities to leverage the power of technology, to help lift the
country to new levels and fulfill the national motto of ‘Justice, Liberty,
Prosperity’,” said ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré.
The accession of South Sudan as an ITU Member State implies its
adhesion to the Radio Regulations, the international treaty which governs the
use of radiocommunications among the world’s nations, giving it full access
rights to the frequency spectrum and satellite orbit resources managed by ITU.
A high-level ITU delegation led by Brahima Sanou,
Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, recently met with
government ministers in South Sudan with the aim of acquiring first-hand
information on the country’s needs and challenges in the area of ICT
development. The first such visit by ITU, the mission paves the way for the
delivery of focused assistance to the country as it embarks on its development
path.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Parkes
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information
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Cosmas Zavazava
Chief, Projects and Initiatives Department,
ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
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