Artículo BIT
Houlin Zhao, Secretario General de la UIT
El Secretario General de la UIT, Houlin Zhao, visitó España el pasado 5 de mayo para participar en el acto conmemorativo del 150 aniversario de la UIT, celebrado en el Senado de España y que contó con la presencia de Su Majestad el Rey Felipe VI. Aprovechamos esta importante ocasión para invitar al máximo responsable de este organismo de la ONU especializado en Telecomunicaciones a una entrevista en la que desgranamos con él la importancia de esta efeméride, el papel fundamental desempeñado por la UIT a lo largo de la historia y los grandes retos globales que se perfilan en el horizonte en la labor de esta institución que es garante del desarrollo de las telecomunicaciones a nivel mundial e impulsora decisiva del avance de las mismas en todos los rincones del planeta. Reproducimos, por primera vez en BIT, la entrevista en su idioma original. “The remarkable history of ITU exemplifies its stellar role in connecting the world to the most advanced and innovative means of communication” Houlin Zhao Secretario General de la UIT Entrevista a | Mr Houlin Zhao BIT. You were elected as 19th Secretary- General of ITU on 23 October 2014. You have committed to broadening the ITU community by encouraging additional Sector Members and global academic institutions to join the ITU family, while you have adopted a reinforced open door policy in order to bring on new associates and interested parties, including a greater role for SME in ITU tasks. What are your highest priority objectives for this new four year term during which you will be in charge of this institution? ITU certainly faces complex tasks as the ICT landscape evolves rapidly. The World Summit on the Information Society concluded ten years ago, demonstrating strong political will to build a people-centred, developmentoriented and inclusive information society. At that time no one could have believed that there would be nearly 7 billion mobile subscribers within a decade; that smartphones would be in millions of pockets; and that mobile devices would begin to replace desktop computers and even television sets. While this is true in most developed countries, the challenge still remains to connect millions of people who still do not have access to modern communication systems. This growing divide is a major challenge, and we must make every effort to ensure people are connected to sources of information and knowledge that is taken for granted elsewhere and which empowers people with access to meet their own development aspirations and goals. The key to bridging the digital divide lies in strengthening global partnerships for development and using the power of ICTs to meet our sustainable development goals. ITU calls upon Member States, Sector Members and Associates as well as academia and citizens’ groups to pull together every conceivable resource to ensure that communities worldwide are fully connected to ICTs. Acting as catalysts, ICTs open the door to myriad solutions in the quest for a more productive and better life in remote rural communities and even in under-served urban areas. Specifically, I would like to work closely with ITU Member States to promote sustainable national policies enabling the deployment of telecommunication/ICT networks and services for rural, isolated and underserved areas; support ongoing work aimed at developing standards that will help the deployment of telecommunication/ICT infrastructure and services in rural, isolated and underserved areas; promote frequency spectrum allocations which facilitate the deployment of radiocommunication systems in rural areas; Encourage the use of wireless systems designed to provide the most efficient coverage and service to rural areas, including satellite and terrestrial solutions; develop broadband connectivity and inclusion for all, in particular in rural areas, through broadband backhaul, wireless or wireline, and including satellite communications; support ongoing work on the deployment of efficient and cost-effective infrastructure, in particular mobile telephony, in underserved and rural areas; and connect all institutions, in particular schools, which act as community hubs and help connect youth as well as adults to knowledge and information, leading to employment and socio-economic development. At the same time, as the United Nations specialized agency for ICTs, ITU must keep pace with global developments and continue to provide the intergovernmental platform for the development of new standards that are interoperable around the world. We have to move with the times to ensure spectrum is available and efficiently managed to accommodate new technological developments. We have to support industry sectors that wish to participate in developing new hightech networks even in outer space. We must ensure that developing countries have the capacity to harness the potential of new developments in ICTs; indeed many of them are prepared to leapfrog technologies and adopt the latest stateof- the-art systems. I believe ICT entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs have a particularly relevant role in ensuring economic growth in a sustainable and inclusive manner. They are involved in the development of innovative ICT-enabled solutions, which are key to driving innovation, with a unique potential to make a long-lasting impact in global, regional and national economies and as a fundamental source of new jobs, especially for youth, in the current knowledge economy. SMEs represent an essential source of economic growth in advanced industrialized countries, as well as in emerging economies. Flexible, adaptable, scalable and responsive, they can operate and innovate anywhere there is connectivity – and make a long-lasting impact on both our societies and markets. I am confident that ITU will