The Dubai Action Plan adopted at the World Telecommunications Development Conference (WTDC-14) reaffirms ITU's commitment to the delivery of universal and affordable access to telecommunications and information and communication technologies (ICT). In adopting this blueprint for telecommunications/ICT development over the four years following the conference, the more than 1300 participating senior government officials, policy-makers, regulators, industry and civil society leaders from 137 countries renewed their pledge to eradicate digital exclusion.

Convened under the theme Broadband for Sustainable Development in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 March to 10 April 2014, the conference charted a course to accelerate and expand broadband uptake and digital literacy worldwide, particularly in the least developed countries, to enable their populations to access the benefits of digital inclusion. The message — one that resonated throughout the conference — was clear: in a world in which ICTs play an increasingly important role in socio-economic development and in building a knowledge-based information society, no one should be left offline, regardless of their circumstances or the remoteness of their place of origin. While recognizing the progress made in helping developing countries to harness the benefits ICTs since WTDC-10, the conference emphasized the need to close the remaining connectivity gaps between and within countries that condemn millions of people, particularly women, youth, children, indigenous people, and persons with disabilities, to digital exclusion.

The Dubai Action Plan is the culmination of the six regional preparatory meetings that took place in Chisinau, Moldova, for the Commonwealth of Independent States; Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for Asia-Pacific; Montevideo, Uruguay, for the Americas; Accra, Ghana, for Africa; Manama, Bahrain, for the Arab States; and Belgrade, Serbia, for Europe. The plan comprises a comprehensive package of activities in the area of telecommunications and information and communication technologies, including networks, applications and services. It is built around five core objectives that aim to:

1. foster international cooperation on telecommunication and ICT issues;
2. foster an enabling environment conducive to ICT development and the development of ICT networks as well as relevant applications and services, including bridging the standardization gap;
3. enhance confidence and security in the use of ICTs and the roll out of relevant applications and services;
4. build human and institutional capacity, promote digital inclusion and provide concentrated assistance to countries in special need;
5. enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation, and disaster management efforts through telecommunications and ICTs.

The Dubai Action Plan encompasses programmes, regional initiatives, study group Questions, resolutions and recommendations to be implemented over the four years following the conference, including facilitation of the relevant action lines of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

Another major outcome of the conference is the Dubai Declaration. The declaration highlights the main conclusions and priorities established at WTDC-14 and reinforces political support for ITU's development mission and strategic objectives. The Dubai Declaration states inter alia that "promoting and making available, 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".

This summary includes excerpts from WTDC-14 Highlights, Issue no. 10 (10 April 2014). You can view the full issue here.

For more information, visit the World Telecommunication Development (Dubai, 2014) web site.