attends the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU) in Antalya, Turkey
6 November 2006
The South African Minister of Communications, Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri is
leading the South African delegation to the Plenipotentiary Conference of the
International Telecommunications Union from the 5th to 11th of November
2006.
The South African delegation includes the Director-General of the Department
of Communications, Ms Lyndall Shope-Mafole, together with senior officials of
the Department, and representatives of South African companies that are sector
members of the ITU.
The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference is the top policy-making body of the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and is held every four years. It
sets the Union's general policies, adopts four-year strategic and financial
plans and elects the senior management team of the organisation, the members of
Executive Council and the members of the Radio Regulations Board. South Africa
is currently a member of the Executive Council.
It is the key event at which ITU Member States decide on the future role of
the organisation, thereby determining the organisation's ability to influence
and affect the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
worldwide. A key challenge facing the ITU is the need for greater efficiency in
the organisation, in the face of an increasing demand for interventions within
the global system of Communication and Information.
One of the strategic issues for consideration will be the organisation's
response to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, the
second phase of which was concluded in Tunisia on 16 to 18 November, 2005, and
the priority given to the creation of a people-centred, development-orientated,
inclusive information society.
The ITU as the specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) will, at its
Plenipotentiary Conference, lay the foundation for any country that is a member
of the organisation, to have the opportunity to debate issues of concern and
discuss means to narrow the digital divide.
South Africa will use this platform to voice its concern on the significance
and challenges of universal access in developing and least developed
countries.
Enquiries: Zodumo Mbuli
Cell: 084 777 2077
Issued by: Department of Communications
6 November 2006
