A man sells battery-powered radios and torches on a Barcelona street during the blackout in Barcelona, Spain, 29 April 2025. (Keystone/AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
ON SOURCE: GENEVA SOLUTIONS
SCIENCE & TECH Technology OPINION
As ITU turns 160, our interconnected world needs cooperation more than ever
By Doreen Bogdan-Martin
In a world increasingly dependent on digital systems, the resilience of radio reminds us why the tech diplomacy pioneered by the International Telecommunication Union 160 years ago is still vital today – and why it matters for the future of emerging technologies like AI–, writes its secretary general Doreen Bogdan-Martin.
When a massive blackout plunged parts of southern Europe into darkness last month, millions of people found themselves suddenly disconnected. Mobile phones stopped working. Internet services were unavailable. Even the subways shut down, and card payments became impossible.
In the scramble for information, many reached for the humble handheld radio.
In an age of apps and instant messaging, it was radio – travelling across naturally occurring radio-frequency spectrum – that kept communities informed. Battery-operated radios can operate independently of complex fibre networks and power grids.
But this resilience doesn’t work automatically. Without global coordination, the radio-frequency spectrum would be a chaotic, overcrowded space. Ships, planes, emergency services, broadcasters, satellites – all would be competing for the same invisible highways of communication. That's why, 160 years ago, countries came together to create an organisation that could ensure seamless communication across borders.
In the mid-1800s, the telegraph triggered a communications revolution much like artificial intelligence (AI) is doing today. But back then, fragmented national systems created delays and mounting costs. Recognising the need for a common approach, 20 countries gathered in Paris in 1865. They established shared technical standards and procedures, forming what would become the world's first modern international organisation: the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Ever since, the ITU has worked behind the scenes to coordinate the technical foundations of global communications. From managing satellite orbits to setting standards for networks, undersea cables and even AI, its role is to make sure the world's digital and physical connections operate smoothly, safely and reliably.
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We ensure that when pilots communicate with air traffic controllers, when ships navigate safely across oceans and when citizens tune into emergency broadcasts in a blackout, radio signals don't collide or interfere. We publish more than 300 open technical standards each year, helping devices and networks “speak” a common language. One example is the ITU-T E.164 standard, also called the international telephone numbering plan, which makes it possible to dial from Burkina Faso to Switzerland with a few simple digits: +41.
Preparing for future frontiers
But as last month’s blackout reminded us, the world is growing ever more reliant on complex digital infrastructures – and vulnerabilities are multiplying. The radio-frequency spectrum remains the backbone of global communications, but now it supports everything from emergency response to financial transactions to critical transport and health infrastructure.
At the same time, new frontiers like AI and quantum computing are redefining how technology intersects with daily life. They offer enormous potential to improve services, boost innovation and bridge divides – but only if their development and deployment are responsible, resilient, and work for all.
That is why, as we mark our 160th anniversary, the ITU is looking to the future. In July, we will welcome the world to Geneva for the AI for Good Global Summit 2025, focusing on how emerging technologies like AI can serve all of humanity. And at a time when one-third of the global population remains offline, the ITU’s priority is to mobilise strategic investments, develop innovative policies, and lead capacity-building efforts to connect the unconnected and strengthen the resilience of digital ecosystems worldwide.
The story of the telegraph teaches us that technological progress without coordination leads to fragmentation – and last month’s blackout is a testament to the continued importance of international cooperation on technical matters that go beyond borders. One hundred and sixty years after the ITU's founding, our mission remains clear: to ensure that the benefits of connectivity, from the oldest radio broadcasts to the newest AI applications, are accessible to all – and that no one is left behind.
Doreen Bogdan-Martin is the secretary general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency for digital technologies. With over three decades of leadership experience in global telecommunications policy, her election in 2022 has made her the first woman ever to head the 160-year-old organisation. Known for mobilising innovative partnerships, she aims to promote universal and meaningful connectivity while strengthening the alignment of digital technologies with inclusive, sustainable development.
Geneva Solutions publishes opinions and columns proposed by or requested from external contributors and experts. These texts reflect the point of view of their authors and do not represent the position of the media.
ON SOURCE: GENEVA SOLUTIONS