New ITU Development Roadmap Doesn’t Develop Content

UN members today announced a roadmap for global information and communications technology development with an emphasis on access to broadband high-speed internet and a range of online public services. But it appeared to steer clear of promoting local content development online, an issue often included in such work under increasing ICT convergence.

The 24 May to 4 June meeting in Hyderabad, India, of the International Telecommunication Union “World Telecommunication Development Conference” set the grounding for work over the next four years. According to ITU, the Hyderabad Action Plan creates five programmes of work in the areas of: information and communication infrastructure and technology development; cybersecurity, ICT applications and IP-based network-related issues; enabling environment; capacity-building and digital inclusion; and least developed countries, countries in special need, emergency telecommunications and adaptation to climate change.

The emphasis of the work ahead is on increasing access to knowledge, but neither the action plan nor the draft report of the conference appears to contain specific references to content or knowledge creation or protection, both issues that have been circulating at the ITU this year.

WTDC-10 Action Plan and draft Report available here.