Ministerial Roundtable

Summary

This discussion centered on the 20th anniversary review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and planning for its future direction beyond 2025. The ministerial roundtable brought together high-level representatives from various countries to assess digital transformation progress and chart a path forward for inclusive, sustainable digital cooperation. Participants were organized into breakout groups to discuss three key themes: national digital priorities and implementation needs, emerging digital trends and risks, and WSIS beyond 2025.

Throughout the discussions, ministers highlighted significant achievements in digital infrastructure development, with some countries like Azerbaijan reporting near-universal fiber-optic connectivity at 99.9% of households. However, persistent challenges were acknowledged, particularly the digital divide affecting rural and underserved populations, with Africa’s average coverage rate remaining below 43%. Countries shared their experiences with AI strategies, cybersecurity frameworks, e-government services, and digital literacy programs, while also addressing obstacles such as funding constraints and sanctions that impede technological development.

Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, 5G, quantum computing, and space-based solutions were recognized as transformative but requiring careful governance frameworks to ensure ethical, transparent, and secure implementation. Participants emphasized the need for international cooperation in developing these technologies responsibly, with particular attention to cybersecurity, data governance, and protecting vulnerable populations including women, youth, and marginalized communities.

Looking toward WSIS beyond 2025, there was strong consensus that the framework should continue serving as the central platform for digital cooperation, with ITU maintaining its leadership role. Ministers called for stronger alignment between WSIS and the Global Digital Compact to avoid duplication, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining the multi-stakeholder approach that has been fundamental to WSIS success. The discussion concluded with a commitment to present unified recommendations at the UN General Assembly’s 20-year review in December, ensuring that digital transformation serves humanity’s shared values and leaves no one behind.

Keypoints

## Major Discussion Points:

– **National Digital Priorities and Infrastructure Development**: Ministers shared their countries’ progress in digital transformation, with some reporting near-universal broadband coverage (like Azerbaijan at 99.9%) while others highlighted persistent challenges in rural connectivity and the need for substantial infrastructure investment, particularly in African nations where coverage averages only 43%.

– **Emerging Digital Technologies and Governance**: Extensive discussion on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, 5G networks, and quantum computing, with emphasis on the need for ethical AI frameworks, responsible governance, and international cooperation to ensure these technologies benefit all nations rather than widening digital divides.

– **WSIS Beyond 2025 and Future Framework**: Participants debated how to evolve the World Summit on the Information Society for the next phase, including suggestions to rename it from “Information Society” to “Digital Society,” strengthen its binding framework, and ensure proper alignment (rather than just complementarity) with the Global Digital Compact.

– **Digital Equity and Inclusion Challenges**: Strong focus on addressing the digital divide, particularly for rural populations, women, youth, and marginalized communities, with calls for affordable devices, local language content, and capacity building programs to ensure “no one is left behind.”

– **International Cooperation and Sanctions Impact**: Discussion of how geopolitical tensions and sanctions affect global digital development, with ministers from Russia and Cuba highlighting how restrictions impede technological progress and calling for ITU to help mitigate these barriers to international cooperation.

## Overall Purpose:

The discussion aimed to conduct a comprehensive 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process, assess current digital development challenges, and chart a path forward for inclusive global digital transformation leading up to the UN General Assembly review in December.

## Overall Tone:

The discussion maintained a collaborative and constructive tone throughout, with ministers sharing both achievements and challenges openly. While there were moments of tension when discussing geopolitical issues like sanctions, the overall atmosphere remained diplomatic and solution-oriented. The tone was forward-looking and urgent, emphasizing the need for accelerated action while maintaining the human-centric approach that has characterized WSIS. Technical difficulties with interpretation services briefly interrupted the flow but did not dampen the engaged and professional atmosphere of the ministerial roundtable.

Speakers

**Speakers from the provided list:**

– **SidAli Zerrouki** – Minister from Algeria, moderated breakout session discussions on digital priorities and WSIS beyond 2025

– **Shan Zhongde** – Minister of Industry and Information Technology from the Republic of China

– **Rashad Nabiyev** – Minister of Digital Development and Transport from Azerbaijan

– **Doreen Bogdan-Martin** – ITU Secretary General

– **Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez** – Representative from Cuba, discussed national digital priorities and challenges under US sanctions

– **Samuel Nartey George** – His Excellency from Ghana, moderated Group E breakout session

– **Mark-Alexandre Doumba** – Minister from Gabon, discussed digital economy and artificial intelligence initiatives

– **Abdulbaset Albaour** – Representative from Libya, spoke about technological challenges and digital governance

– **Solly Malatsi** – Minister of Digital Technologies from South Africa, WSIS Plus 20 Chair and co-chair of ministerial roundtable

– **Alioune Sall** – Minister from Senegal, discussed connectivity challenges and digital inclusion in Africa

– **Meutya Viada Hafid** – Minister from Indonesia, moderated Group F breakout session

– **Grigoriy Borisenko** – Representative from Russian Federation, discussed impact of sanctions on digital development

– **Jonathan Reid** – His Excellency from Barbados, moderated Group G breakout session

– **Julissa Cruz** – Executive Director of the Regulatory Authority of the Dominican Republic

– **Aminata Zerbo Sabane** – Excellency from Burkina Faso, discussed national digital transformation initiatives

– **Leocadie Ndacayisaba** – Leo Kadhi from Burundi, discussed digital economy development projects

– **Tawfik Jelassi** – ADGE of UNESCO (Assistant Director-General for Education)

– **Cosmas Zavazava** – ITU elected official, Dr. from ITU Development Bureau

**Additional speakers:**

– **Selina** – ITU colleague who guided the breakout session logistics and room assignments

# WSIS+20 Ministerial Roundtable Discussion Report

## Executive Summary

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 20th anniversary ministerial roundtable brought together high-level representatives from across the globe to review digital transformation progress and chart future directions for international digital cooperation. The discussion, moderated by Sid Ali Zerrouki, Minister from Algeria, featured ministers and senior officials from diverse regions assessing achievements, identifying challenges, and developing recommendations for ongoing digital cooperation efforts.

The roundtable was structured around three core themes identified by ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin: national digital priorities and implementation needs, emerging digital trends and risks, and the evolution of WSIS beyond 2025. Participants engaged in both plenary discussions and breakout sessions in designated rooms, with groups focusing on different aspects of digital transformation and international cooperation.

## Opening Remarks and Framework Setting

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, emphasized that “shared digital future is not just about technology, it’s about people,” stressing that decisions and policies must ensure technology improves lives and livelihoods while uplifting everyone with openness, fairness, and dignity. She outlined the three key discussion topics and reinforced that WSIS provides a platform for shared learning and collective progress.

Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, announced the launch of UNESCO’s Data Governance Toolkit, providing policymakers with actionable guidance for ethical data systems. He also highlighted UNESCO’s SPARC AI Alliance, bringing together 50 public administration schools globally, and presented concerning statistics that “only 21% of governments worldwide have policies on ethical use of AI in public administration, and only 18% of countries have a national data strategy.”

## National Digital Transformation Progress

### Infrastructure Development Achievements

Several countries reported significant progress in digital infrastructure development. Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport from Azerbaijan, reported that 99.9% of households are connected to fiber-optic internet, positioning Azerbaijan among countries achieving near-universal high-speed connectivity. Azerbaijan also developed a comprehensive national AI strategy built around four pillars, though specific details were not elaborated in the discussion.

Shan Zhongde, Minister of Industry and Information Technology from China, outlined substantial infrastructure investments ensuring widespread connectivity coverage. China’s approach demonstrated attention to environmental sustainability, with 5G energy consumption reduced by 16% through investments in green technologies including lithium battery technology, smart solar power, and energy storage systems.

Aminata Zerbo Sabane from Burkina Faso highlighted infrastructure development progress, though technical difficulties during transmission limited the clarity of specific details shared.

### Comprehensive Digital Strategies

Leocadie Ndacayisaba from Burundi outlined a digital transformation strategy focused on public service digitization and institutional modernization, including fiber-optic connections development and digital training centers, though technical issues affected the complete transmission of details.

Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez from Cuba emphasized the country’s commitment to creating digital skills and inclusive access while expanding telecommunication infrastructure, maintaining focus on equity and social justice despite facing international blockade challenges.

## Persistent Challenges and Digital Divides

### Infrastructure Disparities

Despite achievements in some countries, significant disparities remain in digital infrastructure development. Alioune Sall, Minister from Senegal, noted that “in 2025, at the time we’re speaking in Africa, the average coverage rate does not exceed 43%” while countries like Azerbaijan report coverage exceeding 95%. This disparity highlighted challenges in ensuring equitable participation in advanced technology discussions when basic connectivity remains problematic for many nations.

Jonathan Reid from Barbados emphasized that “40% of the planet is rural population,” requiring special consideration for advanced technologies and acknowledgment that much of the global population lives in rural settings with limited connectivity options.

### Financing and Resource Constraints

Meutya Viada Hafid, Minister from Indonesia, noted that while many countries have made progress in digital infrastructure and broadband expansion, “financing for infrastructure is still challenging,” particularly for developing nations seeking to bridge connectivity gaps.

Mark-Alexandre Doumba, Minister from Gabon, raised questions about mobilizing the financing community to support transitions into the AI economy, highlighting the need for ITU and other international organizations to facilitate access to funding for advanced technology adoption.

## Emerging Technologies and Governance

### Artificial Intelligence Governance

The discussion revealed significant gaps in AI governance frameworks globally. Countries demonstrated varying approaches to AI regulation, with some developing comprehensive national strategies while others expressed caution about premature regulatory frameworks that might stifle innovation.

Jonathan Reid from Barbados advocated for measured approaches, warning against rushing into strict regulations for technologies not fully understood, while noting that “so much of the work and the moment in time we are in are driven by news that scares us a little bit and so much of the conversation around AI does, in fact, scare some members of our population.”

### Cybersecurity Concerns

Cybersecurity emerged as a critical issue requiring both national investment and international cooperation. Meutya Viada Hafid emphasized that cybersecurity is “a paramount issue requiring continued investment and implementation of mitigation actions,” including child online protection and security of undersea cables that must be tackled internationally.

## Geopolitical Challenges

### Impact of International Tensions

Grigoriy Borisenko from the Russian Federation argued that sanctions impact technological infrastructure development and create security vulnerabilities, noting that “criminals do not observe sanctions, and our public sphere must observe the sanctions.”

Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez from Cuba maintained that despite facing extensive sanctions, Cuba continues pursuing digital transformation with commitment to equity and social justice.

### Digital Sovereignty Questions

Sid Ali Zerrouki raised questions about the role of global technology companies, noting concerns about tech giants that “generate billion-dollar revenue, not investing a single penny in no country” while enforcing their own content moderation policies and resisting government regulations.

## Human-Centric Approaches and Inclusion

### Cultural and Linguistic Considerations

Samuel Nartey George from Ghana emphasized the importance of “content in local languages as main focus going forward,” highlighting the need for digital inclusion strategies that respect linguistic diversity and cultural contexts.

Meutya Viada Hafid stressed the need for “careful understanding of AI opportunities including cultural and language aspects,” recognizing that technology deployment must be sensitive to local contexts and needs.

## WSIS Framework Evolution

### Continued Relevance and Leadership

There was strong consensus that WSIS should continue as the central framework for digital cooperation, with ITU maintaining its leadership role. Cosmas Zavazava from ITU explained ITU’s responsibility for specific WSIS action lines including capacity building, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and e-applications.

### Relationship with Global Digital Compact

Participants expressed preference for “alignment” rather than “complementarity” between WSIS and the newer Global Digital Compact, with one speaker noting that “the diplomatic language of complementarity perhaps is too subtle” and advocating that “the GDC has to be in alignment with WSIS” to avoid duplication.

### Framework Modernization

Samuel Nartey George proposed evolutionary changes, suggesting that “WSIS was fit for purpose in Tunis in the early 2000s, but today we should move away from talking about the World Society on Information Society and rather talk about the digital society,” proposing rebranding to WSDIS (World Summit on Digital Society).

## Key Initiatives and Announcements

### UNESCO Programs

Tawfik Jelassi announced the launch of UNESCO’s Data Governance Toolkit and highlighted the SPARC AI Alliance initiative. Countries were encouraged to engage with UNESCO’s AI for public sector programs.

### Upcoming Events

Ministers were invited to participate in the World Telecommunication Development Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, scheduled for November 17-28, 2024. African ministers were also informed about the Smart Africa meeting and AFRINIC discussions.

## Areas of Consensus

Participants demonstrated widespread agreement on several key points:

– WSIS remains vital as the central framework for digital cooperation

– Digital transformation must prioritize human welfare, equity, and social justice

– Cybersecurity requires both national investment and international cooperation

– The multi-stakeholder approach is fundamental to WSIS success

– Significant disparities exist between regions and require targeted approaches

## Action Items and Next Steps

The secretariat was tasked with incorporating all group recommendations and text changes into final recommendations. The chair committed to presenting a consolidated summary at the Friday plenary session. ITU was encouraged to continue coordinating international cooperation efforts for digital infrastructure and capacity building.

The Global Digital Compact implementation is to be aligned with WSIS structures to avoid duplication, while the WSIS framework will be strengthened with continued multi-stakeholder engagement approaches.

## Conclusion

The WSIS+20 ministerial roundtable demonstrated both remarkable progress in global digital transformation and significant challenges that remain. While some countries have achieved near-universal connectivity and are advancing into AI technologies, others continue struggling with basic infrastructure development.

The discussion revealed that digital divides have evolved beyond simple connectivity issues to encompass complex challenges related to AI governance, cybersecurity, and international cooperation under geopolitical stress. The strong consensus on WSIS as the central framework for digital cooperation, combined with recognition of the need for framework evolution, provides a foundation for continued international collaboration.

The upcoming activities, including the World Telecommunication Development Conference in Baku and continued WSIS implementation, represent opportunities to consolidate insights from this discussion into actionable international commitments for the next phase of global digital development.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin: And this is my last slide, and at the workplace level, so we talked a lot about the national and the national framework of the regulations, but even at the workplace level, if you have a digital background, you know that we work by heart in what we’re supposed to do. Development requires more than infrastructure. It requires leadership. It requires political will to develop and deploy technology responsibly, no matter which portfolio your ministry holds. Finance, healthcare, education, the environment, and industry are so now deeply intertwined with digital that they demand effective policy coherence and coordination. And I think that’s where the WSIS makes a difference, by providing a platform for shared learning and collective progress. As we look ahead to the UN General Assembly’s 20-year review at the end of this year in December, I think we have, Excellencies, an opportunity. We have an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment, to reflect on what’s been achieved, and to identify how we can prepare for what’s to come. The Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact have reinforced this shared vision and also offers us useful guidance. Twenty years after the conclusion of the WSIS, or the Tunis phase of the WSIS, it’s the moment to make sure that this time-tested, multi-stakeholder framework continues to be future-ready, inclusive, and resilient. Let’s renew that shared purpose. As you discuss, we’re going to go into breakouts. We’ll get into that in a moment. But we’re going to focus on three key topics, national digital priorities, emerging digital trends, and of course, the WSIS beyond 2025. So I would encourage you to remember that our shared digital future is not just about technology. It’s about people. The decisions and the policies that you make must ensure that technology improves the lives and the livelihoods and uplifts everyone everywhere. As Minister Solly, you mentioned this morning in your speech so eloquently that we need to lead with openness, fairness, and dignity, if I got that right. But I thought that was a great message. So thank you again for being here. Thank you for your commitment to the WSIS process. And with that, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to turn to, I often call him my partner in crime, my friend and colleague, the ADGE of UNESCO. Please, Taufik, over to you.

Tawfik Jelassi: Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Doreen, ITO Secretary General, Excellencies, Ministers, Ambassadors, Representatives, participants. Good afternoon to all of you. It’s an honor for me to be here with you today and to present the Director General of UNESCO, Madame Audrey Azoulay. First, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the ITU Secretary General, to the ITU as an organization for hosting this important meeting, and for their leadership. I would like also to acknowledge His Excellency Solly Malatzi, the new Chair of WSIS, South Africa’s Minister of Digital Technologies, but also to acknowledge the distinguished ministers present here with us. Mr. Alonso, and many others who have joined us today, whose commitment, engagement, continue to shape our collective work. Today, we can take pride in the achievements made by the WSIS process, which built a strong foundation for inclusive, human rights-based digital development. However, as we approach the WSIS Plus 20 Review, we are at a crossroads. The digital landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and new pressing challenges are emerging. These include artificial intelligence, data governance, and digital inclusion. These are no longer distant concerns. They are the imperatives of our time. The WSIS Plus 20 Review presents a unique opportunity to reflect on how we’ll confront the challenges ahead. This moment calls for reaffirming our commitment to an ethical, inclusive, and sustainable digital transformation, ensuring that our digital governance frameworks evolve in tandem with technological innovation, while addressing the widening digital divide that marginalizes so many. This is why UNESCO has long advocated for a reinvigorated, action-oriented WSIS 2.0 vision, a vision that accelerates progress towards achieving the goals we all share. Central to this are public administrations worldwide, governments and civil servants that hold the power to modernize service delivery, relationships with citizens, enhance transparency, foster participation, and ensure a secure, data-driven decision-making. Despite progress, the public sector still faces critical challenges. For instance, only 21% of governments worldwide have policies on the ethical use of AI. in public administration, and only 18 percent of countries have a national data strategy. Moreover, women, people with disabilities, and marginalized communities continue to face barriers to digital access. Nevertheless, the public sector is not just a stakeholder. It’s central to driving digital transformation. At UNESCO, we are committed to empowering this sector with the knowledge, tools, frameworks, and resources needed to lead change. Our AI for the public sector program has already reached 50 countries worldwide, equipping civil servants with the skills needed to leverage AI ethically and responsibly. Last June, we launched the SPARC AI Alliance, which brings together 50 public administration schools worldwide. Also, in partnership with the University of Oxford, we unveiled an open source online course on AI and digital transformation for the public sector. I encourage each one of you here, as well as your national schools of public administration, to engage with UNESCO regarding these initiatives. I’m also pleased to announce that yesterday, here, we officially launched the Data Governance Toolkit, How to Navigate Data in an AI Era. This work is an outcome of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s Working Group. It provides policymakers with actionable guidance to ensure inclusive and ethical data systems, laying the groundwork for responsible AI development. In conclusion, the future we envision is one where technology serves as a powerful enabler of opportunities, justice, and equity for all. As we stand at this critical crossroads, I am reminded of the wise words of Nelson Mandela, who once said, quote, it always seems impossible until it’s done, end of quote. Let’s together take on this difficult challenge. Through our collective efforts, we can ensure that digital innovation benefits everyone, everywhere, that it respects human rights and fosters a future that is inclusive, ethical, and sustainable. Thank you.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin: Thank you so much, Dr. Jelassi. So I now have the honor of handing the floor to His Excellency Minister Solly Malatsi, our WSIS plus 20 chair and the co-chair of this ministerial roundtable.

Solly Malatsi: Excellency, over to you. Thank you very much, Secretary General, all excellencies, distinguished guests, and fellow friends. Our meeting this week is much more than just reviewing the progress of the WSIS process over the past two decades. We are definitely gathering to forge a collective forward, not just for the WSIS process, but also for the world’s digital agenda. Since its inception, WSIS has proven to be more than a mere process. It has become a platform for shared vision and coordinated action, and I firmly believe that its legacy lies in its enduring relevance. Both the Geneva Declaration and the Tunis agenda continue to shape the way we think about emerging technologies, rights, and responsibilities in the ever-evolving world of the digital age. One of the most forward-looking aspects of the original framework was the inclusion of an action on the ethical dimensions of the information society. The emergence of AI is not only prevalent because of the from both governments and the private sector. And in the area of digital skills, innovation, data governance, procurement reform, and digital literacy. And as this week has shown us, we can achieve so much more when we work together, but also when we collaborate with non-governmental stakeholders. Colleagues, as chair of the YSYS 20 High Level event, I’m very grateful towards all of you for the renewed energy and commitment that you have showcased in the official and sideline events that we have had in the build-up to this week. It is clear that we’ve got mammoth responsibilities, and we dare not do anything less than our best. Let us use the momentum we are having here and recommit ourselves to building a digital future that is open, inclusive, sustainable, and rights-based, and ultimately one that is about uplifting the people of the universe, most of whom remain unconnected. Thank you very much, Chair.

