Dear colleagues,

I hope you had a restful break and are looking forward to what this new year will bring. As we continue to navigate the dynamic digital landscape, the International Telecommunication Union remains committed to supporting all our members with their digital transformation journey.

In this edition of the Digest, we introduce our new Digital Transformation Dialogues and invite you to our inaugural 2024 webinars. We also highlight the importance of the upcoming Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group meeting, Global Standards Symposium, and the first Forum and Focus Group on metaverse meetings in Latin America. Last year, the ITU Focus Group on metaverse did a wonderful job, approving over 20 deliverables and agreeing on a definition of the metaverse. Congratulations to all involved!

I hope you enjoy this Digest. If you have any comments or suggestions for its improvement, please send an email to digitaltransformation@itu.int.

Sincerely,

Seizo Onoe,
Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU.

This year, ITU is set to continue its transformative journey, building upon the substantial progress made in promoting the positive role of digital transformation in 2023, as outlined in our 'Year in Review' report and webpage.

In 2023, we made significant strides in the areas of digital transformation, smart sustainable cities, and the metaverse. Notably, the ITU Focus Group on metaverse held record-breaking meetings, in terms of participation and attendance, and approved key deliverables, including agreeing on a definition of the metaverse.

The ITU also demonstrated its commitment to smart, sustainable cities and communities through its support of the United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) initiative and the significant work of ITU-T Study Group 20, which last year established its Asia-Pacific regional group. This group is expected to significantly increase stakeholder participation from the Asia Pacific region.

Lastly, the ITU continued to advocate for its members to leverage digital transformation opportunities through its Digital Transformation webinars. Collaboration with various sectors and the broader UN system furthered the understanding of digital technologies' power in achieving the SDGs. For more information, visit the 2023 Year in Review website or read the report.

The upcoming Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG) meeting, on 22-26 January 2024, in Geneva will be one of the major activities of the year. This crucial meeting will also include the Network of Women Breakfast on 23 January, fostering inclusivity and diversity in our work.

The ITU is thrilled to announce the upcoming 4th ITU Forum titled "Shaping the CitiVerse: People-Centred Cities & Virtual Worlds". This key event on the region’s technology standardization calendar will take place on 4 March 2024, at the Hotel Grand Fiesta Americana, in Queretaro, Mexico.

The Forum aims to explore the intersection of metaverse and smart cities, serving as a platform for open dialogue on how to ensure that smart cities and the metaverse prioritize people and integrate them seamlessly into virtual worlds. The event will also delve into the unique challenges and opportunities that the Latin American region faces, with an aim to maximize the benefits of its vibrant tech sector.

Following the Forum, the 5th meeting of the ITU Focus Group on metaverse (FG-MV) will take place from 5-8 March 2024, at the same venue. Both the Forum and the FG-MV meeting are graciously hosted by the Aston Group and the Municipality of Queretaro, Mexico.

This series of events will provide an excellent opportunity for Queretaro to showcase the dynamism of Mexico’s technology industry and its leadership in smart city development. We invite experts from across government, business, civil society, and academia to join us in this important conversation about the future of metaverse in the region.

For a sneak peek into why this event is not to be missed, watch this video featuring Manuel Barreiro, Vice Chair of FG-MV and CEO of Aston Group. For the latest event information and registration details, please visit our events page.

The 2024 meeting schedule of the U4SSC initiative will focus on key aspects of sustainable urban development. Experts are invited to join and contribute to the following e-meetings:

• 24 January 2024, 14:00-15:00 hours, Geneva time, Thematic Group on Digital Wellbeing
• 31 January 2024, 14:00-15:00 hours, Geneva time, Thematic Group on Enabling People-Centred Cities through Digital Transformation (Working Group 1)
• 15 February 2024, 14:00-15:00 hours, Geneva time, Thematic Group on Procurement for Smart Sustainable Cities (Working Group 2)
• 21 February 2024, 14:00-15:00 hours, Geneva time, Thematic Group on Enabling People-Centred Cities through Digital Transformation (Working Group 2)
• 20 March 2024, 14:00-15:00 hours, Geneva time, Thematic Group on Enabling People-Centred Cities through Digital Transformation (Working Group 2)
• 21 March 2024, 14:00-15:00 hours, Geneva time Thematic Group on Procurement for Smart Sustainable Cities (Working Group 2)

Your insights and expertise are invaluable as we continue to shape the future of smart cities and communities. For more information on how you can participate, please visit the U4SSC website.

