ITU celebrates 160 years of global connectivity, pioneering digital innovation - ITREALMS

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The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency for digital technologies, proudly marks its 160th anniversary, commemorating a legacy of connecting the world since its founding on May 17, 1865, reports ITREALMS.

This milestone, ITREALMS gathered, coincides with the annual World Telecommunication and Information Society Day on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

ITU: Winner of Emmy Award for HDR-TV standard - ITREALMS

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The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has won the Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Award for the development of a radiocommunication standard for High Dynamic Range Television (HDR-TV), reports ITREALMS.

The award, given by the Television Academy, recognizes the groundbreaking work done by engineers and other experts within ITU Radiocommunication Study Group 6 to develop a global HDR-TV standard that provides viewers with an enhanced visual experience.

ITU sets agenda for digital financial roadmap

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As from tomorrow, the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Focus Group on Digital Financial Services (FG-DFS) meets in Washington DC, to set agenda for digital financial services roadmap, reports ITRealms.

The three-day meeting slated to last between Wednesday 27 and Friday 29 April, 2016, ITRealms gathered would discuss key elements of a global roadmap it is developing to help telecom and financial services regulators and operators around the world use digital and mobile technologies to address the issues around financial exclusion.

In addition, ITRealms gathered that after months of research and investigation, each of the four Working Parties will unveil their initial findings and recommendations for the Focus Group to discuss, review and approve.

ITRealms recollects that ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies, driving innovation in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) together with 193 Member States and a membership of over 700 private sector entities and academic institutions.

Established over 150 years ago in 1865, ITU pride itself as the intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoting international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, improving communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishing the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems.

Some of the burning issues on the table for ITU, ITRealms gathered includes broadband networks to cutting-edge wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, oceanographic and satellite-based earth monitoring as well as converging fixed-mobile phone, Internet and broadcasting technologies.

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ITU takes ICT regulators to Egypt for symposium

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The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has concluded plans this year to take its prestigious annual Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) to Egypt, reports ITRealms.

GSR 2016, ITRealms gathered is the world’s pre-eminent assembly of the global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) regulatory community.

ITU in a press statement made available to ITRealms says it decided to take GSR slated between May 11 and14 2016, at the Red Sea Resort of Sharm el-Sheikh at the invitation of the Government of Egypt,

The GSR-16, ITRealms reports would welcome world-class speakers with a dynamic programme focused around the theme of ‘Be Empowered, Be Included: Building Blocks for Smart Societies in a Connected World’. 

ITRealms further gathered that the symposium would be chaired by Mostafa Abd El-Wahed, Acting Chairman of the National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Egypt (NTRA).

Equally, ITRealms recalls that ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies, driving innovation in ICTs together with 193 Member States and a membership of over 700 private sector entities and academic institutions.

Established over 150 years ago in 1865, ITU is the intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoting international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, improving communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishing the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems.

From broadband networks to cutting-edge wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, oceanographic and satellite-based earth monitoring as well as converging fixed-mobile phone, Internet and broadcasting technologies, ITU is committed to connecting the world. 

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ITU grants standards for advanced audio broadcasting technology

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The membership of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has granted approval for open standards, in line with the recommendation ITU-R BS.2088-0, aimed at delivering advanced sound for broadcasting services that will create a listening experience that is closer to real life, reports ITRealms.

The new global standards will facilitate the production and exchange of advanced audio files by allowing a single file to carry a complete audio programme containing audio samples as well as metadata for any combination of object, channel and scene-based audio. The new file format was developed based on the existing and widely used Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF) or Waveform Audio File Format (WAVE/WAV) Filename extension file format in order to facilitate its application and implementation.

ITRealms reports that sound have become an indispensable part of television and radio, just as in real life, experts say, man hear sound from all around; a bird above us, a car behind us, and a voice ahead of us. 

ITU in a press statement made available to ITRealms also noted that emulating this same experience in the media will be ‘immersive audio’. 

“Coupled with new high quality Ultra High Definition Television (UHDTV), which offers enhanced image rendition, immersive audio will lift the television experience to an entirely new level, further blurring the line between physical reality and virtual or digital simulation,” part of the press statement read.

Future technical capabilities for audio, ITU said, will allow viewers to select their own menu of services. “They will be able to decide on and adjust the level of immersive sound in their living rooms, creating dynamic sound imaging,”

ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao was quoted as saying that these features become possible with ‘object based coding’, which will allow viewers to personalize their viewing and listening experience ‘at the point of consumption’.

This, he said, could include setting language and dialogue levels and selecting different aspects or sections of programming, which could also bring added benefits for people with disabilities.

“The ITU global standard for immersive audio sets an important step for an exciting new age of ‘sound’ for broadcasting,” Zhao said stressing that the advanced audio systems will provide additional features and performance well beyond those available today.

For the Director, ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, François Rancy, the role that sound plays in the media is under-estimated, pointed out that “The work of ITU, along with other standards bodies, is creating a very exciting future for audio production, delivery and programming.”

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Nigerian SolarKobo wins ITU Young Innovators Competition

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SolarKobo, a startup, invented by young Ogbonnaya Bassey emerged winner out of a pool of 124 applications across 34 countries in an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organised Young Innovators Competition ITRealms reports.

