{"id":254,"date":"2024-12-29T17:06:56","date_gmt":"2024-12-29T17:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/160\/?page_id=254"},"modified":"2025-04-25T13:16:59","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T13:16:59","slug":"itu-is-for-everyone","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/160\/story\/itu-is-for-everyone\/","title":{"rendered":"ITU is for everyone"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n #ConnectedByITU <\/h2>\n

\n Every time you turn on your radio or television, hop on a plane, call home, access the Internet, find your location with your smartphone, tablet or personal computer, watch a weather forecast or view satellite images of the Earth, you use a vital service coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) worldwide. As ITU observes its 160th Anniversary in 2025, see some of the benefits you get through ITU\u2019s work behind the scenes. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"icon\"\n

An internet backbone<\/p>\n

Interconnected networks built to ITU standards facilitate communication, information sharing and access to knowledge and services. Today, an estimated\u00a068% of people are Internet users. But disparities exist: an estimated 84% of people in high-income countries are covered by a 5G network, while only 4% of the population in low-income countries is.\u00a0With partners, ITU develops standards, collects Internet use statistics, and promotes digital public infrastructure and digital literacy to connect the unconnected.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n
\n \"icon\"\n

Mobile devices for development<\/p>\n

Mobile phones, laptops, and other devices have changed how we purchase, study, socialize, and work. More than 95% of people over 10 years old own a mobile phone in high-income economies, compared to 56% in low-income economies. As mobile telephony rapidly expands, ITU is supporting developing countries in upgrading their networks, integrating new technologies, and expanding to unserved and underserved areas.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n
\n \"icon\"\n

Satellite<\/strong> services<\/p>\n

Earth\u2019s orbital space is becoming more crowded. ITU manages radio spectrum used in space ensuring multimillion-dollar investments in satellite systems deliver connectivity and data worldwide. ITU ensures frequencies allocated to satellite systems are protected from harmful interference. ITU supports administrations as they coordinate satellite systems and administer the Radio Regulations which contribute to sustainable and equitable access to space.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n
\n \"icon\"\n

Cutting-edge television standards<\/strong><\/p>\n

Did you know that ITU has won six Emmy Awards for global technical standards for broadcasting, video, and image coding?\u00a0 The awards are a testament to ITU\u2019s remarkable innovation and relentless pursuit of excellence exemplifying successful public-private sector collaboration to enhance the quality and accessibility of radiocommunication services and technologies.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n
\n \"icon\"\n

Radio for all<\/strong><\/p>\n

Broadcast radio remains the medium that reaches the widest audience. The ITU Radio Regulations cover all radiocommunication services, systems, and applications \u2013 fixed and mobile broadband, satellite systems, broadcasting, maritime navigation, weather, space research, earth observation, amateur radio, and more. The Radio Regulations enable countries to develop innovative terrestrial and satellite technologies and services while preventing interference between different radiocommunication systems.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n
\n \"icon\"\n

Cybersecurity for cross-border threats<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

As digital tech access grows, so do cyber-risks \u2013 with potential to disrupt infrastructure and compromise safety for people and businesses everywhere. Cyberthreats cross borders, and ITU works on related international technical standards and with countries on the Global Cybersecurity Index, Guidelines on Online Child Protection, Women in CyberMentorship Programme and Guidelines, regional and national cyber-drills and the Guide to Developing a National Cybersecurity Strategy and more.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n
\n \"icon\"\n

Robotics for humanity<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Increasingly powered by artificial intelligence, robots are designed to help humans \u2013 to walk, see and hear, to search and rescue, and more. ITU\u2019s AI for Good Global Summit \u2013 including a Robotics for Good stream \u2013 is the annual global showcase for responsible, safe and inclusive AI, bringing together insights on AI innovation to address key challenges facing humanity, ethics and governance, and supporting standards and capacity development.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n
\n \"icon\"\n

Maritime communications for safety at sea<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

With 80% of global trade transported by sea, ITU enhances safety and security at sea by allocating and protecting radio frequencies for maritime communications and developing standards for maritime radio systems. ITU ensures vital maritime communication channels free from interference enabling reliable communication pathways free for distress signals and navigation guidance. By fostering cooperation between governments, industry stakeholders, and international organizations, ITU keeps global maritime communication systems robust, reliable, and secure.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n
\n \"icon\"\n

Early warnings for all<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Our climate is changing. Heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and tropical cyclones are becoming more intense. About three and a half billion people live in places that are highly vulnerable to extreme weather. Many countries lack early warning systems that alert their citizens to hazardous events. UN agencies and international organizations are working together to harness the latest tools and technologies to bring effective early warning systems to all. ITU encourages countries to work with mobile network operators from the private sector to send alerts directly to people\u2019s phones. These alerts reach those at in at-risk areas, saving precious time and lives.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n
\n \"icon\"\n

Transforming agriculture<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Global food production may need to increase 70% from 2005 to 2050 to match population growth, according to latest estimates. Innovations in artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, drones, and robotics are transforming farming with precise, sustainable techniques \u2013 down to a single square meter or individual plant or animal. ITU and its partners are developing standards to ensure farmers worldwide can access these technologies to produce more with less.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n
\n \"icon\"\n

Connected schools, connected communities<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

It is estimated that half of the world\u2019s schools are not connected to the Internet and the opportunities it brings. Schools connected to the Internet can serve as digital hubs for students, families, communities and businesses, thereby helping to achieve a country\u2019s progress towards multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals. ITU\u2019s Giga initiative with UNICEF stands out for its ambitious goal of supporting governments to connect all schools by 2030: over 2.1 million schools in 142 countries have been mapped so far using technologies such as machine learning and satellite imagery.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":148,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-254","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=254"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/254\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/160\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}