In brief
At the start of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, Secretary‑General Doreen Bogdan‑Martin highlighted the widening digital divide and called for stronger international partnership to create secure, inclusive communication systems. She warned that no country could achieve resilience alone and urged delegates to plan for affordable, reliable connectivity. The conference, themed "Together for a connected digital future," will elect new ITU leaders and outline a four‑year strategic plan.
In Doha, the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference opened on Nov. 9 with Secretary‑General Doreen Bogdan‑Martin calling for stronger global cooperation to close the digital divide.
The assembly was attended by ITU members from around the world, who were briefed on the uneven stages of digital transformation that nations are entering. Bogdan‑Martin warned that while some countries have advanced digital infrastructures, others lag behind, and that this gap could widen during crises.
"No country, and no institution, can make those systems resilient, secure, and inclusive on its own," she said. (
"No country, and no institution, can make those systems resilient, secure, and inclusive on its own,"
—Doreen Bogdan‑Martin)
She urged delegates to focus on creating reliable communication networks that remain available in emergencies, to keep costs low, to enhance trust, and to navigate rapidly evolving technologies. The Secretary‑General emphasized that emerging tools are advancing faster than many institutions can adapt, stressing the need for shared best practices.
The conference, under the theme "Together for a connected digital future," will run through Nov. 27. Delegates will elect new ITU leadership and decide on the organization’s strategic and financial plans for the next four years.
During her remarks, Bogdan‑Martin highlighted that the ITU’s next mandate would involve pushing for measurable progress in connectivity, especially in underserved regions, aligning with global development goals. She called for transparent, data‑driven dialogue among member states to identify specific gaps and to pool resources whenever possible.
Diplomats and industry representatives stressed the importance of partnership, noting that resilience requires coordinated action and that market forces alone may not achieve universal access. The conference’s outcomes will shape the ITU’s role in shaping international policy, standard‑setting, and capacity building for communication technologies across the next four years.
As the global community converges in Doha, the ITU faces the task of translating its call for cooperation into concrete actions that can lift performance standards, lower barriers to entry, and foster a more inclusive digital ecosystem that benefits all members of society worldwide.