  

Bassey is joint winner with Ugur Can Bastik, a young entrepreneur from Turkey who built TactiX, a tactile smartphone for the blind. They have both been invited to attend the Intel-sponsored in Budapest, Hungary between October 12-15, 2015 for an opportunity to pitch their ideas, participate in workshops, benefit from a year of ongoing mentorship, and win seed funding.

ITU Telecom World is a global event which brings together policy makers, regulators, industry leaders, SMEs and entrepreneurs to explore accelerating ICT innovations for social and economic development. The Young Innovators Competition is an integral part of the event which recognizes gifted young entrepreneurs who have ideas for innovative social enterprises, as a result of development challenges

SolarKobo, ITRealms gathered, is an innovation that will allow small businesses and families benefit from solar systems for relatively low monthly fees and will use single board devices for remote monitoring and customer payment systems. This will be achieved through the provision of solar powered systems with zero-upfront financing in Nigeria as a cheaper, more reliable and cleaner electricity source than the private gasoline generators which are widely used to supplement the insufficient public electricity supply.

Bassey said, “Most of the ingredients for our success exist. The need is critical, the demand for our solution is proven, the technology is tested and we have a sustainable model. We applied to the Young Innovators Competition to create awareness for our cause, get seed funding, investment, mentorship, and access to help from Intel in developing smarter systems.”

ITU Secretary-General,  Houlin Zhao, said,  “These talented young people have made great use of ICTs to meet a wide range of development goals, and their innovations have the potential to impact lives for the better. Start-ups such as these have a key role to play within our ICT ecosystem and I am very pleased that ITU Telecom World 2015 is providing them the global platform to showcase their innovations.

The Vice President and General Manager, Governments and World Ahead, Intel Corporation, Gordon Graylish, ITRealms learnt, said about the competition: “We are extremely honoured to be part of such a great initiative. We are even more impressed with the fantastic work from the young innovators. As a company, we are always looking to work with the brightest minds to make a positive impact, develop new technologies and make a difference. Part of this is creating new jobs in ICT and helping these fresh ideas to thrive. The brilliant ideas put forward – whether it is helping the blind to communicate in a digital world or encouraging more people to use solar power.

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Daudu to address Commonwealth countries in London

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The Chairman-designate of the forthcoming World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), Mr. Festus Daudu, would address Commonwealth country representatives meeting in London on 7 - 9 October 2015, ahead of the treaty conference organised under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union, reports ITRealms.

WRC, ITRealms gathered has been slated for November 2 through 27, 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland.

A press statement from Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO) endorsed by Marcel Belingue, quoted Mr. Daudu as reacting to the invitation thus:

“It is good to see that whilst there have been WRC preparatory events held in each region, the CTO is also enabling consultations to take place across regions by holding a Commonwealth preparation event. This will no doubt contribute to securing greater consensus on contentious issues when the international community meets in Geneva,” Mr Daudu said.

Also speaking, the CTO Secretary-General, Mr. Shola Taylor welcomed Mr Daudu’s planned contribution to the London meeting.

“Seeking as much consensus among Commonwealth countries from different regions ahead of WRC-15 is part of a greater coordination effort by the CTO to ensure views and concerns from different regions are better understood and more effectively addressed, and we are particularly honoured that Mr Daudu will join our discussions next week,” Taylor said.

Equally confirmed to be at the London event is Aboubakar Zourmba who chaired the WRC Conference Preparatory Meeting over the past four years.

ITRealms further gathered that the meeting hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the three-day London event would address a wide range of issues across a number of sector interests.

Key areas of the WRC-2015 include future availability of spectrum for mobile broadband including the second digital dividend; the use of fixed-satellite services for the control of unmanned aircraft; global flight tracking; earth stations on mobile platforms; and other satellite regulatory issues. 

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ITU recognizes political leadership in achieving SDG via ICTs

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Raising from the global launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has emphasized the vital role that information and communication technology (ICT) in meeting the new SDG at a special award ceremony held in the United Nations (UN) headquarters, New York, Saturday by honouring nine distinguished contributors to exceptional leadership.

ITRealms reports that ITU used the occasion to officially recognized these Heads of State and Heads of Government for their efforts to improve access to ICT networks and services, stressing that the celebration of the power of information and communications technology to drive the global 2030 development agenda.

ITRealms also reports that the ICTs in Sustainable Development Award re-affirms ITU’s commitment to enabling development through ICTs.

Chief, Media Relations and Public Information at ITU, Sarah Parkes informed ITRealms that recipients of the prestigious award include Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Mr Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji; Mr Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Gabonese Republic; Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya; and Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Others include Mr Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda; General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand; Mr Tabaré Vázquez, President of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay and Mr Meltek Sato Kilman Livtuvanu, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu.

Parkes equally said the award was conferred by ITU Secretary-General, Mr. Houlin Zhao at a gala dinner hosted by the Global Sustainability Foundation (GSF), which celebrated ITU’s role in ‘Connecting the World’. Speakers at the event heralded the catalytic role that ICTs play in the achievement of the SDGs. 

In addition, Zhao said the leaders recognized at this event set the benchmark for improving access, affordability and application of ICTs to drive socio-economic development.

“With the international community on the brink of agreeing a bold 2030 agenda, it is clear ICTs have a fundamental role to play in the achievement of the new Sustainable Development Goals. ITU will be doing everything in its power to support our members – both government and private industry – in driving sustainable development through ICTs, and will work tirelessly to ensure the benefits of ICTs are available and accessible to all the world’s people,” he said.

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