Session videos

There is great promise for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on our roads for assisted, augmented, adapted, automated and autonomous driving. AI can play a significant role to reduce road deaths and injuries (SDG 3.6) while also ensuring safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems (SDG 11.2).

However, to reduce the 1.3 million annual road deaths we need to define a minimal acceptable performance level to ensure that AI systems continually perform at the level ofa competent and careful human driver and never engages in reckless, dangerous or careless driving. 

The widespread, socially acceptable, deployment of AI systems on our roads is dependent upon technology achieving public trust. During the AI for Good Global Summit 2019, the #AIforGood community called upon the ITU and the UNECE to establish an open forum and global dialogue between public, industry, regulators and standards bodies to establish a definition of this minimum performance threshold of AI systems on our roads. Ensuring thatthese AI Drivers remain aware, willing and able to avoid collisions at all times.

Responding to this critical issue, the ITUand ADA - Autonomous Driving Alliance have joined forces to organize an open event hosted at ITU Telecom in Budapest on Tuesday, 10September. The goal of this event is to present the state of the art in autonomous driving solutions and work together to define whatcould become the new automotive ‘Turing Test’ for AI on our roads. 

Inputs from the impact sessions andinteractive afternoon workshop will be used to generate the first roadmap for international collaboration on creating top-down performance standards for AI on our roads.

Please note that the afternoon part of the session will take place in room in the Congress Room of the Expo Congress Hotel

The dedicated workshop page is available here, along with the detailed agenda, for more information please contact: tsbevents@itu.int

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Machine learning software is being deployed at a rapidly-increasing rate across a wide range of applications around the globe, from autonomous driving to lifelong learning in the workplace, assisting in diagnostics and healthcare, agriculture, social inclusion initiatives, and mitigating the effects of climate change.  AI is a key topic in both public and private discussions, which focus on its enormous potential – and on the ethical concerns it creates. What are the best use cases, governance models and success stories to date? Beyond its commercial applications, how can we capitalize on the potential of machine learning, and later of AI, to solve some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity? Is the development of AI a new global arms race, or new source of global collaboration? What should the roles of government, private sector and academia be in an AI future? Are wein danger of mirroring the digital divide with an AI gap, and can social innovation keep up with the pace of technological breakthrough? How can AI’s success in meeting global socio-economic challenges be measured – and how can we best ensure it is trusted, safe, equitable and beneficial?

This session will draw on the highlights and outcomes of the third edition of ITU’s AI for Global Good Summit.

This session is part of the Smart ABC programme at ITU Telecom World 2019.

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The future of the digital economy, from smart sustainable cities to the fourth industrial revolution, will be powered by 5G. Asmore and more industries - and governments - embrace its enormous socio-economic potential, 5G development is accelerating across the globe. What best policy or regulatory approaches can be adopted to encourage investment in and deployment of future networks? What are the most promising 5G site development strategies and most effective 5G spectrum pricing models?

Collaboration with vertical industries will be critical in building the new 5G ecosystems - so how can operators then make best use of innovative technology to serve vertical markets? As gigabit network construction matures technologically and commercially, how will the optical industry develop, and how will partnerships and cooperation shape the gigabit society of the future?

The detailed agenda of the session is available here

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Investment in ICT infrastructure, such as broadband rollout, is a vital step to promote sustainable development, social integration and the development of gigabit society. An enabling environment is a key determinant of investment dynamics. This session will provide a unique opportunity for dialogue and discussion of high level representatives from public and private sectors, development banks, regional and international organizations. It is held within the framework of the ITU Regional Initiative for Europe on Broadband infrastructure, broadcasting and spectrum management, which aims to facilitate high-speed connectivity through resilient and synergistic infrastructure development, deployment and sharing, whilst ensuring the quality of user experience.

What are the keymeasures that may help countries attract investment in the ICT sector, and what are the existing and emerging opportunities - as well as related challenges? What mapping systems can be used, including investment opportunities mapping systems and financing opportunities from regional and international financial institutions? How can agile national policies and strategies for digital sustainable development be created? What can be learnt from showcase case studies throughout Europe, in particular South Eastern Europe, and what are the best practices, issues and opportunities commonly encountered?

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The first session of the Ministerial Roundtable explores the policy and regulatory frameworks required – or desired – to stimulate the deployment of 5G and high-capacity networks. Operators may be discouraged from investing in 5G-capable networks due to the high cost of infrastructure development and the lack of clarity on 5G applications or demand for 5G services. Given the potential socio-economic value of 5G networks, to what extent should policymakers intervene in creating an environment to encourage investment and deployment? What policy or regulatory incentives are likely to prove most effective? How are governments currently working with industry sectors to assess the benefits of “the industrial internet”? Is potential government support for a specific technology effective – or detrimental?

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Having built the infrastructure underpinning digital transformation, network operators now find themselves confronted by extensive changes in markets, technologies and value chains. The borders between industries and sectors are disappearing in an increasingly digital environment, opening up opportunities for operators and new players alike. Can network operators retain a leading role inthe digital age? How can they leverage potential in areas such as data analytics, AI, digital management practices, automation and simplification in the back office? Will the future look different for international and country-level operators, and how will they evolve or diverge in different income-level markets? Will operators move into content and services, or will new players take on the operators at their own game? What is the role of industry regulators in this new game of thrones?

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This session introduces some of Japan's unique cutting-edge ICT  technologies which are helping us to connect to our neighbours,  communities, societies and the world. Taking advantage of the unique  opportunity offered by ITU Telecom World 2019, we hope to share our  thoughts, experiences, ideas and tips for connecting through ICT with as  many participants as possible.

Open to Leader Pass, Executive Pass, Forum Pass, and Media Pass holders on a first-come first-served basis

In May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) governing data protection and privacy for all individuals within the EU and EEC came into effect. However, issues of data security, consumer trust and responsibility for preserving, exploiting, and eventually erasing data, remain prevalent. How has GDPR changed how data is handled in the public and personal arenas, what lessons have been learnt in the past year, and should similar legislation be introduced worldwide? How has it affected larger and smaller companies, and what benefits has it brought consumers? What is the role of government in creating and maintaining public trust in digital technologies? How are governments currently ensuring the security of sensitive data used to provide innovative, beneficial public services? Is there a risk that citizens may in the future choose to opt out of providing data? How can different branches of government collaborate to preserve trust and security in the digital administration?

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The future is 5G – and its advanced capabilities, high reliability, low latency and high speed will fundamentally transform societies and industries throughout the world. But when will the future be here – or has it already arrived? What is the current state of 5G network deployment in various emerging and developed markets? What concrete use cases and innovative applications have already been developed? What successful business models will best balance the cost of investment and uncertain demand against 5G’s tremendous potential? Can any single stakeholder do it alone, or are collaborative partnerships not only smart, but essential? Should the 5G focus move beyond industrial growth towards providing a better platform to meet basic human needs throughout the world? Is it feasible for an emerging market to leapfrog to 5G or should they consider the current implementation of 4G networks?

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The absence of basic financial services represents a barrier to socio-economic development throughout the world, in particular in developing countries. With more than 7 billion mobile cellular subscriptions worldwide, however, increasing access to and use of ICTs is opening up increased access to financial services. Central Bank Digital Currencies and Currency-Pegged Stablecoins can be also an alternative form of e-money and contribute further to the goals of Universal financial access. How can Central Banks achieve the goals of financial inclusion through Digital Currency? Are Central Bank issued digital currencies and stablecoins equivalent to e-money? What are the technologies behind Central Bank Digital Currency? Which innovative financial technologies (FinTech) are leading the way in providing financial services to unbanked populations? How can ICT and financial services industry players - and their regulatory bodies - drive FinTech innovation towards smart and secure digital financial services?

This session is part of the Smart ABC programme at ITU Telecom World 2019.

Open to Leader Pass, Executive Pass, Forum Pass, and Media Pass holders

Now that more than half of the world’s population is online, achieving the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s seven ambitious 2025 targets in support of “Connecting the Other Half” of the world‘s population will require innovative policies, technologies and technical solutions to address in particular the broadband connectivity gap and network affordability challenges.

This session will examine the role wireless access plays in sustainable broadband development focusing on 4G/5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), a novel technical approach to extend broadband connectivity. This technical solution enables the upgrade from low-speed broadband to higher speed broadband, taking into consideration the need for affordable access, and addresses in particular the challenges of rural coverage and low-speed copper upgrade. This session will also explore the need to consider wireless broadband technologies in digital policies to benefit all ICT stakeholders involved in the "connecting the other half" plan, including regulators, operators, vendors, and more.

