Our vision for a digital future
Today, digital technologies have taken root worldwide. Over the past 10 years, the Internet has become the global backbone for nearly every aspect of modern social and economic life. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the 160-year-old agency responsible for cooperation on a vast array of communication technologies, has set out to ensure resilient and sustainable digital access for all.
Harnessing AI for humanity
Artificial intelligence (AI) can drive progress across virtually all areas of socio-economic development, from agriculture and manufacturing to education and health. ITU’s latest “United Nations Activities on AI” report showcases 408 projects and use cases for AI across the UN system, spanning all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The AI for Good platform – maintained by ITU with 40+ UN partners – continues highlighting trustworthy AI applications, developing key AI standards, and advancing AI governance, leaving no one behind.
Greening digital technologies
The digital sector is a growing source of global GHG emissions with carbon emissions ranging from 1.5% to 4% of global emissions. To reach the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5° C, emissions from the digital sector will need to be reduced by 45% by 2030. Countries and organizations worldwide can leverage the power of digital technologies to support climate action. At the same time, they need to tackle the climate impact of digital technologies head on by monitoring and reducing tech-related emissions, adopting green standards, building circular economies, enhancing emergency telecommunications, and promoting green computing.
Keeping space sustainable
Earth’s orbital space is becoming more crowded. ITU manages radio spectrum used anywhere in space, ensuring multimillion-dollar investments in satellite systems deliver services without causing or receiving harmful interference. The 2024 edition of the ITU Radio Regulations, a key international treaty, optimizes radio spectrum management while making room for accelerating technological innovation.
Working closely with governments, space agencies, the private sector and fellow UN agencies, and through various initiatives and forums, ITU seeks to promote space exploration and sustainability of the radio-frequency spectrum and associated satellite-orbit resources used by space services for future generations.
Building resilient connectivity
Submarine cables carry 99% of the world’s international data traffic, enabling financial transactions, cloud computing, government communications and other critical services. The world’s 500+ active and planned cable systems are subject to risks from fishing, boat traffic and anchoring, seabed activity, earthquakes and other natural hazards, as well as ageing. Yet fragmented policies and regulatory frameworks hinder regular maintenance as well as cable security.
Unlocking quantum
Once considered a distant prospect, quantum information technologies could soon strengthen climate action, improve energy supply, and help solve problems in fields such as medicine, trade and more. But quantum will also introduce daunting new cybersecurity threats. A century after the initial emergence of quantum mechanics, the UN has declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
Fostering global digital cooperation
Despite the considerable advances, about one-third of the global population remains offline, mainly in rural areas and low-income countries. For the last 20 years, digital cooperation and development have been guided by outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Since then, annual multi-stakeholder consultations have kept digital issues at the top of the policy agenda and facilitated cooperation on new and emerging technologies like AI. Moreover, the ongoing WSIS process offers a crucial mechanism for implementing the Global Digital Compact that was adopted at the UN General Assembly in 2024. The annual SDG Digital event in New York propels participants forward into the future, encouraging exploration of the trends, risks, and opportunities presented by digital and emerging technologies to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.