NEWS

Government of India & International Telecommunication Union (ITU) signed the Host Country Agreement (HCA)

ABOUT THE AGREEMENT

• Signed in a virtual ceremony during the World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly-20 (WTSA-20) being held in Geneva, Switzerland
• Provides the legal and financial framework for the establishment and operations of the Area Office and innovation center of ITU in New Delhi, India

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

• ITU is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for information and communication technologies (ICTs). It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
• It was established in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, making it the oldest UN agency.
• ITU currently has a membership of 193 countries.

World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WTSA)

• WTSA is a four-yearly global conference of ITU dedicated to standardization of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs).
• WTSA defines general policy and adopts working methods and procedures for ITU-T.
• Article 18 of the ITU Constitution and Article 13 of the ITU Convention provides the functions of the WTSA.
• India has proposed to host the next WTSA to be held in 2024.