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5G is the key enabler of tomorrow’s digital economy, linking smartphones and wireless sensors, driving smart sustainable cities and powering the fourth industrial revolution. Such is its unprecedented potential that many 5G applications and services are yet tobe discovered or understood. Governments around the world have now begun investing in testbeds enabling different industry verticalsto work together on 5G solutions.

What challenges are testbeds helping to solve? What models exist currently? Who are the main players in creating and operating test environments, and what roles have they adopted? How are 5G testbeds laying the groundworkfor the smart cities of the future? How important is collaboration between public and private sectors? How can 5G-ready policy frameworks, standardization and global harmonization accelerate 5G deployment?

This session is part of the Smart ABC programme at ITU Telecom World 2019.

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Around 90% of the world’s population is covered by at least 2G or 3G services, yet internet adoption remains at barely 51%. Accelerating universal connectivity, and the socio-economic development it brings, involves enormous investment in infrastructure – but also affordable, relevant services and applications, meaningful content in local languages, digital skills and awareness. None of this is possible without political will and multi-sector partnerships.

How can public and private sectors work together in different markets to drive adoption in underserved, rural and remote areas? What innovative partnerships are possible with stakeholders across the digital ecosystem such as NGOs, international organizations, civic groups, communities and academia? How important is the role of digital public services in stimulating take-up and providing new markets? What makes for a successful cross-sector collaboration, and what are the principle challenges that remain?

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2019 marks the 25^th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change. As the effects of climate change have become more evident, the discussion has shifted to focus on how to boost climate action to meet the ambitious emission reduction targets defined in the 2015 Paris Agreements. In this context, what is the ICT sector doing to address its own carbon footprint? What measures have already been put in place to measure progress towards greening the ICT sector? Is it possible to be a digital champion and a climate champion at the same time? How is the ICT sector embracing the principles of a circular economy? This session, organized with the Global e-Sustainability Initiative, will present current trends in advancing sustainability in one of the most thriving sectors of the economy. The session will also feature the work conducted within ITU-T study group 5.

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This October, over 3,000 delegates will gather at ITU’s pivotal World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 in Egypt to review and revise the Radio Regulations on the use of radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. Coordination, compromise and collaboration will be essential in the face of determined, disparate demands for limited spectrum resources from different industry sectors and geographies. How can sufficient spectrum be made available for 5G services to flourish? Who are the new stakeholders and what are the new technologies and markets lobbying for frequency? Who are the incumbent services and how will they be impacted? How can innovation, socio-economic development and universal service be balanced in terms of spectrum allocation? What are the principle issues, trends and challenges at WRC 19 – and how can the spectrum conundrum be cracked?

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Technological developments in artificial intelligence, digital financial services and smart cities have enormous potential to transform our societies and the world in general, enabling solutions, applications and new markets to a far greater extent than human capability alone. New regulatory approaches or a new kind of global framework may be necessary, however, to ensure these new technologies are put to work for the benefit of humankind.

How can we regulate the decisions, actions and impact of technology for social good, and who should be responsible? How should we manage the ownership, exploitation and implementation of new types of datasets generated by digital financial services? Can AI empower financial services and smart cities, providing better data to improve performance? And can we balance human and machine input and initiatives to ensure optimal, secure and trusted customer service?

This session is part of the Smart ABC programme at ITU Telecom World 2019.

Open to Leader Pass, Executive Pass, Forum Pass, and Media Pass holders

The positive effect and results of the Digital Agenda on all EU Member States have been undeniable for nearly a decade now. High-speed broadband network speeds, coverage and quality in the EU are amongst the best in the world, and the introduction of 5G in many member states in the near future will ensure Europe’s leading role in both technology and digital services

The Digital Future Foundation continues to work hard to equip individuals and SMEs with digital skills in order to maintain a competitive edge in all new types of labour force requirements. The digital integrity of the West Balkans is a top priority in terms of the development of high-speed broadband networks, digital skills and new types of services. This panel session will follow up on the initial agreement between the WB6 countries and the Commission to speed up the integration of Digital Agenda into the West Balkan countries even before they become full members of the EU. "Our place in Europe" is a panel where challenges will meet solutions.

