World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2024: Theme, History, Significance

Every year 17 May is celebrated as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day and commemorates the establishment of International Telecommunication Union on 17 May 1865. Earlier, it was known and celebrated as ‘World Telecommunication Day’ but was later merged with World Information Society Day, also observed on May 17, to be recognized as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. WTISD also marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention.

The day is celebrated annually all around the globe after its proclamation in November 2006 by the International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey. The aim behind the observance is to raise awareness of the potential of the internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) in bringing societies and economies together by bridging the digital divide.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2024 Date

Here is the schedule of observing World Telecommunication and Information Society Day for the next 5 years.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2024 Overview

History of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is a merger of two very important days dedicated to World Telecommunication Day and World Information Society Day. Let us learn more about this history.

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World Telecommunication Day

The first major step towards recognition of the importance of telecommunication technology was taken in 1969. The day was celebrated initially as World Telecommunication Day and commemorated the creation of International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865.

World Information Society Day

Next breakthrough step was taken in 2005 when the World Summit on the Information Society requested the United Nations General Assembly to declare May 17 as World Information Society Day. It was then decided on March 2006 that every year May 17 will be observed as World Information Society Day.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

Again in November 2006, it was decided by the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference held in Antalya, Turkey to observe both World Telecommunication Day and World Information Society Day together and the event came to be known as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD). 68 Member States and Sector Members were invited to celebrate the day annually by holding appropriate national programs.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day Significance

The first World Telecommunication and Information Society Day was organized with the view to stimulate reflection and exchanges of ideas on the theme adopted by the Council and debate on the various aspects of the theme with all partners in society. And to this very day, the day holds the same significance and celebrates everything that the internet and other ICTs have done for the society and economies by closing the digital gap.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2024 Theme & Celebration

A theme is decided every year for celebrating World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. When WTISD was first celebrated in 2006, the theme was Advancing Global Cyber Security.

The theme of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2024 is “Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development.” The day urges companies and people promote universal connectivity and digital transformation.

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Impact of Telecommunications and Information Technology on Our Lives

Telecommunications and information technology have surely affected our lives and transformed it completely. The era of writing letters to each other would not have been over if it was not for technology. In this digital age, a day without electronics is certainly beyond imagination.

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