World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD) is held annually on 17th May, by the International Telecommunications Union, ITU.
The main objective of the day is to help raise global awareness on the use of the internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) in order to bridge the digital divide.
The theme for this year's WTISD draws attention to the role communication technologies play in improving life in the city. The main celebration of the day will take place during the Shanghai World Expo 2010, which has the theme: Better City: Better Life.
With this year's theme, ICTs are expected to serve as catalysts for achieving harmony among the spatial, social, and environmental aspects of the urban milieu and its dwellers.
It is hoped that ICTs will improve the lives of people in terms of providing affordable and equitable access to information and knowledge.
Thereby empowering the majority of the world's population who have been pushed to the margins of society, in order to transcend socio-economic disparities and the digital divide.
In his message marking the event, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, said "in today's world, telecommunications are more than just a basic service - they are a means to promote development, improve society and save lives."
This will be all the more true in the world of tomorrow.
"The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives."
Anthony Robbins
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