Baku: The member states of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have agreed on a roadmap aimed at delivering universal internet access, as the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) wrapped up in Baku on Friday. The conference, held over two weeks in partnership with the ITU, was a regional landmark, being the first to take place in the CIS region.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev highlighted the significance of Baku as the platform where member states and partners reached agreements on practical decisions setting ITU’s development directions for the next four years. Azerbaijan actively contributed to shaping these outcomes, resulting in the adoption of the Baku Declaration. This declaration emphasizes a commitment to an inclusive and sustainable digital future and references the COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action.
The resolutions adopted at the conference encompass areas such as radio-frequency management, cybersecurity, digital inclusion, the application of information and communication technologies (ICT), innovation, and the use of digital technologies in remote regions. The Baku Action Plan agreed at WTDC-25 sets the agenda for human-centred digital development, focusing on the needs of developing countries, underserved communities, and vulnerable populations. With an estimated 2.2 billion people worldwide still offline, the four-year plan spanning 2026 to 2029 supports efforts to advance universal, meaningful, and affordable digital connectivity.
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin stated that WTDC-25 has brought the goal of universal, meaningful, and affordable connectivity closer, highlighting the Baku Declaration and Action Plan as a roadmap towards digital development that leaves no one behind.
The Baku Action Plan includes regional initiatives, new and updated resolutions guiding ITU’s digital development efforts, and recommendations for the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D). It outlines technical topics to be studied by expert groups and sets priorities for digital development across six regions, including infrastructure, digital skills, and inclusive services, envisioning partnerships and mobilizing resources to meet regional needs.
Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU Development Bureau, emphasized the importance of the Plan in bridging digital divides and addressing the unique needs of Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States. The Plan aims to deliver tangible results by working with governments and regulators to create a policy and regulatory framework enabling industry and private sector investment.
During the conference, ITU issued the Global Connectivity Report 2025, offering recommendations to accelerate progress toward universal and meaningful connectivity. Several agreements were signed at WTDC-25, including a two-year project to enhance the sustainability of national Smart Villages and Smart Islands programmes in the Asia-Pacific region, benefiting seven countries and 3,000 people, and a project to promote capacity building and digital skills in the CIS region, benefiting 300 professionals in satellite communications and broadcasting technologies.
With digital divides reflecting economic development challenges, WTDC-25 featured a High-Level Dialogue for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, where countries shared their plans to expand broadband coverage and ensure a secure future for all.