ITU - Digital Divide

15 May 2013 - Winning App converts SMSs to sign languages

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:06:09 +0000

ITU announced the winners of its ICT Innovation Application Challenge during the 2013 WSIS Forum on 15 May. The challenge is part of ITUs efforts to tap the power and interoperability of ICTs in promoting sustainable prosperity and business in emerging economies. The winner of the $5000 prize for the best app from an individual was MMSSign from Prof Mohamed Jemni, University of Tunis. The corporate app category was awarded to Senmobile Ltd for the application Defarlou which is a mobile order management system for entrepreneurs. Prizes for the application challenge were sponsored by Nokia Siemens Networks.

Making mobile phones accessible is still a challenge particularly in developing countries. Videophones are the preferred method of communicating for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, but, they require significant bandwidth and computer processing power to compress and decompress video in real time. The MMSign application converts text messages to a video sequence in sign language. The animations are avatar-based animation obtained by automatic interpretation of text into sign language.

SenMobile Ltd is a technology startup that specializes in innovative mobile solutions targeting the general population. Défarlou is a simple and compact ordering management application designed for entrepreneurs in developing countries. It can record orders and due dates, search for a specific order, keep track of order status and client payments, and send an SMS directly to the client when the order is ready to be delivered or picked-up. Originally designed with business owners of emerging markets in mind and developed in Senegal, défarlou means order in Wolof. The app is developed in Java ME and works on Java ME feature phones and smartphones.

More information on the apps can be found here.

13 May 2013 - Workshop extends ITU-T work on human exposure to electromagnetic fields

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:59:14 +0000

ITU members have affirmed their commitment to the responsible consideration of health effects associated with the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that underpin wireless communications. ITUs standards-making arm (ITU-T) has long been engaged with the subject of human exposure to ICT-emitted EMFs and an ITU workshop in Turin, Italy, 9 May 2013, has concluded with a Call to Action giving further impetus to this work.

Man-made sources of electromagnetic fields include those generated by ionizing radiation and the electricity provided by the power sockets in our homes. ICTs such as mobile phones and wireless routers emit higher-frequency electromagnetic radiation to transmit information through the air.

The ITU Workshop on human exposure to electromagnetic fields was organized in partnership with the Ministry for Economic Development of Italy , supported by Huawei and hosted by Telecom Italia at its innovation laboratories in Turin.

The Call to Action encourages ITU-T Study Group 5 (Environment and climate change) to lead cooperation among standards development organizations (SDOs) in the interests of harmonized international EMF standards. In particular it calls on ITU-T to extend its work on human exposure to EMFs by developing and promoting EMF information and education resources accessible to all communities; establishing specialised EMF assessment and accreditation training programs for developing countries; and promoting open online compliance and reporting systems as well as the development of a standardized online system to demonstrate compliance with international EMF standards. Read the full text of the Call to Action here.

The workshop offered policy makers an overview of EMF and also sought to identify further actions through which to respond to WTSA Resolution 72 Measurement concerns related to human exposure to electromagnetic fields . First agreed by the 2008 World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly in Johannesburg (WTSA-08) and revised by 2012s WTSA in Dubai (WTSA-12), Resolution 72 recognizes the integral role that wireless technologies are playing in bridging the digital divide and responds to developing countries concerns with the risks of human exposure to EMF and local communities growing resistance to the deployment of radio installations in their surrounds. Specifically, the Resolution stresses the value of ITU-T guides on the use of international EMF-focused standards, with particular emphasis on those relating to measurement methodologies.

Malcolm Johnson, Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU: The rational solution to citizens concerns regarding exposure to EMFs is to ensure that the actions of national regulators and network operators are accompanied to the greatest possible extent by transparency and communication with citizens. Compliance with international standards and associated reporting mechanisms assures citizens that regulators and network operators have complied with international best practices in deploying base stations, thereby safeguarding citizens health.

ITU-T Study Group 5 studies health considerations associated with wireless communications under Question 7/5 "Human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) due to radiocommunication systems and mobile equipment" . The resulting ITU-T Recommendations give operators, manufacturers and government agencies the tools required to assess the EMF levels attributable to telecommunication and radiocommunication systems and to verify compliance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommended human-exposure guidelines set out by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the IEEE International Committee Electromagnetic Safety (ICES).

Question 7/5 has produced EMF Estimator software that calculates the cumulative radio frequency exposure levels in the vicinity of transmitting antennas. Part of Recommendation K.70 Mitigation techniques to limit human exposure to EMFs within vicinity of radiocommunication stations , EMF Estimator contains a library of transmitting antennas radiation patterns for a wide range of radio communication and broadcast services. A typical application for EMF Estimator would be the calculation of EMF levels in a local community from a cellular base station or community broadcast service.

Another key reference for standards implementers is Recommendation ITU-T K.91 Guidance for assessment, evaluation and monitoring of the human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) .ITU-T K.91 provides guidance on methods to assess and monitor human exposure to RF EMF in areas with surrounding radiocommunication installations; based on existing exposure and compliance standards in the frequency range of 9 kHz to 300 GHz. While existing standards are product or service-oriented, the K.91 guide is intended for the examination of areas accessible to people in the real environment of currently operated services with many different sources of RF EMF.

30 April 2013 - Microsoft tops up the BSG Fund

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:00:55 +0000

Microsoft, a long-standing member of ITU, has put forward a voluntary contribution of $40,000 to the Bridging the Standardization Gap (BSG) Fund maintained by ITUs Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T).

The $40,000 is Microsofts most recent contribution to the BSG Fund, which owes its health to Canada, Cisco Systems, Korea Communications Commission, Microsoft and Nokia Siemens Networks.

David A. Heiner, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Microsoft Corporation: The participation of developing countries in ITU-T standardization work is crucial in harnessing the full potential of international standards to enhance cooperation, trade and economic development. Microsoft is pleased to support this initiative that seeks to enhance the inclusiveness of ITU-T's international standardization programs.

The BSG Fund provides invaluable financial assistance in carrying out the work programme outlined by Resolution 44 of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly. Resolution 44 was adopted in Johannesburg in 2008 (WTSA-08) and revised in Dubai in 2012 (WTSA-12) and aims to, inter alia:

Facilitate the participation of developing countries in the ICT standards development process
Allow developing countries to profit from access to new technology development
Ensure that the requirements of developing countries are taken into account in the development of international standards (ITU-T Recommendations)

Fulfilling the objectives of Resolution 44 demands considerable commitments of ITU-T resources and contributions to the BSG Fund make an appreciable impact in this regard.

The use of contributions for specific purposes is undertaken only with the agreement of the sponsor. Parties interested in contributing to the BSG Fund are encouraged to contact the BSG secretariat at bsg@itu.int

More information on ITU-T activities to Bridge the Standardization Gap can be found here

28 March 2013 - Egypt to host first ITU Smart Water event

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:43:31 +0000

An upcoming ITU workshop on ICT as an Enabler for Smart Water Management will be held in Luxor, Egypt on 14-15 April 2013.

Economic growth, seasonal climatic conditions and rising population are all affecting availability of water resources. Moreover, a number of effects linked to climate change, such as lengthy droughts and extreme weather events, are worsening the situation. Water shortages are at the core of many of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), one of which is to reduce by half the number of people without safe access to water by 2015. According to the UN World Water Development Report, by 2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of freshwater.

ICT provides a unique opportunity for water stakeholders to obtain information in near real-time about a number of physical and environmental variables such as temperature, soil moisture levels and rainfall through web enabled sensors and communication networks. Smart metering technologies can also provide individuals, businesses and water companies with information about their own water use, thus raising awareness about usage, locating leakages and having better control over water demand.

Organized by ITU at the kind invitation of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Egypt this first ITU workshop to address this serious topic will address a number of issues including: weather forecasting; technological solutions and standards; smart metering; climate smart agriculture; water governance, institutions and regulations; stakeholder engagement; and planning water resources and land use.

It will result in a Call For Action for countries in the Nile River Basin area to implement best practices for smart water management in agriculture, consumption in cities, river flow forecasting to prevent calamities such as flooding and identification of leakages in the water distribution network.

More.

14 March 2013 - ITU-T Study Group 11 jumpstarts Conformance and Interoperability Programme

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:22:13 +0000

ITU has approved an action plan to drive its Conformance and Interoperability (C&I) Programme and has revamped the Joint Coordination Activity which marshals C&I work undertaken across ITUs various expert groups.

Conformance with international standards is one of the core principles underlying the global interoperability of ICT networks and devices. The C&I Programme was initiated at the request of ITUs membership in light of the challenges faced by developing countries in improving interoperability and battling counterfeit goods.

ITU-T Study Group 11 Protocols and test specifications was charged with coordinating the C&I Programme by last Novembers World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-12) in Dubai.

Meeting at ITU headquarters in Geneva, 25 February to 1 March 2013, SG11 approved a C&I action plan in line with WTSA-12s revision of Resolution 76 on Studies related to conformance and interoperability testing, assistance to developing countries, and a possible future ITU Mark programme.

The SG11 meeting also saw substantial progress made in ITUs collaboration with the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and advanced the groups ongoing work on software-defined networking (SDN). Read news on these achievements here.

The Joint Coordination Activity on C&I testing (JCA-CIT), which now falls under the leadership of SG11, will support the coordination of the ITUs C&I activities while also acting as the first point of contact for organizations interested in contributing to this work. SG11 has revised JCA-CITs governing Terms of Reference and has appointed a new Convener in Mr. Martin Brand from Telekom Austria, an active SG11 member over the previous study period and appointed an SG11 Vice-chairman by WTSA-12. The next meeting of JCA-CIT will be held electronically, 25 April 2013, and detailed participation instructions will be provided on the JCA-CIT homepage.

Delivering on a central objective of the C&I program, SG11s meeting reached first-stage approval (consent) of five new testing suites to become international standards (ITU-T Recommendations).

The meeting also hosted a presentation delivered by the Executive Secretary and Chairman of IECEE, the Worldwide System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrotechnical Equipment and Components. IECEE presented on its conformance assessment scheme and encouraged ITU to make full use of this platform in carrying out the C&I Programme.

In addition, SG11 produced an initial list of key technologies within its mandate which the group considers suitable for C&I testing. This will remain a living list and it forms input to the first pillar of the four-pillar C&I Programme which delineates C&I work into four separate but interdependent categories:

1) conformance assessment;

2) interoperability events;

3) human resource and capacity building; and

4) assistance in the establishment of test facilities in developing countries.

More information on ITUs C&I Programme is available here

More information on ITU-T Study Group 11 is available here

26 February 2013 - Central American workshop to promote environmentally sound e-waste management

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:41:31 +0000

San Salvador, El Salvador will host a Central American Workshop for Capacity Building on Environmentally Sound Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), 19-21 March 2013. The workshop will provide training on the application of global best practices in environmentally responsible e-waste management, covering e-wastes collection, repair, refurbishment, recycling and disposal.

Electrical and electronic waste (known as WEEE or e-waste) is the worlds fastest-growing source of waste. Eco-friendly disposal and recycling mechanisms will mitigate e-wastes negative environmental and health effects, but will also create new employment opportunities while recycling critical raw materials and decreasing resource-dependency.

The upcoming workshop is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Secretariat of the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions (SBSR), a body administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The event is organized in partnership with the Basel Convention Regional Center for Central America and Mexico (BCRC-CAM); the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD); the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of El Salvador (MARN); the Central American Regional Technical Commission on Telecommunications (COMTELCA); the Salvadoran General Superintendency for Electricity and Telecommunications (SIGET); and the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE) established under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

The workshop is the first joint training activity undertaken by ITU and SBSR, and participation is free of charge.

