The World Telecommunications and Information Society Day is held every year on 17 May to raise awareness about the use of technology and the importance it plays in the current scenario. Formally the day was celebrated as World Telecommunications Day, it renamed on 2006 as World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD).
During this COVID-19 crisis, the need for using telecommunication has strongly been highlighted as the entire world is dependent on it to stay connected and be informed. Work from home, a text or call to your loved ones, conference video chat with your friends, all this is possible because of the advanced telecommunication. This pandemic has given us more reason why this day should be celebrated.
HISTORY
The date marks the anniversary of ITU 's founding on 17 May 1865, when the first International Telegraph Convention in Paris was signed. In 1973 the event was formally established in Malaga-Torremolinos, Spain, at the ITU Plenipotentiary Meeting.
In 2005 the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) called on the General Assembly of the United Nations to recognize 17 May as the World Day of the Information Society (WISD). The objective was to concentrate on the relevance of these developments, as well as the broad range of related social and economic concerns that the summit had posed.
In March 2006, the United Nations General Assembly agreed that the World Information Society Day (WISD) will also be held on 17 May each year. Later in 2006, in Antalya, Turkey, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference agreed to merge all celebrations as a World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD).
SIGNIFICANCE
Today, because of the evolution of technology, the world is different, the times have changed. We are in an information society where information is the most important aspect of society.
The day is celebrated to help raise awareness of benefits that can be provided to communities and economies by the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs), as well as ways to address the digital divide.
THEME
This year's theme is "Connect 2030: ICTs for Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs)" which emphasizes developments in ICT for the transition to smart and sustainable growth. It will focus on specific solutions allowed by ICTs and emerging trends to promote cultural, environmental and social sustainability.
The Connect 2030 Agenda is a common global vision for Telecommunications / ICT sector growth. Within its five strategic objectives-development, inclusiveness, sustainability, creativity and partnership.
The SDGs acknowledge that there is tremendous potential for the dissemination of information and communication technologies and global interconnectedness to drive human development and bridge the digital divide.
