About International Telecommunication Union (ITU):
- It is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies.
- It is an intergovernmental organization that coordinates between governments and private sector bodies with respect to global telecommunication and information communication technology (ICT) services.
- It was established in 1865 as International Telegraph Union.
- In 1947 the ITU became a specialized agency of the United Nations.
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
- Membership: It has a membership of 193 countries and nearly 800 private sector entities and academic institutions.
- Functions:
- allocate global radio spectrum and satellite orbits;
- coordination and setting of technical standards related to telecommunication/ICT;
- strive to improve access to ICTs in underserved communities worldwide;
- India and ITU: India has been an active member of the ITU since 1869 and has been a regular member of the ITU Council since 1952.
ITU Area office and Innovation Centre:
- The Area Office, which is fully funded by India, is located on the second floor of the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) building at Mehrauli in New Delhi.
- It will serve India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, and Iran.
- It will enhance coordination among nations and foster mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the region.