The event will outline e-waste management methods detailed by ITUs international standards (ITU-T Recommendations) and ITUs Toolkit on End of Life Management for ICT Equipment.

The workshop will also present PACEs Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) Criteria Recommendations; its Guideline on Environmentally Sound Testing, Refurbishment and Repair of Used Computing Equipment; its Guideline on Environmentally Sound Material Recovery/Recycling of End-of-Life Computing Equipment; and its Guidance on Transboundary Movement (TBM) of Used and End-of-Life Computing Equipment.

Other sessions will discuss the role that standards and policies play in tackling e-waste by encouraging the application of global environmental best practices and by underscoring the implementation of national and regional e-waste management strategies.

The workshop will conclude with a session inviting equipment manufacturers, government representatives and leading e-waste recycling specialists to discuss the development of Central Americas sub-regional systems for e-wastes repair, refurbishment, recycling and disposal.

The workshop will be conducted in English and Spanish.

More information on the workshop, including a provisional programme and an online registration form, can be found here

More information on ITU-T activities on ICTs, the Environment and Climate Change can be found here

01 February 2013 - 3rd Green ICT Application Challenge: Deadline extended

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:06:33 +0000

The submission deadline for the 3rd Green ICT Application Challenge has been extended from 30 April to 30 June 2013. The Challenge has also welcomed new supporters in the United Nations University (UNU), Solving the e-Waste Problem (StEP) and BlueVia.

Organized by ITU in partnership with Telefónica, the Challenge will award a prize of 5,000 USD to the creator of the app that best promotes Smart Sustainable Cities and environmental sustainability in urban areas.

Developers can submit concepts individually or as part of a team. Submissions must be original and should deal with one of the following subjects: transport and mobility; management of energy, water, health services or waste; adaptation to climate change; town planning, including smart buildings; and smart sustainable societies, community participation and environmental education.

The winner will be selected according to criteria including impact, scalability, the degree of innovation, feasibility, the quality of the implementation plan and the business model. In addition, priority will be given to applications that can help developing countries to solve environmental problems in an urban context.

The Challenge launched 20 December 2012. Full Press Release here

24 November 2012 - Bangalore workshop on sustainable rural communications

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:04:21 +0000

An upcoming workshop entitled Bridging the Standardization Gap: Sustainable Rural Communications is set to discuss information and communication technologies (ICTs) as enabling elements of socio-economic development in emerging markets. The event will focus on sustainable business models to extend telecommunications and broadband access to people living in rural or remote areas.

Taking place in Bangalore, India, 17-18 December 2012, the event is hosted by the Global ICT Standardization Forum for India (GISFI) together with ITU. It is supported by Huawei India, and will be followed by the Eleventh GISFI Standardization Series meetings, 19-20 December 2012.

Participants will discuss the difficult task of increasing access to ICTs in remote areas by providing sustainable incentives for network operators to extend high-cost infrastructures to currently low-revenue markets. How ICT standards might encourage such infrastructure investment will be a key topic of discussion, as will ICT innovations and emerging technologies in this arena.

Also of key relevance will be discussions around the need to aid developing countries in the establishment of national standardization secretariats that can help to define a countrys standardization requirements and channel participation in regional and international standardization work.

Bridging the Standardization Gap is one of the core objectives of ITUs Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). Expanding the standardization capacities of developing countries will lead to international standards that truly reflect the needs of all the worlds countries. It will enable standards-savvy policy makers and private-sector executives to implement standards as best-practice tools in rolling-out broadband infrastructure and driving homegrown ICT innovation.

More information on the workshop here...

07 August 2012 - Lao PDR Workshop offers concrete actions to bridge the standardization gap

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 12:56:20 +0000

A recent ITU workshop in Lao PDR has offered a number of actionable suggestions to extend ITUs efforts to bridge the standardization gap. Notably participants called on ITU to assist governments of developing Asian countries in establishing national and regional standardization secretariats to oversee the development of countries standardization capabilities and to ensure all regions an equitable representation in international standardization processes.

Held in Vientiane, 30-31 July, the workshop was ITUs first event in Lao PDR and attracted over seventy participants, including representatives of Laos key trade partners such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. The event was organized in association with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of Lao PDR and the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) of the Republic of Korea, with the generous support of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC).

ITU was urged to assist countries in their establishment of standardization secretariats, to aid in the development of policy and regulatory frameworks conducive to the rollout of broadband and Next-generation Networks (NGN), and to offer guidance in the spectrum planning required to support mobile broadband and the shift from analogue to digital television.

Environmental protection and sustainable development also featured prominently in the workshops discussions and, to address these concerns, the regions countries were encouraged to form an Asia Pacific regional group within ITU-T Study Group 5 (Environment and climate change).

Specifically, the regional group will highlight e-waste as a major concern to the naturally-rich region, and will play a role in the development of guidelines to developing nations on the implementation of ITU-Ts green ICT standards.

The regional group will also respond to the regions rapidly growing use of mobile telephony, requesting ITU guidance on the regulatory aspects of human exposure to the radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RFEMF) produced by mobile-telephony installations. This concern is one common to a number of developing countries, and is addressed by the new Recommendation ITU-T K.91 - Guidance for assessment, evaluation and monitoring of the human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields.

More information on ITUs Bridging the Standardization Gap programme here.

07 August 2012 - African regional groups identify their priorities for ITU-T

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 12:48:37 +0000

Recent ITU meetings addressed the challenges facing African countries in the measurement of Quality of Service (QoS)/Quality of Experience (QoE) parameters for voice, 3G and Internet mobile networks nearing completion of guidelines for a QoS regulatory framework for ICT services. The meetings also addressed environmental concerns associated with ICT development, such as the growing e-waste challenge, the measurement of human exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF EMF), and the need to develop a sustainable means of extending telecoms-network coverage to the rural areas of developing countries.

The four ITU events were held in Cotonou, Benin, 16-20 July, hosted by Benins Autorité Transitoire de Régulation des Postes et Télécommunications (ATRPT):

Workshop on practical measurement of QoS/QoE parameters for regulatory compliance; and Meeting of Africa Regional Group within ITU-T Study Group 12 (Performance, QoS and QoE)

The workshop was attended by over 80 participants from 21 African countries, gathering representatives of ministries, regulators, operators and vendors to discuss QoS/QoE aspects of Africas expanding mobile networks.

The Africa regional group within ITU-T Study Group 12 (SG 12) advanced its draft guidelines for a QoS regulatory framework for ICT services, which are intended to supplement existing ITU-T recommendations on QoS. Nearing this tasks completion, the group indicated that it will now direct its attention to QoE web browsing under Question 13/12, and the Roadmap for Interconnection of Packet-based Networks under Question 12/12.

Workshop on Tackling Climate Change and SAR Measurement; and Meeting of Africa Regional Group within ITU-T Study Group 5 (Environment and climate change)

The workshop was attended by over 70 participants from 21 African countries, discussing the application of ITU-Ts green ICT standards and the measurement of the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of RF EMF produced by mobile-telephony base stations and devices.

The Africa regional group within ITU-T Study Group 5 (SG 5) highlighted energy efficiency, e-waste reduction and issues related to climate change as its priorities for 2013. The meeting also reviewed its advanced-stage work on a number of guidelines under preparation:

Information guide on human exposure to RF EMF
Methodology for the measurement of GSM Base Station compliance with RF EMF exposure limits
Technical requirements and management methodology of a fund to facilitate a sustainable e-waste management system in developing countries
A sustainable solution to extend the coverage of telecommunications networks to rural areas in developing countries

11 June 2012 - ITU Workshop on "ICT Innovations for Developing Countries" Tunis, Tunisia, 20 June 2012

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:03:17 +0000

ITU Workshop on "ICT Innovations for Developing Countries" Tunis, Tunisia, 20 June 2012

Convening Letter (TSB Circular 286)

On-line registration Deadline for registration: 13 June 2012 New

19 March 2012 - Remote participation Bridging the Gap: from Innovation to Standards

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:23:05 +0000

A workshop on ICT Innovations, embedded within the first meeting of ITU's new Focus Group on ''Bridging the Gap: from Innovation to Standards", takes place at ITU headquarters in Geneva, 20-21 March. The goal of this workshop is to showcase ICT innovations of both developed and developing countries, with a view to determining which will demand future standardization.

The workshop runs from 9h30 until 12h30 on Tuesday the 20th, and 9h30 till 13h00 on Wednesday the 21st. To participate remotely, enter the room as a guest by providing your full name, organization and country here: http://itu.adobeconnect.com/fg-innovation/.

16 March 2012 - ITU joins SDOs from China, Japan and Korea to enhance cooperation

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:00:07 +0000

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ITU and the four standardisation bodies of China, Japan and Korea (CJK) last year, see press release here Malcolm Johnson, Director of the ITUs Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, led a delegation from the ITU Secretariat to the eleventh CJK Meeting (CJK-11) 14-16 March at the Seagaia Convention Centre in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. The Indian standards body GISFI also attended the meeting as an observer as it has requested to join the MoU.

The meeting addressed global ICT standardization questions of common interest to the regions key standards bodies: ARIB, CCSA, TTA and TTC.

In his opening speech Johnson noted that CJK governments together account for 15 per cent of the total financial contributions received by ITU from Member States, and private entities from these nations account for 20 per cent of the contributions ITU-T receives from the private sector. Moreover, CJK makes a significant number contribution to ITU meetings: 38 percent more contributions in 2011 than in 2009.

Full speech can be seen here.

CJK meetings seek to maintain and improve the commitment to mutual understanding and cooperation, and recognise the imperative of coordinated international standards for the sound progression of each of the countries ICT industries. The meeting identified the following topics as candidates for collaboration under the MoU: M2M and Dynamic Spectrum Access; Future IMT; smart grid; cloud computing and security; and the work on environment and climate change.

The Deputy Director of ITUs Radiocommunication Bureau, Fabio Leite, also participated in the meeting stressing the importance of collaboration with ITUs Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), in particular on M2M access networks where there is a clear need for interoperability between radio-based systems.

13 March 2012 - 100 days to Rio+20: the role of ICTs in The Future We Want

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:38:48 +0000

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in exactly 100 days. This global event will mark the 20 year anniversary of the 1992 Earth Summit, the event that raised sustainability to the top of the global agenda, and which set up several of the most relevant international agreements to combat some of the most pressing environmental challenges, such as climate change, desertification and the loss of biodiversity.

From 20 to 22 June 2012 Rio+20 will be in the spotlight, while more than 100 heads of states work together under the theme The future we want to renew political commitment towards sustainability and poverty eradication, looking for solutions and initiatives that can help to bring closer together the three pillars of sustainable development: social, economic and environmental.

In this context, ITU is engaging country delegations, the private sector and the UN system to highlight one of the major opportunities of our generation to integrate the three pillars of sustainable development: the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

ICTs, such as the Internet, mobile phones and satellite, provide innovative applications that create jobs, improve access to basic services (such as health or education), reduce resource consumption (in particular energy consumption) and empower communities through improved access to information and collaboration. Put it simply ICTs help reinforce, converge and integrate all three pillars of sustainable development, and they also support and facilitate attainment of its fundamental underlying principles of efficiency, effectiveness and equity. As our global community moves towards an information society, ICTs have become cross-cutting enablers of a greener and fairer economy.

Visit www.itu.int/rioplus20 to find out more and get involved in ITU´s activities in the road to Rio+20

03 February 2012 - TSAG establishes new Focus Group on Disaster Relief Systems, Network Resilience and Recovery

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:03:18 +0000

The January meeting of the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG) has established a new Focus Group on Disaster Relief Systems, Network Resilience and Recovery (FG-DR&NRR).