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Of course she is – and so are Siri, Google Home, and all our other smart home and smartphone devices. Enjoying the convenience and benefits of devices and the always-on connected life comes with an implicit price: our data. What do our devices really collect, how do they store our data and what do they use it for? Who owns our data, what happens if it falls into the wrong hands, and do we have any right to redress? What are users, companies or the government prepared to sacrifice for the use of connected devices?Is more security in everybody’s interest – and is it even possible?

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Frontier technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, additive manufacturing, renewable energy and big data have enormous potential to drive prosperity and protect the planet. New technologies can be used to leapfrog existing solutions and bring transformative benefits to people, the economy and the environment, significantly accelerating efforts to reach the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. How can frontier technologies be harnessed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, foster low-carbon, climate-resilient sustainable growth and adapt to climate change? Which solutions have the greatest potential positive impact? What government policies and regulatory approaches can best ensure economic development and sustainability are equitable and available to all? How important is international cooperation in driving technology transfers, national innovation and harmonization of technology standards on the new frontiers?

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Spectrum policy experts and economists have long debated the impact of spectrum pricing on investment and consumer prices in mobile markets. A study by GSMA Intelligence provides, for the first time, robust empirical evidence that shows more expensive spectrumcan - and has indeed - harmed consumers in both developed and developing countries. The findings have important ramifications for regulators, especially those that are prioritising improved coverage and increased investment in 4G and 5G.

The detailed agenda of the session is available here

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Creating the next Silicon Valley has been elusive and difficult, especially in the context of developing countries where less than 1% of GDP may be dedicated to research and development. An exciting ecosystem alone is not enough: it must also be competitive, and include all the right ingredients. Programmes or policies need constant adaptation to meet the changing environment, and stakeholders must be able to update their processes based on good practices to achieve impact. Good practices are key to unlocking opportunities, maximizing limited resources, ensuring ICT innovation reaches markets and creating a high-growth, innovation-driven economy.

What practical examples of good practices can be transferred or nurtured in order to develop an ecosystem with a strong fabric that can create the next tech unicorns?

This interactive session will explore relevant case studies and facilitate networking opportunities between successful innovators and participants.

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From smart home hubs not understanding commands in regional accents to automated vehicles failing to respond to female voices orbiased facial recognition software, it is increasingly evident that automated systems, algorithms and machine learning are in dangerof replicating and enhancing prejudice and discriminatory practices. Bias is embedded, unconsciously or otherwise, in the code.

What are the potential implications in the criminal justice system, in education or the financial system? How can we prevent AI systems from replicating and exacerbating the inequalities of society, and ensure it is more broadly representative of humanity in terms of gender, race and nationality? Can we set out to design with diversity, rather than after the fact? How can we work to ensuregender balance throughout the AI ecosystem, including academia, industry and ethics boards?

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The ICT Economic Expert Roundtable brings together economic and industry experts from global ICT consulting firms, R&D entities, regional and international organizations to exchange views and analysis on the latest trends and issues related to the development of telecommunications/ICT infrastructure, focusing principally on economic and financial aspects.

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A total of 159 countries around the world have already adopted a national broadband plan, representing 81% of all nations. As wedraw closer to the Broadband Commission target of a national broadband plan in all countries by 2025, a number of nations – and vendors – are revisiting the definition of broadband and exploring how networks should evolve to cope with increasing demand for data. From ultra-fast broadband to wireless broadband and gigabit broadband, new solutions and services are already being commercialized throughout the world. What are the common elements in these new solutions? Which solutions are most suitable for each market and use case? What type of applications will drive demand for, and adoption of, these new types of connections? What new solutions exist to support the implementation of current broadband strategies? How should broadband policies evolve in the near future to ensure inclusion in a digital gigabit society?

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Connecting ecosystems can prove critical in bringing innovations to the global market. This session brings together change-makers, innovators, stakeholders in startup ecosystems and successful venture capitalists from around the world to share experiences and debate the major challenges of the startup world, connecting ecosystems and innovation in general. 

