World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is observed every year on May 17. History World Information Society Day World Telecommunication Day has been celebrated annually on 17 May since 1969, marking the founding of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865. It was instituted by the Plenipotentiary Conference in Malaga-Torremolinos in 1973 as Resolution 46. World Telecommunication Day In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society called upon the UN General Assembly to declare 17 May as World Information Society Day to focus on the importance of ICT and the wide range of issues related to the Information Society raised by WSIS. The General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/60/252) in March 2006 stipulating that World Information Society Day shall be celebrated every year on 17 May. World Telecommunication and Information Society Day In November 2006, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, decided to celebrate both events on 17 May as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. Purpose The purpose of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide. Theme for 2025 - Gender equality in digital transformation This year’s theme focuses on advancing gender equality in digital transformation. It highlights the urgent need to close digital gender gaps in access, affordability, skills, and leadership to ensure that women and girls can fully participate in and benefit from the digital future. With 2.6 billion people still unconnected, glaring digital gaps hinder innovation across much of the world. Many countries – lacking key policies, investments, and digital skills – are struggling to keep up in today’s fast-changing digital landscape. Why gender equality in digital transformation matters Despite progress, inequality remains a barrier to digital inclusion. According to Facts and Figures 2024: 70% of men use the Internet globally, compared to 65% of women, a gap that leaves 189 million more men online than women worldwide. While the digital gender gap has narrowed in many developed countries, it has widened in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), where only 29% of women are using the internet. Gaps persist not only in access, but also in affordability, digital skills, participation in STEM, and leadership in the tech sector. These gaps not only disadvantage women and girls, they also hinder economic growth, innovation in countries around the world, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Source : UN