A spate of recent natural disasters has underlined the need for preemptive disaster-response planning. ICT networks must be resilient enough to withstand disasters, but have also proven to be pivotal in providing relief to the people affected by major climatic fluctuations.

The Focus Group will coordinate ITU-Ts current work in this field, and will expand this work into two important new areas: (1) disaster relief for individuals (to notify relatives, friends or employers of a victims situation) and (2) disaster relief guidance (to show victims the routes to evacuation shelters, home, etc.).

For these types of standardized emergency communications to exist, ICT network resilience and recovery capabilities need to be such that networks can resume normal service quickly after disaster strikes. TSAG has thus directed the Focus Group to identify all the standardization requirements of network resilience and recovery; a study which may extend beyond current ITU work in this field.

The Focus Groups scope is as follows:

identify requirements for disaster relief and network resilience and familiarize the ITU-T and standardization communities with those requirements;
identify existing standards and existing work related to the requirements mentioned above;
identify any additional standards that may need to be developed and identify future work items for specific ITU-T Study groups and related actions;
encourage collaboration among ITU-T Study Groups, in particular SG2, SG5, SG13, SG15, and SG17, ITU-R, ITU-D and relevant organizations and communities, including the PCP/TDR.

The Focus Group will collaborate with worldwide relevant communities (e.g., research institutes, forums, academia) including other SDOs and consortia.

Comments invited by 10 February 2012

The groups Terms of Reference are subject to consultation. The Membership is therefore invited to send comments to bruce.gracie@ic.gc.ca (TSAG Chairman), with copy to tsbtsag@itu.int or to t09tsagall@lists.itu.int (TSAG general mailing list), by no later than Friday, 10 February 2012.

19 January 2012 - TSAG establishes new Focus Group to Bridge the Gap between Innovation and Standardization

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:08:52 +0000

The January meeting of the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG) has established a new Focus Group on Bridging the Gap: From Innovation to Standards (ItS). Standardization converts innovations into internationally-accessible tools to aid the growth of new markets and bridge the digital divide. The Focus Group will seek to reduce the lag between innovation and standardization; an action to ensure key innovations spread as fast as possible in the global ICT market.

Of particular importance to the group will be the identification of ICT innovation in the developing world, and the task of ensuring such innovation achieves international recognition through its inclusion in the standards produced by ITU-T.

The group will carry out the following specific actions:

In cooperation with ITU-D, document case studies of successful examples of ICT innovations, including those that have emerged in developing countries, and identify relevant standardization gaps. Particular focus should be on the socio-economic impact of ICT innovation emerging in developing countries;
Analyze the innovations that may be standardized and identify best practices facilitating the implementation of such innovations in other parts of the world;
Identify case studies which developing countries can adopt to enhance their ICT innovation and standardization capabilities and associated socio-economic welfare;
Identify the difficulties faced by developing countries in bringing their ICT innovation to ITU-T.
Suggest future ITU-T study items and related actions;
Examine how other Standards Development Organizations, forums and consortia address ICT innovation and its integration into standardization activities;
Promote its activity at the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) meeting in November 2012.

26 October 2011 - Arabic Version - ITU Regional Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gap for Arab and Africa regions, Interactive Training Session and Academia Session

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:15:11 +0000

عقدت ورشة العمل الإقليمية للاتحاد بشأن سد الفجوة التقييسية (BSG) في المنطقة العربية وإفريقيا في مدينة الجزائر، في الفترة 28-26 سبتمبر 2011.
وقد نظمت ورشة العمل بالاشتراك مع هيئة تنظيم البريد والاتصالات (ARPT) وحظيت بدعم كريم من شركة شبكات Nokia Siemens وشركة ميكروسوفت.
ويتمثل الهدف الشامل لبرنامج الاتحاد لسد الفجوة التقييسية في تسهيل زيادة مشاركة البلدان النامية في عملية التقييس لضمان تمتع هذه البلدان بالمنافع الاقتصادية للتطور التكنولوجي المصاحب ولإبراز احتياجات هذه البلدان بشكل أفضل فيما يختص بعملية وضع المعايير. ومن بين الأهداف المحددة لهذا المشروع، تكوين فهم للقضايا المتضمنة في عملية وضع المعايير وتنفيذها وقدرات استعمالها في البلدان النامية.
وحضر ورشة العمل نحو 110 مشاركين من المنطقة العربية وإفريقيا. وركز برنامج الورشة على موضوعات من بينها التحديات التي تواجهها بلدان هاتين المنطقتين في تقييس تكنولوجيات المعلومات والاتصالات واستراتيجيات سد الفجوة التقييسية وأفضل الممارسات في مجال تقييم المطابقة وموضوعات التقييس الجاري مناقشتها في لجان دراسات قطاع تقييس الاتصالات.
وفيما يلي النتائج/التوجهات التي خرجت بها ورشة العمل:
● أيد المشاركون من إفريقيا والمنطقة العربية تنفيذ برنامج المطابقة وقابلية التشغيل البيني لقطاع تقييس الاتصالات في هاتين المنطقتين، بما في ذلك استعمال علامة الاتحاد "ITU"؛
● تشجيع البلدان النامية على القيام بدور فعال في رأب الفجوة الرقمية من خلال النهوض بالابتكار في مجال المعايير والتقدم بمساهمات إلى عمليات التقييس العالمية؛
● النظر في إنشاء مراكز إقليمية ودون إقليمية لاختبارات المطابقة وقابلية التشغيل البيني؛
● العمل بنشاط على إشراك أعضاء مؤسسات القطاعين العام والخاص والجامعات ومراكز البحوث في أنشطة التقييس الخاصة بالاتحاد؛
● التماس دعم الاتحاد لإطلاق حملة موجهة لبناء القدرات بشأن توصيات قطاع تقييس الاتصالات (كأن تعقد دورة تدريبية لمدة أسبوعين بشأن توصيات الكبلات والأنظمة البصرية)، وإنشاء معامل إقليمية للقضاء على عمليات التزييف؛
● إنشاء و/أو تحديد معامل اختبار في المنطقة قادرة على إجراء المراجعات الفيزيائية واختبارات الامتثال. وتقوم تونس حالياً بإنشاء معمل اختبار، يمكن استعماله كنموذج لباقي بلدان المنطقة؛
● إبرام اتفاقات تعاون مع شركاء إقليميين من أجل تحديد عدم امتثال التجهيزات في مرحلة مبكرة؛
● إنشاء مركز إقليمي للتقييس في الجزائر، وهو مقترح تقدمت به رئيسة مجلس إدارة هيئة تنظيم البريد والاتصالات (ARPT) في كلمتها الافتتاحية وكرره وزير البريد وتكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات؛
● تشجيع تبادل المعلومات على صعيد إقليمي من خلال إنشاء قاعدة بيانات تتضمن قائمة سوداء بالمنتجات المزيفة؛
● النهوض ببرامج الاعتماد والتوثيق ووضع منهجية اختبار لمناطق إنتاج المواد؛
● التأكد من الوفاء بالمتطلبات التقنية في المنتجات الوطنية، والسماح بطرحها في الأسواق الإقليمية؛
● التأكد من تنفيذ الآليات التشريعية والتنظيمية من أجل الكشف عن مخططات الاحتيال والتزييف وتطبيق عقوبات عند اكتشاف هذه الأنشطة. وينبغي نمذجة هذه الآليات حسب برامج مراقبة الأسواق المتضمنة بالفعل في تشريعات مناطق أخرى، مثل الاتحاد الأوروبي والولايات المتحدة والبرازيل وكندا وغيرها.
جلسة تدريب تفاعلية: 27 سبتمبر 2011
بعد ورشة العمل، عقدت جلسة تدريب تفاعلية لمدة يوم واحد في شكل محاكاة لاجتماع من اجتماعات لجان الدراسات. وتصمم هذه الجلسات لتوفير تقدمة لاجتماعات التقييس الدولية ولكي يألف المشاركون الشكل النموذجي لعملية صنع القرارات. وهذه الجلسات تتعلق بشكل خاص بالدول النامية حيث أنها تشجع على المشاركة في أنشطة الاتحاد وتشرح بوضوح كيف يمكن لهذه الدول أن تقوم بدور عضوي في علمية وضع المعايير. وقد حضر الجلسة نحو 60 مشاركاً وحظيت بتعليقات إيجابية إلى حد كبير.
حلقة الاتحاد الدراسية للهيئات الأكاديمية: 28 سبتمبر 2011
قدمت حلقة العمل هذه فئة العضوية الجديدة بالاتحاد والخاصة بالهيئات الأكاديمية وقدمت أمثلة ملموسة للكيفية التي يمكن أن تفيد بها هذه الهيئات ومراكز البحوث من خلال المشاركة في أنشطة لجان دراسات قطاع تقييس الاتصالات. وعبر أستاذ من الجامعة الأمريكية في بيروت عن الكيفية التي يمكن أن تساهم بها جامعته والجامعات الأخرى في المنطقة في أعمال لجنة الدراسات 17 بقطاع تقييس الاتصالات المعنية بالأمن. وتم تشجيع الهيئات الأكاديمية كذلك إلى تقديم مدخلات إلى تقارير رصد التكنولوجيا الصادرة عن قطاع تقييس الاتصالات.
وكان اهتمام الهيئات الأكاديمية بالانضمام لعضوية الاتحاد واضحاً، حيث أعلنت بعض الجامعات عن عزمها الانضمام إلى الاتحاد. كما عبرت الهيئات الأكاديمية عن رغبة قوية في تلقي الدعم من مكتب تقييس الاتصالات في وضع مناهج متدرجة المستوى في مجال معايير الاتصالات.
ولمزيد من المعلومات، يرجى زيارة موقع الويب الخاص بالاتحاد بشأن سد الفجوة التقييسية على العنوان: http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/gap

26 October 2011 - Atelier regional de l UIT sur la reduction de l ecart en matiere de normalisation a l intention des regions Etats arabes et Afrique- Seance formation interactive et seminaire

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:49:42 +0000

L'atelier régional de l'UIT sur la réduction de l'écart en matière de normalisation à l'intention des régions Etats arabes et Afrique s'est déroulé à Alger (Algérie) du 26 au 28 septembre 2011.

Il a été organisé en association avec l'Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Télécommunications (ARPT), avec le généreux concours de Nokia Siemens Networks et de Microsoft.

L'objectif général du programme de réduction de l'écart en matière de normalisation est de favoriser la participation accrue des pays en développement au processus d'élaboration des normes, de faire en sorte qu'ils profitent des bienfaits économiques liés au développement technologique et de mieux prendre en considération leurs besoins et leurs intérêts dans l'élaboration des normes. Ce projet a notamment pour but de comprendre les problèmes qui font obstacle à l'élaboration et à l'application des normes, ainsi qu'aux capacités d'utilisation des pays en développement.

Quelque 110 participants des régions Etats arabes et Afrique ont assisté à l'atelier, dont le programme s'articulait autour des thèmes suivants: enjeux de la normalisation des TIC dans les pays de ces régions, stratégies visant à réduire l'écart en matière de normalisation, meilleures pratiques en matière d'évaluation de la conformité, et questions de normalisation en cours d'examen par les commissions d'études de l'UIT-T.

