KATHMANDU, May 17: Countries around the world are observing World Telecommunication and Information Society Day today, organizing various programs, with a focus on expanding digital access and narrowing the digital divide.
Infographic: From Digital Divide to Digital Dividends
The day is marked every year on May 17 to raise awareness about the positive social and economic changes that can be achieved through the use of the internet and information and communication technology (ICT), while also promoting efforts to reduce digital inequality.
The term “digital divide” refers to the gap between individuals, communities, or regions that have access to information and communication technologies such as the internet, computers, and smartphones, and those that do not. It includes disparities in internet connectivity, digital literacy, access to online education, and opportunities to obtain information.
A clear example of this divide can be seen when people in urban areas can easily use the internet and online services, while those living in remote villages remain cut off from such facilities.
International Telecommunication Union first began observing World Telecommunication Day in 1969. The date commemorates the founding of the ITU and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865.
The day received formal recognition in 1973, when the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference held in Málaga and Torremolinos adopted Resolution No. 46.
Similarly, the World Summit on the Information Society in 2005 urged the United Nations General Assembly to declare May 17 as World Information Society Day. The General Assembly adopted the proposal in 2006, deciding that the day would be observed annually to draw attention to information society issues and the importance of digital technology.
According to the United Nations, the main objective of the day is to spread awareness about the opportunities that internet and ICT can create for society and the economy, while fostering an environment where all citizens can be connected through digital access.
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