What is World Telecommunication Day?

"Every year, on the 17th of May, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) celebrates World Telecommunication Day, commemorating its founding in Paris 132 years ago" (ITU).  The International Telecommunication Union is an international organisation within the United Nations System where governments, sector members and the private sector coordinate and guide the development of global telecommunication policy and services.  The CTU is a Sector Member of the ITU.

The CTU and World Telecommunication Day

In 2005 the CTU, the telecommunications policy organisation of CARICOM, began officially celebrating World Telecommunication Day in the Caribbean with a Symposium which was held in Trinidad and Tobago.  As a regional organisation, the CTU hosts conferences and training programmes within the different member states of CARICOM.  The year's World Telecommunication Day Symposium will be held at the Kingston Hilton in Jamaica from 17th - 19th May 2006.

WTD06

The launch of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) on 1st January 2006 was the influence for the theme of this Symposium, "ICTs: Facilitating Caribbean Integration".

The Caribbean is a significant growth area with enormous potential for advancement in information and communication technologies (ICTs).  ICTs are the computing and communications facilities and features which enable the management, processing and transmission of information.  These include communication devices, radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software and satellite systems.

The Caribbean Telecommunications Union is pleased that Cable and Wireless, a premier provider of communications services in the Caribbean and globally, is a lead sponsor of this Symposium.

This Symposium presents an opportunity for the region to be enlightened on the role which these technologies can play in integrating the region.

Many of the region's nations are committed to the central purpose of the CSME, which is economic, social and cultural integration among Caribbean countries.  The evolution of ICTs creates new opportunities for deepening the integration process.

The Symposium will explore the use of ICTs in fostering greater levels of cooperation through the sharing of the resources of the region while the exhibition will feature state of the art ICT equipment and services, which would reinforce the message of the theme.

Target Audience

Government officials, regional business executives, ICT providers and equipment manufacturers, educators, civil society and other stakeholders in the region will be present at this event.

Programme Overview

The Symposium will include presentations, case studies, discussions and workshops on the following topics:

• Regional Policy Policy Development for the Technological Age Harmonisation First beneficiaries of ICTs for Regional Integration The Internet
• Appropriate Technology The Wireless Explosion Marine Fibre Connectivity The Reality of IP Infrastructure
• Societal Impacts of ICTs Educating and Empowering Citizens in the Use of ICTs Avoiding Social Pitfalls of ICTs Communicating with Caribbean Neighbour Social and Cultural IT Networks
• Integration Strategies Expanding Business Transactions Regionally Changing the Outlook The Call for Seamless Infrastructure ICTs for Integrating Education - A Good Place to Start