Speaker: Thank you so much, Chairman, Minister. With that, ladies and gentlemen, I’m going to hand the floor to my colleague, Selina, who’s going to guide us in the next part of our deliberations. Please, Selina. Thank you, Secretary General. Your Excellencies, so the next part will be the breakout, where we have arranged for each of you to go into a group. There will be four groups. Let me see. Each group, I think you can put that onto the screen. So the rooms are, first of all, K, which is this room, Kilo, Room E, Echo, down the hall to your left, Room F, Foxtrot, at the end, on the left, and Room G, on the right, at the end. All three other breakout rooms are on this floor. Room K, ministers who have been assigned to Room K, please do remain in Room K. Each of the rooms will be moderated by a minister, and we thank the ministers from Algeria, Ghana, Indonesia and Barbados for agreeing to help us moderate each of these groups. You’ll be able to see which group you are in. They are on the screen. And as you have been, well, we have sent ahead to your focal points the topics which we would like to suggest that you discuss. I think the Secretary General has informed you what these are, national digital priorities, emerging digital trends, and WSIS beyond 2025. So the breakout room will take about an hour, and then we come back here at four o’clock. So we are five minutes before time, which should give us enough time to find our rooms, get comfortable, and then we will bring you back by four. Now, in each of these rooms, an elected official will also be present. In Room K is Dr. Cosmas Zabazava. In Room E would be Sezo Onoesan. The Secretary General is in Room F, and the Deputy Secretary General will be in Room G. So without further ado, Secretary General, I suggest that we go into the breakouts. It’s okay, you just go and sit in G. My colleagues will be outside to lead you to all three rooms, so just look out for them. They will be the ones shouting E, F, and G. Thank you. Thank you.

SidAli Zerrouki: So I’m calling just Excellency Minister Rashad from Azerbaijan, Excellency Aminata Zerbo from Burkina Faso, Excellency Leo Kadhi from Burundi, Excellency Zong Chan from China, Excellency Mr. Ernesto from Cuba, Excellency Mr. Radwan from Djibouti, Excellency Guido Gomez from Dominican Republic, Excellency Mark Alexander from Gabon, Excellency Abdulbaset from Libya, Excellency Gergur from Russian Federation, Excellency Mr. Alion Sel from Senegal, and last but not least, Excellency Sina Lawson from Togo. Please remain seated, so we’ll be starting very soon, and we’ll be having supporting us from the ITU, Dr. Cosmas, and also Mr. Arshana Gulati, and the reporter, Mrs. Nell McDonald. Thank you. So we shall be starting in the next… We are having a few spare minutes, so… Okay. Excellencies, fellow ministers, distinguished delegates, I’m truly honored to welcome you today to this high-level breakout session held at a pivotal moment, the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society. As the digital era accelerates, our shared responsibility is to ensure that technology became a driver of equity, peace, and sustainability. Sustainable development, not fragmentation, neither exclusion. Today we’ll explore three strategic themes that lie with the heart of our collective digital trajectory. First, national digital priorities and implementation needs. Second, emerging digital trend and risk. Third… WeSis Beyond 2025, Achieving Future Milestones Together. Now I invite the ITU elected official to set the scene and introduce the spirit expectation of our dialogue.

Cosmas Zavazava: Thank you, thank you, Chair. I think you are aware, you are well briefed that there are three topics that we wanted to focus on, and it will be free flow. So we want to understand from you the national digital priorities and implementation needs. At ITU, our responsibility in the Development Bureau is to remain member-driven and to understand from the member states what their priorities are so that we can build viable and bankable projects that we can implement with partners. But we want also to discuss the issue of emerging trends, digital trends, because we want to align the regulatory, legal frameworks so that we can drive the digital development agenda or digital transformation at the right speed. And finally, within the context of the WeSis Beyond 2025, Achieving Future Milestones Together, we would like to understand from you what you think a multi-stakeholder platform should be, and also the need for partnerships that are resilient, that can help us to achieve universal meaningful connectivity and sustainable digital transformation, which are the two strategic goals of ITU. So I think the chair is going to go around, and you feel free to express yourselves.

Rashad Nabiyev: We can – thank you, thank you. So here we – According to the alphabetical order, so we start with Azerbaijan, His Excellency Rashad, Minister of Digital Development and Transport, you have exactly three minutes. Thank you. Thank you very much, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Over the past two decades, the World Summit on the Information Society has played a key role in building a more inclusive, secure, and connected world. From the early days of dial-up to today’s fast-moving world of cloud services, data centers, and artificial intelligence, digital transformation has fundamentally changed the way we live and work. Azerbaijan has not only kept pace with the change, we have embraced it with determination and long-term vision. Today, I am proud to share that 99.9 percent of the households in Azerbaijan are connected to fiber-optic Internet, placing our country among a small group globally that has achieved near-universal high-speed connectivity. This milestone reflects our national commitment to digital inclusion. But connectivity is just the beginning. Our focus is on building a digitally empowered society. Platforms such as MyGov, the CIMA digital infrastructure, and our expanding e-government services are helping us deliver efficient, secure, and citizen-friendly public services. Since 2022, Azerbaijan has advanced nine places in the UN e-Government Development Index and achieved the status of a country with very high e-government development. We are also investing in digital trust and cybersecurity. Azerbaijan currently ranks as a top performer among CIA’s countries in the Global Cybersecurity Index with a score of 93.7 out of 100. Our national cybersecurity strategy and expanding CERT capabilities are helping us protect critical infrastructure and promote responsible data use. In March, we launched our National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the first unified state-led AI policy in our region. The strategy is built around the four pillars. Governance and Ethics with Clear Regulatory Standards and Human Oversight Infrastructure, Tier 3 Certified Data Centers, and National GPU Clusters to Support AI Training and Deployment Human Capital, led by our new AI Academy, which aims to train 500 engineers and 500 public sectors professionals by 2028 Innovations or supports for AI Startups, Public-Private Partnership, and Applied R&D Our approach ensures that AI development in Azerbaijan is ethical, inclusive, and aligned with the public interest, while enabling innovation in areas such as health care, education, smart agriculture, and telecommunication. As a host of COP29, we are also aligning our digital growth with our climate commitments through green ICT infrastructure, energy-efficient data centers, and sustainable network design. In closing, Azerbaijan believes that digital transformation must serve everyone, not just a few. Our vision is clear, a future where every citizen is connected, empowered, and protected. We stand ready to collaborate, to share our experience, and to build a smarter, safer digital world together. Thank you.

SidAli Zerrouki: Thank you, Excellency. In fact, three questions come to my mind, which is, what are the biggest policy or infrastructure bottlenecks? This was the three minutes, so you’ve been on time. Thank you, Excellency. So, what are the biggest policy or infrastructure bottlenecks to each and every country? And how has OASIS concretely helped your respective countries move forward in this digital move? What kind of international support your respective countries might need, or do still need? I would love that, if we can address those main topics, that would be fantastic. Now, Leo Kadhi from Burundi. Sorry, beg pardon, Excellency Aminat from Burkina Faso.

Aminata Zerbo Sabane: Thank you, Mr. Chair, hello everyone, dear colleagues, I would like to commend again the excellent frame of dialogue that the Information Society Summit represents and I would like to thank for this initiative that aims to install inclusive development of digital centered on humans and its well-being. My country, Burkina Faso, who liberalized its sector in the communication sector in the year 2000, has quickly adhered to the SMSI action plan, the WSIS action plan. We structured action around the implementation of a complete framework including cyber security and the protection of data, the building of structure and project for infrastructure connectivity, a backbone network of 3,000 kilometers in optical fiber accessible to all the operators and has considerably improved the high bandwidth coverage, 11,000 kilometers for the country. Implementation of internet cut points and of virtual connection points for the accessibility to services to structures like the national security, information security and the commission of freedom and liberty and the regulation authority for telecommunication and postal services have been implemented to deal with the cyberspace, the privacy protection and the regulation of the communication sector, electronic communication. to many initiatives in order to meet these challenges, to overcome these challenges and to continue our march towards a more inclusive information society that does not leave anyone behind. We can quote the reinforcement of digital inclusion with the idea to cover until 2027 all our look at the idea is no non-connected areas and this year we already have 750 areas that are being covered. the acceleration of the dematerialization of public services in order to have an administration that is more reactive, more performing and more efficient and closer to the user below development of skills a cynical non-conditions to manage our digital transform in many projects in order to have local activities that are able to support our ambition. I’m sorry, we have lost the sound. I conclude here by reaffirming the engagement of Burkina Faso in a transparent and solidarity to cooperation with all the countries in order to build an inclusive information society for the benefit of populations development and peace and that does not anyone on the side of the road.

SidAli Zerrouki: Thank you, your excellency. I remind that you allocated time for each minister. So now I hand over to Excellency Liu Kadhi from Burundi. Thank you.

Leocadie Ndacayisaba: Thank you for giving me the floor. Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished participants, the WSIS is a strategic challenge for international cooperation and sustainable development of emerging and developing countries. For Burundi, the participation in the summit, it goes beyond just the experience sharing. It really embodies a true opportunity to have technical and financial partnerships, re-inform our national capacities and position our country. as an emergent but nevertheless major actor of the digital inclusive economy on the African continent. Within its digital transformation, Burundi has launched an ambitious dynamic aiming to lay the groundwork of an inclusive digital economy, resilient and sustainable. We are aware of the central roles of ITC in the modernization of public administration, the reinforcement of transparency and the improvement of services rendered to citizens. The government of Burundi has launched 2021 the support project for the foundation of digital economy with the support of the World Bank. This project is fully part of the strategic vision of the country for emerging Burundi 2014-2060. The strategy for 2014-2060 we have among others the digitization of the public services from 2023 to 2033 and all the orientations converge closely on the society in training, also the objectives of the global compact. The project is centered around two main pillars. The first one devoted to the access to high-speed internet and digital inclusion with the aim to reducing the digital divide by developing fiber-optic connections across the entire country, creation of digital training centers and implementation of basic digital literacy programs for women, for young people and for vulnerable minorities. The second point is focused on the digitization of public services linked on the implementation of an institutional framework, modernize the development of platforms. And we have sadly lost the communication. The interpreter apologizes, but we have lost. Please, Keion, try to ramp up, please. One minute to finish. …of the privacy data and also the revision of the national action plan on ITC that is aligned with the national development and revised plan and the revision of Burundi being an emerging country and developed in 2060. Thank you very much.

