World Telecommunication Day is marked every year on May 17. It is a day that marks the founding of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the signing of the first  International Telegraph Convention in 1865. The day has been celebrated annually since the year 1969. So this year marks the 50th anniversary of celebrating this day. On May 17, World Information Society Day is also celebrated, which focuses on the importance of ICT. On this World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2019, let us tell you more about the theme and significance of both these days. What is Safer Internet Day? Know History and Significance.

History and Significance of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD)

It wouldn't be wrong to say that the entire world today runs on the internet. The field of information technology has only grown far and wide over the years. And today, the internet has become a part of the basic necessities of life. World Telecommunication Day is marked to raise global awareness of societal changes brought about by the Internet and new technologies. And over time the need was felt to highlight the importance of information technology other than just telecommunications.

The ITU was instituted by the Plenipotentiary Conference in Malaga-Torremolinos in 1973. In 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) called upon the United Nations General Assembly to declare 17 May as World Information Society Day (WISD). It aims to focus on the importance of these technologies and the wide range of related social and economic issues that had been raised by the summit. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to mark this day annually on May 17. World Wide Web Turns 30! 10 Interesting Facts About WWW That You Should Know.

Check UN's Tweet About Celebrating This Day:

In November 2006, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, decided to combine both celebrations as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD). Thus, both the days which are interdisciplinary are marked together. They aim to bring in ways to bridge the digital divide.

Theme of the Day

Every year there is a specific theme to this day around which discussions are held about how to help in reducing the gap. This year's theme is Bridging the Standardization Gap. So this year, the ITU membership and others will focus on things like- involving more developing countries in ITU's standards-making process, empowering local experts in the standardization process at the national, regional and international levels. It will also think of ways to promote international standards in developing countries.

Today the development of information technology and telecommunications have changed the way the world functions. Societies and economies, their progress are somehow dependent on the internet. As the world moves rapidly and the speed of the internet also matters.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 17, 2019 10:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).