WTISD 2026: UN Urges Stronger Digital Infrastructure Resilience

RRI.CO.ID, New York - The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has called for strengthening the resilience of global digital infrastructure to address threats ranging from natural disasters and cyberattacks to technological disruptions that could cut off global connectivity.

During the commemoration of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2026, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union Doreen Bogdan-Martin said connectivity has become an essential part of modern life, comparable to roads and electricity.

“Today, more people are connected than at any point in human history. Billions of people rely on digital technologies to access healthcare, run businesses, learn, communicate, and call for help during crises,” Doreen Bogdan-Martin said, as quoted on Sunday, May 17, 2026.

According to her, the development of digital infrastructure has transformed economies and communities in many countries within a single generation. However, digital networks and services remain vulnerable to major disruptions. She pointed to the more than 1.7 million kilometers of submarine cables around the world that carry approximately 99 percent of international data traffic. A single earthquake, she said, could sever multiple cables at once and isolate entire regions from the rest of the world for weeks.

In addition, major solar storms could disrupt power grids, satellite navigation systems, and even the global financial system. Doreen noted that these digital threats often transcend national borders, with the greatest impacts felt by communities with limited access and resources. “And when connectivity fails, the consequences fall hardest on those who can least afford them,” she said.

Therefore, she emphasized the importance of building resilience into digital infrastructure from the outset through international standards, capacity building, and global cooperation. “And that’s why resilience must be built into digital infrastructure from the very beginning,” she said.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, said digital technology has become a “lifeline” connecting people to safety, public services, and one another amid crises and disasters. In a message delivered in New York on Sunday, Guterres said digital networks play a crucial role in disseminating early warnings, supporting first responders, and keeping healthcare, education, and public services running during disasters.

“When disaster strikes, networks carry early warnings, enable first responders, and keep clinics, classrooms and public services up and running,” Guterres conveyed.

However, he warned that digital infrastructure must be trustworthy, secure, and accessible to all, as many communities around the world still lack access to digital services. Guterres also highlighted the growing threats of disinformation and cyberattacks amid intensifying climate emergencies and the widening artificial intelligence (AI) divide.

He also called for the implementation of the Global Digital Compact, rights-based AI governance, and stronger cooperation among governments, industries, and civil society. According to Guterres, digital infrastructure is an essential public good that must be built to withstand future crises.