Today is World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

Today, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat joins with the world in observing World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) – an initiative of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The objective of WTISD is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can bring to an economy and its citizens, and bridge the digital divide.

This year marks the fiftieth (50th) anniversary of WTISD, and the Day will be celebrated under the theme: “Bridging the Standardisation Gap”. The theme encourages increased participation of developing countries in the process of standards development; and how these standards are important for digitising all sectors.

In various regions of the world, ICT standards are adopted and used to guarantee that the ICT sector exploits the new technologies, to ensure interconnection, inter-operability, reliability, safety, and support to government policies.

The speed at which technology changes in the world today is very rapid and its effect can be felt in all sectors. Many technologies – products and services – are based on established ICT standards, and these technologies affect the daily lives of citizens All around the world.

As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region continues to work towards a Single ICT Space, the implementation and adoption of ICT Standards and the role of the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) are crucial to its development. Implementing and adopting ICT standards in CARICOM can strongly benefit innovation by promoting the inter-operability of products, services, and processes. Having common ways of doing things – formal and well-defined procedures – will contribute positively to the harmonisation and integration process of the Community.