Beneath the gilded ceilings of the Baku Congress Center, the second day of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) reaffirmed, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, both the intensity of global deliberations and the pressing need for coordinated action to address enduring digital divides.

Convened by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), this flagship gathering of the digital development community—running from November 17 to 28—has drawn over 2,300 delegates from across the globe, including more than 65 ministers. At the heart of the discussions lies a bold and unifying theme: “Universal, meaningful and affordable connectivity for an inclusive and sustainable digital future.” It is a vision that resonates sharply in a world where over one-third of humanity remains excluded from the digital economy.

From early morning, delegations resumed their work in a focused and action-oriented atmosphere. The High-Level Segment, held in the main auditorium, became a dynamic platform for heads of delegation, ministers, and senior government officials. Each was allotted three minutes to outline their nation’s digital strategy—an exercise in brevity mandated by the ITU, yet one that did not diminish the substance or ambition of the proposals shared.

Among the most notable African delegations was that of Cameroon’s Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB), led in person by its Director General, Professor Philémon Zoo Zame. His presence underscored TRB’s strategic commitment to ensuring Cameroon—and Africa more broadly—has a decisive voice in ongoing normative discussions.

Speaking to an international media outlet, the TRB Director General emphasized the significance of the conference in these terms:
“In a global context where regulation plays a pivotal role in the digital transition, the Board is afforded here a unique opportunity to strengthen partnerships, anticipate regulatory shifts, and foster targeted cooperation in support of inclusive digital development. For a country like ours, driven by an ambition for emergence, the ability to engage directly with high-level decision-makers, donors, and leading sectoral organizations represents a major strategic lever for our digital transformation.”

Alongside political interventions, working groups continued their deliberations. The WG-PL, tasked with shaping the ITU-D Strategic Plan and the Baku Declaration, refined priorities for the 2026–2029 cycle. Emphasis was placed on translating political commitments into tangible outcomes: universal access, inclusion of vulnerable populations, digital skills development, and infrastructure resilience. Meanwhile, COM-3, the Commission on Objectives, advanced the drafting of resolutions to be submitted to Member States, with discussions highlighting the urgency of expanding access to essential digital services, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Beyond the plenary sessions, the day was punctuated by a series of diplomatic events that enriched informal exchanges and fostered new alliances. India hosted an official breakfast, Qatar a coffee break, China and the GSMA organized working lunches, and Saudi Arabia offered a prestigious dinner—each occasion serving as a catalyst for technical, financial, or regulatory partnerships.

For Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, the record attendance reflects the growing strategic importance accorded to digital development. A sentiment echoed by all participants, who recognize that the future of connected societies is being shaped in these multilateral arenas.