ITU Data is critical to our goal of connecting the world. It tells us where we were, where we are, what works and what doesn’t. It is a key ingredient of empirical research for establishing correlation, determining causality, identifying good practices, and formulating policy recommendations. Since the advent of the Internet, data volumes have grown exponentially. And yet, reliable and meaningful data remain surprisingly scant, because producing such data is often complex, costly, and time-consuming. Through a range of tools and activities, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has been supporting Member States and other stakeholders at every step of the data life cycle, from setting standards and methods for data collection to promoting the use of data in decision making.