continue meeting the challenges ahead as well as embrace new opportunities delivered by the changing ICT market place – backed by the deep knowledge and expertise of our staff and membership, I believe ICT entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs have a particularly relevant role in ensuring economic growth in a sustainable and inclusive manner.” and our proven ability over 150 years to adapt, reform and innovate so as to stay in tune with market demands. BIT. ITU decisions are arrived at by consensus. Looking back on your experience of over 20 years within this organization, how would you say that internal processes take place in order to achieve said consensus? Is consensus the key term that has guaranteed a history of success for this organization? Over the years, ITU has reached its decisions by consensus. In accordance with the purposes of ITU, as defined in the ITU Constitution and Convention, ITU is committed to connecting the world. In order to achieve this, ITU works to ensure that the global communications infrastructure runs smoothly and effectively so as to enable everyone to access the benefits of telecommunication/ ICTs and assist in mitigating new risks. As an example, ITU oversees international spectrum allocation and satellite coordination, develops and gains consensus on new telecommunication/ ICT standards, and carries out policy analysis and work on the development of an enabling environment as well as providing technical assistance to Member States. In all these activities, ITU’s consensus principle has been developed based on best practices/past practices in which there are “no losers, only winners”. There is no exact reference for the definition of “consensus” in the ITU Constitution, Convention or General Rules andcould be interpreted differently, depending on the circumstances. “Consensus” has two interpretations within ITU: “unanimous” or “unopposed”. In most cases, agreements are “unanimous”; from time to time, it could be “unopposed”. ITU invites membership to participate in the decision-making process aimed at facilitating the achievement of a consensus within the groups, in particular in the field of standardization, encouraging consensus among the membership. However, not all decisions in ITU require consensus, as there are various stages in the decision-making process requiring different types or levels of approvals and agreement. The most important aspect of the decision-making process within ITU is not simply about “numbers”, but whether the decision has embodied the value of striving for full agreement or consent among the membership. In ITU meetings, we do our outmost to support our membership to reach an agreement, hopefully by consensus, in order to maintain ITU’s valuable and time-honoured traditions. BIT. ITU celebrates 150 years of history, which is a lengthy span of cooperation towards the development of telecommunications and Information Technologies worldwide. How different do you believe that the history of telecommunications and Information Technologies would have been without this coordinated action spearheaded by the ITU? Which would you say are the technological innovations that have transformed the world most throughout this long period? Which of these do you believe will determine the future evolution of information and communication technologies in upcoming years? This year, 2015, marks the 150th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union. Established in 1865, ITU has reaffirmed its reputation worldwide as one of the most resilient and relevant international organizations and continues its work as the specialized agency of the United Nations dealing with state-of-the-art telecommunications and information and communication technologies. The remarkable history of ITU exemplifies its stellar role in connecting the world to the most advanced and innovative means of communication, from the days of the telegraph to the Internet and mobile broadband, which now allows us to be in touch anytime, anywhere with friends, family, colleagues and even things. As we celebrate our 150thanniversary, we look back with pride at our Entrevista a | Mr Houlin Zhao accomplishments. And we look forward to the future as we respond to the rapid changes in the global ICT environment. We have continued to develop and grow with the evolving ICT sector, from telegraphy to the modern world of satellites, mobile phones and the Internet, and now again as we move to the future of the Internet of Things and big data. The theme for ITU’s 150th anniversary “Telecommunications and ICTs: drivers of innovation” is in line with several core activities and imperatives of ITU and underlies the work of the three Sectors of the Union as well as ITU Telecom. In a rapidly evolving global ICT environment, fostering growth and innovation at all levels – from policymakers and industry to academia and civil society – is the key to meeting the aspirations of end-users and people around the world as we embrace the digital world. Broadband infrastructure development is a critical element in ensuring that ICTs are used innovatively as delivery vehicles for health, education, governance, trade and commerce in order to achieve sustainable socioeconomic growth. This year alone, ITU has provided the intergovernmental platform for the development of new standards and technologies, which of course has both social and financial implications as ICTs determine the way we communicate, interact and conduct trade and commerce. Only a few weeks ago, ITU announced the framework and vision for the nextgeneration 5G mobile systems to be conducted under the name of IMT- 2020, as an extension of ITU’s existing family of global standards for International Mobile Telecommunication systems (IMT-2000 and IMT-Advanced), which serve as the basis for all of today’s 