World Telecommunication and Information Society Day: Bridging the digital divide for a smarter future
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), celebrated every year on May 17. The theme for this year emphasises 'Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development,' highlighting how cutting-edge technologies can drive inclusivity, empower communities, and address global challenges.
In a world where connectivity has become a fundamental human need, it serves as a powerful reminder of the role telecommunications and digital tools play in shaping economies, education, healthcare, governance, and daily life. As AI, 5G, blockchain, and IoT continue to revolutionise industries, this day urges stakeholders—governments, private sectors, and civil societies—to ensure that these advancements are inclusive and accessible to all.
The day highlights the importance of strengthening broadband infrastructure, promoting digital literacy, and supporting policies that close the digital divide. Equally vital is cybersecurity and data privacy, especially in an era where digital footprints are rapidly expanding. This day also stresses the need for responsible innovation that upholds human rights, environmental sustainability, and ethical AI development.
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Time of India
17-05-2025
- Time of India
India to lead in shaping 6G technology regulations, says Jyotiraditya Scindia
Jyotiraditya Scindia (Photo- ANI) Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday said that India is poised to play a leading role in formulating global regulations for 6G technology, as the country continues to accelerate its presence in the global telecommunications landscape under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'A telecommunication revolution is rapidly unfolding across the globe, and India is at the forefront of this movement,' Scindia said while addressing an event on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day as reported PTI. Highlighting the country's rapid strides in digital infrastructure, Scindia noted, 'The rollout of 5G technology has taken place, and in just 22 months, the information revolution has reached 82 per cent of the population across 99 percent of districts in the country. India will take the lead in shaping the upcoming 6G technology regulations .' The minister also emphasized the transformative efforts underway within India Post, which he described as one of the largest logistics and distribution networks globally, with 1.64 lakh (164,000) post offices and 2.5 lakh (250,000) postal workers. 'New services are being introduced in the postal system. In 2008, I designed the logo for the Department of Posts, with the slogan 'Postal Service is Public Service.' Every postal worker operates with this spirit. India will continue to lead the telecom revolution ,' said Scindia, who previously served as Minister of State for Communications during the first UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, observed on May 17, aims to raise global awareness about the impact of the internet and digital technologies on society and to promote efforts to bridge the digital divide. Responding to recent public sentiment surrounding international geopolitics, Scindia commented on the citizen-led boycott of Turkiye and Azerbaijan following their support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. 'This is the will of the people. The nation comes first,' he stated. 'The boycott is an emotional decision taken by the people of the nation. Citizens have made this decision voluntarily. The nation comes first, and no citizen will compromise when it comes to national interest and security,' Scindia added. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Time of India
WTD 2025: Gender equality - A prerequisite for digital transformation
India's quest for transforming into Viksit Bharat by 2047 is predicated on a few flagship policies and programs. Considering the rapid pace of digitalisation across every sphere of human endeavour, one of these is the Digital India – launched in 2015, that envisions ubiquitous digital infrastructure, provision of digital services, and last but not least, digital empowerment of the citizens. As per Kantar and IAMAI, India has almost 900 million Internet users, with women comprising 47% of users. According to GSMA's Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025, 84% of adult males in India have a mobile but only 71% of females have one. In case of smartphones, the skew is even more pronounced – 58% versus 36%. No wonder, females account for almost 60% of all the shared device users in the country, accessing the Internet using devices owned by others. According to Innovating for the Next Half Billion (NHB), there is a widespread fear that smartphones will expose women to 'bad influences' and lead to harassment or even broken marriages. Many women have self-restricted their desire for phones and use of the internet, based on such internalisation. Almost 13% of Indian women who own a smartphone do not use mobile Internet and two-thirds are not even aware of it. UNICEF's report, Bridging the Gender Digital Divide, had similar findings in terms of ownership and usage gaps across genders but also highlighted that for every 100 male youth with digital skills, only 65 female youth possess similar skills. Even globally, 70% of the male population uses the Internet compared to 65% of the female