The ITU is excited to announce the upcoming Fifth Global Standards Symposium (GSS-24), set to take place on 14 October 2024 in New Delhi, ahead of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) meeting. The GSS-24 will be chaired by Dr Raj Kumar Upadhyay, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Project Board at Centre for Development of Telematics. The symposium will be an excellent opportunity to engage with global leaders and experts in the field of digital transformation.

The theme for this year's symposium is Charting the Next Digital Wave: Emerging Technologies, Innovation, and International Standards. This theme underscores the ITU's commitment to fostering innovation and the development of international standards that will shape the future of digital technologies.

The GSS-24 is an open forum, welcoming the participation of all stakeholders interested in digital transformation and its global impact. Your active participation can contribute to shaping the next digital wave, influencing the trajectory of emerging technologies, and fostering innovation in the digital space.

We encourage ITU members to leverage this platform to share their insights, experiences, and innovative ideas. Non-members are also invited to join the conversation and contribute their perspectives to this international discourse on digital transformation.

In 2024, we are launching the Digital Transformation Dialogues (DTD), an expansion of our successful digital transformation webinars platform. The DTD series will probe deeper into pivotal digital transformation topics, featuring insights from leading experts and practitioners.

The series will cover diverse topics from Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to data analytics, showcasing how these technologies can drive positive change. DTD will include engaging Fireside Chats and 'Ask the Expert' sessions, focusing on ITU-T standardization.

Whether you are a member state representative, a researcher, or a business leader, our dialogues will offer you invaluable insights for navigating the digital landscape.

Join our inaugural 2024 events:

• Fireside Chat: "Prospects for Surgical Advances" co-hosted with The Metaverse Institute, on 18 January 2024, 15:00-15:45 CET.
• 'Ask the Expert' Session: "Digital Twin for Smart Cities" on 30 January 2024, 13:00-13:45 CET.

Embrace the digital transformation journey with us in 2024. Elevate your understanding, broaden your network, and be part of our digital transformation community by visiting the DTD website.

The 4th ITU Focus Group on metaverse meeting, held on 4-7 December in Geneva, Switzerland was a milestone for metaverse standardization efforts. A key achievement was the official approval of the definition of the "metaverse," a key part of shaping the future metaverse landscape for the benefit of all. The meeting also saw the review and approval of a number of deliverables, bringing the total for the year to 22 deliverables. These include technical reports and specifications addressing a range of topics like cyber risks, data protection, accessibility, and artificial intelligence in the metaverse.

The meeting saw active participation, with over 270 attendees both on-site and remotely, resulting in fruitful discussions and exchange of ideas. The dedication of the participants was further highlighted by the review of 201 input documents and the production of 90 output documents.

Both the progress report to TSAG and the meeting report received unanimous approval during the meeting.

2023 year in review report

The ITU made significant progress in 2023 in the fields of digital transformation, smart sustainable cities, and the metaverse. The 'Year in Review' report provides a comprehensive overview of key achievements and activities completed throughout the year. To learn more see here.

Enabling digital transformation in smart sustainable cities – Master plan
This report aims to provide urban stakeholders, including municipalities, with a general overview of the stages and standards needed to drive digital transformation in smart sustainable cities. It provides a guide for the implementation of the smart sustainable city concept based on the intensive use of emerging digital technologies. It also refers the reader to relevant standards and publications addressing the specific technical aspects involved in the design and overall operation of SSC and digital transformation strategies. To read or download a copy, click here.

To access these and other ITU publications on a range of digital transformation topics such as smart cities and the metaverse visit our publications webpage.