Conclusions et orientations tirées de l'atelier:

    appui des participants des régions Etats arabes et Afrique à la mise en uvre du programme de l'UIT-T relatif à la conformité et à l'interopérabilité dans ces régions, y compris à l'utilisation de la marque UIT;

    inciter les pays en développement à jouer un rôle dynamique dans la réduction de la fracture numérique en favorisant l'innovation dans le domaine de la normalisation et en encourageant la participation de ces pays aux processus d'élaboration des normes mondiales;

    envisager la création de centres régionaux et sous régionaux pour la réalisation de tests de conformité et d'interopérabilité;

    faire participer activement le public, les entreprises privées, les universités et les centres de recherche aux activités de normalisation de l'UIT;

    s'appuyer sur l'UIT pour organiser une campagne ciblée de renforcement des capacités concernant les recommandations UIT-T (par exemple, formation de deux semaines sur les recommandations relatives aux câbles et systèmes à fibres optiques), et mettre en place des laboratoires régionaux afin de lutter contre la contrefaçon;

    mettre en place et/ou identifier dans la région des laboratoires de tests pouvant réaliser des audits physiques et des tests de conformité. La Tunisie est déjà en train de mettre en place un laboratoire de tests, qui pourrait servir de modèle à la région;

    élaborer des accords de coopération avec les partenaires régionaux pour identifier de manière précoce la non-conformité des équipements;

    créer un centre régional de normalisation en Algérie, selon la proposition faite par la Présidente du Conseil de l'ARPT lors de son allocution d'ouverture et réitérée par le Ministre de la Poste et des Technologies de l'information et de la communication;

    encourager le partage d'informations au niveau régional en constituant une base de données qui répertorie sur une liste noire les produits de contrefaçon;

    instaurer des systèmes d'accréditation et de certification ainsi qu'une méthodologie des tests applicables aux zones de production de matériel;

    s'assurer que les produits locaux soient conformes aux prescriptions techniques pour leur permettre d'accéder aux marchés régionaux; et

    veiller à ce que les mécanismes législatifs et réglementaires soient mis en oeuvre afin de repérer les activités frauduleuses et la contrefaçon, et d'appliquer des sanctions le cas échéant. Ces mécanismes devraient s'inspirer des dispositifs de surveillance du marché déjà en vigueur dans d'autres juridictions comme l'Union européenne, les Etats-Unis, le Brésil, le Canada, etc.

Session de formation interactive: 27 septembre 2011

L'atelier a été suivi d'une session de formation interactive d'une journée sur la simulation d'une réunion de commission d'études. Ces sessions visent à donner un aperçu des réunions internationales de normalisation et à familiariser les participants avec la forme habituelle du processus de prise de décisions. Elles sont particulièrement pertinentes pour les pays en développement puisqu'elles encouragent la participation de ces pays aux activités de l'UIT et expliquent clairement en quoi ils peuvent jouer un rôle constructif dans l'élaboration de normes. Environ 60 participants ont assisté à la session, qui a connu un vif succès.

Séminaire de l'UIT à l'intention des établissements universitaires: 28 septembre 2011

Lors de ce séminaire, la nouvelle catégorie des établissements universitaires a été présentée et des exemples concrets ont été donnés des avantages que les établissements universitaires et les instituts de recherche peuvent retirer de leur participation aux activités des Commissions d'études de l'UIT T. Un professeur de l'Université américaine de Beyrouth a indiqué explicitement comment son institution et d'autres universités de la région pourraient contribuer aux travaux de la Commission d'étude 17 de l'UIT-T sur la sécurité. Les établissements universitaires ont également été encouragés à apporter des contributions aux rapports de veille technologique de l'UIT-T.

L'intérêt des établissements universitaires à devenir membre de l'UIT était évident et certaines universités ont annoncé leur intention d'adhérer à l'Union. Les établissements universitaires ont également indiqué qu'ils souhaitaient vivement que le Bureau de la normalisation des télécommunications (TSB) les aide à élaborer des programmes d'enseignement supérieur dans le domaine de la normalisation des télécommunications.

Pour plus d'information, consulter le site web relatif à la réduction de l'écart en matière de normalisation: http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/gap.

19 October 2011 - ITU Regional Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gap for Arab and Africa regions, Interactive Training Session and Academia Session

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:51:56 +0000

The ITU Regional Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gap (BSG) for Arab and Africa Regions took place in Algiers, Algeria, 26-28 September 2011.

The workshop was organized in association with Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Télécommunications (ARPT), and was generously supported by Nokia Siemens Networks and Microsoft.

The overarching goal of ITUs Bridging the Standardization Gap program is to facilitate increased participation of developing countries in standardization, to ensure that developing countries experience the economic benefits of associated technological development, and to better reflect the requirements and interests of developing countries in the standards-development process. One specific objective of this project is to gain an understanding of the issues inhibiting the standards development, implementation, and usage capacities of developing countries.
Some 110 participants from Arab and African regions attended the workshop. The program focused on topics including ICT standardization challenges for countries in these regions, strategies for bridging the standardization gap, best practices for conformity assessment, and standardization topics being discussed in ITU-T Study Groups.

Outcomes/directives produced by the workshop:

       Participants from the African and Arab regions support the implementation of the ITU-T Conformity and Interoperability program in these regions, including the use of the ITU Mark.

       Encourage developing countries to play an active role in the reduction of the digital divide by promoting standards-oriented innovation and contributions to global standardization processes;

       Consider the creation of regional and sub-regional centres for compliance and interoperability tests;

       Actively involve members of the public, private enterprises, universities and research centres in ITU standardization activities;

       Seek ITU support for a targeted capacity-building campaign on ITU-T Recommendations (e.g. the 2-week training on Optical Cables and Systems Recommendations), and establish regional laboratories to eliminate counterfeiting;

       Establish and/or identify test laboratories in the region able to carry out physical audits and compliance tests. Tunisia is already setting up a test lab, and this could be used as a template for the region;

       Establish cooperation agreements with regional partners for the early identification of equipment non-compliance;

       Establish a Regional Centre for standardization based in Algeria, a proposal made by the President of the Council of the ARPT in her opening speech and reiterated by the Minister of Post and ICT;

       Encourage the sharing of information at a regional level by establishing a database containing blacklisted counterfeit products;

       Promote accreditation and certification schemes, and test methodology for the material production areas;

       Ensure that technical requirements are fulfilled by local products, allowing them access to regional markets; and

Ensure that legislative and regulatory mechanisms are implemented to detect fraud and counterfeiting schemes, and to enforce penalties when such activity is discovered.

These mechanisms should be modelled on market surveillance schemes already established in other jurisdictions, such as the EU, the United States, Brazil, Canada, etc..

Interactive Training Session: 27 September 2011
The workshop was followed by a one-day Interactive Training Session in the form of a simulated Study Group meeting. These sessions are designed to provide an introduction to international standardization meetings, and familiarise participants with the typical format of the decision-making process. They are especially relevant to developing nations as they encourage participation in ITU activities, and clearly explain how these nations may play a formative role in standards creation. Some 60 participants attended the session, and very positive feedback was received.

ITU Academia Seminar: 28 September 2011
This Seminar introduced ITUs new membership category for academia, and gave concrete examples of how academic and research institutions can benefit through participation in ITU-T Study Group activity. A professor from the American University of Beirut explicitly outlined how his institution and other universities in the region could contribute to ITU-T Study Group 17 on Security. Academia was also encouraged to provide input to ITU-T TechWatch reports.

Academias interest in membership was evident, with some universities declaring their intention to join ITU. Academia also expressed strong interest in receiving TSB support in developing graduate-level curricula in the field of telecommunication standards.

For more information refer to the ITU Bridging the Standardization Gap website at http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/gap

French Version

Arabic Version

29 September 2011 - International agreement on green ICT methodology - ITU addresses conflict minerals, environmentally-friendly batteries

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:21:34 +0000

ITU has underlined its key role in green ICT with a raft of announcements today by Study Group 5 of its Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T).

A meeting of the group in Seoul, Korea has seen agreement on a globally-recognized set of methodologies to assess the environmental impact of information and communications technology (ICT). It also saw agreement to produce a report on due diligence guidelines for conflict minerals supply, and to study environmental protection and recycling solutions for batteries for mobile phones and other ICT devices.

Estimates of how much ICTs can reduce global emissions and estimates of the emissions generated by the ICT sector itself still vary widely, due to the application of different measurement methodologies. After the problem was raised by delegates to ITUs ICTs and Climate Change symposium in 2008, ITU took on the challenge and has pioneered adoption of a new globally-agreed set of standards.

To ensure consistency between different approaches, the new methodology has been developed in cooperation with other standardization organizations such as ISO, IEC, ETSI and ATIS. The new methodology is also aligned with the Digital Agenda of the European Commission.

Dr Hamadoun Touré, Secretary General, ITU: This methodology has been developed by ITU's industry members. This will be important in ensuring it gains wide acceptance by the world's ICT industry. An internationally agreed methodology means estimates of the impact of ICTs on greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption will now have much greater credibility. It will also show just how significant a contribution ICTs can make by reducing global emissions in other sectors.

Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commission: I'm pleased that the industry is taking the task of measuring its own footprint so seriously. And I'm pleased that the ITU, as a UN agency, is doing such good work facilitating negotiations, reaching out globally to industry sub-sectors and to other standardization initiatives.

New guidelines on conflict minerals

New ITU work on conflict minerals will also begin in response to a request from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). ITU will make a survey of existing due diligence requirements and guidelines concerning sources of conflict minerals (in particular, those that are smelted into tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold), as well as their use in conformity with recognized international treaties and national legislation, where this exists.

Rare earth minerals are used in consumer electronics products such as mobile phones, DVD players, video games and computers. The report will provide guidance to ICT entities seeking to exercise due diligence on, and formalize the origin and chain of custody of, conflict minerals used in their products and on their suppliers to ensure that conflict minerals used in their products do not directly or indirectly finance armed conflict or result in labour or human rights violations. Agreement to address this issue demonstrates the ICT industrys commitment to sustainability at all levels of the value chain.

Following on from the success of ITUs Universal Charging Solution for mobile devices (Recommendation ITU-T L.1000), the meeting also agreed to study the benefits and disadvantages of the standardization of batteries for mobile terminals and other ICT devices, looking at energy efficiency over the battery life cycle, eco-design information, battery lifetime and exchangeability, safety and environmental protection, recycling and reuse. This could lead to a reduction of harmful materials used in batteries and an increased lifespan of ICT products. Battery manufacturers, device manufacturers, operators and users will all benefit, say experts.

Ahmed Zeddam, Chairman of ITU-T Study Group 5: This has been the most productive and significant meeting in the long history of Study Group 5. Twelve new important standards have been agreed, including many critical to methodologies to assess the environmental impact of ICT and the protection of home networks and next generation network (NGN) equipment from electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and environmental effects. The meeting also saw revisions to a key set of standards on resistibility to overvoltages or overcurrents of telecoms equipment. ITU is the only organization producing these important global standards.

For more information, please contact:

Toby Johnson
Senior Communications Officer
E-mail: toby.johnson@itu.int
Tel: +41 22 730 5877;
mobile: +41 79 249 4868

Sarah Parkes

Chief, Media Relations and Public Information,
E-mail: sarah.parkes@itu.int
Tel: +41 22 730 6135;
mobile: +41 79 599 1439

23 September 2011 - ITU and the Broadband Commission for Digital Development

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 07:02:21 +0000

ITU and the UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development are proud to host the Broadband Leadership Summit on 24-25 October 2011, immediately before the opening of ITU TELECOM World 2011. The Broadband Leadership Summit will feature a series of eight Plenary Sessions bringing together top CEOs (including Cisco, Intel, Fujitsu, Ericsson and Alcatel Lucent), various Heads of State and Governments, the Heads of a number of international organizations (including UNESCO, the OECD and WIPO) and members of the ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Digital Development with other key players to discuss the issues facing today's global broadband industry.