population. Clearly, this glaring digital gender gap severely constrains their agency and privacy while also limits their social, political and economic participation, even as digital technologies do hold enormous potential to bridge the gender gap in access to labour markets. Gender-based online violence is another key challenge and more so with the onset of AI-enabled deepfakes besides the prevalence of revenge porn and cyberstalking. In fact, the cybercrime reporting portal operated by the Ministry of Home Affairs was originally started only for reporting incidents of cybercrime against children and women under the CCPWC (Cybercrime Prevention against Women and Children) Scheme. Gender Equality in Digital Transformation World Telecommunication & Information Society Day (WTISD) is observed every year on May 17 to celebrate the birth of the International Telecommunications Union ( ITU ), the oldest UN agency that was established in 1865, eight decades before the UN itself. As ITU turns 160 and as the world reflects on the progress over the past three decades since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995 for advancing women's rights, the WTISD theme 'Gender Equality in Digital Transformation' seems perfectly timed. Recognising the broader and more diverse set of gender identities beyond just the male and female, the usage of the term 'gender' is intentional. For example, several individuals belonging to non-binary gender identities use the digital ecosystem in pursuit of information, associations and relationships. However, they are also frequent targets of gender-based violence. In March 2025, speaking at a ministerial roundtable on 'Digital and Financial Inclusion for Women's Empowerment at the UN Headquarters, the Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi had offered India's willingness to share with the world its experiences of using digital public infrastructure (DPI) to bridge the digital gender divide. The JAM (Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) trinity accelerated financial inclusion in India from 17% in 2009 to 80% in 2017, something that would have otherwise taken 47 years. More significantly, 56% of the new bank account holders were women. This is just one example of how gender-intentional policies can help. Gender-Intentional and Time-Bound Policy India needs to have a gender-intentional digital inclusion policy, spanning: Access Gender budgeting by Digital Bharat Nidhi to provide targeted subsidy for devices and services for those meeting certain prescribed socio-economic women-collective led Panchayat-level community ISPs and quasi-private browsing zones within the Common Service the scope of MNREGA to include digital infrastructure. Applications and Services Gender-empowering applications and services with participation of intended users and beneficiaries. Skilling Integrate and impart digital, financial and cyber literacy programs, currently being rolled out in isolation. Safety and Privacy Foster online safety, especially against gender-based holistic privacy , beyond data protection. Monitoring and Review Integrate granular aspects in various surveys to better understand, map and analyse gaps and trends. Public Private Partnership Leverage private enterprises and civil society where appropriate, without stifling them with over-regulation. (DISCLAIMER: Views expressed are the author's personal.)
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Time of India
India will play lead role in tailoring 6G technology regulations, says Jyotiraditya Scindia
A telecommunication revolution is rapidly unfolding across the globe and India is at the forefront of this movement under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday. The Union minister of communications also asserted that in the days to come India will play a leading role in tailoring rules for 6G technology. "The rollout of 5G technology has taken place, and in just 22 months, the information revolution has reached 82 per cent of the population of 99 percent districts in the country. India will take the lead in shaping the upcoming 6G technology regulations ," Scindia asserted. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo He also said new services are being introduced in the postal system, adding that India Post is one of the largest logistics and distribution networks in the world having 1.64 lakh (164,000) post offices and 2.5 lakh (250,000) postal workers. "In 2008, I designed the logo for the Department of Posts, with the slogan 'Postal Service is Public Service.' Every postal worker operates with this spirit. India will continue to lead the telecom revolution," said Scindia, who was Union minister of state for communications in the first term of the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. Live Events May 17 is observed as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day with the aim of raising global awareness of social changes brought about by the internet and new technologies and reducing the digital divide . Endorsing the boycott of Turkiye and Azerbaijan by citizens after the two nations decided to support Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Scindia said, "This is the will of the people. The nation comes first." "The boycott is an emotional decision taken by the people of the nation. Citizens have made this decision voluntarily. The nation comes first, and no citizen will compromise when it comes to national interest and security," he asserted.
