44th World Telecommunication Day

By Priya Devi

Monday, May 17, 2010, 11:38

Telecommunication - a word which defines the complete connectivity of the World. This epitome of technology, which started being used as a luxury is now the necessity of every individual.

It all started when a person in Scotland,Alexander Graham Bell, in his attempt to make a multiple Telegraph, ended up inventing telephone, which was then called the 'Harmonic Telegraph'. March 10th 1876, witnessed the birth of telephone. Graham Bell wanted the greeting on telephone to be 'Ahoy', which later was changed by Abram Lincon as 'Hello'.

Telecommunication then graduated to become a major part of the economy. Business, dealings, regular communication everything now depends on telecommunication. World Telecommunication Day, on the 17th of May is a tribute to this system and a day to focus on the importance of Information and Communication technologies. 17th May is the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union.

This day was first observed on 1969. Another cause later joined the World Telecommunication day on 17th May 2006. This was the World Information Society Day. These two days were brought together to help raise awareness of what Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide. This year is the 44th celebration of World Telecommunication and World Information Society Day.

The theme on this years at ShanghaiWorld Telecommunication and Information Society Day is “Better City, Better Life With ICTs." This year it is aimed to achieve greener, safer, healthier, more prosperous, more inclusive, and better-managed cities where over half the world"s population dwells.

As for India, a grand event is being held at Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata. This event has been organised by the Public Relation Society of India (PRSI) and BSNL. This meet will be attended by famous personalities like, S K Bhaduri, General Manager, Calcutta telephones, Prof Anutosh Chatterjee, Emeritus Professor, Phalguni Mukherjee, chief managing director, Brainware, Kasturi Bhattacharya, Head, Telecom, Pricewaterhouse coopers, Probir Roy and N R Mukherjee, chairman, PRSI Kolkata Chapter.