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This week, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is in Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF) to discuss solutions to bringing internet to all the world’s people at a special session of the Broadband Commission and the World Economic Forum.
In December 2018, the internet reached it’s ”50-50 moment,” where, for the first time ever, more than half of the global population had access to the internet. With the achievement of this important milestone, we are confronted with new connectivity challenges that will need to be addressed through innovative approaches and strong partnerships.
This years’ co-hosted special program of the Broadband Commission and the World Economic Forum will gather government representatives, leaders in business, civil society and academia aiming to discuss the following:
How to keep countries digitally competitive in the 4th Industrial Revolution?
How to support the other 50% in achieving 100% connectivity?
How to ensure our generation is ready to be safe and productive in a digital environment?
What policy-environment will be necessary to support these connectivity challenges?
The Special Session will be attended by​ Vice Co-Chair ITU Secretary-General Mr. Houlin Zhao, and other Commissioners including: CEO of The World Bank Group Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, President and CEO of Nokia Corporation Mr. Rajeev Suri, President & CEO of World Childhood Foundation Dr. Joanna Rubinstein, Group Chief Executive Officer Operations Mr. Scott Gegenheimer, Director General of Swiss Federal Office of Communications Switzerland Mr. Philipp Metzger, Director General of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA) Mr. Mats Granryd, Minister of Digital Economy and Communication Benin H.E. Ms Aurelie Adam-Soule Zoumarou, Head of Novartis Foundation Dr. Ann Aerts, CEO of Samena Telecommunications Council Mr. Bocar Ba, President of Office of Electronic Communications Poland Mr. Marcin Cichy, Minister of Digital Economy and Society Thailand Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Executive Director International Trade Centre (ITC) Ms. Arancha González, ​Director of the UN Global Pulse Mr Robert Kirkpatrick, Senior Director Technology Policy Microsoft Mr. Paul Mitchell, Group President and CEO of Mobile Telephone Networks (MTN) Group Limited Mr. Rob Shuter, ​CEO of Intelsat Mr. Stephen Spengler, and Administrator of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Mr. Achim Steiner.
The discussion at the special session will be divided around four break-out groups:
Enabling Smart Ecosystems
The Push to 100% Connectivity
Raising a 4th Industrial Revolution Ready Generation
A Policy Environment for a Post 50-50 World
