Information and communication technology (ICT) should be used to solve various problems faced by the people of the world, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday.

“It (ICT) must employ the latest in communications technology and data analytics to solve some of the world’s greatest development challenges,” Ramaphosa told the opening ceremony of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecom World Conference 2018 in Durban.

Ramaphosa and ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao cut the ribbon to officially open the conference.

The event is being attended by over 7,000 delegates, including government officials, leaders of multilateral organizations, regulators and entrepreneurs.

“The ITU Telecom World provides a guide to the future. The deliberations that take place here concern the economy and society of tomorrow that we are building today,” Ramaphosa said.

“We are certain that Telecom World 2018 will produce innovative solutions to societal challenges and establish a platform for greater inclusive growth.”

He called for collaboration between government and other stakeholders to mitigate the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution.

“As our economies become increasingly dependent on information and communication technology, it is critical that governments work more closely with industry to maximise the value of digital innovations,” Ramaphosa said.

He said South Africa supports equitable access to global ICT resources like orbital slots, satellites and governance of the internet.

“We are informed by research that associates investment in ICTs with such economic benefits as higher productivity, lower costs, new economic opportunities, job creation, innovation and increased trade,” Ramaphosa said.

Participants at the conference are expected to discuss latest ICT developments such as preparations for 5G networks, the impact and ownership of artificial intelligence, and the risks of a smarter world, organizers said.