3G and 4G mobile systems. These new systems, set to become available in 2020, will usher in new paradigms in connectivity in mobile broadband wireless systems to support, for example, extremely high definition video services, real time low latency applications and the expanding realm of the Internet of Things (IoT). Our work is contributing extensively towards attaining sustainable development as ICTs provide key solutions in energy efficiency and producing greener technologies. We are working on standards for smart cities and on cutting down waste, especially e-waste, and solutions to combat climate change. We have allocated spectrum specifically for earth monitoring via satellites as well as for oceanographic radars, and in times of natural disasters, as with the devastating earthquake, which hit Nepal, we dispatched satellite phones and communications equipment to assist in rescue and relief operations. On 17 June, 119 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia had undertaken to meet the deadline to switch from analogue to digital TV broadcasting, which opened the way for new innovations and developments in the broadcast industry, such as HDTV and ultra-high definition TV or UHDTV. Digital TV broadcasting offers many advantages over analogue systems for end-users, operators and regulators. The more efficient use of radio spectrum brought on by digital TV also allows for the so-called digital dividend resulting from the freeing up of much-needed spectrum for use by other services, such as mobile broadband. Innovative ICTs and broadband access are now recognized as critical factors in achieving an environmentally sound and sustainable future in the post-2015 era. Innovative measures can bridge the digital divide between countries, between cities and rural areas, and those living in differing socioeconomic levels, providing new ICT opportunities. BIT. The World Summit on the Information Society has established a milestone by bringing together a wide variety of agents in an open and fruitful dialogue. What objectives does ITU have in order to continue to manage WSIS? Over the past ten years, the annual WSIS Forum has become a unique global multi-stakeholder platform for coordinating and facilitating the implementation of the WSIS Outcomes, in line with the spirit of the original World Summit on the Information Society and the Tunis Agenda. It has proven an efficient mechanism for the coordination of multi-stakeholder implementation activities, information exchange, creation of knowledge, and the sharing of best practices. The WSIS Forum is a unique global platform for multi-stakeholder coordination for the implementation of WSIS-related activities, projects, and initiatives. It aims to define strategies and tactics to help countries and organizations to more effectively harness the power of ICTs to meet the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The WSIS Forum continues to help stakeholders in developing multistakeholder and public/private partnerships to advance development goals and improve people’s lives around the world. ITU works to ensure that the global communications infrastructure runs smoothly and effectively so as to enable everyone to access the benefits of telecommunication/ ICTs and assist in mitigating new risks.” “ Entrevista a | Mr Houlin Zhao Last year, the highly successful WSIS+10 High-Level Event, and later, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2014 in Busan, Republic of Korea, endorsed two Outcome Documents: the WSIS+10 Statement on the Implementation of WSIS Outcomes and the WSIS+10 Vision for WSIS Beyond 2015. These two Outcome Documents provide fresh vision and renewed priorities for the eleven WSIS Action Lines and clearly underline the powerful role of ICTs for sustainable development. The post-2015 process for Sustainable Development has identified ICTs as key enablers of development. However, direct references to the catalytic power of ICTs for development are cited as specific targets only in 4 of the 17 goals (in targets related to education, gender empowerment, universal affordable access to ICTs/Internet in LDCs and as a means of implementation). I believe this is not enough, and there should be more targets, to realize the full multiplier effect of ICTs for driving development. To underline the key role of ICTs in promoting sustainable development, all WSIS Action Line Facilitators, under the coordination of ITU, have developed a WSIS SDG Matrix demonstrating the direct links between the WSIS Action Lines and the SDGs. BIT. In a recent interview, you mentioned that end users are concerned about issues such as security, privacy, and service price and quality while service providers face challenges involving investment and sustainability of their business models, and at the same time, regulators are centred on enhancing market development. Will balancing these three elements be critical for the development of the global telecommunications industry? As ICTs continue to grow exponentially, an equal expansion in user capacity is created, which in turn fuels additional growth in ICTs, such as new software, applications and services. As markets expand, ICTs become even more attractive as a platform for social and economic engagement across societies. As this leads to significant new investment in the development of ICTs, policy makers try to frame new strategies on enhancing market competition while protecting universal access to essential infrastructure. As ICTs continue to be shaped by the ever-evolving technical, market and regulatory environment, it is critical to ensure balance, collaboration, interdependency and sustainability in order to leverage the potential of ICTs to accelerate global economic development. Furthermore, in today’s world of global communications, the question of sustainability