ITU Digital World 2021

Opening Ceremony live from Ha Noi, Viet Nam

an ITU Telecom event Building the digital world. Together. The 50th anniversary edition of the UN global tech event for government and industry ITU Digital world 2021 Register now Online, September to December 2021 SME Opening opportunities for SMEs Masterclass: Sustainable startups and SME-corporate collaboration
Thursday 28 October 15:00 - 16:30 (Geneva time) SME Programme and Awards See full event calendar Catch our ITU Digital World Awards shortlisted SMEs pitching innovative solutions on connectivity live to our ury. And commit to sustainabilty as an SME in our expert-led masterclass. Pitching Day 1 - Connectivity
Tuesday 26 October, 12:00 - 14:00 (Geneva time)
 networking Join participants, speakers and ITU staff from around the world on our online networking platform. Click on the link available after each session, pick an avatar - and video chat, visit different spaces or celebrate our 50th! Digital world,
digital networking.

ITU Digital World 2021 is now taking place virtually from September to December 2021.

Join us online for a series of high-level Forum debates and Ministerial Roundtables on digital transformation, the SME Programme and Virtual Exhibition.  World-class content, whatever the format.

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Global meeting place
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Expert, international perspectives
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Government and industry leaders
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Technology, policy & strategy trends
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Universal connectivity
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ICTs for development

Virtual Exhibition. Real value.

Explore 2D and 3D National Pavilions and business booths showcasing digital innovations, technologies, projects and initiatives - online, in the ITU Digital World 2021 Virtual Exhibition.
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Visit the Virtual Exhibition

Programme summary

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Tuesday, 12 October

14:00 Opening Ceremony

15:00 Ministerial Roundtable:
Cutting the cost: can affordable access accelerate digital transformation?

16:30 Informal networking

Wednesday, 13 October

09:00 Ministerial Roundtable:
Boosting infrastructure: rethinking the role of government in digital transformation

10:30 Informal networking

15:00 Ministerial Roundtable:
Boosting infrastructure: rethinking the role of government in digital transformation

16:30 Informal networking

Thursday, 14 October

09:00 Ministerial Roundtable:
Digitalizing daily life: government services and content driving digital transformation

10:30 Informal networking

15:00 Ministerial Roundtable:
Digitalizing daily life: government services and content driving digital transformation

16:30 Informal networking

Wednesday, 27 October

13:30 Regulatory Roundtable: Ensuring participatory regulation for an equitable and safe digital future

15:00 Informal networking

2021 highlights

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Session
summaries

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Session
videos

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Executive
interviews

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Photo
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How to take part

World class forum

Debate

Expert speakers, industry and government leaders, world-class debate. Exploring the new realities of digital transformation.
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Sponsorship opportunities

Sponsor

Your brand, message and thought-leadership. At the heart of the international ICT community.

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SME Programme

Network

Connect with speakers, peers and participants in our informal online networking sessions.
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Global visibility

Exhibit

A global virtual exhibition platform for the tech industry, featuring National Pavilions and business booths.
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ITU Digital World 2021 SME Programme and Awards

Opening the door to opportunity for innovative tech SMEs with real social impact. A programme of free, expert-led online SME masterclasses. UN credibility, visibility, partnership and networking in our SME Awards.

SME Programme
SME Awards
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2021 Speakers

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Maria Alexandra Velez

Senior Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs
SBA Communications
Brazil

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Christopher Calabrese

Senior Director, Privacy and Data Policy
Microsoft Corporation
United States

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Ekaterine Imedadze

Commissioner
Georgian National Communications Commission
Georgia

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Chenda Thong

Chairman
Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia (TRC)
Cambodia

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Tuaha Mote

Chairman
Autoridade Reguladora das Comunicações de Moçambique
Mozambique

What they said

Jessica Rosenworcel
Better data, more focus on mid-band spectrum and more funding are the ticket to making sure that 5G new technologies and broadband reach everyone, everywhere.
 Acting Chairwoman, Federal Communications Commission, United States
Jessica Rosenworcel Pham Minh Chính Digital transformation must revolve around people as the subject and object for development. This process will only truly succeed when every citizen can actively participate in digital transformation and reap its benefits Prime Minister, Viet Nam
Pham Minh Chính Vaishali Rastogi If this pandemic had happened in 2000, only 0.2% of the workforce would have been able to work remotely. Less than 1% would have had real broadband connectivity. Networks have been the critical glue enabling us to work from home and drive education. Global Head, Technology, Media and Telecommunications at Boston Consulting Group
Vaishali Rastogi Stephen Michael Talbot Spectrum does not respect borders Head of International Spectrum Policy, Office of Communications
Stephen Michael Talbot Luke Ibbetsen The ability to blend together the capabilities of terrestrial networks with satellite networks to help provide a more sustainable solution that covers everywhere on the planet has a great deal of merit Head of R&D, Vodafone
Luke Ibbetsen Sanjay Kaul
It’s the architecture itself, the efficiency in optics, the convergence, introducing cloud native architectures and bringing in security into every piece of this new architecture - that’s our definition of the future of the internet
 President, Asia Pacific & Japan, Cisco Systems
Sanjay Kaul Jean Philbert Nsengimana The digital divide is not about being on line or off line but about meaningful connectivity – everyday use on an appropriate device with fast connection Honorary Chairperson, Alliance for Affordable Internet
Jean Philbert Nsengimana Sonia Jorge The business case for affordable and meaningful connectivity, especially in rural areas, needs to be made - and we still have a long way to get there Executive Director and Director of Digital Inclusion Programs, Alliance for Affordable Internet (Web Foundation)
Sonia Jorge Kevin Choi We need the ESG principle in the satellite industry: environmentally friendly with no debris or interference; sustainable; and governance to provide equitable services. CTO, KT Sat
Kevin Choi Andreas Mueller The only thing that matters is the real business case. It is very easy to define a use case with 5G, but you need to find a positive return on investment in a reasonable time span – and it takes time to identify this sweet spot. Chief Expert, Communication Technologies for the IoT, Robert Bosch GmbH
Andreas Mueller

2021 Partners & sponsors

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China Mobile / GTI
Qualcomm
ZTE
Switzerland Global Enterprise
Immersion4
Resecurity
GEW Technologies
Nokia
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Viet Nam
Japan