Doha: Hosting the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) in Doha represents a milestone in Qatar's ongoing efforts to drive the global digital agenda and foster dialogue on the future of the global Information and Communications Technology sector, said Engineer Ahmad bin Abdulla AlMuslemani, President of Qatar's Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) and Chair-Designate of PP-26.
According to Qatar News Agency, AlMuslemani highlighted Qatar's commitment to collaborating with ITU Member States to promote innovation, inclusion, and sustainable digital development. With preparations for the ITU PP-26 hitting the one-year countdown, this marks a vital milestone in the ongoing efforts to ensure the successful hosting of the conference, scheduled from 9 to 27 November 2026 in Doha, Qatar.
The preparatory phase signals the official start for nominations for ITU's top management positions to be elected during the meeting of the organization's principal governing body. ITU Member States will deliberate on shared priorities, including managing the global radio-frequency spectrum, establishing responsible technology standards, and advancing digital development universally.
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasized the conference's significance, stating that during the Doha event, the 194 Member States will unite to strategize on harnessing technology, such as satellites, 5G, and AI, to foster meaningful connectivity and sustainable digital transformation globally.
Discussions at PP-26 will underscore the critical role of space, satellites, artificial intelligence (AI), and other evolving technologies in supporting global communication networks. ITU Member States chose Doha as the host city for PP-26 during the last plenipotentiary conference in Bucharest, Romania in 2022.
The elections at PP-26 will include choosing the ITU's five top leadership roles: Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, and Directors of the three technical bureaux-Radiocommunication, Telecommunication Standardization, and Telecommunication Development. Additionally, the conference will elect 48 Member States to the ITU Council and 12 members to the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) for their 2027-2030 terms.
The ITU Council functions as the governing body between plenipotentiary conferences, while the RRB oversees the application and interpretation of the ITU Radio Regulations, which govern the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. Nominations for all positions are open from one year until one month before the conference.
Beyond elections, PP-26 will chart ITU's strategic and financial path for the years ahead, addressing crucial issues and inquiries posed by ITU Member States concerning information and telecommunication technologies.