ITU Conference in Baku to Forge Global Digital Roadmap, Focusing on Universal Connectivity

ITU Conference in Baku to Forge Global Digital Roadmap, Focusing on Universal Connectivity

A significant focus of the discussions will be the digital development needs of the world’s least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing states (SIDS).

RMN News Technology Desk
November 20, 2025

Baku, Azerbaijan, November 17, 2025 – The World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) formally opened in Baku, Azerbaijan, gathering global leaders and decision-makers to shape the future of digital connectivity. Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and hosted by the Government of Azerbaijan, the conference is centered on the crucial push for universal, meaningful, and affordable connectivity.

Ministers and high-level government officials formally opened the event with statements focusing on how to ensure that everyone around the world benefits from digital technologies. The conference aims to provide people everywhere with high-quality Internet service at an affordable cost, whenever needed.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasized the urgency of the mission, stating, “We are in Baku to breathe new life into global digital development”. She noted that the WTDC will help create the conditions necessary to ensure that “no one [is] left behind in a world being reshaped by technology, faster than ever”.

The WTDC-25 will run from November 17 to November 28 and expects 1,500 delegates to participate. During the opening two days, over 65 Ministers and government delegates were scheduled to speak on digital development priorities during the High-Level Segment.

A significant focus of the discussions will be the digital development needs of the world’s least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing states (SIDS). This focus recognizes that digital transformation is deeply intertwined with economic development, gender, and geographic circumstances.

Rashad Nabiyev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport, delivered the opening remarks for the host nation, welcoming all participants and conveying the greetings and sincere wishes for a productive conference from the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev.

Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, framed the meeting as a vital opportunity to set future policy. “Sustainable digital transformation calls for bold, human-centred action,” he said. He described WTDC-25 as the opportunity “to forge the roadmap for digital development for the next four years,” acknowledging that while “remarkable progress has been made to connect the world,” more effort is needed to bridge remaining digital gaps, empower communities, and uplift lives.

The World Telecommunication Development Conference, which is held every four years, is tasked with setting work priorities for ITU’s Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D), adopting regional digital development initiatives, and approving formal technical questions for ITU-D Study Groups. Ultimately, WTDC-25 aims to adopt a new Declaration and Action Plan that will set out the agreed international approach to digital development for the 2026–2029 period.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations agency for digital technologies, established in 1865. It is dedicated to driving innovation for people and the planet, coordinating the global use of the radio spectrum, establishing international technology standards, and promoting universal connectivity.