---
title: ITU meeting in Qatar to address digital opportunities and challenges - Developing Telecoms
description: The International Telecommunication Union's Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 started this week in Doha, Qatar. Over the next three weeks, delegates from ITU's 194 Member States will address the world's most pressing digital opportunities and challenges.
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date: 2026-11-10T15:07:58Z
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The International Telecommunication Union's Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 started this week in Doha, Qatar. Over the next three weeks, delegates from ITU's 194 Member States will address the world's most pressing digital opportunities and challenges.

It will also define the UN agency's strategic vision through 2031, and elect its leadership for the coming four years.

With two billion people still offline, rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), and the expansion of space-based technologies, PP-26, as it is known, will guide international investment and policy support to ensure the benefits of technology can be accessed worldwide.

This is, in theory at least, highly relevant to developing markets. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General explains: “The decisions made here in Doha will shape our digital future for generations. While emerging technologies are opening new possibilities, billions still remain offline. PP-26 is our chance to build a stronger, more resilient ITU — one that helps our members navigate change while bringing the benefits of technology to everyone, everywhere."

The conference is expected to bring together around 3,000 participants to address critical, collective issues, such as expanding global connectivity and investment; strengthening the resilience of digital infrastructure; ensuring reliable emergency and humanitarian communications; advancing space-based connectivity and sustainability; and harnessing emerging technologies for development.

The election of ITU's senior leadership positions and the 12 members of ITU's Radio Regulations Board, which is responsible for the application and interpretation of the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum, will also take place in Doha.

In addition the conference will also elect 48 Member States to serve on the ITU Council, which acts as ITU's governing body in the interval between Plenipotentiary Conferences.

Once all elections are concluded, delegates will decide on ITU's strategic and financial plans for 2028-2031 and set the organisation's policy goals for the coming period.