ITU Telecom is part of the ITU, the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs. ITU Telecom organizes the global ITU Telecom World event, the platform for innovation showcasing, high-level debate, knowledge sharing and networking for the governments, industry leaders, small and medium enterprises and regulators that form part of the world's ICT community. The first ITU Telecom event was held in 1971. Since its fortieth anniversary in 2011, ITU Telecom World has been held on an annual basis in a different location worldwide. 2020's event will be ITU Digital World, taking place from 6–9 September in Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
History
In 1985, the ITU Telecom staged its first regional telecommunication exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region – Asia Telecom85. This was followed the next year by its first regional event in the Africa region – Africa Telecom86. Regional telecommunication exhibitions continued with the first such events in the Americas region – Americas Telecom 88 and in the Europe region - Europa Telecom 1992. Telecom events were held on a regional or global basis every year, adopting the ITU Telecom World name for the first time at the Geneva event in 2003. The final event to be held in this format was ITU Telecom World 2009 which was attended by over 2,250 VIPs, including UN Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon, Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers, Ambassadors, heads of regulatory agencies, and CEOs from around the world. Through a series of top-level roundtables, meetings and debates, the event addressed pressing issues such as climate change, global economic recovery and cybersecurity. Marking the 40th anniversary of the event, ITU Telecom World 2011 introduced a new format focused on facilitating knowledge sharing, networking, deal-making and consensus.building, with 6500 industry professionals taking part. ITU Telecom World 2012 took place in Dubai, where it was hosted by the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. The event moved to Bangkok, Thailand, for ITU Telecom World 2013, and to Doha, Qatar, for ITU Telecom World 2014.
ITU Telecom World 2015
ITU Telecom World 2015 took place from 12–15 October 2015 in Budapest, Hungary.
ITU Telecom World 2016
ITU Telecom World 2016 took place from 14–17 November in Bangkok, Thailand, on the central theme of Collaborating in the Digital Economy.