SidAli Zerrouki: …go just like with volunteers, where we need to cover the main three topics, which is national digital priorities and implementation needs, and then emerging digital trend and risk, and where it is beyond 2025, achieving the future milestones altogether. So, I prefer maybe we change the way how we need to conclude, and then please, if any volunteers, try to stick to the three minutes, please. Yes, please, Excellency from Dominican Republic.

Julissa Cruz: Very good afternoon. I’m Julissa Cruz, Executive Director of the Regulatory Authority of the Dominican Republic. The World Summit on Information Society in the past 20 years has taken the Dominican Republic to position itself as fourth in the world. We really need to make a great effort in order to support certain economies and emerging countries like my country, the Dominican Republic. I want to conclude with my gratitude to the ITU because we must continue promoting innovation so that we really make that leap towards digital development that will support the economy of the country. I think we have great opportunities ahead. Thank you very much.

Abdulbaset Albaour: Thank you for this meeting. I would like to speak by Arabic regarding the challenges that face most of the countries in the world. I am not talking about the internal issues because the technology today is possible to achieve for any country to adopt and can be utilized inside those countries. With regards to Libya, inside Libya we have, and then according to the reports of the ITU, we have achieved many achievements, which is demonstrated in the reports of the ITU. With regards to the priorities that are usually faced by worldwide countries, we have to speak about the world has become a small village. This perspective, which requires, a vision that requires of diminishing the technological gap or the digital gap. which requires true governance and artificial intelligence. We need a pact for the proper governance. I don’t want to take longer than that. Those are the main points that we need to work upon.

SidAli Zerrouki: Now I hand over to Excellency the Minister of Industry and Information Technology from the Republic of China.

Shan Zhongde: Our Honored Excellencies, colleagues, in the last 20 years China has been implementing the promises and we are enlarging the connections. We have a lot of these work and every city has 1,000 megabytes, every county has 5G, every village has broadband in a lot of our village areas. Our users only need five to six dollars per month. They can have their cell phones and internet and their internet TVs. We have a lot of policies and we have a total of 11 these innovation centers and 50 international standards DeepSeek and Hongmeng open platform and open OLA and these public products and our contributions. We continue to do our work and to do this green development 2024 5G stations per tower and the daily consumption energy consumption is down by 16 percent and overall and we have like a 4 billion this kilowatt hours and purchase and we have a lithium battery and smart this volatile solar power and energy storages. And based on this topic and for the development and opportunities and the challenges, we have three suggestions. And the technology should benefit people, and we should do this for general and inclusive information society. No one should be left behind. This is the core mission, and we should continue to deepen our cooperation to promote 5G networks, the computing capabilities, satellite, internet connectivities, and this CBAT, the internet cable connections, and to do the digital transformations, and to close the digital device and this intelligent device, and to promote the global south strategy. And the second is the standards should touch on the whole world to have this opening and the sharing mentality and the new generation of information technology. We need the investment on research and innovation, have the applications, and especially this for we expect the ITU to use its members’ capabilities to do more research exchanges, and we can get more knowledge, more technology, and more people. These are the key aspects and the assets. And number three, we need to embrace a green future to have this green and environmental protection and information society 2030. These sustainable development goals are the major guidelines. We need ITU to set up these platforms and use our experiences and try to take on the challenges of climate change and the resource shortages. We will do this for the future and leave a good digital future for our next generations to come. All the colleagues, this information communication technology connects everyone together. We have the same destiny in the future. China would like to work with everybody, deepening our cooperations and to have a more prosperous, more inclusive, more sustainable digital future. Thank you everyone.

SidAli Zerrouki: In this emerging technology such as AI, quantum, IOTs, and space-based solutions are no longer abstract. They are actively reshaping sovereignty, security, and equity. But governance of these tools remains fragmented. The divide today is no longer just about access to the Internet. It’s about access to trust, compute, power, ethical innovation. How each and every country is integrating AI into the public services securely, especially that cyber security threat is there on a daily basis. What partnerships have helped with 5G today? Satellite or resilient infra? Are we collectively prepared for the geopolitical shift of quantum and AI? So the floor is yours, Excellencies. Yes, please.

Grigoriy Borisenko: Thank you very much, Mr. President, dear ministers, briefly talking about the idea which you mentioned. Thank you very much for our discussion. I’d like to say that our digital technologies are at maximum point integrated in our activities, and we care at the same time about the welfare of our citizens. And it is important to develop them in an open and dynamic way. In Russia, one of the main challenges recently are the sanctions from the West countries, which impacted the technological infrastructure and different information technologies. So, one of our priorities today in the digital sphere is the response to these sanctions. The sanctions by themselves produced a reverse effect, because our digital economy continues to grow, and in many cases more rapidly than in many countries. But I think our priority must be shared by the world community, because sanctions imposed on countries impact irredeemably the development of technologies and also the security sphere, because criminals do not observe sanctions, and our public sphere must observe the sanctions. And this deepens the digital divide. If we talk about those who can be under such sanctions, and in this room we have representatives of countries who are under secondary sanctions, this bears a discriminatory character and impedes us in solving our common problems. So, we suggest that ITU as an international platform helps, if not in removing totally those problems, but at least to mitigate the consequences of sanctions for the new technologies. Talking about 5G, it is impossible to put 5G towers in Russia, and we have to recreate this technology in our country from scratch. At the same time, this situation saps the whole potential of the world community in the technologies sphere, and the investments which are needed in the technologies use sphere, they also need time and slow down our progress, and it slows down our progress towards achieving the welfare of our citizens. We have a large experience as regards response to sanctions. It’s relocating our infrastructure inside the country, creating our different technologies in different spheres, but we are ready to share our experience with every partner within the framework of any information union and in any platform. Thank you. Excellency, thank you. Your mic, please.

Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez: Thank you. Excellencies, Dear colleagues, we have identified three priority actions in Cuba, actions that are interconnected in order to achieve a technology-based, information technology-based development. First of all, the creation of digital skills, both basic and advanced, including everything related to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and other emerging technologies. Inclusive access to technologies because of the personal and professional growth is also another priority for our government. And the third priority is to develop, amongst the huge difficulties that we have, the expansion of telecommunication infrastructure, stability, security, resilience and the quality of our services. And we have lost the connection, so we cannot continue interpreting at this moment in time. As soon as we get back the connection, our interpretation service will continue. Thank you for your patience. …unified for online processes and services and digital identity, public-private collaboration is favoured, technology-based companies are promoted, the development of the TIC industry… Unfortunately, the problem is still not solved. We are waiting for the connection to be restored. Thank you for your patience. … It looks like we got the connection back. You can… Right now, there are initiatives that are being deployed, such as a unified platform for online services regarding digital ID. We are favoring private-public partnerships. We are helping technology-based industries, the development of the TIC, the ITC industries, accessibility programs for people with disabilities, and progress for women, and we are also updating the legal framework, and we are also strengthening the technological sovereignty. We have been aiming at providing society with competences and skills that will be able to make a humanist approach, an ethical approach of data, including its governance, where we can foster the culture of innovation within the framework of a safe digital environment that will contribute to the best welfare and well-being of all citizens, men and women, and in general, of the country. This development is done despite the fact that the government of the United States of America has imposed coercive measures on us, which is the longest blockade that we have seen against any nation in the world. As our Russian Federation colleague has said, they do not understand how these measures have caused and what they have caused to all the citizens, despite the inhuman limitations from these sort of measures. We will not refuse to develop and to grow and to have digital transformation as one of our development pillars, and we will never Surrender our right to be a useful member of the United Nations and to be a member of WSIS. Cuba has a firm decision to build a digital future that benefits society as a whole and that fosters equity, social justice and sovereignty. Thank you.

SidAli Zerrouki: Your Excellency, thank you so much. So, done, but I have still the other last topic, WSIS 2025 and beyond. Twenty years on, WSIS remains a cornerstone, but a digital environment that has radically changed. The coming review in December, it’s a rare chance to reshape the architecture of a global digital governance. Should WSIS be upgraded to a more binding framework? How can we embed the global digital compact commitment into national planning? Please, Excellency from Gabon.

Mark-Alexandre Doumba: Thank you very much, Excellency. Hello, everyone. Very nice to be here, dear friends and colleagues. I would like to share a perspective where, assuming you have a country where there is a new ministry of digital economy and, you know, intelligence, artificial intelligence, and the ITU is the only body out there to support his policy planning, the implementation of his growth strategy, the planning with regards to building capacity for its people, whether it’s the workers or students. I think to me, when I look at the evolution of WSIS, it should be as a body. So But we’re toying with that option. The other option is to look at other countries that have already made those investments. There’s so many platforms out there, application software, and looking at ways to come in and import them in our countries to move more quickly. But then we need to be able to have a portal where we can sort of see a catalogue, a menu of those different platforms, but they should be open source so that our entrepreneurs or coders can take them on, build them and just move that much more quickly. You know, it’s very similar with regards to funding. How can, you know, we see going forward help, you know, mobilize the funding community, the financing community to sort of support on things that are specific to transitioning into the AI economy. Many of our countries, again, are faced with basic infrastructure challenges, and we don’t yet have the resources to think about how I can leapfrog into, you know, the next 10 years, 20 years. I think, you know, if this institution could, you know, do, you know, that work of mobilizing financial sponsors to support some of our economies, I think it would be very, very good. I know multilateralism is struggling, but perhaps ITU can go in the opposite direction and bring people closer. I think there is a topic also about, well, I spoke of technology stacks, I spoke of, you know, mobilizing sponsors, I spoke of making R&D available for our countries in order to move more quickly. I spoke about ITU supporting countries’ capacity building even further. I really see this organization, WESIS, as an organization that can help our countries scale up, converge, work together, and just accelerate and improve our preparedness to the AI economy, which has many implications for our country’s development. Thank you so much.

SidAli Zerrouki: Thank you, Excellency. Thank you for this strategic point that you’ve been pointing. In fact, let me speak now as minister of my country, right? One of the topics which is very, very crucial and important today, we have this OTT tech giant that is spreading technology here and there, and in many other countries, such as some African countries, other Latin American countries, and here and there, they just keep on spoiling data, generating billion-dollar revenue, not investing a single penny in no country. There is no impact. Moreover, on top of that, they are just setting the rules. When it comes to the mind, they say, we ban this account for this influencer or content creator because it does not comply with their policies. But when it comes to government policies, they say, no, no, no, freedom, right to talk, right to express itself. So this could be one of the pillars that we, united all of us, okay, we should raise the voice, this is our respective countries, this is our respective policies that they need to cope with first. And likewise, we have on the other side these universal services where each country imposes, like, taxes on mobile operators, where they have to reverse to the government taxes that they need to invest in spreading network here and there. Same, same, it has to be like for this content-spreading tech giant, they need to pay tax for these countries, right? And this could be part of the funding you just asked for, Excellency. Thank you so much. And then I give the floor to Mr. Minister.

