Compared to the 1990s, when the internet arose, the world is in a much more precarious and disunited position. Geopolitical tensions are increasing the risk of geographic fragmentation. This matters for technology standards. If the world begins to fracture just as the digital and physical realms start coming together, machines could lose the ability to communicate across borders, limiting the exponential potential of digital innovation.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) secretary-general, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, has called for the industry to speak “the same language” and reach a consensus on global technical standards to make digital networks not only more connected and efficient but, crucially, more sustainable and accessible. That’s a view that we wholeheartedly agree with at Nokia.
