World · Latin America · 3 hrs ago
Brazil nominates Anatel chief for top role at UN telecoms agency
Brazil has nominated Carlos Baigorri for deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union, a UN agency.
Baigorri is president of Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel, and the deputy secretary-general is the agency’s second-highest official.
The ITU sets global telecoms standards and manages radio frequencies and satellite orbits, including work that supports newer internet networks such as 5G and 6G.
Brazil has never had a leader in the agency’s top ranks, and the country hopes the role would strengthen its influence in telecoms and international diplomacy.
Brazil’s internet coverage and its approach to expanding 5G access have helped make it a reference for other countries, according to Baigorri.
Baigorri faces candidates from the Bahamas and Bahrain, both career ITU officials.
He has campaigned in more than 20 countries, but the vote’s timing and outcome are not stated.
Brazil has nominated Anatel president Carlos Baigorri for deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union, the agency’s second-highest role.
If elected, he would be the first Brazilian to join the leadership of the UN specialized agency, according to Estadão.
Baigorri will compete against candidates from the Bahamas and Bahrain, both career employees of the ITU.
Brazil’s nomination is intended to strengthen its role in international telecommunications discussions and build on its technical and diplomatic standing.
Baigorri said he had travelled to more than 20 countries this year to campaign and was confident.
- Who
- Brazil’s candidate is Carlos Baigorri, president of Anatel, Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency.
- What
- Brazil nominated him for deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union.
- When
- Brazil’s foreign ministry selected him as its candidate last year. Baigorri said he campaigned in more than 20 countries this year.
- Where
- The ITU is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Why
- Brazil aims to strengthen its role in international telecommunications discussions and draw on its technical expertise and diplomatic record.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Baigorri passed a competitive examination to become a regulatory specialist at Anatel.
Baigorri became Anatel president and began contributing to a plan to place a Brazilian in the ITU leadership.
Brazil’s foreign ministry selected Baigorri as its candidate and diplomats began seeking international support.
Baigorri said he travelled to more than 20 countries to campaign.
- Candidate
- Carlos Baigorri
- Nominated role
- ITU deputy secretary-general
- Competition
- Candidates from the Bahamas and Bahrain
- ITU membership
- 194 countries
- Campaign travel
- More than 20 countries this year
What people are saying
We want to be in the driver’s seat in the big discussions, not in the passenger seat.
Today, telecom is part of something bigger, the digital economy.
Brazil talks to China and the United States. Besides technical knowledge, we know how to deal with diversity.
This year I travelled to more than 20 countries to campaign.