Highlights – September 2025
20 September – 2 October
Africa-BB-Maps: Africa
The ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), l’Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et de la Poste,(ARCEP) Benin, the European Union in Benin and stakeholders from both public and private institutions gathered in Cotonou, Benin to launch the Africa Broadband Maps project in the country. The event gave a global overview of the current state of broadband mapping and outlined the policy and technology requirements to help establish harmonized broadband mapping systems in Benin.
Capacity development: Asia and the Pacific
Under the project “Artificial Intelligence Technology and Standards Capacity Building in Asia Pacific” funded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan, a capacity building workshop on AI standards and technology was organised in partnership with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in Kuala Lumpur via the ITU Academy. Participants were trained on Bridging the Standardization Gap and application aspects of AI for telecommunications and ICT. An innovation café was organised to examine the challenges that Member States face in applying AI and standards.
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
Over 300 young women came together for the ITU and EY ‘AI Skills Accelerator for Girls’ workshops in Bangalore and Hyderabad, India. Participants engaged in interactive sessions, hands-on projects, and discussions which explored key topics such as AI fundamentals, AI ethics, and cybersecurity. This initiative plays a critical role in empowering young women to break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and take confident steps towards shaping a smarter, safer, and more equitable digital future.
Digital services and applications: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific shared knowledge and experience on digital government and GovStack, bridging the digital divide, payment solutions for agriculture, Smart Islands, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations digital government interoperability framework at the Inter-regional Digital Agriculture Solutions Forum 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Digital services and applications: Asia and the Pacific
Electronic equipment was delivered to three newly established Resource Centres in Drekikier, Vanimo Green River, and Wyomn secondary schools in East and West Sepik provinces under the European Union – Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade in Papua New Guinea (EU-STREIT PNG) Programme jointly with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. Resource centres support capacity building, financial services, e-marketplaces, agriculture extension and support services, and improve connectivity and access to information.
Digital services and applications: Asia and the Pacific
At a joint stakeholder meeting to prepare for the upcoming Lau Joint Field Visit in October, the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific reaffirmed its support for Fiji through the Smart Islands programme, digital skills development, and alignment with Fiji’s National Digital Strategy 2025–2030. This represents a significant step forward in fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration for inclusive digital transformation and sustainable community development across the Pacific.
Emergency telecommunications: Asia and the Pacific
During the first session in the Asia-Pacific Early Warnings for All webinar series titled “Institutionalizing Early Warning Systems”, BDT highlighted the importance of developing and implementing a National Emergency Telecommunication Plan and shared the achievements of the Smart Village Smart Island initiative in last-mile connectivity. The session was co-organized with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the World Meteorological Organization, and the International Federation of the Red Cross.
Emergency telecommunications: Africa
The ITU Regional Office for Africa attended the 13th Climate Change and Development for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting emphasized the importance of digital technologies in building resilience and increasing productivity. Artificial intelligence is also expected to play a key role in the Early Warnings For All initiative and other efforts to protect communities. A key message emphasized the importance of African-led solutions to address the region’s challenges.
Emergency telecommunications: Asia and the Pacific
The 1st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Emergency Telecommunications Network (ETN) Workshop was conducted in Bali, Indonesia, to prioritise the ETN initiatives and prepare a detailed workplan. The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific gave a presentation on emergency telecommunications related to ETN initiatives such as the National Emergency Telecommunications Plan, the Tampere Convention, harmonised frequency, multi-channel dissemination in the last mile such as cell broadcast and satellite, and Common Alerting Protocol.
Other: Africa
The ITU Regional Office for Africa joined a webinar organized by the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa titled ‘Boosting innovation for African Micro Small and Medium Enterprises through the use of Information Communication Technology’. The Office shared the work it is doing to support entrepreneurs in the continent’s growing digital economy.
New Member: Arab States
The Syrian Telecommunications Establishment is the state-owned operator responsible for managing Syria’s fixed-line, internet, and data services. The company maintains international partnerships for technology and infrastructure, including international collaborations to expand wireless and broadband systems.
New Member: Asia and the Pacific
Unified National Networks (UNN) is a company, wholly owned by His Majesty’s Government of Brunei Darussalam. Established in 2018, UNN unified the country’s telecom infrastructure, consolidating networks from DST, TelBru, Progresif and Brunei International Gateway. By delivering wholesale services and modern digital infrastructure, UNN supports Brunei’s Vision 2035 and Smart Nation agenda.