cannot be analysed in isolation from policies that affect information flows, exchange of knowledge and global trade. The importance and speed of ICTs and Internet development and their profound influence on economic activities require increased levels of international cooperation. Breakthroughs on a global scale have increased exponentially through technology and the data that it generates. There are now more than 3 billion Internet users worldwide and this number is expected to increase rapidly in the next few years. The proliferation of mobile devices, social media, cloud technologies and the staggering amount of data they generate have transformed the way we live and work in the digital environment. While all these advanced technologies have improved our lives and provided us with greater opportunities for innovation than ever before, they have also accelerated the rise of an entirely new problem to contend with: Security and privacy. As a result, we need to ensure greater access, while at the same time ensuring security in the use of ICTs. We need to ensure data security and user privacy in the online world while ensuring that all citizens find a trustworthy cyberspace that promotes peace and security, enables development and respects human rights. BIT. During the recently held “Safer Internet Day” you men tioned the relevance of International cooperation in protecting children when they surf the web. Do Administrations need to undertake a greater commitment to this end? Safer Internet Day, marked each year on 10 February highlights global efforts to improve the safety and security regime related to the digital tools we all rely on each and every day. It is an example of how the international community can start to collaborate in a harmonized way to create a better online environment for all. As the UN specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICT), ITU is helping leverage the efforts of a host of different partners around the world. We’re also raising awareness of the issue to our global membership, which comprises 193 member countries, more than 700 private sector members from across the ICT industry, and over 80 institutional members from the global academic community. The explosion of ICTs has created unprecedented opportunities for children and young people to communicate, connect, share, learn, access information and express their opinions on matters that affect their lives and their communities. But this wide and easily available access to broadband Internet and mobile technology also poses tremendous challenges to children’s safety – both online and offline.This must be addressed at the highest levels. While local and national initiatives are critical, the Internet knows no boundaries, and it becomes all the more critical to strengthen international cooperation on child online protection. To reap the benefits of the digital revolution while reducing the risks involved requires a coordinated global response that brings together governments, civil society, local communities, international organizations and the private sector. Thanks to the support and commitment of our Child Online Protection (COP) partners, and with the help of their resources, invaluable expertise, and activities, ITU’s own COP Initiative has achieved a great deal in recent years. Child online safety is now much higher on the political agenda of many countries, and has become a top priority for key stakeholders, including businesses and financial institutions. Above all, political will is required at the highest level to ensure that we are able to keep our children safe from online predators. BIT. Worldwide, women are less inclined to choose technical activities such as those that are related to telecommunications and ICT for their professional careers. This has a considerable influence on their capabilities to participate and lead some of the breathtaking changes that telecommunications and ICT will bring in the next few years. How can we entice the interest of girls in technical activities? Gender equality is a basic human right enshrined in the UN Charter, and ICTs are tools that can help accelerate progress towards achieving this goal. We must focus our efforts on using the power of ICTs to provide new digital opportunities to end discrimination and empower women and girls to achieve their rightful place as equals in the world. This effort with ICTs must begin not only from the cradle, but from antenatal health care, reaching out to the remotest communities through telemedicine and other means �� with every mother, every girl and every woman guaranteed her birthright, recognizing that women are the bedrock of our societies and are the pillars of strength in every family and community. ITU Member States and Sector Members have made a strong case for the creation of an empowering environment that encourages girls and young women to consider a career in technology. Civil society organizations, academia and committed individuals proved themselves to be invaluable partners, often working with very little funding in their efforts to raise awareness — among communities, teachers and career advisers — of ICT sector employment prospects. ITU Resolution 70 (Rev. Busan, 2014) “Mainstreaming a gender perspective in ITU and promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women through information and communication technologies” recognizes that “ICTs are tools through which gender equality and women’s empowerment can be advanced”. They are integral to the creation of societies in which both women and men can substantively contribute and participate. Resolution 70 highlights the role of ICTs to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in many ways, notably by encouraging girls to choose a career in the field of ICTs, and by fostering the use of ICTs for the