Alioune Sall: Thank you very much, dear colleagues, dear moderator, ladies and gentlemen, it’s an honour for us to take I was here to talk about the strategy in Senegal by my colleague from Gabon made me change my mind regarding the question that you asked, which seems to me to be an essential question. I don’t think we’re talking about the same basics. The minister from Azerbaijan was saying previously that the coverage rate in his country was exceeding 95%. In 2025, at the time we’re speaking in Africa, the average coverage rate does not exceed 43%. As an international organization, I believe that there are real questions here. We’re talking about the fourth industrial revolution, but if all countries are not starting from the same starting point, then there will be discrepancies in the way we approach those technologies. My brother from the Russian Federation was talking about the stakes related to cyber security. We’re talking about stakes related to connectivity, to the stakes related to cyber resilience. I’m not saying that I’m conveying the voice of Africa, but I think we should correct those discrepancies, the ones that are dealing with universal connectivity, satellite technologies, 5G, optic fibers, fiber optics. We know that these are very costly infrastructures, but there is no infrastructure. There is no sub-regional strategies. In the past, there’s been some initiatives in Africa with sharing of experience, but I think the role that WSIS should play should be that for African countries that are lacking resources in accessing connectivity, that there should be a discussion group so we could pull together some infrastructures in terms of connectivity, in terms of cyber security, which are global stakes. Our ambition today is to have a 95% universal coverage by 2034. We know it’s very complicated because if each country, you know, we’ve had strategies for years, but if everybody is trying to deal with those connectivities on its own, these connectivities are universal connectivities. You cannot have a robust information system if you don’t have all assets related to cyber security. So, this is going beyond a country level. We are all involved in this process because populations that are deprived from the means of having access to this, I believe this should be a right. The fact that we live in urban areas, we do have the possibility to study on the internet, but we have to think about the people who are living in remote villages and we talk about digital inclusion. Digital inclusion should have a meaning. We were talking about financing, but this is like starting over and over. regarding all technologies that have been developed so far. I’m talking about my country, which is Senegal, with 18 million inhabitants. It’s a very young country. Half of the population is less than 19 years old. 75% is less than 30 years old. And this is the situation in most African countries. So we see how our countries are evolving. We know the population is going to double. We talk about 1 billion people. They will have to be connected. And we think about all the digital platforms that will have to be developed. So if we want to talk about universality in this area, which I believe is essential. Thank you so much, Mr. Moderator. That’s what I wanted to add to that point. Thank you very much.

Cosmas Zavazava: Thank you very much. I would like just to guide you to say that there are a number of recommendations under either thematic topic that were sent to you. In the room, we have got two colleagues sitting in that corner. One is supporting technically on the content. The other one is the rapporteur. When we come back into plenary, the rapporteur is going to report back. They captured everything that you raised. I would like to recognize, just to clarify one thing. As you well know, within the WSIS, there are action lines. And ITU is responsible for the following action lines, which we implement. Capacity building, cyber security, infrastructure, and E-applications. We jointly implement the E-applications environment with UNITA and other UN agencies. So there is a great opportunity. I recognize, of course, the presence of The Minister of Azerbaijan and I want to thank him. He’s going to be our next host for the next World Telecommunication Development Conference, which is going to be held in Azerbaijan, Baku, from 17 to 28 of November this year. The ministers are cordially invited to come. And we have already sent invitation letters. There is an opportunity for the ministers to speak and provide or deliver policy statements during the high-level segment. Please indicate your interest so that we can reserve slots for you. You are going to have a great time. We were provided excellent facilities in Baku. The food in Baku is extraordinary. You are going to have a very good time there. So Minister, we thank you for hosting us. And we are working very closely with the team. Now why is this relevant? It is relevant because the topics and the discussions that we have had here, you can bring them to WTDC. Of course, we have captured them. But this is an opportunity because that is the highest level of conference for the development sector. And you will be giving us instructions to implement certain measures by way of resolutions or by way of thematic topics. And also the declaration that is going to be adopted in the strategic plan of the development sector as it contributes to the overall ITU strategic plan. So I would like to cordially invite you to come at your level and also to have your consideration for young people because on the 16th, the day before, we are going to have a celebration day for young people, for the youth, who are going to participate in a number of exciting activities organized by our host country. Thank you.

SidAli Zerrouki: Thank you, Director. Thank you, Excellencies, for your kind participation. And I just mentioned that all your comments have been reported and captured integrally and they’ll be communicated later on. So thank you so much. I think we are good in terms of timing, so it gave us some spare time, maybe a couple of minutes to stretch or to have some coffee. Thank you so much. Just between brackets and out of this meeting, for African ministers, there’s also Smart Africa, right? And we have this afternoon a meeting also about a topic which is very sensitive, which is AFRINIC, and also the future of IP addresses within Africa. So it will be held at 5.47 this afternoon. There is a group managed by Mr. Lassina, a Canadian DG. Thank you so much. We’ll be back here at five o’clock?

Solly Malatsi: Okay. Excellencies, welcome back from the breakaway groups and thank you to all of you for the engagements that you had in their respective groups. I managed to attend at least three of those and I appreciated the contributions that took place in each of them and to thank the moderators who will now be leading us with their report back sessions from their respective groups. We’ll start with His Excellency from Algeria, followed by Ghana, then the Barbados, and then Indonesia will be the last group. In that order, I’ll hand over to His Excellency Zerrouki from Algeria. Thank you very much.

SidAli Zerrouki: Thank you, Excellency and Chairman. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the diverse group of high-level representatives reflected on two decades of digital transformation and considered the path forward for inclusive, sustainable digital cooperation. The dialogue underscored the urgency of ensuring that digital technology serves equity, peace, sustainability, particularly as the digital divide evolves beyond Internet access to encompass AI, trust, and governance. The Chair proposed three topics, national digital priority and implementation needs, emerging digital trend, and why it is beyond 2025. Under the first topic, many delegations highlighted significant progress in expanding connectivity, digital infrastructure, public service digitalization, and financial inclusion. Several countries reported near-universal broadband coverage, national AI strategy, and strong performance into global digital. and others. Others emphasized the importance of foundational reforms such as liberalizing communication sector, enacting data protection laws, and launching digital literacy programs, especially for women, youth, and marginalized groups. Despite this gain, persistent challenges remain, rural and underserved populations still lack access, digital skill gaps, and funding constraints limit the pace of infrastructure deployment, keeping in mind the need for green digital solutions. There was broad consensus that OASIS should remain the central framework for digital cooperation with the continued ITU leadership and annual multi-stakeholder forum to sustain momentum. On the second topic, participants acknowledged the transformative potential of the technology like 5G, AI, IOTs, and quantum computing. These innovations are reshaping economic and public services, but also introduce new risks, particularly around cybersecurity, ethical governance, and infrastructure resiliency. Several interventions stressed the need for inclusive access to emerging technology, especially in underserved regions, and called for international cooperation to ensure that AI and space-based technology are developed responsibly. Trust, transparency, and a fairness AI system were required in them, with a call for a global governance framework that respects national sovereignty while promoting shared standards and safeguards. Last but not least, under the third topic, the upcoming UN General Assembly review in December was seen as a pivotal opportunity to assess progress. and Recalibrate Strategy. Delegates emphasized the importance of integrating the global digital compact into the OASIS architecture to avoid duplication and ensure coherence. Many called for a more binding framework to strengthen digital cooperation, including mechanisms for financing capacity building and knowledge sharing. Doreen was interested in developing an open source platform and digital public good support innovation and policy experimentation, particularly in a resource-constrained setting. Overall, Roundtable reaffirmed the enduring relevance of OASIS as a platform for inclusive digital development and highlighted the need for a sustainable political will, multi-stakeholder engagement, and international solidarity to bridge divide, harness emerging technology, and ensure that the digital future is equitable and secure and sustainable for all. Thank you very much.

Solly Malatsi: Thank you very much, His Excellency. We will now move over to Group E that was led by His Excellency George from Ghana.

Samuel Nartey George: Thank you very much, Chair, and I think that we would associate ourselves largely with the report from Algeria and not want to bore everybody. We just make a few additions so that we don’t have to repeat the same points. We had conversations about the fact that the OASIS process has led to the establishment of universal access funds, for example, in some of the member states, and those are some of the benefits that the OASIS actions lines have led to in our countries and the need for us to continue to build on those successes. Some countries have established their cyber security and certs in H.E. H.E. H.E. One key thing that came up was the fact that as we continue to drive the information society, we need to have an eye on the cost of devices so that that drops down the entry barrier for more people to be onboarded onto the digital community. There’s also the need for us to continue the multistakeholder engagements and the fact that the WSIS platform remains a key critical part. And going forward for us, one of the key things that came up was the need for us to have more content in local languages. And that should be a main focus of the WSIS plus 20 going forward. We had three broad changes to the recommendations, but they don’t change it substantially. The first was the suggestion that WSIS was fit for purpose in Tunis in the early 2000s. But today we should move away from talking about the World Society on Information Society, but we should rather be talking about the digital society. And so that’s for the consideration of the House. If we want to change it from WSIS to WSDIS, that’s going to be up to us to make a decision. And then on the final draft recommendation, we inserted human-centric as one of the key things that we thought needed to be part of – because we’re looking at the global human rights, and so we decided to include human-centric. And then we ended as well with introducing the phrase through continued multistakeholder engagements, because we thought that in the draft recommendation, it didn’t highlight the key essence of what WSIS is, the platform for multistakeholder engagement. And so we introduced that as well for the consideration of the larger group. Thank you.

Solly Malatsi: Thank you very much, His Excellency George. We’ll now move over to Group G, led by His Excellency Reid from Barbados.

