In brief
At its 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, ITU Secretary‑General Doreen Bogdan‑Martin highlighted the uneven progress of digital transformation around the world and called for stronger cooperation. She emphasized that no country can build resilient and inclusive networks alone and urged members to expand connectivity, lower costs, and build trust in technology. The conference, running to November 27, will elect new leadership and set ITU's four‑year strategic plan.
On Nov. 9, at the opening of the ITU’s 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, International Telecommunication Union Secretary‑General Doreen Bogdan‑Martin urged world leaders to cooperate more closely to bridge the digital divide.
She said that the next phase of digital transformation is starting from very different points in each country. Stronger cooperation, she stressed, is needed so that communication networks remain resilient, reliable, and available even in crisis times.
Doreen Bogdan‑Martin said that no country or institution can make those systems resilient, secure, and inclusive on its own.
No country, and no institution, can make those systems resilient, secure, and inclusive on its own.
The secretary‑general called on delegates to explore ways to broaden meaningful connectivity, make technology more affordable, keep it relevant, and build trust among users.
She also asked members to help countries navigate the rapid rise of emerging technologies that are moving faster than existing institutions can adapt to.
The conference, themed “Together for a connected digital future,” will run through Nov. 27. Delegates will elect the ITU’s new leadership and set the union’s strategic and financial plans for the next four years.
In short, Bogdan‑Martin’s message was that progress toward global connectivity depends on shared effort and collective decision‑making. Her remarks set the tone for the conference’s plans to keep the world connected and prepared for future challenges.