Hot topics to be debated by panellists and speakers include the benefits of broadband for stimulating economic growth and jobs, business models that work in emerging markets, the evolution of online regulation, latest trends in social media and smart societies, the impact of the latest financial repercussions on financing the industry and how broadband can boost progress in achieving the MDGs. Watch this space for further announcements!

12 September 2011 - Increasing standards participation in the CIS region

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:45:08 +0000

ITU is organizing a Regional Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gap for the CIS Region on 7th October in Chisinau, Moldova back to back with the ITU Cross Regional Seminar on Broadband. The workshop and is being organized by ITU in cooperation with the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications of the Republic of Moldova.

Taking part in the standardization process for new technologies will accelerate the deployment of new networks and services bringing connectivity to cities and towns as well as remote areas. With next generation broadband technologies for example, standards work is lowering the capital cost of deployment in the network core. The main objective of this workshop is to examine key standardization activities on emerging technologies and actions that countries can take to bridge the standardization gap. Participation in standardization activities offers the opportunity for developing countries to jump several generations of technology. ITU will take into account the needs of these countries in producing its standards, and will seek to provide assistance in implementing them.

22 July 2011 - Tutorial on optical fibre and systems: Mexico

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:41:36 +0000

The 2nd ITU Tutorial on Optical Fibre Cables and Systems will take place at the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico City, Mexico from 19 to 30 September 2011.

The tutorial is based on the ITU-T handbook Optical fibres, cables and systems which offers a functional grouping of ITU standards (ITU-T Recommendations) on optical technology e.g. optical fibres and cables, physical optical interfaces, optical fibre terrestrial and submarine cable systems. The tutors are leading experts in the field from industry and either participated in the writing of the handbook or contributed to the development of the referenced standards. The event is aimed at engineers, technicians, technologists, mid-level management and regulators active in the implementation of optical-fibre-based systems.

The programme will provide an in-depth insight into the ITU-T Recommendations that have shaped the optical transport networks of the world. Some aspects of wireless communication will also be addressed in cooperation with the Development Sector of the ITU (ITU-D). Participants will gain a insight into how to design and implement projects choosing the most appropriate state-of-the-art equipment. In addition they will learn how to evaluate a power budget and the fundamental parameters to be taken into account in the preparation of technical and administrative specifications for a supply contract.

On Saturday, 24th September, a crash course on Optical fibres, cables and systems will also be held at the same venue. The target audience will be university students and/or specialized schools from Mexico and other Latin American countries. It is intended to provide participants a general overview of optical fibre standardization. In addition a supporting webinar will take place in the week starting 12 September details to follow.

22 July 2011 - Increasing standards participation in the Arab region

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:39:12 +0000

ITU is organizing a two-day Regional Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gap for the Arab Region on 26 September 2011, followed by an Interactive Training Session on a simulated study group meeting on 27 September 2011 and a half day ITU Academia Seminar on 28th September 2011.

The workshop is designed to provide concrete advice and best practices on participation by developing countries in global standards development and building nation standards readiness. It will also examine standards work on key new technologies. The Interactive Training Session will provide an interactive learning experience through a simulated Study Group meeting. It will be of greatest interest to those who will be, or who have begun, participating in international meetings and those who have some international experience with plans to move into leadership roles. The ITU Academia Seminar will present ITUs relationship with Academia and the benefit of ITU membership for academic and research institutions.

All events are held at the kind invitation of the Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Télécommunications (ARPT).

15 July 2011 - New country, new number - Country code 211 officially assigned to South Sudan

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:16:36 +0000

Geneva, 14 July, 2011 - ITU is pleased to announce that the worlds newest nation, the Republic of South Sudan, has today been assigned the international dialling code 211, following the countrys formal recognition as a UN Member State.

The fledgling South Sudan Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services welcomed the new code, which has particular resonance for South Sudans citizens as representing the year in which South Sudan gained independence (2011), the date of its referendum (which took place in the first day of the first month of 2011), and a symbol of good fortune. The number had been specifically requested following a special Council of Ministers Resolution.

Full press release

08 July 2011 - Conformity assessment highlighted in Fiji meeting

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:54:55 +0000

The ITU Regional Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gap (BSG) for Asia Pacific Region closed 5 July 2011 with agreement on the need for adaptable and scalable solutions to address common issues faced by island states in the Pacific. These include conformity assessment and certification; spectrum management best practice for mobile broadband and digital broadcasting, and national spectrum allocation tables and harmonized spectrum use; public protection and disaster relief systems.

In addition delegates agreed on the need for assessment of ICT standardization benefits and ways to prioritize involvement in global standards development activities. To this end a national/regional ICT standardization strategy and roadmap based on conceptual tools such as the standardization development ladder will be adapted for Pacific Island requirements and also applied to the radiocommunication spectrum and standards environment. Also under consideration is a capacity building programme for developing countries in the region focusing on implementation of standards for broadband, wireless and NGN targeting ICT regulatory authorities and operators

A number of measures have already been implemented by ITU to facilitate the participation of developing countries in ITU-T study group meetings. For instance, almost all ITU-T study groups are now using remote participation as part of their regular working methods. The number of Study Group leadership positions during the Study Period 2009-2012 has increased to four Chairmen and 47 Vice Chairmen from developing countries, including five Vice Chairs from least developed countries. In 2010, for the first time, participants from developing countries outnumbered participants from developed countries in study group meetings participation.

The workshop was organized in association with Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA) and the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) of the Republic of Korea with the generous support of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), Republic of Korea.

06 June 2011 - Bridging the Standardization Gap Regional Workshop in Fiji

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:54:21 +0000

ITU is organizing a Regional Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gap for the Asia-Pacific Region on 4-5 July 2011 and an Interactive Training Session and Standardization Tutorial on 6th July 2011. The event will be hosted by the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA) with the kind support of the Telecommunications Technology Association of the Republic of Korea (TTA) and the Korea Communications Commission, Republic of Korea. The Workshop and Interactive Training Session will be held back-to-back with the 4th APT Policy and Regulation Forum for Pacific from 6 to 8 July 2011.

The workshop is intended to provide concrete advice and best practices on participation by developing countries in global standards development and building national standards readiness. It will also examine standards work on key new technologies.

The Interactive Training Session and Standardization Tutorial on the second day will provide an interactive learning experience through a simulated Study Group meeting. It will be of greatest interest to those who will be, or who have begun, participating in international meetings and those who have some international experience with plans to move into leadership roles.

The event is intended for ICT standardization experts from the region, ICT companies, service providers, vendors, manufacturers, ICT regulators, national standards bodies and test labs.

For more information about the event see here.

12 May 2011 - Bridge the standardization gap in Guatemala

Thu, 12 May 2011 07:13:00 +0000

ITU will hold a Regional Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gap for the Americas Region in Guatemala on 6 June. It will be followed by an Interactive Training Session and Standardization Tutorial on 7 June. The event will be hosted by the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones de Guatemala.

The workshop is intended to provide concrete advice and best practices on participation by developing countries in global standards development and building national standards readiness. It will also examine standards work on key new technologies.

The Interactive Training Session and Standardization Tutorial on the second day will provide an interactive learning experience through a simulated Study Group meeting. It will be of greatest interest to those who will be, or who have begun, participating in international meetings and those who have some international experience with plans to move into leadership roles.

The event is intended for administrations and public institutions, ICT companies, service providers, vendors, manufacturers, ICT regulators, national standards bodies, test labs, certifiers, organizations from developing countries and civil society.
For more information about the event see here.

15 November 2010 - UNTV report for CNN: Kenya's Telemedicine

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:44:56 +0000

The gap in facilities between research hospitals in central Nairobi and clinics around the rest of Kenya is vast, but need not be unbridgeable. Reporting for CNN World View, UNTVs Andrew Martin explains how relatively simple, low-cost technology is making a difference to a remote rural clinic in Eastern Kenya.

07 October 2010 - Standardization tutorial, 16 December, Pune, India

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 23:04:54 +0000

An ITU tutorial on Standardization will follow this year's Kaleidoscope event − Beyond the Internet? − Innovations for future networks and services − Pune, India, 13 15 December 2010.

The event will be held at the same venue on 16 December 2010.

The tutorial will cover information on how standardization works as well as a simulation of a standards-setting meeting. Participants from academia and industry will gain practical and theoretical knowledge on international standardization. In interactive role plays, participants will learn the art of reaching consensus. More information on the tutorial is available at the Kaleidoscope web page (http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/uni/kaleidoscope/2010/tutorial.html).

The aim of Kaleidoscope conferences is to identify information and communication technologies (ICTs) for which the development of standards can turn innovations into successful products and services, but it is also an opportunity to share knowledge on international standardization processes, which becomes more and more important with the rapid evolution of ICTs.

During the Kaleidoscope conference two special sessions will also take place: Jules Vernes Corner and Standards Corner. Further information on these special sessions will shortly be available at the Kaleidoscope web page: www.itu-kaleidoscope.org/2010

19 January 2010 - Building standards capacity in the developing world

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:59:50 +0000

Measuring and Reducing the Standards Gap is a new report introducing the ITU-T's current research project on building standards capacity in the developing world.

The document authored by Dr. Laura DeNardis , Executive Director, Yale Information Society Project and Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School presents country case studies that answer questions such as; is there a national standards body; is there any participation in international standards development and what level of standards education is available? Based on these case studies it recommends actionable steps for improving national standards capacity in the developing world.

Inequality in national standards capability continues to be a contributive factor to the persistence of the digital divide between the developed and developing worlds and to diminished opportunities for economic development and technological innovation.

Bridging the standardization gap home: http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/gap/

Report

15 July 2009 - Bridging digital divide essential to climate change challenge

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:20:28 +0000

Achieving climate justice is in the interest of all countries and citizens. This was a conclusion of the recent ITU Symposium on ICTs and Climate Change, Quito, Ecuador, 8-10 July 2009, the first ITU Symposium on the topic in a developing country and the first to focus on the concerns of the Americas.

Participants agreed that global effort to combat climate change should not impede the economic and social growth of developing countries and that bridging the digital divide and bringing the benefits of ICTs to all citizens is fundamental to tackling climate change. They recognized that while Latin American and Caribbean countries are minor contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions they are often victims of the extreme weather events and other negative impacts of climate change.

Equitable access and ensuring connectivity to schools, rural communities and health facilities are vital to economic development and to making effective use of ICTs to combat climate change. Increased deployment of affordable broadband will help facilitate this participants agreed.

The conclusions of the symposium also acknowledged the growing problem of e-waste while highlighting the positive role of ICTs as enabling technologies to reduce GHG emissions in other sectors. Increased use of clean renewable energy sources and preservation of the jungles, savannah and oceans, the conclusion says, are key to the future and a real opportunity in Latin America.

Equitable solutions must be found so that the major contributors to GHG emissions cooperate with the countries that are suffering most from climatic impacts or those that are making efforts against deforestation, in particular through reduction of the digital divide and the environmental divide.

The Symposium was attended by 60 virtual as well as 450 physical attendees from 20 countries and was hosted by Centro Internacional de Investigación Científica en Telecomunicaciones, Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (CITIC) Ecuador. The Symposium was chaired by Ing. Jorge Glas Espinel, representing the President of the Republic of Ecuador, Economist Rafael Correa.

A meeting report containing a general summary of the event will be made available from the symposium website.

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29 June 2009 - Consultation on conformance and interoperability announced

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:19:57 +0000

ITU will hold a Consultation meeting to capture the views of all stakeholders with regards to Resolution 76: Studies related to conformance and interoperability testing, assistance to developing countries, and a possible future ITU mark programme.

