World Telecommunication Day
May 17, 2005
”Creating an Equitable Information Society: Time for Action”
Message
of the President of the National Regulatory Authority for Communications,
Mr. Dan Georgescu
Every year, on May 17, we celebrate the World Telecommunication Day, but, now, this date is a double anniversary, as it also marks 140 years since the establishment of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). In 1865, just before the telephone was invented, the foundation of an organisation had been laid in order to help the world communicate without any barriers or discrimination.
This year’s theme, as selected by the ITU, urges the world to take a firm stand so that access to modern communications services could eventually become a universal right: “Creating an Equitable Information Society: Time for Action”.
Romania has already committed itself to ensuring all the citizens’ access to communications services. We are fully aware of the fact that the digital divide limits the right of access to information and indirectly affects economic development, therefore our country chose to minimise this risk by launching the mechanisms for the implementation of universal service, which should allow access to communications. In the first development stage, the installation of telecentres and public pay telephones covers the communication needs of the people living in isolated communities, giving them equal opportunities – as regards the potential use of the new technologies – as compared to those currently enjoying the benefits of computer literacy and telephone facilities.
Romania is a country where technologies converge harmoniously, where people are eager to communicate and use quality services, as reflected by the diversified offer in the market. Both the users and the industry could not fully benefit from all these technologies and services unless they are accurately informed and continuously educated.
At the 140th anniversary of the ITU and 129 years since the telephone was invented, I expect the Romanian communications market should keep growing due to the investors’ initiative and to the communications managers’ skills as well as due to the Romanians’ increasing awareness of the fact that communications services could improve their lives, make their work easier, enrich their leisure time, keep their families together and support the youth education under equitable conditions, as in the most important states worldwide. ANRC will do its best to enhance this development, fostering equitable business conditions for all the companies, while protecting the end-users’ rights, especially by stimulating their exigence and by continuous information.