World Telecommunication and Information Society Day Observed on 17 May 2025.

Important Days

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is celebrated globally every year on May 17 to highlight the role of the Internet and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in improving lives and bridging the digital divide.


      - In 2025, the day holds added significance as it marks the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

      - The theme for WTISD 2025 is "Gender Equality in Digital Transformation", aiming to address disparities in digital access, skills, leadership, and affordability between genders.

     

Main Point :-   (i) May 17 was first observed as World Telecommunication Day in 1969 to commemorate the founding of ITU on 17 May 1865, when the First International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris, France.

      (ii) In 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) proposed recognizing the day as World Information Society Day (WISD), which was officially adopted by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in March 2006.

(iii) Later, in November 2006, during the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference held in Antalya, Turkey, it was decided to merge both observances into one—World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, celebrated each year on May 17.

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