World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is celebrated annually on 17 May. This day marks the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on May 17, 1865, when the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris.

This year World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is dedicated to the theme "Empowering Least Developed Countries through Information and Communication Technologies".

The International Telecommunication Union is calling on the public and private sectors to commit to universal connectivity and digital transformation in these countries through its Partner2Connect digital coalition.

Over the past decade, the task of providing communications has become more complex and urgent. Just giving everyone access to the Internet is no longer enough. The new imperative is the ability to enjoy a secure, compliant, enriching, productive and accessible online experience. For the least developed countries (LDCs), this remains a major challenge. The digital divide between the LDCs and the rest of the world is not closing. As the rest of the world becomes more adept at using the Internet for the benefit of society, the LDCs risk falling further behind.

Halfway through the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the least developed countries remain the world's largest untapped resource that must be met in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Investments in these young, dynamic countries can provide sustainable growth for generations.

Together, let's make 2023 a year of digital transformation progress in the least developed countries.

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