By Ifeoma Asika, Correspondent Campuses
The first ever online forum (webinar) being organized by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation(CTO) will centre on ICT access gaps and ways of closing the gaps through digital technology adoption. Under the theme: Commonwealth Forum: Technology, Trade and Innovation in a COVID-19 World, the webinar will take place from 09:00 (BST) on the June 25, 2020 and it will be the first of a series of three one day forums that will take place throughout 2020 and possibly 2021 in the lead up to Commonwealth Ministerial Meetings and CHOGM as further information becomes available on their timing.
The event is jointly organised by the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network (CBWN), another accredited organisation and the CTO. “CTO attaches particular importance to gender and technology, and we are pleased that this collaboration will support us in that context. We would also like to draw your attention to an event on June 26 being organised by CBWN about which more information will be provided here shortly (Fireside Chats with Women Leaders in the Commonwealth)” CTO says.
As per the CTO, the Forum will focus on access gaps and uptake of digital technology, with a view of what nations can do to ensure information and communication technologies (ICTs) remain central to people’s daily lives, while facing challenges during the largest lockdown in modern history. “As countries continue to experience the impact of COVID-19, human health and national security remains a top priority for governments. This pandemic has changed the dynamic of doing business at the national, regional, and international level as we see global economies are at risk of collapse while one and half billion children have been unable to attend school,” stated the organisation.
According to the organization: “This meeting will focus on connecting all through ICTs. The promotion of online services and solutions in the Health, Education, Disaster Management sectors among others requires consideration to be given to appropriate Regulation and initiatives to ensure countries continue to invest in digital technologies. The Internet based technologies and applications such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, and infrastructure improvements including 5G or basic broadband provision can ensure that trading continues in the hostile environment we are experiencing that allows men and women to have an opportunity to learn and develop technical skills in a virtual world.
The CTO will showcase findings from a recent published report titled Over-the-Top (OTT) study report 2020. The new findings of this second OTT study by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) show that many stakeholders continue to recognise and appreciate the innovative nature of over-the-top (OTT) services within the Internet value chain. Since the publication of the CTO 2018 OTT Report, new OTT related developments and issues have emerged in the ICT policy and regulatory space.”
