International Telecommunication Union sets the global direction for digital technologies

Finland will take part in the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to be held in Doha, Qatar, from 9 to 27 November 2026. At the conference, Finland will promote a global 6G system and seek to ensure that new satellite and artificial intelligence solutions are taken into account in the development of information and communication technologies.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will hold its Plenipotentiary Conference, or general assembly, in Doha, Qatar, from 9 to 27 November 2026. The ITU is the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies and a key player in the global development of digital technologies. Its role is to facilitate global digital connectivity by agreeing on the use of the radio spectrum and common standards, and by promoting access to digital services. 

The key thematic priorities emerging for the 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference are the role of artificial intelligence in the development of the telecommunications sector, the security and resilience of digital infrastructure and new satellite technologies. As the geopolitical significance of technologies grows, decisions concerning international standards, the use of the radio spectrum and the development of digital infrastructure have increasingly far-reaching economic and security policy implications.

Finland’s objective within the ITU is to ensure sustainable and secure telecommunications connections that work worldwide and maintain the competitiveness of Finnish companies. Finland’s key objective at the Plenipotentiary Conference is to promote the next generation of mobile communications technologies, namely 6G. Finland considers it important that the ITU promotes the development of a global 6G system and its safe roll-out, thereby helping to bridge the digital divide. Finland, together with industry representatives and partner countries, has drawn up a draft resolution to promote the development and roll-out of new broadband technologies, in particular 6G. 

In addition to issues concerning 6G, artificial intelligence and satellites, Finland is actively involved in negotiations concerning smart cities, the resilience of submarine cables and the prevention of harmful radio-frequency interference. In particular, interference originating from Russia continues to be detected in Finland and the Baltic Sea region, affecting global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and mobile communications networks. To address harmful radio interference, Finland and like-minded countries will submit a draft resolution for consideration at the Plenipotentiary Conference.

Finland will be represented at the conference by a delegation chaired by Laura Eiro, Director-General at the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The delegation comprises members from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom. The Finnish delegation also includes representatives of Nokia Corporation, who will serve as experts. 

The Plenipotentiary Conference meets every four years. It adopts resolutions guiding the ITU’s technical work, as well as the organisation’s four-year strategic and financial plan. The conference also elects the organisation’s senior leadership and the member states of the ITU Council. The ITU’s decisions have a significant impact on national decision-making and the development of the telecoms market, particularly with regard to the radio spectrum and international technical standards.