Unified National Networks (UNN) is a company, wholly owned by His Majesty’s Government of Brunei Darussalam. Established in 2018, UNN unified the country’s telecom infrastructure, consolidating networks from DST, TelBru, Progresif and Brunei International Gateway. By delivering wholesale services and modern digital infrastructure, UNN supports Brunei’s Vision 2035 and Smart Nation agenda.
8 – 12 September
Africa-BB-Maps: Africa
From 23 to 25 September, the Africa-BB-Maps national event, held in Kampala, Uganda, brought together the Government of Uganda, the Uganda Communications Commission, the European Union Delegation to Uganda, and stakeholders from public and private sectors. The event outlined Uganda’s policy and technological objectives in broadband mapping, reinforcing Africa-Europe cooperation and supporting inclusive digital growth in East Africa.
ICT Data Week 2025: Global
The 20th edition of the World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Symposium (WTIS-25) gathered over 270 participants from 85 countries in Geneva from 22 to 26 September for a full programme addressing today’s challenges and tomorrow’s priorities in digital development statistics.
The event, themed “WTIS@20: The Past, Present, and Future of Digital Development Statistics”, was followed by the annual meetings of ITU’s Expert Groups on ICT Indicators.
The week also featured ITU’s first-ever Practitioners’ Workshop, which gave members the opportunity to build hands-on skills. Discussions covered financing ICT household surveys, bridging data gaps, integrating AI and digital skills, and expanding sub-national and satellite-based measures of connectivity.
WTIS-25: Website | Communiqué | Blog | Highlights Video | Photos
16th meeting of the Expert Group on Telecommunication/ICT Indicators’ website
13th meeting of the Expert Group on ICT Household Indicators’ website
Digital innovation ecosystem: Global
The Digital Innovation Board held its third meeting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 1–2 October 2025, hosted by INDOTEL. Members and partners reviewed progress under the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development, including Acceleration Centres, the Expert Network, and the Regional Initiative Accelerator. The Board endorsed next steps for country-level implementation and supported the Bridging the Digital Innovation Divide Manifesto ahead of WTDC-25 in Baku.
A key milestone was the launch of three foresight briefs exploring inclusive digital futures in education, entrepreneurship, and investment, with additional briefs on smart cities and health care forthcoming. The board emphasized the importance of startups, SMEs, and venture capital in shaping resilient innovation ecosystems. National and regional roadmaps were also reviewed, highlighting community-driven initiatives and the Expert Network’s contributions to the foresight series.
Network and digital infrastructure: Asia and the Pacific
On 2 October 2025, policymakers and regulators from ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste gathered in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the ITU Emerging Technologies Training. The session was held on the third day of the workshop “Emerging Technologies for Innovative Universal Connectivity Solutions: Policy, Economic, and Technical Aspects.”, organized under a joint project between the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea. The training focused on the use of innovative technologies and artificial intelligence to address ICT infrastructure gaps that limit participation in the digital society.
[This activity is the result of a BDT project. You can find more details of the project here]
Cybersecurity: Asia and the Pacific
From 15 to 18 September, a two-part capacity-building workshop, was held in Palau, in collaboration with Palau’s Bureau of Communications and Ministry of Finance. The sessions focused on developing a national child online protection policy and formulating a national cybersecurity strategy. The cybersecurity strategy workshop was officially opened on 18 September by the President of Palau H.E Surangel S. Whipps, Jr.
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
On 16 September, the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific participated in a regional dialogue on empowering women in leadership, organized by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Held alongside the Southeast Asia Management Leadership Workshop, the event brought together mid-level female managers from across the region to discuss the importance of women’s leadership and digital technologies in shaping global development. Digital inclusion was a core topic, with discussions emphasizing equitable access to tools, skills, and opportunities for women.
Digital inclusion: Africa
On 18 September, the Laying the Foundation for VaMoz Digital! project was showcased in the third Edition of the Conference on Disabilities and Human Rights in Maputo. The conference, held under the theme “Rumo a uma reforma legal inclusiva (Towards inclusive legal reform)” explored key priorities for legal reform related to the rights of persons with disabilities.
