10th World Telecommunications/ICT Indicators Meeting (WTIM), Bangkok, 25-27 September 2012

Tiziana Bonapace and Remi Lang participated in the 10th World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Meeting (WTIM) which was held in Bangkok on 25-27 September 2012. Tiziana presented ESCAP’s preparations on the measurement of progress in implementing the targets set-out by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+10). Together with ECLAC, ESCAP has developed a survey questionnaire that UN Regional Commissions have agreed will be sent to their respective members in early October 2012, with the objective of identifying at the regional level where data exists and where gaps remain.

The WTIM also offered excellent networking opportunities which will result in ESCAP initiating a number of new activities jointly with ITU, UNCTAD and other members of the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development. This will include development of indicators on ICT broadband infrastructures, a mapping of terrestrial fibreoptic cables, as well as gender differentiated ICT measurements.

This large yearly event brings together ICT policy-makers from all countries, statisticians, experts from international organizations and representatives of the private sector and civil society to discuss statistical measurement issues related to ICT. ICT statistical measurement is coordinated at the international level through the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, an interagency initiative that coordinates the definition and collection of ICT indicators worldwide.