⏱ 2 min read
Background
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the oldest specialised agency of the UN. Its headquarters are in Geneva. Among other things, it keeps the global register of satellite frequencies and orbits. Every four years, its Plenipotentiary Conference, its supreme body, elects its leaders. In Bucharest in 2022, Russia lost every vote there.
The key points
The 194 member states are meeting for three weeks in Doha, Geneva Solutions reported on 9 November 2026. They will elect the five top officials and the 48 members of the Council. They will also adopt the strategic and financial plan for the next four years.
Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, a US national, is seeking a second term unopposed. For the head of the Radiocommunication Bureau, India withdrew its candidate a few days before the conference. France’s Eric Fournier and Germany’s Alexander Kühn remain in the race. On the Council, Russia is attempting a comeback with Nikolay Varlamov: eight countries are chasing five seats in its regional group.
Key figures
- CHF 165 million : ITU budget, of which just over 11 million is paid by the United States
- 11 000 : SpaceX Starlink satellites in orbit, about two-thirds of active satellites
- 17 to 8.5 months : processing time for satellite filings, between June 2025 and the end of October 2026
- More than 11 million : savings redistributed by the Council in 2026
What it means for businesses
- Satellite operators : many governments are calling for stricter rules on megaconstellations
- Digital sector : the conference will address artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and submarine cables
- Geneva : demolition of the current ITU headquarters is due to start in 2028 to make way for a new building
Who says what
- Tomas Lamanauskas (ITU Deputy Secretary-General): he is not running again and wants to normalise a single term
- Adrian Wan (Internet Society): the risk to the open internet comes from many small decisions taken behind closed doors
- Russia and China : they want a stronger role for states in internet governance, against the view of the majority
Analysis
- According to Gabriele Balbi (Università della Svizzera italiana): the key players are now private companies, but these conferences remain essential for digital inclusion in low-income countries
- According to Geneva Solutions : the vote on Russia will be a test of its diplomatic isolation at the UN
What's next
- Elections begin on 12 November, followed by the vote for the Radiocommunication Bureau the next day
- World Radiocommunication Conference in China in 2027, covering 6G frequency bands
