Stage set for world telecom meet in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: A meeting here, beginning Monday, of global telecom experts will adopt the Hyderabad Action Plan that will set the agenda for development of telecommunication and information and communication technologies (ICT) over the next four years.

Over 700 delegates from across the world will attend the fifth world telecommunication development conference being organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a leading United Nations agency for ICT issues.

Ministers, heads of international organisations, development banks and regulatory agencies, and CEOs of private sector companies will attend the event which will continue till June 4.

This is the first time that India is hosting the conference which was first held in 1994 in Buenos Aires.

As part of the massive security arrangements for the conference, the Cyberabad police Sunday took control of the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) located in Hitec City, the IT district.

According to Geneva-based ITU, the conference will focus on the strategy for the growth of ICT and will adopt strategies to bring the benefits of ICT to all communities in all regions of the world.

An open and constructive dialogue on the future of the ICT sector and its contribution to social and economic development will focus on issues like broadband connectivity, digital broadcasting, open source software, cyber security, e-accessibility for people with disabilities, e-applications, including health, human capacity building, emergency communications and ICT policy and regulation.

A World Telecommunication Development Report will be released on May 25. Three ITU case studies will be released the next day.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology A. Raja will lead the Indian delegation at the conference. P.J. Thomas, secretary, department of telecommunications and chairman, Telecom Commission and other top Indian officials will also attend the event.

ITU's membership includes 191 member states and more than 700 sector-members and associates.