Discussions focused on the recently approved Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a catalyst for inclusive public services—including digital access—as well as on coordination, monitoring, and data collection efforts. The project contributes to these efforts through its ongoing assessment of digital accessibility policies for persons with disabilities in Mozambique, benchmarking national practices against international standards to promote inclusive digital development.
Digital services and applications: Asia and the Pacific
From 4 to 17 September 2025, Fiji’s Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications, in partnership with ITU and Fiji National University, led a series of digital inclusion activities under the Smart Islands initiative.
The programme began with a Training of Trainers session at Rotuma High School’s Smart Classroom, engaging teachers and community members in digital skills such as accessibility, financial inclusion, e-services, and online safety.
Further activities included digital financial literacy workshops with Digicel and the United Nations Capital Development Fund, capacity-building for local government and healthcare representatives, and online safety sessions for students.
The initiative concluded with the Girls in ICT Training Programme, where 38 girls participated in workshops on creativity, website development, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and ICT career pathways. Partners included the University of the South Pacific, Vodafone Fiji, Women in Tech, and others.
Together, these efforts marked a meaningful step towards inclusive digital transformation in Rotuma and the wider Pacific region.
Emergency telecommunications: Asia and the Pacific
From 9 to 11 September 2025, Samoa hosted its first national consultation for the Early Warnings for All initiative, marking a key step toward developing a national roadmap for inclusive early warning systems.
The hybrid-format event brought together global leads from the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the International Telecommunication Union, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, along with representatives from government, emergency services, non-governmental organizations, private companies, and regional partners. The communications sector was represented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Office of the Regulator, and mobile network operators.
Participants reviewed Samoa’s early warning systems across four areas
- risk knowledge,
- hazard forecasting,
- alert communication,
- and preparedness.
ITU presented recommendations focused on cell broadcast technology, the Common Alerting Protocol, and connectivity mapping.
These outcomes will guide the development of Samoa’s draft national roadmap, to be validated by national stakeholders in the next phase.
Emergency telecommunications: Arab States
On 23 September, the Regional Office for the Arab States convened the third coordination meeting on Early Warnings for All Pillar-3 activities in Somalia with the National Communications Authority of Somalia. Three parallel activities were launched to advance Somalia’s emergency telecommunications regulations, the Common Alerting Protocol, and the National ICT Act. The meeting concluded with an agreement to support the National Communications Authority in mobilizing resources for the implementation of a cell broadcast–based early warning system.
Emergency telecommunications: Arab States
The Regional Office for the Arab States participated in a preparatory meeting on 25 September 2025 with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the World Meteorological Organization, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Participants coordinated preparations for the Workshop on Early Warning Systems in Least Developed Countries and fragile and conflict-vulnerable settings in Africa and the Arab Region, scheduled for 9-11 December in Nairobi, Kenya.
Expected outputs from the workshop include:
- A policy brief with commitments,
- The identification of activities for Least Developed Countries and fragile and conflict-vulnerable countries in advancing Early Warning Systems,
- and the strengthening of regional–global linkages among Early Warning Systems stakeholders.
Environment: Asia and the Pacific
A two-day training on e-waste policy and extended producer responsibility was held 16 to 17 September in Jakarta, supported by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) Digital Access Programme and Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs.
The event gathered over 60 participants, including government officials, civil society representatives, and academics working on e-waste regulation and the circular economy.
The training focused on strengthening national capacity to design and implement effective e-waste policies, with an emphasis on extended producer responsibility as a mechanism for sustainable financing. Participants shared experiences and discussed pathways for advancing a circular and sustainable electronics sector in Indonesia.
Environment: Global
BDT participated in high-level discussions on digital transformation and climate action during the 80th United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week 2025 in New York.
BDT contributed to the Green Digital Infrastructure Nigeria event on advancing green and resilient information and communication technology infrastructure. At two roundtables on the Collaborative Open Digital Ecosystems Roundtable on artificial intelligence standardization and environmental policy, and on the Solutions Dialogue on Digital Public Infrastructure for Climate, the role of interoperable systems in climate-smart development was highlighted.
