In brief
At the opening of ITU’s 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, Secretary‑General Doreen Bogdan‑Martin highlighted the uneven pace of digital transformation worldwide and called for concerted action to build resilient, reliable, and affordable network infrastructure. She warned that no single country can secure resilient systems alone, and urged members to tackle affordability, relevance, trust, and adaptation to emerging technologies.
At the opening of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha on November 9, Secretary‑General Doreen Bogdan‑Martin called for unprecedented levels of international cooperation to bridge the digital divide and ensure resilient communication networks. Speaking under the theme “Together for a connected digital future,” Bogdan‑Martin said that countries are entering the next phase of digital transformation from vastly different starting points, and that no single nation or institution can make those systems resilient, secure, and inclusive on its own.
Unequal Digital Maturity Across Nations
The Secretary‑General highlighted the stark disparities in digital readiness between developed and developing economies. While some countries have mature 5G and fiber‑optic infrastructure, others still rely primarily on copper lines and satellite links. Bogdan‑Martin warned that without rapid, coordinated progress, the digital divide will widen, hampering economic development, education, and access to essential services. She emphasized that the resilience of communication networks – their ability to remain operational during crises such as natural disasters or cyberattacks – is a shared global responsibility that depends on robust, interoperable standards and shared best practices.
“No country, and no institution, can make those systems resilient, secure, and inclusive on its own,” Bogdan‑Martin said.
She added that resilience is not solely a technical issue; it also involves affordability, relevance, and trust. Communication networks must be affordable for both providers and end users, relevant to local communities, and trustworthy enough to safeguard privacy and data integrity. The Secretary‑General urged delegates to address how to expand meaningful connectivity, make technology more affordable, relevant, and trustworthy, and help countries navigate emerging technologies that are advancing faster than institutions can adapt.
Call for Joint Action and Strategic Planning
Bogdan‑Martin’s remarks set the tone for the conference, which will run through November 27 and culminate in the election of new ITU leadership and the adoption of a strategic and financial plan for the next four years. She called for a collaborative approach that includes standardization, shared investment, and knowledge transfer, especially in light of the rapid evolution of technologies such as 6G, edge computing, and quantum-secure communications. Her emphasis on joint action reflects the ITU’s role as a global regulator and facilitator of worldwide connectivity.
Delegates at the conference are expected to discuss concrete measures for improving network resilience during crises, developing affordable broadband solutions for underserved regions, and establishing trust frameworks around emerging technologies. The ITU’s strategic agenda will likely address these priorities, with an eye toward achieving a more inclusive digital future for all member states.
