Over the years, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has been involved in development projects and co-organized the Connect Africa Summit in 2007 with the overall objective of mobilizing the human, financial and technical resources required to close Information and Communication Technology (ICT) gaps throughout Africa. The summit was held in Kigali, Rwanda, 29-30 October 2007 and resulted in investment commitments of over USD 55 billion, with the ICT industry taking the lead.

ITU will continue to review and adjust its priorities and its working methods to ensure it remains relevant and responsive in the face of rapid changes in the global telecommunication environment. As the world becomes ever more reliant on telecommunication technologies for commerce, communication and access to information.

On 17 May 1865, after the continuing rapid expansion of telegraph networks which finally prompted 20 European States to meet to develop a framework agreement covering international interconnection, the International Telegraph Union (ITU) was established to facilitate subsequent amendments to this initial agreement. In 1947, after the Second World War, ITU held a conference in Atlantic City with the aim of developing and modernizing the organization. Under an agreement with the newly created United Nations, it became a UN specialized agency on 15 October 1947. It is now the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies.