India signs Host Country Agreement with the ITU

India has signed the Host Country Agreement (HCA) for the establishment of an Area Office & Innovation Centre of ITU in New Delhi on 3rd March 2022.

• The agreement was signed in a virtual ceremony during the World Telecommunications Standardisation Assembly-20 (WTSA-20) being held in Geneva, Switzerland.

• WTSA is a four-yearly global conference of ITU dedicated to standardisation of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs).
• India has proposed to host the next WTSA to be held in 2024.

Host Country Agreement

• The Host Country Agreement provides the legal and financial framework for establishment and operations of the Area Office.

Service Area

• The Area Office and Innovation Centre of ITU at New Delhi is expected to serve South Asian countries namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India.

Advantage: Innovation Centre

• The Area Office shall also have an Innovation Centre, which is expected to give impetus to research and development in telecommunication technologies in South Asia.
• The Innovation Centre will provide opportunities to academics, start-ups and SMEs to showcase their innovation at a global stage.