In keeping with its historical role, ITU has continually updated its
activities to take account of developments in the telecommunications world. The
acceleration of the pace of both technological and economic development that
has occurred in the latter half of the twentieth century, has brought about a
radical change in the way information and communications are perceived and
used. Almost everywhere in the world, users of telephones and the Internet are
affected by converging technologies, changing market practices and regulatory
and standardization initiatives. Throughout this report, examples have shown
how ITU Member States and its private sector members are preparing for a global information, or “knowledge-based”
society, as aimed at by numerous initiatives—including the World Summit on the
Information Society.[1] These States and private
sector entities that form ITU’s membership have continuously recognized the
need for ITU to go on fulfilling its role in the new environment by addressing
these changing needs.
As part of its commitment to
playing a positive role in the development of the information society and to
extending the benefits of advances in new ICTs to all the world’s inhabitants,
ITU has extended its vision, helping to disseminate information, producing new
standards, presenting internationally comparable statistics and “cases” to
assist countries, initiating projects in the field and helping to manage the
radio spectrum. ITU’s work to bring both the organization and the outside world
greater understanding of wireless technologies and the Internet, including
Internet-Protocol related technologies, as among the fastest-moving areas in
telecommunications, will hopefully assist its public, and especially its
membership, and form part of the essential groundwork for its ongoing
activities.
