BUJUMBURA June 13th (ABP) – The Ministry of Communication, Information Technology and Media, in collaboration with all operators and service providers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), has celebrated on Friday, June 10, 2022, the world day of telecommunications and the information society under the theme: “Digital technologies at the service of the elderly and healthy aging”, we noted on the spot.
In his speech for the occasion, the assistant to the Minister in charge of information technologies, Mr. Thierry Kitamoya, welcomed the initiative to organize the activities relating to this day jointly, with the Ministry of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender, the Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency (ARCT), telecom operators, internet service providers and digital companies.
According to Mr. Kitamoya, this initiative of all the stakeholders is an eloquent sign which testifies the commitment of Burundi to join the rest of the world, in the celebration of this day and in the combination of efforts for the development of telecoms. He also recalled that telecommunications or ICTs in the broader sense constitute a driving force, a lever and an accelerator of development. They also make it possible to optimize the costs of planning, production, distribution and transport, and to improve yields for the well-being of the population, he added.
Apart from their ability to penetrate the social fabric, ICTs are the undeniable engine for universal access to the information society, said Mr. Kitamoya. He pointed out that this day is one of the best moments for digital actors for self-assessment, sharing and exchanging of experiences acquired and an in-depth reflection on the strategies to be put in place so that digital technologies benefit everyone and everywhere.
The assistant to the Minister in charge of ICT has, for this purpose, indicated that the overall objective of the celebration of this day dedicated to telecommunications under the theme of the 2022 edition, is to encourage stakeholders to places digital technologies at the service of older people and healthy ageing.
This authority of the ministry having ICT in its attributions indicated that the theme chosen for this year aligns with the orientations of the government through its National Development Plan (PND 2018-2027) and the national policy for the development of ICT (2010 -2025) which provides for the use of ICTs for social development.
Mr. Kitamoya took the opportunity to sensitize all public entities, the national telecommunications regulator, entities of the academic system in collaboration with those of the private sector, to combine efforts in order to develop and implement the strategies responding to the socio-economic priorities of our country, with a view to accelerating the digital transformation and putting it at the service of the elderly throughout this year.
The celebration of the International Telecoms and Information Society Day was enhanced by presentations made by the Director General of ICT within the Ministry in charge of the media, Ms. Rosine Guilaine Gatoni, and the Technical Director of the ARCT, Ir. Constaque Hakizimana. They also answered the various questions posed to them by the participants.
In her speech, the President of the National Communication Council (CNC), Mrs. Vestine Nahimana, suggested that ICT service providers make public the quality of the services they offer to their customers in order to know them and distinguish them from each other. others.
It should be noted that the day dedicated to telecommunications and the information society is celebrated on May 17 of each year at the international level.