Broadband India Forum

Namaste. I am really pleased to join you on this special day. It was just a few months ago that we all gathered in New Delhi for India Mobile World Congress, just days before the start of the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2019. This conference forged pathways for future digital communications that will be essential for the realization of every single one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the focus of this year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

So much has changed in the past few months; so many lives have been lost, and so many more are in the balance. And that is not all, because the Covid-19 crisis threatens to devastate economies and ramp up inequality, especially in developing countries, it is now more urgent than ever that we recommit ourselves to the central promise of the Sustainable Development Goals to leave no one behind. 

One of the lessons of this crisis is the fundamental importance of the role that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have played to keep people safe, productive, and connected. As the UN specialized agency for ICTs, ITU has been working tirelessly with its members and partners to respond to the pandemic and prepare for recovery, from delivering vital health messaging to facilitating remote learning to boosting digital connectivity. 

3.6 billion people around the world are still unconnected. Just consider for a moment what ICTs could do for them during and after this crisis. Only if everyone, everywhere has access to affordable broadband will the Sustainable Development Goals be met. ITU’s ‘Connect 2030 Agenda’ lays out the vision and targets for achieving these goals, and today I am calling on you to join us in this effort. 

India is a leading force in today’s global digital economy and a key Member State of ITU. It is uniquely placed to deliver on its commitments to inclusive and sustainable development. I listened attentively to Prime Minister Modi’s speech last Tuesday in which he mentioned “technology-driven systems that fulfill the dreams of the 21st century” as one of the five pillars of India’s self-reliant strategy.

We have entered the last decade to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Now, more than ever, we need to be united in connecting the world. In this endeavour and as we are about to mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2020, let me reiterate our gratitude to the Indian government for its strong support of ITU and our commitment to help India and all other countries leverage digital technologies to fulfill the dreams of the 21st century – dreams where technology is used as a force for good for everyone.

Thank you.