The Bahamas is the First Small Island Developing State to Host the World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum

NASSAU, The Bahamas - International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin said the World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum 2026 (WTPF-26) is the seventh WTPF to be held in three decades, two years in the making, and the first ever to be hosted by a Small Island Developing State - where connectivity is a lifeline, resilience is a necessity, and digital innovation can overcome the barriers of distance.

During the Forum's Opening Ceremony held at Atlantis Resort on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the Secretary-General said Prime Minister the Hon. Philip Davis put it powerfully in Tuesday's Strategic Dialogue session: "Distance from the capital should never determine a person's destiny or growth."

She said, "That message resonates far beyond these islands. Because wherever people live, distance should never determine opportunity."

The Secretary-General explained that the Strategic Dialogue session set the stage for the work of this Forum.

"It connected global ambition with national and regional realities. Placed the perspectives of small island developing states and vulnerable economies at the centre and examined how to build resilience and move from access to meaningful inclusion.

"The dedicated dialogue on women, youth and persons with disabilities, together with the Partner2Connect Solutions Lab, showed how inclusive policy and practical partnerships can turn that vision into results."

She noted that the timing of this forum could not be more important.

The Secretary-General said the ITU's membership calls for this forum when shifts in the ICT landscape require technology and policy to realign.

She explained that earlier WTPFs responded to: telecommunications liberalization and global trade, IP telephony, convergence and next-generation networks, Internet governance, and-most recently, in 2021-the transformative potential of new and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Secretary-General said, "We are at another such turning point: AI is advancing rapidly, space-based connectivity is expanding, and digital resilience and environmental responsibility are central to our digital future."

She said to help us navigate this moment, she crafted a report that brings these interconnected issues together that demand attention.

"My report was developed over two years with all of you through the Informal Expert Group and strengthened by your contributions.

"It provides the policy context and key questions to guide our discussions-helping policymakers navigate the connections between meaningful connectivity, environmental responsibility, resilient infrastructure, space networks and innovation."

The Secretary-General said the five draft Opinions translate that analysis into shared language for action: to bridge digital divides and make connectivity meaningful; to advance green digital transformation and build resilient infrastructure; and to expand opportunity through space connectivity and innovation ecosystems, including the possibilities opened by AI, quantum and other emerging technologies.

She said that shared understanding is not only among ITU's 194 Member States.

"It draws strength from our 1,000-plus Sector Members, including the private sector, international organizations, academia and civil society."

The Secretary-General explained that WTPF does not negotiate binding decisions; it creates space for the membership to align early and shape a common direction.

"Use that common ground to guide candid discussions over the next three days and to lay a strong foundation for the Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha.

"The opportunity here in Nassau is to show each other and the world what our Union does best: building consensus on the digital challenges affecting every country and every person, from the smallest island States to the largest continents.

"Whether it's better coordinated radio spectrum and satellite orbits, standards that unlock economies of scale and interoperability, or capacity building to make digital transformation more sustainable and resilient for all people and our planet."

She said, "So let us listen closely, engage with openness and purpose, and carry WTPF's collaborative spirit forward, towards a more inclusive, sustainable, resilient and innovative digital future for all."

(BIS Photos/Eric Rose)