The ITU Regional Development Forum for the Americas region was held in Brasilia, Brazil on 15 June 2016.
The Forum was organized by ITU in collaboration with Brazil's telecommunications regulator Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações Agência (ANATEL).
The Forum reviewed progress made in the implementation of the Dubai Action Plan with particular emphasis on the five Regional Initiatives for the Americas. Participants at the Forum also discussed innovative proposals to accelerate the development of telecommunications in the region, and also provided contributions to the Regional Preparatory Meeting for the next World Telecommunications Development Conference (WTDC-17).
The Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Americas will be held from 1 to 3 March 2017 in Paraguay. It will be preceded by the Regional Development Forum on 28 February.
"The implementation of the Regional Initiatives is at the center of our actions and activities," said Mr Brahima Sanou, Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau. "It is through their implementation that we can make a difference at national and regional levels."
He noted that ICTs will play a vital role in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adding that, "the Regional Development Forum represents an excellent platform for ITU, policy makers, the private sector, development partners and all stakeholders to share views on the real progress made in the development of the telecommunication/ICT sector in the Americas Region."
Mr Sanou told the Forum that significant efforts are underway to prepare for the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-17) to be in Argentina from 9 to 20 October 2017.
Addressing the Forum, Mr João Rezende President of ANATEL, highlighted the successful partnership existing between ITU and ANATEL. He added, "this Forum opens up more opportunities to strengthen links and knowledge sharing between telecommunication/ICT institutions in the region with a view to improving on service delivery."
During the Forum, Mr Bruno Ramos, ITU Regional Director for the Americas, presented a status report on the implementation of the five Regional Initiatives. He said, "the Regional Initiatives are a one stop guide to the implementation of concrete measures which will help to bridge the digital divide, and thus build an inclusive information society in the Americas."
The Regional Initiatives for the Americas focus on the following areas: emergency telecommunications; spectrum management and transition to digital broadcasting; development of broadband access and adoption of broadband; reduction of telecommunication service prices and Internet access costs; and capacity building to engage in global ICT policy, with special focus on improving cybersecurity and developing countries' participation in the existing Internet governance institutions.
