Introduction – World Telecommunication Day is observed every year on May 17 to increase awareness about the importance of telecommunication across the world. The main purpose of this global day is to exhibit the importance of telecommunication and increase awareness of its important role in our lives. It also aims for encouraging the development of technology in this field. Presently, this international day is observed for spreading awareness about the possibilities of bridging the gap in economies and society via the Internet.

History – This international day was celebrated to mark the anniversary of launching the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on May 17, 1865. It was also an event on which the first Global Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris, the Capital of France. When the World Conference on the Information Society called upon the United Nations General Assembly to declare on May 17 as World Information Society Day (WISD) then the first time, World Telecommunication Day was observed in the year 2005. At the Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) decided to celebrate both Information Society Day and World Telecommunication Day in the year 2006.

Theme – The theme of this International Day is ‘Digital Technologies For Older Persons And Healthy Ageing’ which highlights the use of information technologies with their importance in staying connected, healthy, and independent on an emotional, physical, and financial level. In the previous year, the theme of this global day is ‘Accelerating Digital Transformation in Challenging Times’.

Significance – The main goal of World Telecommunication Day is to make communication and information easily accessible to the common people that are living in the remote parts of the rural areas across the world. World Telecommunication Day aims to spread awareness of the benefits of the Internet and communication technologies (ICT) that can provide to economies and society and initiatives for closing the digital gap. World Telecommunication Day honors the launching of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in the year 1865 whereas World Information Day emphasizes the importance of information technology across the world.