 Every time someone makes a phone call, browsers the web, watches TV, or sends an instant message, they benefit from the work of the International Telecommunication Union. Since ITU first set standards for telegraph systems nearly a century and a half ago, we've been committed to connecting the world. Through the global coordination of satellites, undersea cables, wireless technologies and broadcasting services, ITU has helped create the networks that underpin just about everything the world does. Connecting. ITU is a place for building consensus. Through forums, debates and international treaty-making conferences held all around the globe, we create bridges between different communities, from policymakers and the technology industry, to ICT regulators and civil society, UN agencies and of course consumers. At our flagship ITU telecom event, we facilitate knowledge sharing and networking, tackling the critical business issues facing today's fast-moving tech sector. ITU generates the connections and conversations that matter, a catalyst for change. Strategic. ITU is a global hub for innovation. Through our technical study groups, we bring some of the world's leading technical community together to pioneer the new technologies of tomorrow's networks and devices. ITU's policy experts also help promote global discussions on key issues like patents and intellectual property, regulatory best practices that keep ICT markets growing competitively, and ways of harnessing broadband to improve healthcare, education and environmental management. With its high-level expertise in ICT development issues, ITU teams provide vital advice to countries around the world on ICT inclusion. ITU encourages the implementation of national broadband policies as a core priority for growing digital economies. ITU works tirelessly so that everyone has the chance to benefit from the opportunities ICT can offer. The UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development, jointly established by ITU and UNESCO, plays a leading role in promoting broadband as a catalyst for progress towards the millennium and future sustainable development goals. Effective. ITU's H.264 codec is at the heart of 80% of the world's digital video content. Building on its portfolio of technical advances that are transforming online video, ITU's new gold standard H.265 consumes 50% less bandwidth while providing outstanding sound and image quality. A development that translates into real benefits for device manufacturers, entertainment providers and, of course, viewers. Faster, more accessible broadband technologies are another key priority. ITU's new G-FAST recommendation helps operators make the most of their existing copper networks, accelerating the rollout of superfast broadband. ITU is at the forefront of emerging technologies. We've already set the stage for the advent of 5G mobile and are championing global efforts to develop advanced 3D and ultra-high-definition television. Empowering. ITU is a leader in developing global frameworks that help leverage the potential of ICTs for empowering underserved and underrepresented communities. We champion the development of accessible systems to help persons with disabilities to get online and make the most of today's and tomorrow's technologies. We promote the power of ICT training and careers to women and girls around the world, encouraging them to become a driving force in tomorrow's tech revolution. We also work alongside the United Nations to enhance our engagement with youth, promoting the ICT sector as a solution for youth unemployment and entrepreneurship. Ground-breaking ITU initiatives have reached global audiences, such as the Beyond 2015 Global Youth Summit held in Costa Rica. The summit produced the world's first ever crowd-sourced policy statement delivered to the UN General Assembly, recognizing the unique place and role of young digital natives in a world that's been transformed by connectivity. ITU is also active in harnessing the power of technology in emergency humanitarian response, providing vital communications equipment to countries in the wake of natural disasters. When other networks are down, satellite mobile phones and terminals can help speed relief efforts, getting services where they're needed most, and providing vital lines of communication between governments and aid agencies. As a champion of green ICTs, ITU is tackling the pressing issue of climate change. We're developing new technical standards that not only reduce the carbon footprint of ICT equipment, but also help cut emissions in other sectors through strategies such as smart grids and ICT-enabled environmental monitoring. ITU strives to nurture a global culture of cybersecurity. Through our UN World Summit on the Information Society mandate, we've conducted national cybersecurity assessments in over 100 countries, helped countries set up computer incident response teams and trained over 2,700 security professionals in 52 countries. Collaborating with 33 other UN agencies, ITU has developed a UN-wide framework on cybersecurity and cybercrime, helping to make the world a safer place and to build trust and confidence in the use of ICTs. In healthcare, ITU brokered a new global e-health standard through our joint M Health initiative with the World Health Organization. Because ICTs are at the heart of tomorrow's health strategies, this work continues to gain momentum by attracting new partners from the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, paving the way for a brighter, healthier future. Looking Ahead ITU continues to innovate to deliver top-quality modern conferences. We pride ourselves on state-of-the-art facilities and inclusive working practices such as remote e-participation, paper-smart operations and live text captioning. Through its wide multilingual public consultations, ITU is fully open to its global stakeholders. Each year, ITU celebrates World Telecommunication and Information Society Day with engaging themes connected to the work we do. This global celebration marks the anniversary of the creation of ITU on 17 May 1865. So much has been packed into our 150-year history and we can't wait to get started on the next 150 years. Whether through spectrum allocation, standards or fostering global ITU development, all of ITU's work is dedicated to helping connect the world. Let's continue working and innovating together here at the ITU Plenipotentiary 2014 in Busan, Korea as we build towards the future network society, transforming lives through ITTs and making the world a better place for all.