A Message to the Twenty-First Century
For many people born in the 1970s or later, it is hard to imagine life without computers, the Internet or mobile phones. But that was the decade when information and communication technologies (ICT) began to advance and spread rapidly. The question was: how could ITU demonstrate the latest trends to the national administrations and private companies among its members? An answer was found in 1971 when ITU organized in Geneva the first, experimental, World Telecommunication Exhibition, or TELECOM 71, under the theme of A Message to the Twenty-First Century.
Altogether, 250 exhibitors presented a wide range of telecommunication equipment, and there were some 70,000 visitors. One striking demonstration featured a message sent into Space and transmitted via three satellites of the INTELSAT network, through Japan, the United States, and back to Geneva in seven-tenths of a second.
Around the Regions
In 1973, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Malaga-Torremolinos decided that TELECOM would continue, in collaboration with ITU member countries. Two more events took place in Geneva in 1975 and 1979. Then, in 1982, the Plenipotentiary Conference in Nairobi added a new dimension by deciding that specialized TELECOM exhibitions should be held in different countries with a focus on the telecommunication infrastructure needs of each region.
The first regional TELECOM was subsequently organized in Singapore in 1985, and six more events were held in Asia at four-year intervals. Beginning in 1986, a similar series of regional TELECOM gatherings took place in the Africa and Americas regions, and one was held in 1992 in Budapest for the Europe region.
World Focus
Meanwhile, Geneva continued to host World TELECOM exhibitions. In 2010, recognizing the growing importance of globalized markets and services, the Plenipotentiary Conference in Guadalajara made another important change. It decided that TELECOM would be redesigned as a single, global event, held annually. Also, its venue would rotate among the world regions.
The first of these TELECOM gatherings took place in Geneva in 2011, followed by Dubai, Bangkok, Doha, Budapest, and Bangkok again in 2016. The format focused on networking, sharing of knowledge, and high-level debate. In addition, the event was opened up to remote participants around the globe
Supporting Development
TELECOM is designed for the benefit of the ITU membership, but as as a semi-commercial organization, it also generates income. The Plenipotentiary Conferences in Kyoto (1994) and Minneapolis (1998) decided that a significant part of any profits should be used for telecommunication development projects, primarily in least-developed countries.
Funds generated by TELECOM led to the establishment of centres of excellence for the development of human resources. They have also been allocated for improving infrastructure, such as modernization of the Pan-African Telecommunications Network (PANAFTEL). In addition, seed funding has been provided to communities for projects such as tele-education in India and Morocco, and the building of multipurpose telecentres in Africa.
Continuing connections
In 2015, TELECOM World in Budapest saw the inauguration of another new way to show appreciation of the best in information and communication technologies. The ITU Telecom World Awards recognise the most innovative and successful small and medium-sized enterprises exhibiting at each event, and which provide real social impact.
The awards reflect the principles that have always underpinned TELECOM. At the first event in 1971, ITU Secretary-General Mohamed Mili said that all who had visited the exhibition “were able to appreciate the fundamental role played by ITU in the spectacular evolution of telecommunication techniques and in the rapid expansion of the world network to which it has made such a large contribution.”
Fruitful connections between governments, industry and the wider world will continue to be fostered at TELECOM, as they are by ITU as a whole.