Participants will learn how conformity assessment can be beneficial to all stakeholders, increasing the probability of interoperability, quality of standards and quality of service. Those wishing to submit contributions to the discussion should send them to tsbworkshops@itu.int by 11 July 2009.

2008s World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08) addressed conformance and interoperability testing resulting in the first Resolution on the topic. The aim is to have ITU-T Study Groups more actively involved in developing test suites in key areas of ICTs and to have ITU-Ts secretariat (TSB) assist developing countries in their capacity to conduct tests. This includes the planning and creation of their own test facilities.

More information and registration details here.

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28 May 2009 - Updated Background Paper on ICTs and Climate Change published

Thu, 28 May 2009 14:34:03 +0000

On the occasion of the third Symposium on ICTs and Climate Change, which will take place on 8-10 July 2009, in Quito, Ecuador, ITU has revised and published a background paper on this important issue.

The paper reflects recent work done in the three ITU Sectors, including the work of the Focus Group and the creation of an ITU-T Study Group on Environment and Climate Change, and addresses key issues in the Latin American region, such as deforestation and emergency communications.

The rise in the number of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes in the Caribbean, threats to low-lying areas from rising oceans are evidence of the impact of climate change on developing countries and in the Americas. Latin America is particularly impacted by deforestation, which, according to estimations, contributes nearly one-fifth of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

For developing countries, implementing climate change solutions raises questions of funding, financing and access to technology, and thus this updated background paper addresses these issues and presents examples of national plans and innovations in technologies to reduce emissions. The annex provides an inventory of work underway in ITU on climate change.

The background paper can be downloaded here.

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14 May 2009 - Accra workshop to focus on WTSA action

Thu, 14 May 2009 07:51:56 +0000

A two day Forum on Implementation of decisions of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly-08 (WTSA-08) will take place in Accra, Ghana, 16 to 17 June 2009.

The event hosted by the Ministry of Communications, Ghana will review WTSA-08 results from an African perspective and consider how to implement those Resolutions that are of interest to the region. Participants will share experiences in order to identify areas of cooperation and to establish priorities and an action plan to ensure that they gain most benefit from the WTSA-08 Resolutions.

Leading representatives from governments, regulators, industry and academia will join with operators and service providers from the African region. Key topics to be discussed include conformity and interoperability testing, IP-based networks, misappropriation of numbering resources, cybersecurity initiatives, IPv6 and CIRTs.

Other topics include environment and climate change, accessibility, measurement concerns related to human exposure to electromagnetic fields, and emergency communications.

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09 April 2009 - Optical technology standards guide available

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:14:51 +0000

ITU-T has published a Guide on the use of the ITU-T Recommendations related to Optical Technology. Currently available in PDF form here it is expected printed versions will be made available shortly. The publication of the guide is - in part - to meet the requirements of WTSA-08 Resolution 44 - Bridging the standardization gap between developing and developed countries.

The guide starts with a short but interesting history of optical technology noting that the capacity of optical systems has jumped by a factor of more than 10,000 over a period of 20 years. In the same time it also notes that the applications of optical technology have progressively moved from short distance links (a few tens of km) to very long distance links in backbone networks, completely replacing traditional copper cabling. In the last few years it charts the arrival of optical technology in access networks.

The practical part of the guide contains a functional grouping of Study Group 15 Recommendations on optical technology e.g. optical fibres and cables, physical optical interfaces, optical fibre submarine cable systems. An introduction to each category with more than one Recommendation outlines the subjects which are common to that category. For each Recommendation there is a short description of the purpose, the content and, in many cases, the evolution of the content in subsequent versions of Recommendations. There are also cross-references to other related Recommendations.

The main purpose of this Guide is to give to developing countries improved capability in the application of standards. It is also seen as benefiting the wider telecommunication industry, particularly manufacturers and operators, which could benefit from the greater involvement of developing countries in the making and application of standards. Experts also point out that the value of the guide could to a wider group of manufacturers and operators than those directly involved in optical technologies.

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12 February 2009 - Report finds that mobile operators are better placed to weather the economic storm

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:05:15 +0000

A new report from the ITU finds that in general, mobile operators are better placed to weather the economic storm. Mobile operators generally enjoy greater flexibility in terms of capex commitments, as capex commitments represent only 20-30% of their total cost base. Mobile operators have invested heavily in 3G networks, but the cost of incremental upgrades (e.g. to those based on high-speed packet access or HSPA) is comparatively low. Mobile operators can also undertake greater network-sharing to limit costs and boost gains in coverage, for only limited amounts of additional capital. ABI Research notes that growth rates in regional mobile capex may slow, but capex will probably not decline on a global basis.

In contrast, investment in NGN may be less discretionary for fixed-line operators, however, competing with new market entrants, capacity resellers and cable TV, as well as increasingly, mobile broadband. Universal service obligations may also prevent fixed carriers from reducing their capex commitments substantially. Several carriers such as AT&T have reported cuts of capex of between 10-15%, but industry analysts Informa find that operators' investment plans have not been 'severely altered' so far, with many operators acknowledging the importance of investment in ensuring that quality of services is maintained.

Read more in ITU's forthcoming report, "Confronting the Crisis: Its Impact on the ICT Industry", which will be published on Monday 16 February 2009.

11 February 2009 - Report finds that the most immediate impact of the financial crisis is on investment & financing

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:54:30 +0000

A new report from the ITU finds that the most immediate impact of the financial crisis on the global ICT industry is on telco investment and financing. A prolonged recession could potentially starve operators of the capital investment needed to upgrade their network infrastructure.

The report finds that investment funds are less readily available, while refinancing costs have rised sharply, with recent telco debt issuance in Europe being secured at spreads of up to 4.75% in late 2008, some 3-4% higher than the situation pre-crisis (with the exact rate depending on individual firms' debt ratings). Where bonds can be refinanced, it is clear that they are incurring higher interest costs. For example, Sprint Nextel recently renegotiated its debt from its original credit line of US$ 6 billion at LIBOR plus 0.75% for a new line of US$ 4 billion at LIBOR plus 4% (depending on the company's debt rating). In their industry strategy paper, "A defensive sector for defensive times", Deutsche Bank estimates that European incumbents alone have some EUR 21 billion of bonds matruing soon in 2009, with a further EUR 26 billion of other financial liabilities, which may need to be refinanced over the coming year.

Read more in ITU's forthcoming report, "Confronting the Crisis: Its Impact on the ICT Industry", which will be published on Monday 16 February 2009.

27 January 2009 - The Board of the "Digital Solidarity Fund" meets in Bamako: "World Digital Solidarity Day" to be celebrated on 17 May

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:48:23 +0000

Bamako's meeting on "Digital Solidarity for Education and Development" took place in Bamako, as a follow-up to the first digital solidarity conference held last November in Lyon. heads of state, government members, national representatives, international organizations and private sector companies participated in a fruitful discussion. Various intiatives were launched at the meeting, such as the "Digital education for all" programme, the "Sankoré" website and the celebration, under the umbrella of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), of the World Digital Solidarity Day on 17 May.

ITU was represented at the meeting by its Secretary-General, Dr Hamadoun I. Touré.

29 November 2008 - Global broadband subscribers exceeded 400 million in November 2008

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:01:47 +0000

TelecomWeb is reporting that the number of broadband subscribers in the world surpassed the 400 million mark in November 2008. Global broadband subscribers amounted to only 57,000 ten years ago in 1998, but are projected to exceed 680 million in another five years (2013), despite the current economic situation.

Source: Point Topic.

However, the geographical distribution of broadband subscribers is very concentrated. ITU monitors prices for fixed broadband access around the world and estimates that commercial fixed broadband access was available in some 181 countries in 2007. According to Point Topic, only forty countries account for some 98% of all global broadband subscribers presently.

Such an intense concentration of broadband subscribers (in mainly OECD countries, China and a few other countries) has strong implications for reshaping the digital divide - broadband technology offers opportunities for using advanced applications in enhanced Internet access, but Internet users in many countries may continue to be excluded from high-speed Internet access. ITU continues to monitor the development of the digital divide and is undertaking many projects to bring high-speed broadband Internet access to rural and underserved areas.

28 November 2008 - The Lyon Conference for Digital Solidarity asks ITU Secretary-General to forward the final declaration of the Conference to the WSIS + 3 meeting held in Hammamet this week.

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:47:06 +0000

The Lyon Conference for Digital Solidarity was held in Lyon on 24 November 2008 at the invitation of President Nicolas Sarkozy, on a proposal made by the President of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, and under the French presidency of the European Union. The Conference concluded with a final declaration recalling the importance of bridging the digital divide to help achieving the UN Millenium Development Goals. This final declaration asks the ITU Secretary-General to forward the document to the WSIS + 3 meeting taking place in Hammamet, Tunisia, on 27-28 November 2008.

Final Declaration for Digital Solidarity (107 KB)

04 November 2008 - IEEE Comms Mag features ITU

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:58:34 +0000

The latest issue of IEEE Communications Magazine features a number of articles on ITU-T.

As well as a general article on the challenges faced by ITU-T, more detailed pieces focus on working methods, initiatives on climate change, audio coding, optical transport and bridging the standardization gap.

An electronic version of the publication can be seen here.

27 October 2008 - Egyptian Government launches new ICT stats portal

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:03:11 +0000

The Egyptian Government launched a new ICT portal on 23 October 2008 as a collective effort between Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) and its affiliates, the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). The portal covers many different sectors, including telecommunication infrastructure, households, the business sector, the Governmental sector, public access points (IT clubs and Internet cafes) and the education sector.

The project builds a database within MCIT for ICT indicators which will help in measuring and analyzing the information society in Egypt, according to international standards and analysis. It aims to build capacity in the area of ICT indicators, monitor ICT usage in Egypt within different sectors and across different geographic regions. Providing decision-makers with early, accurate ICT indicators will help them in setting policies and strategies related to the ICT sector.

The portal uses the categories of ICT indicators as defined by the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, of which ITU is a founding member.

23 October 2008 - Technology leaders call for clarity in standards landscape, green house gas commitment

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:26:46 +0000

Geneva, 21 October 2008 Yesterday, the first-ever Global Standards Symposium closed in Johannesburg, South Africa with broad agreement from industry and standards bodies on the need to take aggressive action to streamline standards work and end confusion and duplication.

Opening the event, ITU standards chief Malcolm Johnson said: Confusion and duplication cannot serve the purposes of anyone consumer, manufacturer, service provider, rich or poor country. Clarity, and efficiency must be brought to bear in this most important of industrial sectors.

Industry and standards leaders argued that the bewildering array of standards bodies that exists today is costly and inefficient. It is estimated that over 300 ICT standards bodies exist. GSS delegates agreed that keeping track of them was alone a difficult enough task. Better coordination at an international level is needed between industry and standards developing organizations (SDOs) to ensure that standardization needs are met quickly and efficiently. Steps are being planned to establish a direct line of communication between technology leaders and ITUs standardization arm, to ensure that emerging needs are addressed in the most efficient manner and the most appropriate place. This is ITUs role, Johnson said, as the worlds pre-eminent ICT standards body.

ITU Secretary General, Dr Hamadoun Touré underlined the importance of standards in times of financial crisis: Standards are a proven tool in terms of economic development, he said in his opening speech. The World Trade Organization (WTO) trade report of 2005 underlines the important benefits that standards can deliver standards may have a significant effect on limiting the undesirable outcomes of market failure. And, the work of ITU and other bodies in the development of global standards for ICTs and telecoms has helped the smoother, more economical introduction of new technologies.

Other topics tackled at the Global Standards Symposium in Johannesburg were ICTs and climate change, increasing developing country participation in the standardization process, and accessibility to ICTs for people with disabilities.

