From the crackling wireless transmissions of the early 20th century to the digital waves of today, radio has shaped society, culture, and the way we connect with the world. It has been a constant and reliable companion – informing, entertaining, and educating audiences around the world for a century now.

As we enter the second century of radio broadcasting, the medium continues evolving. The transition to digital broadcasting and the rise of podcasting have democratized the creation and distribution of audio content, allowing a diverse array of voices to find resonance in the global soundscape.

In recent decades, radio infrastructure has become a crucial public safety net during emergencies. The portability of radio sets and accessibility of radio broadcasts can provide early warnings as well a lifeline during and after a disaster.

Radio goes where newer technologies cannot. As recent years have underscored, it can deliver education and health information in a pandemic, keep people connected and safe, and deliver entertainment amid the loneliness and isolation of lockdowns.

Broadcast radio continues to provide quick and affordable access to information in real-time, along with professional coverage about matters of public interest. Accessible anywhere and anytime, it reaches a broad and diverse audience. Research in both developing and developed countries points to radio as a powerful and trusted source of information.

Broadcasting everywhere hinges on the availability of sufficient broadcast radio spectrum, harmonized usage, and global technical standards.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with a history dating back 159 years, has continually updated the global radio treaty.

ITU is the custodian of the Radio Regulations – the international treaty on the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and, for space services, in associated satellite orbits.