Connecting the world and beyond

BDT Director’s Corner

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava - Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau​It is an honour to serve as Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) at a time of great challenges and opportunities. Today, the world is grappling with climate change, hunger, natural hazards, and epidemics, among others. Yet, more people are getting online, and the role of space has become even more important. An estimated 5.5 billion people are online. For the remaining 2.6 billion people that are still offline, we are doubling our efforts to get them online in the shortest time possible. How? We are applying a Results Based Management approach with a core focus on achieving results. Our processes, activities, products, and services contribute to the delivery of clearly stated expected accomplishments and objectives that bring impact to the people. We also recognize the importance of partnerships based on win-win outcomes that will help us achieve universal and meaningful connectivity by closing the digital divide, digital skills gap, and achieving inclusivity: Through continuous innovation, as requested by our Member States in the Baku Action Plan, our work is greatly contributing to global efforts towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. To see the achievements that we are making, see our Impact Stories. I know that working together with industry and private sector, we will get there.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava​​
Director, Telecommunication ​Development Bureau​
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Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava​ took office as Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023. Read biography

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Latest Bilaterals

Meeting with the Government of Cabo Verde
23 October 2026  Geneva, Switzerland
Bilateral Meeting
Meeting with GSOA
30 September 2026  Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Bilateral Meeting
Meeting with Intersputnik
30 September 2026  Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Bilateral Meeting
Meeting with Future Laboratory
30 September 2026  Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Bilateral Meeting
All B​ilaterals​​​​​​
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BDT Director's News

News, 23 October 2026
Geneva, Switzerland
GENIE.AI: Empowering countries to shape their AI future
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already one of the most transformative technologies of our time – but can it also transform the field of human social and economic development? 

If so, how can developing countries translate its potential into practical solutions? 

There are significant barriers to overcome before public institutions in many countries can even begin adopting AI. These include limited resources, technical capacity and infrastructure, as well as a lack of access to expertise.


News, 15 May 2026
Ankara, Türkiye
Actively charting the digital frontier: Thoughts on GSR-26
The Global Symposium for Regulators concluding on 15 May in Ankara, Türkiye, brought together over 1,000 participants from all over the world to discuss “Navigating the digital frontier: Regulatory pathways towards a resilient and inclusive future”. This theme signifies a fundamental shift in our role as a regulatory community – from merely reacting to technological disruption to proactively designing pathways to resilience and inclusion. Read more

News, 03 December 2025
Geneva, Switzerland
Digital accessibility: Designing a future that includes us all
Every year on 3 December, we mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. For me, it is a moment to reflect on our progress in building inclusive societies and renewing our commitment to leaving no one behind in the digital age. 


News, 01 December 2025
Geneva, Switzerland
WTDC-25 reflection: Connecting people for meaningful development
Global digital development cooperation has entered a new and highly ambitious phase. The 2025 World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) has underscored shared global priorities, from affordable connectivity to inclusive and secure digital development. 

This in turn will spark renewed vigor into the work of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) under the uniquely positioned Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) to ensure digital transformation happens sustainably and benefits everyone, everywhere. 


News, 24 November 2025
Baku, Azerbaijan
Youth at the heart of digital transformation
At the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), we have made a simple but powerful choice: To place youth at the centre of digital development and transformation, not as mere beneficiaries but as active co-architects. 

This is one of the reasons that we welcomed hundreds of bright young leaders from around the world for ITU’s Global Youth Celebration 2025, held on 16 November, the eve of the opening of the World Telecommunication Development Conference. 


All Activities​​​​​​​