World Telecommunication and Information Society Day Date in the current year: May 17, 2024

World Telecommunication Day was instituted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1973 to commemorate the formation of the Union on May 17, 1865 (as the International Telegraph Convention).

In 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society took place in Tunis. Following the Summit, the United Nations General Assembly declared May 17 as World Information Society Day. In November 2006, it was decided to celebrated both events under a single name World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD).

The observance focuses on raising awareness of the changes in society and possibilities brought by new technologies in general and Internet in particular. It also aims at bridging the so-called digital divide, a social and economic inequality according to categories of persons in their access to, use of, or knowledge of ICT (information and communication technologies).

On the occasion of WTISD, ITU Member States and Sector Members are encouraged to organize appropriate events and activities to highlight the theme adopted by the Council.