{"id":442,"date":"2025-10-07T19:13:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T19:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/itu-d\/sites\/bdt-highlights\/?page_id=442"},"modified":"2025-12-16T05:44:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T05:44:06","slug":"highlights-september-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/itu-d\/sites\/bdt-highlights\/highlights-september-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Highlights – September 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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20 September<\/strong><\/strong> – 2 October<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Africa-BB-Maps:<\/strong> Africa<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), l\u2019Autorit\u00e9 de R\u00e9gulation des Communications \u00c9lectroniques 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Capacity development<\/strong>: Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Under the project \u201cArtificial Intelligence Technology and Standards Capacity Building in Asia Pacific\u201d 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 caf\u00e9 was organised to examine the challenges that Member States face in applying AI and standards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Digital inclusion<\/strong>: Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Over 300 young women came together for the ITU and EY \u2018AI Skills Accelerator for Girls\u2019 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Digital services and applications<\/strong>: Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Digital services and applications<\/strong>: Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Digital services and applications<\/strong>: Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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\u2019s National Digital Strategy 2025\u20132030. This represents a significant step forward in fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration for inclusive digital transformation and sustainable community development across the Pacific.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Emergency telecommunications<\/strong>: Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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During the first session in the Asia-Pacific Early Warnings for All webinar series titled \u201cInstitutionalizing Early Warning Systems\u201d, 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Emergency telecommunications<\/strong>: Africa<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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\u2019s challenges.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Emergency telecommunications<\/strong>: Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Other<\/strong>: Africa<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The ITU Regional Office for Africa joined a webinar organized by the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa titled \u2018Boosting innovation for African Micro Small and Medium Enterprises through the use of Information Communication Technology\u2019. The Office shared the work it is doing to support entrepreneurs in the continent\u2019s growing digital economy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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New Member<\/strong>: Arab States<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The Syrian Telecommunications Establishment is the state-owned operator responsible for managing Syria\u2019s fixed-line, internet, and data services. The company maintains international partnerships for technology and infrastructure, including international collaborations to expand wireless and broadband systems.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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New Member<\/strong>: Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Unified National Networks (UNN) is a company, wholly owned by His Majesty\u2019s Government of Brunei Darussalam. Established in 2018, UNN unified the country\u2019s telecom infrastructure, consolidating networks from DST, TelBru, Progresif and Brunei International Gateway. By delivering wholesale services and modern digital infrastructure, UNN supports Brunei\u2019s Vision 2035 and Smart Nation agenda.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Unified National Networks (UNN) is a company, wholly owned by His Majesty\u2019s Government of Brunei Darussalam. Established in 2018, UNN unified the country\u2019s telecom infrastructure, consolidating networks from DST, TelBru, Progresif and Brunei International Gateway. By delivering wholesale services and modern digital infrastructure, UNN supports Brunei\u2019s Vision 2035 and Smart Nation agenda.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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8 – 12 September<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Africa-BB-Maps:<\/strong> Africa<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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\u2019s policy and technological objectives in broadband mapping, reinforcing Africa-Europe cooperation and supporting inclusive digital growth in East Africa.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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ICT Data Week 2025<\/strong>: Global<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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\u2019s challenges and tomorrow\u2019s priorities in digital development statistics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The event, themed \u201cWTIS@20: The Past, Present, and Future of Digital Development Statistics\u201d, was followed by the annual meetings of ITU\u2019s Expert Groups on ICT Indicators.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The week also featured ITU\u2019s first-ever Practitioners\u2019 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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WTIS-25: Website | Communiqu\u00e9 | Blog | Highlights Video | Photos<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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16th meeting of the Expert Group on Telecommunication\/ICT Indicators\u2019 website<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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13th meeting of the Expert Group on ICT Household Indicators\u2019 website<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Digital innovation ecosystem:<\/strong> Global<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The Digital Innovation Board held its third meeting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 1\u20132 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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\u2019s contributions to the foresight series.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Network and digital infrastructure<\/strong>: Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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 \u201cEmerging Technologies for Innovative Universal Connectivity Solutions: Policy, Economic, and Technical Aspects.\u201d, 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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[This activity is the result of a BDT project. You can find more details of the project here<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Cybersecurity:<\/strong> Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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From 15 to 18 September, a two-part capacity-building workshop, was held in Palau, in collaboration with Palau\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Digital inclusion<\/strong>: Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Digital inclusion:<\/strong> Africa<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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 \u201cRumo a uma reforma legal inclusiva (Towards inclusive legal reform)\u201d explored key priorities for legal reform related to the rights of persons with disabilities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Discussions focused on the recently approved Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a catalyst for inclusive public services\u2014including digital access\u2014as 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Digital services and applications<\/strong>: Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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From 4 to 17 September 2025, Fiji\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The programme began with a Training of Trainers session at Rotuma High School\u2019s Smart Classroom, engaging teachers and community members in digital skills such as accessibility, financial inclusion, e-services, and online safety.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Together, these efforts marked a meaningful step towards inclusive digital transformation in Rotuma and the wider Pacific region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Emergency telecommunications:<\/strong> Asia and the Pacific<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Participants reviewed Samoa\u2019s early warning systems across four areas<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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