Delegates were called on to set an example by committing to specific programs to limit and reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to help ensure that the expansion of the global communications network is done in an environmentally friendly manner. The importance of the work of the ITU Focus Group on Climate Change was recognized; in particular the need for a standardized approach to measuring the impact of ICTs on the reduction of GHG emissions.

Bridging the standardization gap is the term ITU uses to describe its efforts to increase developing country participation in the standards making process. Recent efforts by the ITU-T were applauded, for example holding five regional forums in 2008, establishing a voluntary fund to be used for workshops and meetings in developing countries, fellowships, remote participation, surveys and study programmes. It was recognized that the increased involvement of developing countries in standardization work provides an opportunity to better consider their needs in developing new standards and will help to meet the traditional objective of ITU in continuing to ensure global interoperability of communications.

ITU was also applauded for its efforts so far in the arena of accessibility to ICTs for persons with disabilities and encouraged to continue and increase efforts in producing standards that support the ICT needs of persons with disabilities. Work to develop an on-line toolkit that will serve as a global electronic repository of policies and strategies and as a platform for sharing experiences on best practices on ICT accessibility was announced.

The GSS took place one day before the start of ITUs World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08) which is a quadrennial event where ITU members decide on the direction of ITUs standardization work for the next four years. The inaugural GSS gathered Ministers and Ambassadors, senior executives from the private sector and lead officials from other standards bodies. A report from the GSS will be submitted to WTSA-08 and high on its agenda there are likely to be topics such as those discussed at the GSS but also cybersecurity, IPTV, and some Internet related issues. A communiqué will also be issued following WTSA-08.

21 October 2008 - Insights into growth in mobile transmission capacity from CMO of Harris Stratex

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:03:52 +0000

BNAmericas summarizes insights from an interview with Shaun McFall, Harris Stratex Networks' Chief Marketing Officer. According to McFall, IP mobile backhaul is growing 20% worldwide annually in the most developed markets, due to the rising penetration of smartphones and growing use of data. Data transport over mobile networks grew four times in 2007 and is projected to grow another four times this year: "Growth in demand for capacity runs all the way from the core network to the base station. When they get to radio access networks, they're going to start running into difficulties because these networks were not designed for that capacity," McFall said. "The modernization of those networks is what we see as our opportunity; to migrate it to Ethernet or allow [gradual migration] so they can still keep the legacy TDM network on the air for 5-10 yrs."

"Future mobile networks some years from now will probably eventually be all Ethernet and between now and then they will be increasingly a mix of Ethernet and TDM. The latest generation of microwave products are designed to transport both," he added.

21 October 2008 - FibroLAN unveils new 10 Gigabit Ethernet NTU

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:55:29 +0000

Telecom Web is reporting that fiber-optic access specialist FibroLAN has unveiled a new 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) Local Area Network (LAN) Network Termination Unit (NTU) extender/demarcation device that it claims is an industry first.
The new offering, designated the GA10, is aimed at such very large bandwidth users as Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) or very large enterprise users. FibroLAN, based in Yoqneam, Israel, but with U.S. headquarters in Rochelle Park, N.J., says its new product fills three clear market niches:
- As an NTU, the GA10 terminates a 10 GbE service to very large users, whilst it can handle lower rates as well.
- For wholesale operations, the GA10 can be used as a clear demarcation device between primary carriers and their partners.
- The GA10 can be used to extend transmission distances and/or to change wavelengths - for example, several GA10s can be cascaded to extend transmission well-beyond the current 80 kilometer limit for 10 GbE without reverting to more expensive technologies.

In addition, when combined with its recently introduced extended wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) line, up to ten 10 GbE services can be transmitted concurrently over a fiber pair. Such technology offers the business segment multiple new applications, but also offers exciting new prospects for helping bridge the digital divide.

16 October 2008 - What living in a Hyperconnected world means - juggling devices & applications

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:29:16 +0000

Maravedis is reporting that, according to a recent survey by Nortel (based on a survey of 2,400 people), there is a growing trend towards hyperconnectivity: 16% of Internet users live a hyperconnected life, meaning they regularly use more than 7 devices and more than 9 applications; 36% are increasingly connected, meaning they use 4 devices and 9 applications; 20% are passive online users, and 28% are not very connected. Todays users want networks that support voice services, while entertainment and media applications are also increasingly popular.

16 October 2008 - Vodacom SA improves its 3G offering with Alcatel as partner

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:14:39 +0000

Vodacom South Africa, the wireless carrier owned 50/50 by Telkom SA and the Vodafone Group, has given Alcatel-Lucent a nearly $30 million contract to design, build and deploy an upgrade of its existing 3G network. Vodacom is a Pan-African carrier providing GSM service to more than 34 million customers in South Africa, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho and Mozambique. Vodacom South Africa launched its 3G network in December 2004, its 3G HSDPA network in March 2006 and its 3G HSDPA 3.6 with HSUPA network this past February. Vodacom's South African GSM and 3G networks cover more than 98 percent of the population.

On commercial launch, Vodacom says the network modernization project will boost the capacity and coverage of Vodacoms network and will enable the carrier to offer its customers a wide range of advanced next-generation mobile broadband services in future. The enhanced 3G wireless network, which will be based on Alcatel-Lucent UMTS and HSDPA/HSUPA technologies, will improve Vodacoms network voice-quality and data-transmission speeds while further strengthening indoor coverage in urban areas.

15 October 2008 - Emerging markets accounted for 60% of WiMAX subscribers in 2007

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:49:15 +0000

WiMAX has now seen the light of day in 305 deployments across 118 countries, according to the WiMAX Forums count in June 2008. In an example of technological leapfrogging, emerging markets, short on broadband offerings, accounted for more than 60% of subscribers on WiMAX networks globally in 2007.

Pyramid Research has just published a report analysing the deployment of commercial WiMAX networks and operators' market strategies in emerging economies. The report examines the competitive dynamics, end-user demand patterns and market potential of WiMAX, from adoption rates to spectrum licensing trends.

09 October 2008 - China overtakes USA to become the world's Broadband Number One

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:34:19 +0000

UK consultancy Point Topic is reporting that China and the US are currently neck and neck in terms of their absolute numbers of broadband subscribers, but that, at current growth rates, China is set to forge ahead and overtake the US to become the world's largest broadband market. Point Topic CEO, Oliver Johnson, calls it "a major milestone for China", noting that launching people into space is spectacular, but having the biggest broadband market down here on earth means a lot more for building a modern, hi-tech economy.

When broadband first surged ahead in China, some observers predicted that it would overtake the USA in 2006. But then, broadband growth in China levelled off, just as it speeded up in the USA. For 18 months, the two countries ran in parallel, with similar additions in each quarter. Then, trends diverged sharply in 2008. In the USA, new broadband additions fell from 3.4 million in Q4 of 2007 to barely 1.1 million in Q2 of 2008, while in China, new broadband lines suddenly rose from 3.5 million to 5.0 million over the same period. By the end of June, China was home to 76.0 million broadband connections, only 900,000 fewer than the US. This gap was smaller than the total number that China added in July alone, at some 1.14 million according to Chinese official figures.

Its not so surprising that the US has been overtaken in absolute numbers after all, China has more than three times as many homes and people, Johnson points out. But the US has also fallen behind the leading European and Asian countries in percentage take-up of broadband".

06 October 2008 - Drivers of Broadband in Latin America

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:48:16 +0000

As reported by BN Americas, the incoming Vice President of Sales & Customer Services Joe Manuele of Actelis, the Californian-based Ethernet over copper provider, has observed that they are seeing a big boom in broadband in Latin America driven by triple play, 3G and web 2.0 applications. Many operators are moving away from legacy-based ATM DSLAMs (network devices that receive signals from DSL lines and backhaul them to a central office) towards new IP DSLAMs. Actelis' technology uses advanced digital techniques to provide backhaul from DSLAMs to the central office with Ethernet quality using existing legacy copper infrastructure, rather than fiber. Operators can benefit as they can meet growing demand for bandwidth from 3G services, without having to invest in fiber.

"Everyone is really spooked about the cost of oil and the cost of travel", Manuele observed. "All these new services like teleconferencing and telepresence over IP require very high speeds and symmetrical traffic, which have to be bidirectional. So we're launching services with carriers that are offering web 2.0 applications using [existing] copper infrastructure. Actelis' "Ethernet bonding capabilities over copper" allow carriers to reach speeds of up to 100Mbps for symmetrical data transport, making bandwidth hungry applications - such as telepresence - possible over copper. Actelis is backhauling DSL and WiMax traffic.

Such technology could boost the use of teleconferencing and telepresence over existing infrastructure, reducing the need for business travel and hence the carbon footprint of executive travel. For more information, see here.

03 October 2008 - Different business strategies for WiMAX deployments

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 07:00:18 +0000

Business News Americas conducted an insightful interview with Aptilo Networks' CEO Torbjorn Ward. Aptilo Networks, a Swedish vendor of integrated service management and access control solutions for WiMAX networks, is witnessing considerable growth in WiMAX markets in the Caribbean and South American regions.

Speaking from the WiMAX World conference in Chicago earlier this week, Ward noted that the business case for WiMAX in developing markets is very different to that in developed markets. In developing nations, wireless infrastructure is deployed to provide voice and Internet coverage to remote areas lacking fixed-line infrastructure. While mobile penetration is often high, broadband penetration is typically very low. In developed markets, WiMAX operators are pushing the concept of advanced 4G connectivity.

On the debate about whether WiMAX or LTE will prove more dominant, Ward observed "this not a horse race in which there is going to be a winner or loser". He noted that there are a variety of technologies competing to provide fixed broadband to the home (such as DSL over copper or fiber and cable). Ward suggested that LTE is the obvious migration path for mobile operators, while WiMAX may appeal more to greenfield operators. "Who is winning [between cable or wireline operators]? If you are a cable operator you can only work with cable and if you're a wireline operator you can only work with DSL," Ward said. "My point is that's exactly the same thing when it comes to WiMax and GSM and LTE. If you're a GSM operator, you can offer that over mobile broadband and later LTE. If you're not a GSM license holder, you can offer WiMAX".

Ward quoted Ron Resnick, president of the WiMAX Forum, as stating that there are 1,700 WiMAX licenses in the process of being issued worldwide, in addition to the 300-400 WiMAX operators already active today.

For more information, please see here.

25 September 2008 - China is pursuing a multi-pronged approach to 3G

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:14:46 +0000

China is pursuing a multi-technology approach to 3G, according to Telecom Web. Telecom Web is reporting that Chinese authorities are in the process of awarding several licenses for 3G, ending years of speculation about China's 3G licensing process.

China Mobile, with 392 million of China's 583.5 million mobile subscribers, is in line to get a 3G license requiring it to use China's home-grown TD-SCDMA. China Telecom, the largest fixed-line operator with 216 million customers, bought China Unicom's CDMA network (which currently has 43 million customers) and merged with China Satellite Communications Corp. The company has been awarded a 3G license for CDMA 1x EV-DO. Meanwhile, China Unicom, which has 125.4 million GSM subscribers and is now without its CDMA network (which was merged with Netcom, China's Number Two fixed-line provider) is getting a 3G license for WCDMA. Licenses are being awarded for 300 Chinese cities.

For more information, see here.

25 September 2008 - Point Topic Survey - mobile broadband has finally overtaken WiFi as the most popular mobile Internet access

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:04:42 +0000

The UK research firm Point Topic report in the results of their latest survey that mobile phone networks have finally overtaken WiFi hotspots as UK consumers' most popular way of accessing the Internet, whilst on the move. Point Topics recent survey of mobile broadband users shows that the UK mobile phone companies have managed to grow their market share to 47% of users accessing the Internet away from home or work, compared with 42% who prefer WiFi hotspots. One year earlier, the ratio was 40:30 in favour of WiFi.