Jonathan Reid: Thank you so much. And I’m taking the line from my colleague directly across from me, acknowledging all the said before, and largely in agreement, and not wanting to bore you with an AI-enabled summary. But just pulling on some core key components that I felt was quite interesting in the discussion. One led by the colleague from Honduras, who spoke quite a bit of fully acknowledging the need to understand that 40% of the planet is of rural population, and acknowledging that there needs to be special consideration for advanced technologies with the acknowledgement that so much of the planet lives in rural settings, and therefore special considerations must be made about that. The colleague from Nepal made special recommendation and reference to green digitization. As many of us are in a race towards enabling our nations to stand up digitized data centers and advanced compute centers, the constant need to be us to thinking about electricity generation, the cost of it, the impact of it, needs to be at the forefront of our mindsets and our thinkings, and that was well received by the group. The colleagues from UAE and Zimbabwe, in varying ways, made reference to the fact that us all, we are at different stages of our digital development, and we need to be cognizant of the fact that there is opportunities for collaboration and sharing and learning with each other, whether it’s resources or it may be investment, there’s an opportunity for acknowledgement of where you are in terms of your digital cycle, and then collaborating on it. The colleague of the United States of America, I think, made a very strong point regarding not being so firm to rush to strict and irreversible in some ways regulations around where we are thinking about framing the do’s and don’ts of AI, which we don’t fully yet understand where it’s at, that there’s an opportunity to I’m going to start with the sidebar conversation that we had. Of course there was large support for WSIS and the power of having a uniform platform of broad development, a power of where conversation and voices could be heard and different ideas can contend, but the balance could become clear at the end of a conversation. And one I think that was particularly powerful came from a member from Kenya who reminded us that a lot of us are doing very, very good work and a lot of very good programs are happening without full knowledge of the world and in some cases our population, our communities, for those to exist and the good news to come out of it. So much of the work and the moment in time we are in are driven by news that scares us a little bit and so much of the conversation around AI does, in fact, and advanced technologies, does scare some members of our population. So we need to always make sure that we are very much operating with a human-centric perspective and allowing the goodness of the work that we are doing.

Solly Malatsi: Thank you very much. And for the last report, we’ll come from Group F, led by Meutya Viada Hafid from Indonesia.

Meutya Viada Hafid: Thank you, Chair. It’s an honor for me to report back on behalf of the Breakout Room F, where ministers engage in a rich and robust forward-looking discussions on three critical topics related to OASIS Plus 20 process and our shared digital future. And participants reaffirmed the lasting impact of OASIS process over the past 20 years. Many ministers highlighted significant progress in digital infrastructure and broadband expansion. However, it was also noted that digital divides persist, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and the financing for infrastructure is still challenging. It was also stressed out the importance of digital literacy and capacity building. Sorry, I’ll just open my – there was also a strong recognition that international cooperation is essential to support infrastructure development, trust frameworks, and cybersecurity mechanism, especially for least developed and small island state. The group also discussed emerging digital trends, and many countries are exploring regulatory approaches to ensure ethical, transparent, and secure adoption of AI, while also fostering innovations. With emerging technologies, our group also discussed how careful understanding of opportunities is also important, and that includes opportunities for cultural and also language. Thus, skills – upskilling is needed, and knowledge sharing becomes an important issue in that context. We also discussed about cybersecurity and how it is a paramount issue. There is a need to continue to invest and implement mitigation actions. Child online protection is also one concern that is discussed in Group F. Security of emerging technology, security of undersea cables that has to be tackled internationally. And also, of course, to close, we all agree that WSIS is important and should continue to play a role in digital development. ITU should continue to play a leading role moving forward, and WSIS should continue also to strengthen the multi-stakeholder approach.

Solly Malatsi: Thank you. Thank you very much, Excellency, and to all the moderators for their feedback. Just to underscore one point, because there were several recommendations that also emerged from the different groups, that those will be reflected in the chair’s summary that encapsulates the totality of the discussion. There was in one of the groups a suggestion around some possible text change in terms of the word, and I’ll ask the secretariat just to elaborate on that in the process that they will follow. It was a very good suggestion from Qatar around the use of the word complementarity and the sequencing with the global digital impact so that we give prominence to the work that is done through WSIS.

Speaker: Thank you, Your Excellency. I noticed that one of the groups has made changes, and these changes have been reflected. I assure the other groups that the secretariat will take the minor changes which you have agreed in your groups to put into the text, and we will clean that up and hand that over to the chair. And all other comments, as the chair has mentioned, will be gathered and put into the chair’s report. For the group that Minister Mutia was moderating, there were two revisions or two additions which were suggested, and I will just describe them. Under emerging digital trends, the group agreed, the ministers agreed that ITU’s role in coordinating the first bullet should be emphasised or should be included. It says here, governments and other stakeholders are encouraged to strengthen collaboration and the group felt that we should include the fact that ITU plays a coordinating role and so ITU should coordinate this and we will put that into the text. The second point has to do with the WSIS Beyond 2025 recommendation and that is, as you can see right now, the word complementarity appears in the third line. It says, by strengthening existing WSIS structures in complementarity to the implementation of the Global Digital Compact, the group felt very strongly that it should be alignment and there should be no duplication at all and the diplomatic language of complementarity perhaps is too subtle and therefore, to use the word alignment, it would mean that we will say that the GDC has to be in alignment with WSIS and so we will arrange that text and put it into this. I’m very happy to see that other groups have included the multi-stakeholder engagement because that was another point that emerged from our group. Chair, thank you very much. The Secretariat will work on this and we will present it to you. Thank you.

Solly Malatsi: Thank you very much to the Secretariat for consolidating all of the input and the observations from the different groups and I hope the room is in agreement with the approach that we are outlining in terms of incorporating those views and we thought that it is important to bring it to the Forum for Transparency so that everyone in the group has a sense of even the most of minute.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin: infrastructure resilience and protecting cultural and linguistic diversity. And I’m also hearing this this push for continuous investment in inclusive digital access, digital literacy, education, and local content to ensure that no one is left behind. The road to December to the General Assembly high level event I think runs through us. No matter how fast technology advances, we must never give up on placing humanity and shared values at the core of innovation. The last 20 years of WSIS are proof of the value in really working together across sectors, across institutions, and borders to drive digital development progress. I think the clock is ticking and the world of course is watching. So together, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, let’s continue transforming the WSIS vision into impact so that our digital cooperation ultimately results in universal, meaningful connectivity and sustainable digital transformation for all. With that, Excellencies, I think I pass the

Solly Malatsi: floor back to you, my co-chair. Minister. Thank you very much. Colleagues, it’s been a really fruitful endeavor to be able to break into the different groups and come to this text that is now in front of us. So for that, I just want to thank all of you for your leadership in the respective groups that we had. Special mention to the moderators who were able to facilitate the discussions that took place and to come with a unified position. And also to thank the Secretariat and all of their technical team for how quickly they also worked in making sure that the summaries reflect the views of the whole group. We’ve got an exciting It’s very difficult to decide if we can make this happen. It’s very difficult to make this happen. I think it’s a very difficult decision for all of us. It’s a very difficult decision for all of us. So I’m looking forward to sharing that with the rest of plenary so that you can see that the work that we collectively do is reflected even in the commitments and the vision that will outline on Friday when we present the chair’s summary. With that, thank you very much, and enjoy the rest of the other sessions that you’ll be attending. Thank you.

Agreement points

WSIS should continue as central framework with multi-stakeholder approach

Speakers

– Meutya Viada Hafid
– Samuel Nartey George
– Doreen Bogdan-Martin

Arguments

All agree that WSIS is important and should continue to play a role in digital development, ITU should continue to play a leading role, and WSIS should continue to strengthen the multi-stakeholder approach

There’s also the need for us to continue the multistakeholder engagements and the fact that the WSIS platform remains a key critical part

WSIS provides platform for shared learning and collective progress

Summary

Strong consensus that WSIS remains vital as the central framework for digital cooperation, with ITU maintaining its leadership role and the multi-stakeholder approach being fundamental to its continued success

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Digital infrastructure development with focus on connectivity expansion

Speakers

– Rashad Nabiyev
– Aminata Zerbo Sabane
– Leocadie Ndacayisaba
– Shan Zhongde
– Meutya Viada Hafid

Arguments

99.9 percent of households in Azerbaijan are connected to fiber-optic Internet, placing the country among a small group globally that has achieved near-universal high-speed connectivity

A backbone network of 3,000 kilometers in optical fiber accessible to all operators has considerably improved high bandwidth coverage, with 11,000 kilometers for the country

Development of fiber-optic connections across the entire country, creation of digital training centers and implementation of basic digital literacy programs for women, young people and vulnerable minorities

Every city has 1,000 megabytes, every county has 5G, every village has broadband

Many ministers highlighted significant progress in digital infrastructure and broadband expansion

Summary

Multiple countries report significant investments and achievements in digital infrastructure, particularly fiber-optic networks and broadband expansion, though challenges remain in rural and underserved areas

Topics

Infrastructure | Development

Need for ethical AI governance and regulatory frameworks

Speakers

– Rashad Nabiyev
– Meutya Viada Hafid
– Tawfik Jelassi
– Abdulbaset Albaour

Arguments

Strategy built around four pillars: Governance and Ethics with Clear Regulatory Standards and Human Oversight

Many countries are exploring regulatory approaches to ensure ethical, transparent, and secure adoption of AI, while also fostering innovations

Only 21% of governments worldwide have policies on ethical use of AI in public administration, and only 18% of countries have a national data strategy

Need for true governance and artificial intelligence governance pacts to diminish the technological gap or digital gap

Summary

Widespread recognition of the need for ethical AI governance frameworks, with countries actively developing regulatory approaches while acknowledging significant gaps in current AI policies globally

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Human rights

Cybersecurity as paramount concern requiring international cooperation

Speakers

– Rashad Nabiyev
– Meutya Viada Hafid

Arguments

Azerbaijan currently ranks as a top performer among CIS countries in the Global Cybersecurity Index with a score of 93.7 out of 100, supported by national cybersecurity strategy and expanding CERT capabilities

Cybersecurity is a paramount issue requiring continued investment and implementation of mitigation actions, including child online protection and security of undersea cables that must be tackled internationally

Summary

Strong agreement that cybersecurity is a critical issue requiring both national investment and international cooperation, with recognition of the need for comprehensive approaches covering various aspects from infrastructure to child protection

Topics

Cybersecurity | Infrastructure

Human-centric approach to digital transformation

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan-Martin
– Shan Zhongde
– Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez
– Jonathan Reid
– Tawfik Jelassi

