2016 Annual Spring Meeting of the Broadband Commission

Date

March 13, 2016

Location

Dubai, UAE

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All Spring Meetings

The Spring Meeting of the Broadband Commission took place in Dubai on March 12-13 at the invitation of Mr Sunny Varkey, Founder and Executive Chairman of the GEMS Education Group.

In conjunction with the Global Education & Skills Forum 2016 which, from its inception in 2013, brings together leaders from the public, private and social sectors seeking solutions to achieving education, equity and employment for all, the Broadband Commission convened its spring meeting to discuss among other issues, how to innovate in education through technology.

During the two-day event Commissioners had chance to attend onsite sessions of the current three Broadband Commission Working Groups on Saturday, as well as the full-day meeting of the Commission on Sunday. The full meeting of the Commission also revisited the issue of new broadband targets to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For updates from the meeting follow @UNBBCom and #Broadband on Twitter.

“Agreement on new targets in September would serve as the next stepping stone to the Commission’s vision of ‘broadband for all. Broadband represents a powerful way to accelerate progress towards the attainment of the 17 SDGs, and new broadband networks and services will play a key role in the delivery of education, healthcare and basic social services, particularly for chronically disadvantaged communities.”

“The world is going through a staggering confluence of emerging technological breakthroughs that can open vast new horizons for growth and development. There remain 1.3 billion people without electricity today, and over four billion people without access to the Internet. Access and connectivity are absolutely crucial for societies across the world. This is why the message of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development is so important.”

The Global Education & Skills Forum 2016
The Varkey Foundation
Press Release : Dubai, 14 March 2016 – UN Broadband Commission to government leaders: broadband can be your most powerful development catalyst
Speech : Dubai, 13 March 2016 – Opening Remarks by ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao