High-level Segment
Programme
Date and time: 11 July 2023, 11:00 – 17:45
Location: Popov Room, ITU Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland
Audience: Open to all registered Council participants.
| 11:00 – 11:10 | Opening of the High-level Segment Remarks by: Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, ITU |
| 11:10 – 12:30 | Panel 1 – Ensuring universal meaningful connectivity for all (Part 1) One of the core objectives of the ITU is to achieve universal and meaningful connectivity. Today, mere connectivity is not sufficient. Connectivity has to be meaningful to allow users to have a safe, satisfying, enriching, and productive online experience at an affordable cost. How can the ITU enable and foster universal access to affordable, high quality, resilient, sustainable and secure telecommunications/ICTs? This panel will discuss and share innovative connectivity solutions, business models, and the approaches required to close the coverage and usage gaps, while ensuring universal and meaningful connectivity. A lot more has to be done to increase digital inclusion and close the digital divide in all countries, regions and for all humanity. The hurdles include access, adoption, affordability, and awareness of the need to be connected. In addition, how can policymakers and regulators make digital skills pervasive? Media literacy is as critical as providing connectivity. Moderator Thomas Schneider, Ambassador and Director of International Relations, Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), Switzerland Panellists – H.E. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister, Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, Ghana – H.E. Hiroshi Yoshida, Vice Minister for Policy Coordination, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan – H.E. Eliud O. Owalo, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, Kenya – Jacek Oko, President of National Regulatory Authority, Poland – Valeriu Zgonea, President, National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM), Romania – H.E. Mohammed Al-Tamimi, Governor, Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), Acting CEO of the Saudi Space Agency (SSA), Saudi Arabia – H.E. Mondli Gungubele, Minister, Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies, South Africa – Bernard Maissen, Director General, Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), Switzerland – H.E. Nape Nnauye, Minister, Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology, Tanzania – Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruek, Chairman, National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), Thailand |
| 12:30 – 14:00 | Lunch break |
| 14:00 – 14:45 | Meet the Robots! An opportunity for participants to get a first-hand glimpse of human-robot collaboration with robots from the “AI for Good Summit” and their developers as panelists in this session (interpretation will not be available during this part). |
| 15:00 – 15:15 | Keynote – Our common agenda Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, United Nations (joining virtually) |
| 15:15 – 16:15 | Panel 2 – Ensuring universal meaningful connectivity for all (Part 2) One of the core objectives of the ITU is to achieve universal and meaningful connectivity. Today, mere connectivity is not sufficient. Connectivity has to be meaningful to allow users to have a safe, satisfying, enriching, and productive online experience at an affordable cost. How can the ITU enable and foster universal access to affordable, high quality, resilient, sustainable and secure telecommunications/ICTs? This panel will discuss and share innovative connectivity solutions, business models, and the approaches required to close the coverage and usage gaps, while ensuring universal and meaningful connectivity. A lot more has to be done to increase digital inclusion and close the digital divide in all countries, regions and for all humanity. The hurdles include access, adoption, affordability, and awareness of the need to be connected. In addition, how can policymakers and regulators make digital skills pervasive? Media literacy is as critical as providing connectivity. Moderator Notachard Chintakanond, Executive Director of International Affairs Bureau, National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), Thailand Panellists – H.E. Grigory Grigorov, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Bulgaria – Chaofeng Xu, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China – H.E. K Rajaraman, Chairman, Digital Communication Commission (DCC) & Secretary, Department of Telecommunication, Ministry of Communications, India – Mira Tayyiba, Secretary-General, Ministry of Communications and Informatics, Indonesia – H.E. William Nwankwo Alo, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Nigeria – H.E. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Uganda |
| 16:15 – 16:30 | Coffee break |
| 16:30 – 17:30 | Panel 3 – Navigating the frontiers of emerging technologies: Opportunities and concerns This panel brings together distinguished ministers and policy makers to delve into the transformative potential of emerging technologies such as 6G, artificial intelligence, space technologies, quantum technology, metaverse, and others. The panel will focus on highlighting the opportunities these technologies offer across sectors and explore strategies to maximize their benefits. Additionally, the discussion will address concerns, with attention given to the responsible development and deployment of these technologies (especially AI), and its impact on society. Through insightful conversations, the panel aims to chart a path towards responsible and inclusive adoption of these technologies. Moderator Irene Kaggwa, Executive Director, Uganda Communications Commission, Uganda Panellists – H.E. Deepak Balgobin, Minister, Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Mauritius – H.E. Ivan John Enrile Uy, Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippines – H.E. Nathaniel C. Fick, Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy, United States Department of State, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, United States |
| 17:30 – 17:45 | Closing |
| 18:00 – 20:00 | Secretary General’s cocktail reception Montbrillant cafeteria |
Panel1 – Moderator: Thomas Schneider, Ambassador and Director of International Relations, Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), Switzerland
Panel2 – Moderator: Notachard Chintakanond, Executive Director of International Affairs Bureau, National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), Thailand
Panel3 – Moderator: Irene Kaggwa, Executive Director, Uganda Communications Commission, Uganda
