| Information note to the press |
International Telecommunication Union
For immediate release |
| Telephone: | +41 22 730 6039 | |
| Telefax: | +41 22 730 5933 |
| E-mail: | pressinfo |
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MEDIA ADVISORY — MEDIA ADVISORY — MEDIA
ADVISORY
Connect the World to hold panel at WTDC-06
Discussion to focus on concrete solutions to connect the
unconnected
Geneva, 14 February 2006 — A
highlight of the World Telecommunication Development Conference, in Doha, Qatar,
7-15 March 2006, will be a panel discussion among the movers, shakers and
thinkers within governments, civil society, the private sector and international
organizations to achieve the goal of connecting the world to the benefits of
information and communication technologies (ICT).
In June, 2005, ITU launched
the Connect the World initiative, a multi-stakeholder partnership that is
united in the objective of connecting the 800’000 villages — or 30% of all
villages worldwide — which still lack any kind of connectivity. At the World
Summit on the Information Society in Tunis in November 2005, partner
organizations signed a pledge to make good that commitment by 2015.
WTDC-06 is the first opportunity to
operationalize the political commitments enunciated at the Summit. The Panel,
co-hosted by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani,
daughter of the Emir of Qatar and Mr Yoshio Utsumi, ITU Secretary-General,
provides an informal forum for stakeholders to exchange experiences and
highlight concrete, implementation-focused solutions to be shared with WTDC
participants.
Based on an open and interactive discussion between eight eminent Connect
the World partners and an audience of about 100 participants, the discussion
will be moderated by well-known television anchor, Stephen Cole, formerly BBC
and now with Al Jazeera.
|
What: |
WTDC — Connect the World Partners’
Panel |
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When: |
Wednesday, 8 March 2006, 15h00 —
17h00 |
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Where: |
Al-Rayyan room, Sheraton Convention
Centre, Doha, Qatar |
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Why: |
To support a global community of
partners and a broad popular movement to empower the world’s people
through access to ICTs and the creation of an inclusive knowledge-based
Information Society. |
Accredit now for WTDC-06
Media accreditation is compulsory for this event
expected to attract over a thousand
policy-makers and practitioners from government, the private sector,
international and regional organizations The Conference will fast-track
development priorities in telecommunications. It will also consider new global
initiatives aimed at benefiting persons with disabilities and telecommunications
for disaster prevention.
Details of the accreditation procedure can be found
here. Please carefully
read the procedure before completing the online accreditation form.
Accredited journalists will have access to WTDC-06 proceedings as well as the
Connect the World panel. Please note that the opening press conference
will be held on 6 March 2006.
For further information, please contact:
Tel: +41 22 730 6039/+41 22 730 5192
Fax: +41 22 730 5933
Email Contact
This advisory is also
available in Arabic
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