social and economic empowerment of women and girls. It encourages ITU Member States and Sector Members to review their policies related to the information society to ensure the inclusion of a gender perspective in all activities. In order to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, the International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated annually around the world on the fourth While all these advanced technologies have improved our lives and provided us with greater opportunities for innovation than ever before, they have also accelerated the rise of an entirely new problem to contend with: Security and privacy”. “ Thursday in April. It brings attention to ensuring that girls and young women have the opportunity to engage with ICTs in productive ways, encouraging them to consider a future in the technology sector. This year, Girls in ICT Day was celebrated on 23 April. ITU hosted a special event in Geneva and participants were invited to attend workshops on satellites, creative coding, mobile apps and robotics. A Career Fair provided an opportunity to meet female ICT professionals and explore relevant study programmes and job opportunities in the sector. ITU and UN Women are also collaborating in the GEM-TECH Awards, showcasing and recognizing the critical work that is taking place around the world to ensure that girls and women achieve digital equality in all its dimensions. This is an important year for the global community as we observe the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action and, as we put in place a new global framework on sustainable development, gender equality and women’s empowerment are seen as a central goal. The GEM-TECH awards can play an important role in highlighting what works and where initiatives can be scaled up and further investments made. Moreover, they showcase the tremendous talent and determination of women to ensure that technology and its applications are relevant and responsive to their needs. BIT. Spectrum Management complexity has been growing as enriched services have been made available by telecommunications and ICT. In this scenario, World Radiocommunication Conferences, such as the one that will take place next November in Geneva, are critical. What are the key issues that will be debated during this forum? World Radiocommunication Conferences are mandated to review and revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbit resources. The World Radiocommunication Conference in November this year (WRC-15) will focus on ensuring that these resources will be used in the best possible way and in the best interest of all end users, with global implications for both policy-makers and the industry. The global management of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits is essential to extend the reach of information and communication technologies to all corners of the world. Mobile, satellite and broadcasting services are among the hot issues that are going to be addressed by this year’s WRC. The Second Session of the Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM15-2) for WRC-15, which concluded in Geneva on 2 April, reached consensus on many of the topics on the WRC-15 Agenda, for instance, the implementation of wireless avionics intra-communications, the use of digital technologies for more efficient use of existing frequencies for on-board communications, and the availability of the 5 GHz band for feederlinks to non-geostationary orbital (GSO) systems in the mobile-satellite service. CPM15-2 addressed many other complex and controversial issues related to terrestrial and space radiocommunication services – from narrowband systems for maritime and aeronautical mobile communications and navigation to broadband wireless access systems – as well as the future use of a wide range of frequency bands allocated by the Radio Regulations. Agreement was also reached on the various possible options to be considered by WRC-15. These will include issues related to mobile, broadcasting and orbital slots for satellites, including the new generation of small satellites. Aviation (including unmanned aircraft and flight data tracking), maritime issues, earth observation and monitoring, disaster management, amateur radio and other scientific issues such as the suppression of the leap second in favour of a continuous reference time scale. BIT. As of 2015, the United Nations Agenda for sustainable development will take on challenges in which telecommunications and ICT should be important tools. What is the contribution of the ITU towards enhancing sustainable development through this important plan? In October 2014, a global agenda to shape the future of the ICT sector was unanimously adopted at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-14) in Busan, Republic of Korea. This new ITU resolution, the “Connect2020 Agenda for Global Telecommunication/ICT Development”, sets out the shared global vision, goals and ambitious targets for the ICT sector. ITU Member States are committed to work towards “an information society, empowered by the interconnected world, where telecommunication/ICT enables and accelerates socially, economically and environmentally sustainable growth and development for everyone”. All stakeholders are invited to contribute with their initiatives as well their experience, qualifications and expertise to the successful implementation of the Connect 2020 Agenda. Specifically, the Connect2020 Agenda includes four key goals: 1. Growth – to enable and foster access to and increased use of ICTs 2. Inclusiveness – to bridge the digital divide and provide broadband for all 3. Sustainability – to manage risks and challenges resulting from ICT development 4. Innovation and Partnership – to lead, improve and adapt to the changing technology environment in a collaborative