Context:

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2020 was observed on 17 May
to raise awareness about the use of technology and the importance it plays in the
current scenario.

About:

• The anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is celebrated on May 17 as the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, since 2006.
• It’s the day to celebrate the power of telecommunication and its importance in building relationships across cultures around the world.
• The day was coined by the United Nations General Assembly.

The theme

• UNESCO celebrates the day with a special theme every year.
• The theme this year is: Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

International Telegraph Convention

• The first international telegraph convention was signed in Paris on May 17, 1865.
• The event was officially commenced in 1973 in Malaga-Torremolinos, Spain, at the ITU plenipotentiary conference.