About ITU

• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs). 
• The Organization is made up of a membership of 193 Member States and more than 1000 companies, universities and international and regional organizations. 
• Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and with regional offices on every continent, ITU is the oldest agency in the UN family – connecting the world since the dawn of the telegraph in 1865.​

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development 

• ITU has started Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development to respond to significant unmet needs of ITU Membership in the area of innovation.
• The Alliance has three main vehicles: –
  • Digital Transformation Lab
  • Network of Acceleration Centres
  • Digital Innovation Board

Why in News?

• Dr Neeraj Mittall, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, has been unanimously elected as co-chair of the Digital Innovation Board of ITU formed under the aegis of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development. 
• The Digital Innovation Board comprises of Ministers and Vice Ministers of Telecom/ICT of 23 Member Countries of ITU spanning Asia, Europe, Africa, North and South America.
• The Alliance establishes the Digital Innovation Board to provide strategic guidance, expertise and advocacy regarding its mission of building critical local enablers and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in digital development, to create a more inclusive and equitable digital future for all.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2015963