Recognizing WSIS Impacts

Unless it acknowledges key characteristics of the Internet, the World Summit on the Information Society will easily undermine it

WTDC Resolution 80


WTDC RESOLUTION 80 (Dubai, 2014)

Establishing and promoting trusted information frameworks in developing countries to facilitate and encourage electronic information exchanges between economic partners

The World Telecommunication Development Conference (Dubai, 2014),

  • recalling
    • a) Resolution 135 (Rev. Guadalajara, 2010) of the Plenipotentiary Conference, on ITU’s role in the development of telecommunications/information and communication technologies (ICTs), in providing technical assistance and advice to developing countries and in implementing relevant national, regional and interregional projects;
    • b) Resolution 181 (Guadalajara, 2010) of the Plenipotentiary Conference, on definitions and terminology relating to building confidence and security in the use of ICTs;
    • c) Resolution 71 (Rev. Dubai, 2014) of this conference, on strengthening cooperation between Member States and Sector Members of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU‑D), including the private sector;
    • d) Resolution 74 (Hyderabad, 2010) of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC), on more effective adoption of e‑government services;
    • e) Resolution 50 (Rev. Dubai, 2014) of this conference, on optimal integration of ICTs;
    • f) Resolution 48 (Rev. Hyderabad, 2010) of WTDC, on strengthening cooperation among telecommunication regulators;
    • g) Resolution 54 (Rev. Dubai, 2014) of this conference, on ICT applications;
    • h) Resolution 45 (Rev. Dubai, 2014) of this conference, on mechanisms for enhancing cooperation on cybersecurity, including countering and combating spam,
  • considering
    • a) current difficulties in establishing business partnerships in developing countries;
    • b) the important role that national telecommunication/ICT policy can play in stimulating innovation and investment in new technologies;
    • c) the sovereign right of each country to establish its national telecommunication/ICT priorities and policies;
    • d) the importance of telecommunication networks and ICT infrastructure for economic development;
    • e) that the amount of electronic information being exchanged by developing countries at national and regional levels is low, but its development potential is undeniable;
    • f) the potential for broader access to a range of telecommunication/ICT applications and services that are readily available to facilitate economic development;
    • g) that the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) adopted specific action lines in its Plan of Action, including in particular:
      • – Action Line C1: The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
      • – Action Line C2: Information and communication infrastructure: An essential foundation for the information society
      • – Action Line C5: Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
      • – Action Line C6: Enabling environment
      • – Action Line C7: ICT applications: Benefits in all aspects of life,
  • noting
    • a) the adoption and implementation of the Hyderabad Action Plan (WTDC‑10), which incorporated provisions on the development of telecommunication/ICT services in developing countries through various programmes, in particular Programme 2 on cybersecurity, ICT applications and IP-based network-related issues and Programme 3 on the enabling environment;
    • b) that this conference has reaffirmed, in its Declaration and resolutions, a commitment to:
      • – foster international cooperation on telecommunication/ICT development issues;
      • – create an enabling environment conducive to telecommunication/ICT development;
      • – enhance confidence and security in the use of telecommunications/ICTs, and roll-out of relevant applications and services,
  • recognizing
    • a) that effective deployment and use of ICTs is an important factor in implementing social and economic development programmes, especially in developing countries;
    • b) the low level of electronic communications and economic information exchanges at the regional level within and between the developing countries;
    • c)that ICTs have helped to transform business models and organizational structures in countries and are thus a key asset for an enterprise or a country in becoming integrated into the new global economy;
    • d) that the establishment of trusted information frameworks between economic partners will increase confidence in, and encourage the use of, electronic information exchanges, and will be a key factor in future growth of the digital economy at the global level;
    • e) the work already being carried out by other international and private-sector organizations in the fields of trusted information frameworks and electronic commerce,
  • conscious
    • a) that the modernization of telecommunication networks and the development of services and applications associated with ICTs in these countries will be an important factor in their economic development and will offer them an opportunity to lay the foundations of an inclusive information society;
    • b) of the potential beneficial impact for developing countries of the establishment of trusted information frameworks to facilitate the exchange of electronic information in the world of business and, in particular, their importance to actors involved in the digital economy;
    • c) that the removal of existing obstacles to the development of electronic information exchanges in the developing countries depends on establishing trusted information frameworks that encourage the creation of new regional partnerships between administrations, businesses and individuals;
    • d) of the need to establish trusted information frameworks based on global standards and best practices to facilitate regional and international interoperability of electronic information exchange mechanisms,
  • resolves
    • that relevant ITU‑D and ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU‑T) study groups, to the extent possible, take into account the aims of this resolution in studies under Questions pertaining to ICT applications,
  • instructs the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau
    • 1 to act as a catalyst in enhancing international and regional cooperation among Member States, especially regarding the use of ICT applications and services to facilitate electronic information exchanges between economic partners;
    • 2 to invite Study Group 2 to take into account the aims of this resolution when studying the new Question on Creating the smart society: Social and economic development through ICT applications;
    • 3 to assist developing countries to take advantage of resources and services provided by the private sector and relevant organizations at the regional and international levels on global standards and best practices for establishing trusted information frameworks and mechanisms that facilitate electronic information exchanges between economic partners,
  • invites Member States and Sector Members
    • 1 to encourage the creation of an enabling framework for international and regional partnership in which countries identify their needs in terms of electronic exchanges of economic information, and assess the feasibility of associated operational and technical interoperability frameworks;
    • 2 to organize forums and workshops, at regional and international level, dealing with aspects of the development of trusted information frameworks for electronic exchange of economic information based on global standards and best practices.

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