Saudi Arabia Joins UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development Meeting
Saudi Arabia took part in the annual meeting of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development on Friday, as a member of the Commission, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The Governor of the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), Dr. Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, represented the Kingdom at the meeting, which aims to promote digital transformation, develop global digital economy, bridge the digital gap, and provide Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services.
The meeting, held in New York, saw the attendance of several senior officials from the government and private sectors from across the world.
Under the theme “Towards a Resilient, Safe, and Inclusive Digital Future,” the participants discussed ways to enable various sectors to shape the digital future collaboratively, and enhance the digital infrastructure capacity to address unexpected crises. They also discussed digital technology future trends and their implications on daily life.
The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development is one of the UN commissions. It is co-chaired by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Carlos Slim Helù of Mexico. Meanwhile, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) secretary-general and the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) director-general act as Co-Vice Chairs of the Commission.
The Commission brings together top global leaders and stakeholders in ICT, to reach a consensus on inclusive and sustainable recommendations in order to achieve universal broadband connectivity.
Moreover, it develops practical and sustainable policy recommendations to drive progress towards achieving the UN 2030 Agenda and the Commission’s 7 Advocacy Targets. These targets include: making broadband policy universal; making broadband affordable; getting everyone online; promoting digital skills development; increasing the use of e-finance; getting MSMEs online; and bridging the gender digital divide.
