Baku: Member states of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have agreed on a roadmap aimed at ensuring internet access for everyone around the world, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport (MDDT) told APA-Economics. The decision was adopted at the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25), which concluded today in Baku.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, the two-week event was held in partnership with the ITU and the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Organized for the first time in the CIS region, the conference provided an opportunity to discuss regional and global digital development strategies.
The resolutions adopted at the event covered areas such as radio-frequency management, cybersecurity, digital inclusion, ICT application and regulation, innovation, and the use of digital technologies in remote areas. The conference’s main outcome document, the Baku Action Plan, outlines the key directions for human-centered digital development through telecommunications and ICT. The plan places particular emphasis on developing countries, communities with limited access to digital services, and vulnerable population groups.
Currently, more than two billion people worldwide remain without internet access. Covering the years 2026-2029, the four-year plan will support the development of universal, beneficial, and affordable connectivity for an inclusive and sustainable digital future. The Baku Action Plan includes regional initiatives, new and updated resolutions guiding ITU’s digital development activities, and recommendations for the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D). It also identifies the technical topics to be explored by the union’s expert groups.
The regional initiatives in the Action Plan address key digital development priorities across ITU’s six global regions, including ensuring access to infrastructure, enhancing digital skills, and providing inclusive services. The organization plans to establish partnerships and mobilize resources to implement projects tailored to regional needs.
During the conference, ITU presented the Global Connectivity Report 2025, which offers recommendations to ensure people everywhere can access high-quality internet services at affordable prices. A number of agreements were also signed during the event. A two-year project will be implemented to support the sustainability of national ‘smart’ village and ‘smart’ island programs in the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative will serve as a model for enhancing digital skills and improving access to digital services in rural and remote communities, benefiting 3,000 people across seven countries.
Additionally, a project will be carried out in the CIS region to support the development of professional and digital skills. Implemented jointly with the international organization Intersputnik, the project will benefit 300 people working in satellite communications and broadcasting technologies. WTDC-25 also included a high-level dialogue dedicated to least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states. Countries within these groups shared their plans to expand broadband internet coverage, promote human-centered sustainable development, and ensure a secure digital future for everyone.