Arguments

Shared digital future is not just about technology, it’s about people; decisions and policies must ensure technology improves lives and livelihoods and uplifts everyone everywhere with openness, fairness, and dignity

Technology should benefit people and promote general and inclusive information society with no one left behind

Firm decision to build a digital future that benefits society as a whole and fosters equity, social justice and sovereignty, with humanist and ethical approach to data governance

Need to operate with human-centric perspective and allow goodness of work to be visible

Future where technology serves as powerful enabler of opportunities, justice, and equity for all

Summary

Universal agreement that digital transformation must prioritize human welfare, equity, and social justice, with technology serving as an enabler for improving lives rather than an end in itself

Topics

Human rights | Development

Similar viewpoints

Recognition that despite progress in digital infrastructure, significant disparities exist between urban and rural areas, and between different regions globally, requiring targeted approaches for underserved populations

Speakers

– Alioune Sall
– Meutya Viada Hafid
– Jonathan Reid

Arguments

In 2025, in Africa, the average coverage rate does not exceed 43% while other countries like Azerbaijan report exceeding 95% coverage

Many ministers highlighted significant progress in digital infrastructure and broadband expansion, however digital divides persist, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and financing for infrastructure is still challenging

40% of the planet is rural population, requiring special consideration for advanced technologies with acknowledgement that so much of the planet lives in rural settings

Topics

Infrastructure | Development

Strong emphasis on the importance of sustainable and environmentally conscious digital development, with focus on energy efficiency and green technology integration

Speakers

– Shan Zhongde
– Jonathan Reid
– Aminata Zerbo Sabane

Arguments

2024 5G stations per tower daily energy consumption down by 16% overall, 4 billion kilowatt hours saved, investments in lithium battery, smart solar power and energy storages

As many are in race towards enabling nations to stand up digitized data centers and advanced compute centers, constant need to think about electricity generation, cost, and impact needs to be at forefront of mindsets

Need to embrace green future with environmental protection and information society 2030 Sustainable Development Goals as major guidelines

Topics

Development | Infrastructure

Both countries face international sanctions that impact their digital development but maintain commitment to technological advancement and international cooperation despite these challenges

Speakers

– Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez
– Grigoriy Borisenko

Arguments

Government of United States has imposed coercive measures described as the longest blockade against any nation in the world, but Cuba maintains firm decision to build digital future and participate in UN and WSIS

Sanctions from West countries impacted technological infrastructure; digital economy continues to grow more rapidly than many countries despite sanctions; sanctions bear discriminatory character and impede solving common problems

Topics

Economic | Infrastructure

Unexpected consensus

Need for taxation and regulation of global tech giants

Speakers

– SidAli Zerrouki

Arguments

OTT tech giants spreading technology globally, generating billion-dollar revenue without investing a single penny in countries, setting their own content moderation rules while ignoring government policies

Universal service taxes imposed on mobile operators should similarly apply to content-spreading tech giants; they need to pay tax to countries which could be part of funding for digital development

Explanation

Unexpected strong stance on regulating global tech companies and requiring them to contribute financially to countries where they operate, representing a shift toward more assertive digital sovereignty

Topics

Economic | Legal and regulatory

Alignment rather than complementarity between WSIS and Global Digital Compact

Speakers

– Speaker

Arguments

Group felt very strongly that it should be alignment and there should be no duplication at all; diplomatic language of complementarity perhaps too subtle, preference to use alignment meaning GDC has to be in alignment with WSIS

Explanation

Unexpected strong preference for WSIS to take precedence over the newer Global Digital Compact, showing commitment to established frameworks rather than embracing newer initiatives

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Evolution from Information Society to Digital Society terminology

Speakers

– Samuel Nartey George

Arguments

WSIS was fit for purpose in Tunis in the early 2000s, but today we should move away from talking about the World Society on Information Society and rather talk about the digital society, suggesting change from WSIS to WSDIS

Explanation

Unexpected proposal to fundamentally rebrand the WSIS framework to reflect technological evolution, showing willingness to modernize established international frameworks

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Sociocultural

Overall assessment

Summary

Strong consensus exists on core principles including WSIS as central framework, human-centric digital development, need for ethical AI governance, cybersecurity cooperation, and sustainable technology deployment. Agreement also evident on infrastructure development priorities and digital inclusion goals.

Consensus level

High level of consensus on fundamental principles and frameworks, with some emerging areas of agreement on more assertive approaches to digital sovereignty and tech regulation. The consensus strengthens the legitimacy of WSIS as the primary global digital cooperation platform and provides clear direction for future digital governance initiatives.

Different viewpoints

Impact of sanctions on digital development and international cooperation

Speakers

– Grigoriy Borisenko
– Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez

Arguments

Sanctions impact technological infrastructure and deepen digital divide

Development despite longest blockade imposed by United States affecting digital growth

Summary

Both Russia and Cuba argue that Western sanctions/blockades negatively impact their digital development and create barriers to international technological cooperation. Russia emphasizes how sanctions impede global progress and discriminate against countries, while Cuba frames US measures as the longest blockade against any nation but maintains commitment to digital transformation despite these constraints.

Topics

Economic | Legal and regulatory

Approach to AI regulation – caution vs. proactive governance

Speakers

– Jonathan Reid
– Abdulbaset Albaour
– Meutya Viada Hafid

Arguments

Caution against rushing to strict regulations for technologies not fully understood

Need for proper governance frameworks and artificial intelligence governance pacts

Countries exploring regulatory approaches for ethical and transparent AI adoption

Summary

There’s a tension between those advocating for careful, measured approaches to AI regulation (avoiding premature strict rules) versus those calling for immediate governance frameworks and proactive regulatory approaches. This reflects different philosophies on how to balance innovation with responsible AI development.

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Digital divide severity and infrastructure development priorities

Speakers

– Rashad Nabiyev
– Alioune Sall
– Meutya Viada Hafid

Arguments

Near-universal fiber-optic connectivity achieved with 99.9% household coverage

Need for shared infrastructure and sub-regional strategies to address connectivity gaps

Significant progress in broadband expansion but digital divides persist in rural areas

Summary

There’s a stark contrast between countries that have achieved near-universal connectivity (like Azerbaijan) and those still struggling with basic coverage (African countries averaging 43%). This highlights different starting points and the need for different strategies – some focusing on advanced services while others need fundamental infrastructure sharing.

Topics

Infrastructure | Development

Unexpected differences

Terminology and framework evolution for WSIS

Speakers

– Samuel Nartey George

Arguments

Suggestion to evolve from World Summit on Information Society to Digital Society

Explanation

This represents an unexpected disagreement about the fundamental framing of the WSIS process itself. While most speakers focused on content and implementation, Ghana raised a more fundamental question about whether the terminology should evolve from ‘Information Society’ to ‘Digital Society’ to reflect technological evolution since the early 2000s.

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Sociocultural

Role of international organizations in addressing economic sanctions

Speakers

– Grigoriy Borisenko

Arguments

Sanctions impact technological infrastructure and deepen digital divide

Explanation

Russia’s call for ITU to help mitigate the consequences of sanctions represents an unexpected disagreement about the role of technical international organizations in addressing geopolitical economic measures. This goes beyond typical technical cooperation discussions to suggest ITU should actively counter sanctions effects.

Topics

Economic | Legal and regulatory

Overall assessment

Summary

The disagreements primarily center around three main areas: the impact of geopolitical measures (sanctions/blockades) on digital development, the appropriate pace and approach to AI regulation, and the severity of digital divides with corresponding infrastructure priorities. Additionally, there are methodological disagreements about framework evolution and institutional roles.

Disagreement level

Moderate disagreement level with significant implications. While speakers generally agree on broad goals of inclusive digital development, they differ substantially on implementation approaches, regulatory philosophies, and the role of geopolitical factors. These disagreements reflect different national contexts, development stages, and geopolitical positions, which could complicate consensus-building for global digital governance frameworks and coordinated international action.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Recognition that despite progress in digital infrastructure, significant disparities exist between urban and rural areas, and between different regions globally, requiring targeted approaches for underserved populations

Speakers

– Alioune Sall
– Meutya Viada Hafid
– Jonathan Reid

Arguments

In 2025, in Africa, the average coverage rate does not exceed 43% while other countries like Azerbaijan report exceeding 95% coverage

Many ministers highlighted significant progress in digital infrastructure and broadband expansion, however digital divides persist, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and financing for infrastructure is still challenging

40% of the planet is rural population, requiring special consideration for advanced technologies with acknowledgement that so much of the planet lives in rural settings

Topics

Infrastructure | Development

Strong emphasis on the importance of sustainable and environmentally conscious digital development, with focus on energy efficiency and green technology integration

Speakers

– Shan Zhongde
– Jonathan Reid
– Aminata Zerbo Sabane

Arguments

2024 5G stations per tower daily energy consumption down by 16% overall, 4 billion kilowatt hours saved, investments in lithium battery, smart solar power and energy storages

As many are in race towards enabling nations to stand up digitized data centers and advanced compute centers, constant need to think about electricity generation, cost, and impact needs to be at forefront of mindsets

Need to embrace green future with environmental protection and information society 2030 Sustainable Development Goals as major guidelines

Topics

Development | Infrastructure

Both countries face international sanctions that impact their digital development but maintain commitment to technological advancement and international cooperation despite these challenges

Speakers

– Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez
– Grigoriy Borisenko

Arguments

Government of United States has imposed coercive measures described as the longest blockade against any nation in the world, but Cuba maintains firm decision to build digital future and participate in UN and WSIS

Sanctions from West countries impacted technological infrastructure; digital economy continues to grow more rapidly than many countries despite sanctions; sanctions bear discriminatory character and impede solving common problems

Topics

Economic | Infrastructure

Key takeaways

WSIS remains a vital platform for digital cooperation after 20 years, with consensus on its continued relevance as the central framework for inclusive digital development

Digital transformation requires comprehensive national strategies encompassing infrastructure, governance, cybersecurity, and human capacity building across all government sectors

The digital divide has evolved beyond basic internet access to include gaps in AI access, trust, governance, and emerging technologies, with persistent challenges in rural and underserved areas

International cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement are essential for addressing global digital challenges, particularly for least developed countries and small island states

AI governance and cybersecurity require urgent attention, with only 21% of governments having AI ethics policies and cybersecurity being a paramount international concern

Digital inclusion must prioritize local content, local languages, and human-centric approaches to ensure technology serves all populations equitably

