The 12-day ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference is all set to begin today here and will continue till June 4.

The WTDC-10 will focus on development priorities in telecommunications and information and communication technologies (ICT) and agree on the programmes, projects and initiatives to implement them.

"The key objective is to promote international cooperation, regional initiatives and partnerships that can sustain and strengthen telecommunication infrastructure and institutions in developing countries," said an official of the International Telecom Union (ITU).

WTDC-10 will assess the progress in implementing the action plan launched in 2006 in Doha and adopt the Hyderabad Action Plan that will set the agenda for telecommunication and ICT development over the next four years, the official added.

A World Telecommunication Development Report will be released on May 25. Three ITU case studies will be released the next day, according to the organisers.

A Raja, Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology will attend the conference besides other senior officials and representatives of top Indian telecom companies.

Raja will lead the Indian delegation at the conference, P J Thomas, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications and Chairman, Telecom Commission and other top Indian officials will also attend the event.

As many as 700 delegates including some of the ministers and heads of international organisations from across the world are expected to attend the fifth edition of the WTDC.