Recognizing WSIS Impacts

PP RESOLUTION 203 (Busan, 2014)

Connectivity to broadband networks

The Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union ( Busan, 2014),

• considering
  • a) the results of the extensive work of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development, the reports of which recognize, inter alia, that affordable and accessible broadband infrastructure, with appropriate policy and strategy, is a fundamental enabling platform that fosters innovation and drives the development of national and global economies and the information society;
  • b) Opinion 2 (Geneva, 2013) of the fifth World Telecommunication/Information and Communication Technology Forum, on fostering an enabling environment for the greater growth and development of broadband connectivity;
  • c) the overall theme of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (Dubai, 2014) (WTDC-14), namely “Broadband for Sustainable Development”;
  • d) the adoption, by WTDC-14, of new Resolution 77 (Dubai, 2014), on broadband technology and applications for greater growth and development of telecommunications/information and communication services and broadband connectivity, as well as revised Question 2/1, on broadband access technologies, including International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), for developing countries, and new Question 1/2, on creating the smart society: social and economic development through ICT applications;
  • e) Resolution 9 (Rev. Dubai, 2014) of WTDC, on participation of countries, particularly developing countries, in spectrum management, Resolution 10 (Rev. Hyderabad, 2010) of WTDC, on financial support for national spectrum-management programmes and Resolution 43 (Rev. Dubai, 2014) of WTDC, on assistance for implementing IMT,
• noting
  • a) that broadband connectivity empowers families, people, societies and businesses;
  • b) that broadband connectivity has the potential to bridge the digital divide;
  • c) that broadband connectivity can play a major role in providing vital information during emergency events and disaster relief efforts;
  • d) that many administrations have developed national broadband plans to enable broadband connectivity,
• recognizing
  • a) that connectivity to broadband networks is directly and indirectly enabled and supported by many diverse technologies, including fixed and mobile terrestrial technologies and fixed and mobile satellite technologies;
  • b) that spectrum is essential both for the direct provision of wireless broadband connectivity to users by satellite or terrestrial means and for the underlying enabling technologies,
• resolves to instruct the Director of the Radiocommunication and the Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureaux
  • 1 to continue to work closely with the Director of Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) on capacity building activities related to the development of national strategies to facilitate the deployment of broadband networks, including wireless broadband networks, taking into account existing budgetary constraints of the Union;
  • 2 to work in cooperation with Sector Members involved in the provision of services and applications to people, families, businesses and societal functions in order to address the need for further improved broadband networks, including wireless broadband networks, and to share relevant information, experience and expertise with BDT,
• invites Member States
  • 1 to further reinforce and recognize the overall socio-economic benefits of connectivity to broadband networks and services;
  • 2 to support the development and cost-effective deployment of wireless broadband networks as part of their national broadband strategies and policies;
  • 3 to facilitate connectivity to wireless broadband networks as one important component of enabling access to broadband services and applications.