The upcoming UN General Assembly review in December 2024 presents a critical opportunity to reshape global digital governance architecture

Green digitization and sustainable technology deployment must be integrated into digital transformation strategies to address climate commitments

Resolutions and action items

Secretariat to incorporate all group recommendations and minor text changes into the final recommendations document

Chair to present consolidated chair’s summary reflecting all ministerial discussions at the Friday plenary session

ITU to continue coordinating international cooperation efforts for digital infrastructure and capacity building

Ministers invited to participate in World Telecommunication Development Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan (November 17-28, 2024)

Global Digital Compact implementation to be aligned with WSIS structures to avoid duplication

WSIS framework to be strengthened with continued multi-stakeholder engagement approach

Countries encouraged to engage with UNESCO’s AI for public sector programs and SPARC AI Alliance initiatives

Data Governance Toolkit launched to provide policymakers with actionable guidance for ethical data systems

Unresolved issues

Funding mechanisms and international financing for digital infrastructure development in resource-constrained countries remain inadequately addressed

Regulatory framework for tech giants’ taxation and compliance with national policies across different jurisdictions needs resolution

Impact of international sanctions on global digital cooperation and technology development requires multilateral solutions

Standardization of AI governance frameworks across different national contexts and development levels

Bridging the significant connectivity gap between developed and developing regions (e.g., Africa’s 43% average coverage vs. 95%+ in developed countries)

Balancing innovation promotion with appropriate AI regulation without stifling technological advancement

Addressing undersea cable security and critical infrastructure protection at international level

Establishing binding international frameworks for digital cooperation beyond current voluntary mechanisms

Suggested compromises

Evolving WSIS terminology from ‘World Summit on Information Society’ to ‘World Summit on Digital Society’ to reflect current technological landscape

Using ‘alignment’ rather than ‘complementarity’ when describing relationship between Global Digital Compact and WSIS to ensure no duplication

Adopting flexible regulatory approaches for AI that allow for learning and adaptation rather than rigid, irreversible regulations

Developing open-source platforms and digital public goods to support innovation in resource-constrained settings

Creating sub-regional infrastructure sharing strategies to pool resources for connectivity projects

Establishing universal service obligations for content-spreading tech giants similar to those imposed on traditional telecom operators

Implementing graduated approaches to digital development that recognize different countries are at different stages of their digital transformation journey

The divide today is no longer just about access to the Internet. It’s about access to trust, compute, power, ethical innovation. How each and every country is integrating AI into the public services securely, especially that cyber security threat is there on a daily basis.

Speaker

SidAli Zerrouki (Algeria Minister/Moderator)

Reason

This comment reframes the entire digital divide discussion from a traditional infrastructure problem to a more complex governance and trust issue. It recognizes that the challenge has evolved beyond connectivity to encompass deeper issues of digital sovereignty, security, and ethical implementation of emerging technologies.

Impact

This observation shifted the conversation from basic infrastructure concerns to more sophisticated discussions about AI governance, cybersecurity, and the geopolitical implications of digital transformation. It elevated the discourse to address 21st-century challenges rather than focusing solely on 20th-century connectivity issues.

One of the topics which is very, very crucial and important today, we have this OTT tech giant that is spreading technology here and there… they just keep on spoiling data, generating billion-dollar revenue, not investing a single penny in no country… When it comes to the mind, they say, we ban this account for this influencer or content creator because it does not comply with their policies. But when it comes to government policies, they say, no, no, no, freedom, right to talk, right to express itself.

Speaker

SidAli Zerrouki (Algeria Minister/Moderator)

Reason

This comment boldly addresses the elephant in the room – the asymmetric power relationship between global tech platforms and national governments. It highlights the contradiction in how these platforms enforce their own policies while resisting government regulations, and raises critical questions about digital sovereignty and fair taxation.

Impact

This intervention introduced a crucial discussion about digital colonialism and the need for coordinated international action to address the power imbalance with tech giants. It connected to broader themes of sovereignty and fair economic participation in the digital economy.

I don’t think we’re talking about the same basics. The minister from Azerbaijan was saying previously that the coverage rate in his country was exceeding 95%. In 2025, at the time we’re speaking in Africa, the average coverage rate does not exceed 43%… We’re talking about the fourth industrial revolution, but if all countries are not starting from the same starting point, then there will be discrepancies in the way we approach those technologies.

Speaker

Alioune Sall (Senegal Minister)

Reason

This comment provides a stark reality check about global digital inequality. It challenges the assumption that all countries can participate equally in discussions about advanced technologies like AI when basic connectivity remains a challenge for many. The comment forces recognition of the fundamental disparities that exist.

Impact

This intervention grounded the discussion in reality and highlighted the need for differentiated approaches to digital development. It shifted focus toward addressing foundational inequalities before advancing to more sophisticated technological discussions, emphasizing the importance of universal connectivity as a prerequisite for meaningful participation in the digital economy.

The sanctions by themselves produced a reverse effect, because our digital economy continues to grow, and in many cases more rapidly than in many countries. But I think our priority must be shared by the world community, because sanctions imposed on countries impact irredeemably the development of technologies and also the security sphere, because criminals do not observe sanctions, and our public sphere must observe the sanctions.

Speaker

Grigoriy Borisenko (Russian Federation Minister)

Reason

This comment introduces a geopolitical dimension to digital development discussions, highlighting how international sanctions can fragment the global digital ecosystem. It presents the paradox that while sanctions may spur domestic innovation, they also create security vulnerabilities and slow global progress by forcing technological fragmentation.

Impact

This comment brought geopolitical realities into the technical discussion, forcing participants to confront how international relations affect digital cooperation. It highlighted the tension between national security concerns and the need for global digital collaboration, adding complexity to discussions about international digital governance frameworks.

So much of the work and the moment in time we are in are driven by news that scares us a little bit and so much of the conversation around AI does, in fact, and advanced technologies, does scare some members of our population. So we need to always make sure that we are very much operating with a human-centric perspective and allowing the goodness of the work that we are doing.

Speaker

Jonathan Reid (Barbados Minister)

Reason

This comment addresses the psychological and social dimensions of digital transformation, recognizing that fear and misinformation can undermine even well-intentioned digital initiatives. It emphasizes the importance of communication and human-centered approaches in technology deployment.

Impact

This observation shifted the discussion toward the human and social aspects of digital transformation, emphasizing the need for better communication about the benefits of digital technologies and the importance of maintaining public trust and support for digital initiatives.

There was in one of the groups a suggestion around some possible text change in terms of the word… the diplomatic language of complementarity perhaps is too subtle and therefore, to use the word alignment, it would mean that we will say that the GDC has to be in alignment with WSIS

Speaker

Speaker (Secretariat)

Reason

This seemingly technical comment about word choice reveals deeper institutional and political tensions about the relationship between WSIS and the newer Global Digital Compact. The preference for ‘alignment’ over ‘complementarity’ suggests concerns about institutional hierarchy and the potential marginalization of the WSIS process.

Impact

This comment highlighted important institutional dynamics and the need to clarify the relationship between existing and new digital governance frameworks. It demonstrated how seemingly minor linguistic choices can reflect significant political and institutional concerns about maintaining the relevance and authority of established processes.

Overall assessment

These key comments collectively transformed what could have been a routine review meeting into a substantive discussion about the fundamental challenges of global digital governance in the 21st century. The comments moved the conversation beyond technical implementation details to address systemic issues including digital sovereignty, global inequality, geopolitical fragmentation, and the human dimensions of technological change. They revealed tensions between developed and developing countries, between national sovereignty and global cooperation, and between established and emerging governance frameworks. Most importantly, these interventions demonstrated that while WSIS has achieved significant progress over 20 years, the digital governance challenges of today require more sophisticated, politically aware, and equity-focused approaches than those that were sufficient in the early 2000s. The comments collectively argue for a more mature, realistic, and inclusive approach to international digital cooperation that acknowledges power imbalances, addresses fundamental inequalities, and maintains human-centered values in an increasingly complex technological landscape.

What are the biggest policy or infrastructure bottlenecks to each and every country?

Speaker

SidAli Zerrouki

Explanation

This question seeks to identify common challenges across different nations in digital transformation, which is crucial for developing targeted solutions and international cooperation strategies.

How has WSIS concretely helped your respective countries move forward in this digital move?

Speaker

SidAli Zerrouki

Explanation

This question aims to assess the practical impact and effectiveness of the WSIS process over the past 20 years, which is essential for evaluating its success and planning future improvements.

What kind of international support your respective countries might need, or do still need?

Speaker

SidAli Zerrouki

Explanation

Understanding ongoing support needs is critical for international organizations like ITU to develop appropriate assistance programs and resource allocation strategies.

How each and every country is integrating AI into the public services securely, especially that cyber security threat is there on a daily basis?

Speaker

SidAli Zerrouki

Explanation

This addresses the urgent need to understand best practices for secure AI implementation in government services, given the increasing cybersecurity risks.

What partnerships have helped with 5G today? Satellite or resilient infra?

Speaker

SidAli Zerrouki

Explanation

This seeks to identify successful partnership models for infrastructure development, which could be replicated in other countries facing similar challenges.

Are we collectively prepared for the geopolitical shift of quantum and AI?

Speaker

SidAli Zerrouki

Explanation

This question addresses the broader implications of emerging technologies on global power dynamics and the need for international preparedness and cooperation.

Should WSIS be upgraded to a more binding framework?

Speaker

SidAli Zerrouki

Explanation

This explores whether the current voluntary nature of WSIS commitments is sufficient or if stronger enforcement mechanisms are needed for effective global digital governance.

How can we embed the global digital compact commitment into national planning?

Speaker

SidAli Zerrouki

Explanation

This addresses the practical implementation challenge of translating international digital commitments into concrete national policies and programs.

How can ITU help mobilize the funding community, the financing community to sort of support on things that are specific to transitioning into the AI economy?

Speaker

Mark-Alexandre Doumba

Explanation

This identifies a critical gap in financing mechanisms for AI transition, particularly important for developing countries that lack resources for advanced technology adoption.

How can we ensure that OTT tech giants pay taxes and contribute to infrastructure development in countries where they operate?

Speaker

SidAli Zerrouki

Explanation

This addresses the challenge of ensuring fair contribution from global technology companies to local digital infrastructure and development, which is crucial for sustainable digital transformation funding.