PM Modi inaugurates new ITU Area Office and Innovation Center in New Delhi

Tags: National National News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) field office and innovation center in India on 22 March in New Delhi.

An overview of the news

• India had signed an agreement with ITU in March 2022 for setting up the Area Office.

• The regional office in India has also envisaged an innovation centre, which makes it unique among other regional offices of ITU.

• The regional office, which is fully funded by India, is located on the second floor of the Center for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) building in Mehrauli in the national capital.

• The ITU field office will serve India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Iran, enhancing coordination among nations and promoting mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the region.

6G Vision Document

• During the event, the Prime Minister also unveiled the India 6G Vision Document and launched the 6G Research and Development Test Bed.

• The India 6G vision document has been prepared by the Technology Innovation Group.

• It was formed in November 2021 with various ministries and departments, research and development institutes, academia and telecom service providers and industry to develop a roadmap and action plan for 6G in India.

• The 6G test bed will provide a platform to academic institutions, industries, start-ups, MSMEs and industry to test and validate emerging ICT technologies.

About International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

• ITU is the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs.

• It was established in the year 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks.

• It is committed to connecting all the world's people.

• In line with its mandate and the WSIS outcome documents, it continues playing a key role in WSIS implementation.

• Its members come from all over the globe.

• Its global membership includes 193 Member States as well as 900 companies, universities, and international and regional organisations.