The UK has announced its candidacy for a seat on the governing council of the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with the election scheduled for September 2022.
The ITU is responsible for allocating global radio spectrum and satellite orbital resources used by technologies such as mobile phones and GPS navigation systems.
In addition to spectrum management, the ITU develops the technical standards that underpin information and communication technologies (ICTs) worldwide.
One familiar example of ITU coordination is the introduction and maintenance of international telephone country codes (for instance, +44 for the UK), which make cross-border calling possible.
John Whittingdale, the Minister for Media and Data, said the UK has long been active in ITU work, noting, “We are running for a seat on the council so that we can champion the innovation of tomorrow across the globe and use it to tackle the world’s biggest challenges.”
A seat on the ITU’s governing council would enable the UK to support the organisation’s mission of connecting people worldwide while addressing critical issues in the telecoms, technology and space sectors. Key priorities include managing the rising demand for radio spectrum driven by new wireless technologies and narrowing the global digital divide by expanding access to ICTs.
If elected to a four-year term, the UK would aim to reinforce its commitment to boosting prosperity in developing countries through digital inclusion and fostering collaboration among the ITU’s 193 member states.
“We share the ITU’s vision of connecting the world,” Whittingdale added, “and believe our expertise in science and technology can help turn that vision into reality.”
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