In brief
At the start of its 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, ITU Secretary‑General Doreen Bogdan‑Martin highlighted the uneven pace of digital transformation worldwide and urged a collective effort to make communication networks resilient, affordable and trustworthy. The conference, under the theme "Together for a connected digital future", will elect new ITU leaders and decide its strategic and financial roadmap for the next four years.
International Telecommunication Union Secretary‑General Doreen Bogdan‑Martin called for global cooperation on Monday, urging nations to join forces to close the digital divide as the ITU opens its 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, Qatar. The event, which will run until November 27, gathers delegates from 193 member states to vote on new leadership and outline the union’s strategy for the next four years.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bogdan‑Martin warned that the world is entering a new phase of digital transformation, but countries are beginning from vastly different starting points. "No country, and no institution, can make those systems resilient, secure, and inclusive on its own," she said. Her remarks underscored the urgency of cooperation if governments and industry are to keep pace with rapidly advancing technologies.
She expanded on the specific collaboration she believes is needed. "We must address how to expand meaningful connectivity, make technology more affordable, relevant, and trustworthy, and help countries navigate emerging technologies that are advancing faster than institutions can adapt to," Bogdan‑Martin said. The priorities reflect the ITU’s mandate to provide a global communications architecture that supports economic, social and environmental development.
"No country, and no institution, can make those systems resilient, secure, and inclusive on its own," declared Secretary‑General Doreen Bogdan‑Martin at the conference’s opening.
Bogdan‑Martin echoed similar sentiments a short time earlier, saying: "We must address how to expand meaningful connectivity, make technology more affordable, relevant, and trustworthy, and help countries navigate emerging technologies that are advancing faster than institutions can adapt to." The call reflects concerns that an unregulated proliferation of new digital platforms may exacerbate existing inequalities and undermine user trust.
The ITU’s Plenipotentiary Conference is the union’s highest decision‑making body. Set against the theme "Together for a connected digital future," it will convene the 193 member states to elect the Secretary‑General’s successor and the executive board, set a financial plan, and approve a strategic agenda covering 2027‑2030. This agenda will determine how the union will allocate resources, support network building, and develop standards that underpin everyday communications.
Historically, the ITU has served as a forum where governments, industry and civil society discuss issues from satellite governance to cybersecurity. Its initiatives have funded projects that connect remote villages, internet neutrality discussions and standards that enable emerging technologies. Yet, as Bogdan‑Martin pointed out, the cumulative return on these efforts has been uneven. Some low‑income countries still rely on legacy infrastructure that struggles with bandwidth demands, whereas high‑income economies depend on high‑speed fibre and 5G networks that deliver almost real‑time connectivity.
In the first paragraph of her address, Bogdan‑Martin highlighted that “countries are at very different stages of digital transformation.” This observation signals a need to structure ITU’s policy and budget in a way that accounts for those disparities. The conference will discuss whether to establish a dedicated funds pool for nations requiring urgent network upgrades, and whether to create a global framework for technologists to collaborate on resilient infrastructures.
Another open question contextualized by the conference agenda is the role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and the Internet of Things. If the learning curve of AI and other advanced tools outpaces the capacity of policy makers, a digital divide may widen rather than narrow. How the ITU will set guidelines that encourage innovation while safeguarding privacy and reliability remains on many delegates’ minds.
While the conference’s proceedings are largely undisclosed outside of the initial announcements, the ITU’s leadership will be selected in a secret ballot that will determine who will steer the union’s direction. Analysts in the media are expecting the incumbent Secretary‑General, Doreen Bogdan‑Martin, to step down after her mandate. Whether she will be re‑elected or a new face will take the helm may shape future negotiations about investment priorities and standards formulation.
A vocal debate will also occur around the ITU’s upcoming strategic plan. Setting a fund and governance model that is responsive to the needs of smaller economies while maintaining a robust global standard‑setting process is critical to the union’s success. Delegates are also considering the extent to which the ITU can influence national policy on emerging tech, especially as private sector platforms gain more regulatory power.
On the economic side, a point of discussion will be how to finance the expansion of connectivity to less affluent regions. The ITU has long promoted cost‑sharing ventures and public‑private partnerships, but convincing governments to allocate resources for digital infrastructure remains a challenge amid competing policy priorities. ITU has highlighted the economic benefits of connectivity, such as increased GDP and improved educational outcomes, yet concrete metrics and incentive structures to spur investment are still under construction.
In addition to the overarching strategic plan, the conference will, on a day‑by‑day basis, host side meetings on cybersecurity, 5G policy, and digital literacy. The convergence of these issues illustrates why the ITU has a remit that crosses traditional national boundaries—technology does not respect borders, and a crisis in one region can ripple worldwide. The reference to resilience, especially during crises, underscores the union’s awareness that network reliability is crucial for public health, economic stability and national security.
At the time of reporting, the ITU had not yet announced the nationalities of the council candidates or the specific points in the strategic plan that would most influence funding distribution. The early days of the conference are expected to involve intense deliberation around these matters, with delegations organized roughly along continents and economic tiers. The nature of these discussions will shape the operational landscape of global telecommunications over the next four years.
From a technical standpoint, the ITU’s contribution to standard‑setting has enabled interoperability across continents. However, the rapid deployment of new communication modalities—such as satellite constellations designed to deliver broadband globally—poses new challenges for existing standards. How the ITU will incorporate these platforms into its regulatory framework remains one of the key issues, as many states fear that outdated standards may create barriers to entry for small firms and new entrants.
Members also expressed hope that the union would play a more active role in bridging gaps that signal an emerging digital inclusion crisis. By combining sum‑based policy proposals with actionable funding plans, the ITU could force a shift in how governments view digital connectivity. The conference, therefore, represents a pivotal juncture where policy, technology, finance and global cooperation intersect.
As the Plenipotentiary Conference moves forward through the next weeks, observers will watch to see how the ITU balances the needs of its vast membership. The organic form of the deliberations—a mix of debate, voting and negotiation—mirrors the nature of technology itself: a complex system of actors that must find common ground to function effectively. The results will decide which countries gain access to better, more trustworthy, and affordable networks, and consequently how the global digital future will be shaped.