way. The targets for each of these four goals are intended to drive strategic impact and change in the ICT Sector, which all countries want to achieve by 2020. Today, there are more than seven billion mobile subscriptions worldwide, up from 738 million in 2000, and 3.2 billion people are using the Internet globally of which two billion live in developing countries. However, four billion people worldwide still remain offline, representing two-thirds of the population residing in developing countries. The Connect 2020 framework aims to expand the number of users by a further 1.5 billion by the year 2020 by ensuring that more people and communities benefit from inclusion in the digital economy. At the same time, we all need to face the challenge to ensure that this growth happens in a sustainable manner and contributes to overall sustainable development. To promote the beneficial use of ICTs, we also recognize the need to manage risks and challenges that emerge from rapid growth in the penetration of ICTs. Working closely with other organizations, we are focusing on enhancing their sustainable and safe use. In particular, we are working towards strengthening cybersecurity, preventing potential harm to the most vulnerable parts of society, in particular children, and mitigating the negative effects on the environment, including e-waste. I call upon everyone to continue to promote the important role of telecommunication/ICTs as the most significant means of implementation The World Radiocommunication Conference in November this year (WRC-15) will focus on ensuring that these resources will be used in the best possible way and in the best interest of all end users, with global implications for both policymakers and the industry.” “ of the Sustainable Development Goals through active engagement in the ongoing discussions on the post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda of the United Nations. BIT. Spain has enthusiastically participated in the celebration of the 150th anniversary of ITU with an event held at the Spanish Senate that was presided by His Majesty the King, during which the Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the International Telecommunications Union of 1932, also known as the Madrid Conference, was commemorated. What has this milestone meant to the ITU? Why is this event of special significance within the 150th anniversary? Spain is one of the original founding Member States of ITU. On 17 May 1865, twenty European nations signed the first International Telegraph Convention, the treaty which established the basic principles for international telegraphy, laying the foundations for today’s era of international communications. ITU was then known as the International Telegraph Union. In 1932, Madrid was the venue for the Fifth Conference of the Plenipotentiaries. The Fourth International Radiotelegraph Conference met simultaneously and decided to merge into a single entity. The Telegraph Convention of 1875 and the Radiotelegraph Convention of 1927 were combined into a single convention embracing the three fields of telegraphy, telephony and radio. The new International Telecommunication Convention established at the Madrid Conference served as the Union’s charter and constitution, establishing its legal existence and setting forth its purposes, compositions, structure and functions. ITU got a new name. In recognition of the technological evolution of communication technology, ITU was re-named the International Telecommunication Union to reflect the new era of global communications. In 2007, the Spanish Government and the Asociación Española de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación (Spanish Association of Telecommunication Engineers) held a ceremony led by His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1932 International Telecommunication Convention. His Majesty the King addressed the commemorative event, noting the significance of the celebration and affirming that Spain would do its utmost to contribute to the fostering of information technologies. On 5 May this year, His Majesty Don Felipe VI, King of Spain, honoured us with his presence, in the same place where the ITU membership changed our name from the International Telegraph Union to the International Telecommunication Union, in 1932. I was very privileged to have been in Madrid for this historic commemoration and to listen His Majesty the King. “The digital world has emerged as one of the most important instruments of cooperation and development to expand access to many disadvantaged communities and to benefits such as knowledge, health and democracy, which are key regions and improve quality of life the citizens,” His Majesty said, noting that digitization is indeed a transforming force that affects all sectors and industries. “But technology should help not only to build a more competitive and productive economy, but also one that is more fair; an economy that generates greater opportunities for employment, training and access to public services.”3 The Secretary General of the ITU, Houlin Zhao, visited Spain on 5 May to participate in the commemorative act of the 150th anniversary of the ITU, held in the Senate of Spain and that had the presence of His Majesty, King Felipe VI. We took this important occasion to invite the leader of this U.N. organisation specialised in Telecommunications to an interview in which we broke down with him the importance of this date, the basic role carried out by the ITU throughout history and the great global challenges that are profiled on the horizon in this institution’s work that guarantees the development of telecommunications on the world level and is decisive promoter of its advancement in all corners of the planet. Interview: Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary General
30 oct 2015