Additionally, BDT led a table discussion on scalable adaptation tools for a +1.5°C world at the “Future Ready” Dialogue hosted by Devex and Vodafone. BDT also participated in several key events, including the United Nations General Assembly Global Stage Reception hosted by Microsoft, the High-Level Solutions Dialogue on Early Warning and Extreme Heat Solutions, the Digital at United Nations General Assembly anchor event, and the TIME100 Climate Leadership Forum.
Environment: Global
At the 16th Meeting of the Expert Group on Telecommunication and Information and Communication Technology Indicators, held on 25 September, the EGTI Subgroup on National Greenhouse Gas Emission Monitoring Indicators presented its outcome report.
Chaired by France’s Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications, Postal Services and Press Distribution (ARCEP), the subgroup conducted regional consultations, reviewed research from the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications, ITU, the World Bank, and ARCEP, and carried out a questionnaire. This process led to agreement on a phased indicator framework and identification of key stakeholders, forming the basis of the proposed environmental indicators.
In a separate session, BDT joined a panel discussion on measuring the environmental footprint of key players in the information and communication technology sector. Alongside regulators from Brazil, Cyprus, and France, the BDT highlighted recent publications that support national and industry-level climate monitoring efforts, including the Greening Digital Companies Report, the Greening Digital Dashboard, and Measuring the Environmental Impact of the ICT Sector: ARCEP Case Study.
New Members: Europe
Helios Towers, founded in 2009 and headquartered in London, builds, owns, and operates telecom towers across Africa and the Middle East. With over14,000 sites, it provides critical infrastructure that supports multiple mobile network operator tenancies and helps expand connectivity in high-growth markets.
New Members: Europe
The Geneva AI Governance Institute is an international organization that promotes the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The organization brings together voices from around the world to set standards, create certifications, and share best practices for trustworthy AI. Guided by core values—human rights, openness, safety, human oversight, fairness, and sustainability—the institute ensures that AI benefits both society and the planet.
Other: Africa
On 23 September, the ITU Area Office in Dakar participated in the launch of Phase II of the Country Partnership Programme (PCP) between the Government of Senegal and UNIDO held in Dakar. The programme’s strong focus on digital transformation reinforces the relevance of ITU’s work in Senegal. It creates new opportunities for collaboration with the Government of Senegal and UNIDO to contribute to modernizing industry and accelerating digital transformation.
At the event, ITU highlighted its ongoing collaboration with Senegal on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including digital identity systems that enhance access to public services, as well as support for the development of the National Emergency Telecommunication Plan (NETP) and the Early Warnings for All—both critical to ensuring that everyone is protected from climate-related disasters.
1 – 5 September
Global Symposium for Regulators 2025 (GSR-25): Global
Telecommunications regulators from around the world endorsed guidelines to help them build digital ecosystems for essential national services like healthcare, education and finance at the Global Symposium for Regulators 2025 (GSR-25) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
GSR-25 brought together more than 1,200 participants, including Ministers and Heads of Regulatory Authorities.
The GSR-25 Best Practice Guidelines, issued during the closing of the three-day event, outline key tools and frameworks to drive regulatory innovation and build sustainable information and communication technology ecosystems, ensuring that digital societies and economies deliver prosperity for all.
Cybersecurity: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) organized the 2025 ITU Regional Asia-Pacific CyberDrill in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Co-organized with the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Communication (MDDIC) and supported by the Cyber Security Council of Mongolia, the CyberDrill aimed to enhance communication, incident response capabilities, and collective efforts among Asia-Pacific Computer Incident Response Teams and cybersecurity stakeholders to mitigate cyber threats.
The training sessions and scenario-based exercises were organized with partners including INTERPOL, Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), and Cyber Security Brunei.
Environment: Global
The Policy practices for e-waste management: Tools for a balanced and fair circular economy – Second edition, 2025 toolkit was jointly launched by BDT and the Communication, Space, and Technology Commission (CST) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during GSR-25.
The toolkit was developed as part of the ITU-CST project “Developing and implementing e-waste policy and regulation for a circular economy,” and provides a practical guide for policymakers and other industry actors in establishing an inclusive and fair e-waste management system based on the concept of extended producer responsibility. With examples from the project’s recipient countries, Paraguay, Rwanda, and Zambia, the toolkit provides guidance and covers all phases of e-waste regulation development process.