Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
As ITU marked its 160th anniversary, we reflected on the principles that have guided us from the start – that technologies should work for people; that progress depends on connection; and that connection depends on collaboration.
From telegraphy to today’s digital networks, those principles have shaped an enduring purpose: bringing people and institutions together so that technology remains a means to human progress and development, not an end in itself.
Today, collaboration matters more than ever. Multilateralism is under strain, even as emerging technologies reshape how we work, learn, communicate, and make decisions every day.
2025 showed how ITU continues turning this shared responsibility into action.
Cooperation for resilience
We helped place the global digital infrastructure investment gap firmly on the international agenda, reinforcing it as a shared priority and underscoring that resilient, affordable networks are the foundation of growth and prosperity for all.
We supported global efforts to boost the resilience of submarine cables, the unseen arteries of global connectivity beneath the ocean. We also looked to the skies, strengthening international cooperation for a more sustainable space environment, and brought mobile and satellite operators together around our shared mission of connecting everyone, everywhere, meaningfully.
Throughout the year, we worked to digitize rural economies and expand technology opportunities for girls and women, guided by the conviction that the digital world must be for everyone.
That same principle shaped our engagement with emerging technologies and our contributions to international technical and policy cooperation.
Action to shape a better future
Through the year, ITU advanced practical action on AI – driving standards development, strengthening skills and capacity building, and fostering dialogue across governments, industry, academia, and civil society.
Similarly, we brought the global regulatory community together to exchange perspectives and strengthen approaches to digital policy, and we worked with the United Nations financing-for-development community to advance the funding toolkit needed to connect everyone meaningfully.
As we pressed on with connecting people globally, the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process saw countries around the world reaffirm a people-centred vision, informed by ITU’s long-standing experience and technical expertise.
Where we are now
160 years has seen ITU make incredible progress, but we also recognize our unfinished endeavour. While three-quarters of the world is now online, 2.2 billion people remain unconnected.
Today’s digital divides are increasingly about quality and affordability. While 5G networks reach about 55 per cent of the global population, access to them remains uneven, leaving persistent gaps in usage by income, gender, age, and geography.
As we look ahead, ITU’s transformation roadmap will help keep our organization transparent, accountable, and effective. Our mission remains clear: to connect the world meaningfully and ensure digital transformation supports sustainable development for all.
Collaboration laid the foundations of international telecommunication 160 years ago, and it continues to drive our work today. I invite you to explore this Year in Review and join us in shaping a shared digital future built on connection, collaboration, and shared purpose.
Header images credit: ITU