Can we identify major trends in innovation? Where does disruption take place, and can it be collaborative? What European and international collaborative platforms have been created for startup ecosystems? What are the best innovative approaches, practices, initiatives and programmes focused on collaboration? What is the role of building and maintaining cooperation for regional and interregional ecosystems?What are the potential social benefits of connecting ecosystems – and how can we ensure that these ecosystems are sustainable?

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Governments are adopting different approaches for 5G rollouts – from promoting upfront deployments to waiting until strong business cases are defined – while telecom operators are carrying out different experiments as standard 5G is defined. Non-traditional players from vertical industries will play a critical role in the new 5G ecosystems creating a stronger need for 5G data monetization regulation across sectors.

A collaborative platform is required to explore deployment approaches, design business models, identify mechanisms for equal value distribution, define ways to reduce the digital divide and promote interaction with regulators.

In collaboration with the 5G-Next Generation Networks Programme of the World Economic Forum, this session will convene industry constituents as well as representatives from government and regulatory authorities to discuss alignment opportunities towards asustainable and inclusive deployment of next generation networks.

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Cooperation and collaboration are crucial accelerators for ICT development and digital transformation. Given the lack of barriers characterizing the digital world, standardization, sharing experiences and harmonisation of practices are essential to build a better world. Understanding and exchanging common and best practices in the UN system is a key component to accelerating achievement ofthe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This session aims at enhancing knowledge on the issues and good practices faced by UN institutions in achieving and delivering the SDGs through ICTs. It provides an opportunity to address common issues and provides a space to strengthen further collaboration and create new partnerships within the system, especially, but not only, in the European Region.

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Driving knowledge-intensive activities encompasses the pivotal role played by start-ups to attract and retain talent and investment in the age of global knowledge economy.

This session will explore the multi-dimensional standardization strategies directed at start-ups for the successful and sustainable expansion of innovative technologies in the emerging market. The discussion will focus on challenges, opportunities and key success factors for start-ups seeking to build their go-to-market products.

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Technologies continue to be designed and used to reshape every sector of society and the economy, challenging our ability to adapt to the pace of change. The job market is no exception – and disruption in the world of work has profound implications for existing educational systems.

How can we prepare the next generation of workers for jobs that may not yet exist? What skills will be needed to succeed in a future characterized by automatization, robots and AI? How can lifelong learning in the workplace equip us for constant change, and will we be able to keep pace with technological disruption? How should educational systems and institutions adapt and respond? Will the challenges of the job market in the digital age differ between emerging and developed markets? Will we need to work at all in the future – and if not, what will we do?

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According to WHO’s World Disability Report, approximately 15% of the world population – or more than 1 billion people - lives with some form of disability. ICTs are widely used to enable people living with disabilities to lead more independent lives by removing barriers limiting their participation in society. Technology can enable better access to health, education, government services and the job market for all those affected by disabilities. But what more can be done, in both emerging and developed markets? Can existing solutions be scaled and adapted? Is there a business case for digital inclusion solutions? How can public and private sectors work together to promote universal design, accessibility and access services? 

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Industry convergence, digitalization and the disruption caused by new technologies and new market players is making the job of regulatory agencies more complex and interlinked than ever before, even in mature markets with strong competition. New challenges such as privacy, cybersecurity and data protection are confronting regulators with domains beyond their traditional competencies. What role should regulators play to ensure a safe, inclusive, connected future? How can stimulating innovation and fair competition be balanced against consumer protection? What examples do we have of successful cross-sectoral regulation? How can regulators, policy-makers and industry work together to create an environment for the digital economy that is both enabling and secure?

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The digital economy is opening new opportunities for people all over the world, and improving living standards. It is creating new jobs, offering new products services and providing better and more efficient ways of working. However, the lack of digital skills is inhibiting people’s abilities to fully benefit from these opportunities.This session will present the new Digital Transformation Centres (DTCs) Initiative by ITU and CISCO and how this initiative seeks to address the skills gap challenges in the digital economy. Panelists will address questions from the moderator regarding the DTC initiative, what it aims to achieve, how it will be implemented, what has been done so far, and the plans that lie ahead.

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The finalists and winners of the ITU Telecom World Awards 2019 will be announced by the ITU Secretary-General in a high-profile ceremony honouring the best in innovative ICT solutions, applications and services for social good.

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