Conroy joins global broadband boosting initiative

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 11 May 2010 12:11

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UNESCO have set up a 30 member commission, which includes Australia's communications minister, Stephen Conroy, to accelerate broadband rollout around the world and promote a wide range of applications.

Their 'Broadband Commission for Digital Development' will "define strategies for accelerating broadband rollout worldwide and examine applications that could see broadband networks improve the delivery of a huge range of social services, from healthcare to education, environmental management, safety and much more."

It will be co-chaired by president Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Carlos Slim Hélu, honorary lifetime chairman of Grupo Carso. ITU secretary-general Dr Hamadoun Touré and UNESCO Director-general, Ms Irina Bokova, will serve as joint vice chairs. The only representative of the broadband infrastructure vendor community is Ericsson CEO, Dr Hans Erik Vestberg. (A list of Commissioners confirmed as of 10 May 2010 can be found on the Broadband Commission website).

Under its terms of reference, the Commission will meet in Geneva mid-2010, and deliver its findings to the UN secretary-general in September, immediately before the UN summit in New York to review progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.

Its primary focus is "to define priorities and determine what is needed to deliver universal broadband for the benefit of all sectors and citizens...[to] examine how governments, in cooperation with the private sector, can lead the way in delivering a broadband infrastructure to support digital development as a platform for progress for every nation."

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