World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is celebrated each year on 17 May to remind the world of the vision of the World Summit on the Information Society to build “a people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented information society” based on fundamental human rights.

This year the theme of the day is “Accelerating Digital Transformation in challenging times.” The whole world is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic and several countries are under lockdown. At this tough time, people are working from home and this is possible due to the internet.

This day helps raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, and ways to bridge the digital divide.

WTISD 2021 celebrations – taking place virtually as part of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) this year – will showcase how governments, companies, and academia can work together to improve global telecommunication resilience and strengthen information and communication technologies (ICTs) for future crises.  

WTISD 2021 is an opportunity for ITU membership to continue to push for digital transformation by promoting national strategies on ICT development, and smart policies to encourage investments, cooperation, and partnership.