Point Topic suggest that a year of heavy marketing of mobile broadband in the intensely competitive market is the main reason for the growth inmobile broadband's popularity, with five operators fighting for market share. Their research suggested that 26% or a quarter of those who use a mobile network to access the Internet are customers of O2, while Orange and Vodafone each take about a fifth or 20% of the market. T-Mobile and 3 have 14% and 12% respectively.

Mobile operators have a big size advantage over the WiFi service providers, who are relatively small and fragmented. But it is a lot cheaper to send data over WiFi and, unlike the mobile networks, WiFi has no problems with capacity. Point Topic predicts that "dual-mode operation, with mobile broadband users defaulting to WiFi where its available, will be the way of the future".

For more information, see here.

25 September 2008 - Worldwide mobile cellular subscribers to reach 4 billion mark late 2008

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:14:29 +0000

ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré announced in New York that worldwide mobile cellular subscribers are likely to reach the 4 billion mark before the end of this year.

Dr Touré was speaking at the high-level event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in New York, where he also participated in UN Private Sector Forums addressing the global food crisis and the role of technological innovation in meeting the MDGs.

The MDGs were adopted following the United Nations Millennium Declaration by UN Member states in 2000, representing an international commitment to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat epidemics such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, ensure environmental sustainability, and develop a global partnership for development that would include making available the benefits of information and communication technologies. ICTs have been recognized as an important tool to achieve the MDGs.

Since the turn of the century, the growth of mobile cellular subscribers has been impressive, with year-on-year growth averaging 24 per cent between 2000 and 2008. While in 2000, mobile penetration stood at only 12 per cent, it surpassed the 50 per cent mark by early 2008. It is estimated to reach about 61 per cent by the end of 2008.

"The fact that 4 billion subscribers have been registered worldwide indicates that it is technically feasible to connect the world to the benefits of ICT and that it is a viable business opportunity," said Dr Touré. "Clearly, ICTs have the potential to act as catalysts to achieve the 2015 targets of the MDGs." [More...]

ICT statistics from ITU

13 September 2008 - ITU TELECOM Asia 2008 - Interview with ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun I. Toure

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 07:22:32 +0000

ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun I. Touré is interviewed by Tony Poulos from TelecomTV on the theme of ITU Telecom Asia 2008: New Generation, New Values.

Dr Touré explains how Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), being the tools for all other sectors of economy, are key to achieving United Nations Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Other subjects such as climate change and cybersecurity are also discussed in the course of the interview. [Full video interview...]

ITU TELECOM Asia 2008

01 September 2008 - ITU's Asia-Pacific Telecommunication and ICT Indicators Report focuses on broadband connectivity: Too much or too little?

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:58:47 +0000

Asia-Pacific region leads high-speed Internet connectivity, but wide divide prevails.

ITU launched its key Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Report for the Asia-Pacific region at ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008, which got under way today in Bangkok, Thailand. The Report focuses on broadband connectivity as a vehicle for content to drive development and build a knowledge-based information society.

While some Asia-Pacific economies are world leaders in information and communication technologies (ICT) where broadband access is ultra-high speed, affordable and close to ubiquitous, in most of the region's poorer countries Internet access remains limited and predominantly low-speed. The Report finds evidence that ICTs and broadband uptake foster growth and development, but the question remains as to the optimal speed that should be targeted in view of limited resources.

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunication/ICT Indicators 2008 Report is an invaluable information tool to inform and guide policy-makers, investors, analysts and other observers of the region's telecommunications landscape. It contains an extensive overview of key sector developments, and includes a number of recommendations to sustain growth and deepen access to ICTs in the region. [More...]

28 August 2008 - ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008 - Youth Forum participants to get free laptops: One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) donates 100 computers to ITU

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:53:12 +0000

Young participants at ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand are set to receive free laptops at the opening of the Youth Forum on 31 August.

The gift of the computers is part of ITU's initiative to promote affordable devices to increase access to ICT. ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré said, "ITU is committed to connecting the world. And to achieve this goal, affordable devices have to be made available for people everywhere to access the benefits of a knowledge-based Information Society." [More...]

30 July 2008 - ITU Secretary-General at the 24th Universal Postal Congress: ITU and UPU have long worked towards the ideal of universal access

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:04:33 +0000

Extract from Dr Touré's address: ... ITU and UPU have long worked towards the ideal of universal access. Now, at a time when the digitalization of our industries is rapidly changing the communication landscape, we are still working towards this ideal.

The goal of universal access was the reason for ITUs Connect Africa initiative, launched at a high-level Summit in Kigali last October. While great gains have been made in the African continent in recent years, there remains much to do if we want to eliminate the digital divide. Bringing connectivity to every region in Africa requires mobilizing all possible human, technical and financial resources both public and private. At the same time, Connect Africa has demonstrated that such mobilization of resources can create exciting business and investment opportunities.

UPU, of course, has had its own role to play in this process. As has been so often the case in the history of our two organizations, we again find ourselves not only standing side-by-side, but working actively together. Let me give you 3 examples... [Full speech]

13 July 2008 - ITU Secretary-General participates in CANTO's 24th Annual Telecommunications Conference and Trade Exhibition on Connect the Caribbean

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:19:10 +0000

The Connect the Caribbean event was hosted by the National Telecommunications Provider, Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and was attended by well over 680 delegates, ten Ministers of Government from around the region and other invited guests from The Bahamas. The theme of this years event was CANTO"- Caribbean Unity through Connectivity and was centered on the Connect the Caribbean (CTC) Initiative of CANTO. The Connect the Caribbean Initiative is the Caribbeans response to the Connect the World Initiative, consistent with the framework of Connect the World project of the ITU. The project will function as a partnership to mobilize the human, financial and technical resources required to bridge major gaps in ICT infrastructure development, enabling a harmonized policy framework and developing relevant and affordable services and applications.

09 July 2008 - ITU and Servei de Telecomunicacions d'Andorra join forces to connect least developed countries and Small Island Developing States

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:47:34 +0000

The International Telecommunication Union and Andorra's telecommunications operator, Servei de Telecomunicacions d'Andorra (STA), have signed a non-exclusive partnership cooperation agreement to help boost access to telecommunication and information and communication technology (ICT) services in least developed countries and Small Island Developing States. In particular, the two parties will work together to develop and implement projects that aim to improve rural or outer island communication infrastructure; provide basic telecommunications, as well as high-speed Internet services; strengthen local capacity in information technology skills; and enhance ICT capacity, especially for emergency and disaster preparedness and management. [More...]

02 July 2008 - Effective regulatory framework to spur investment in Africa - African ICT regulators and policy makers meet in Dakar

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:51:33 +0000

African regulators and policy makers met in Dakar, Senegal to address the challenges of connecting Africa to information and communication technologies (ICT). Achieving connectivity is seen as a catalyst for achieving the broader targets of the Millennium Development Goals.

The ninthForum on Telecommunication/ICT Regulation and Partnership in Africa was held 4-6 June 2008 in the context of the Connect Africa Summit, which met in Kigali, Rwanda last October.

Opening the Forum, Mr Habib Sy, Minister for Infrastructures, Land Transport, Telecommunications and ICT of Senegal emphasized the importance of establishing a regulatory framework to build >a modern and successful Africa perfectly integrated in the information society.

ITU was represented by Mr Yury Grin, Deputy Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau. He highlighted ITUs role as a facilitator in supporting African countries to establish effective regulatory frameworks. He said the creation of an enabling environment would foster investment and stimulate growth in the ICT sector.

Over 140 delegates from 43 countries attended the Forum. [More...]

21 May 2008 - Regional Development Forum for the Americas

Wed, 21 May 2008 13:01:30 +0000

The Regional Development Forum for the Americas Region closed 20 May 2008, in Brasilia, Brazil . The Forum, was jointly organized by ITU-T and ITU-D, in cooperation with Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), and hosted by ANATEL, Brazil.

More than 200 participants attended, from 17 countries in North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean.

At the opening ceremony, the chairman, H.E. Ambassador Ronaldo Sardenberg, President of Anatel, Brazil , confirmed the Anatels interest in increasing its cooperation with ITU and other regulatory agencies . He stressed the importance of the Forum in terms of preparing for WTSA-08 and discussing the standardization gap. He pointed out that the capacity to participate in the standardization process is of fundamental importance to decrease this standardization gap between developed and developing countries.

In his speech Mr. Clovis Baptista, Executive Secretary of CITEL underlined the great impact that the information society has on society. The information society responds to societys needs and helps people build on progress, he said. Baptista also reported an increase in the number of available services within the Americas region. A universal and suitable infrastructure is one of the objectives necessary to accelerate the process of American integration he said.

Director of ITUs Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB), Malcolm Johnson, thanked the Ambassador for hosting the event and the cooperation of CITEL. He expressed his appreciation to countries in the Americas for their active support of ITUs activities, especially its standardization work. He highlighted the importance of standards for international communications and global trade. Globalisation requires global standards, and a global standards body like ITU clearly has an increasing role to play, he said.

In his speech, Johnson also raised the serious problem of cost of participation, especially in meetings in Geneva, as well as the cost of membership, particularly for small start-up companies in developing countries. He said that there had been attempts to overcome these difficulties, and that the issues would be hot topics at the upcoming World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08). Johnson said that he had long encouraged members to host meetings in the regions, and had recently established a fund to assist hosts with the cost of doing so, as well as for providing fellowships to attend the meetings. He also mentioned the invitation to hold an NGN Global Standards Initiative (GSI) meeting in the Americas region in September 2009. Moreover, he added that ITU-T has also been trialling new collaboration tools which will allow remote participation in ITU-T meetings.

07 May 2008 - ICT giants contribute to bridging the standardization gap

Wed, 07 May 2008 12:10:15 +0000

Nokia Siemens Networks, Microsoft and Cisco have contributed over USD 125,000 between them to establish an ITU fund to bridge the standardization gap between developed and developing countries.

ITU recently announced the fund that would be used to support forums , tutorials and workshops, participation of delegates from least developed countries in meetings, the hosting of meetings in developing countries, surveys and study programmes.

Bridging the standardization gap means allowing easier participation in the standards development process which in turn allows developing countries to profit from access to new technology development and ensures that their needs are taken into account in the development of standards.

Rajiv Kapoor, Director Carrier Standards and Architectures, Cisco Systems, Cisco: As a technology leader, Cisco is a longtime supporter of ITU activities in many fields and especially of projects aimed at bridging the digital divide. Increasing developing country participation in the standards making process is not a short term fix. It will give developing countries a voice in the development of next generation ICTs and sow the seeds of a truly equitable information society.

Tom Robertson, General Manager for Interoperability and Standards at Microsoft: Technical standards play a critical role in defining the technical and economic landscape around the world. All communities affected by standards should have a voice in their creation. We are strong supporters of bridging the standardization gap between developed and developing countries. The ITU fund represents important efforts being made to ensure that all countries have the opportunity to contribute to standards development. We look forward to supporting the ITU's efforts to resolve disparities and bring the potential of technology development to all communities.

Dirk Weiler, Vice President Standards and Fora at Siemens Information and Communication Mobile, Nokia Siemens Networks: Technology is a way for the poor of the world to break free from poverty. We have identified participation in the standards making process as an important way to facilitate digital inclusion. The problem is that in the past developing countries have lacked the resources to access, implement and contribute to standards. This new initiative goes a long way to addressing the problem. We look forward to working with ITU on its continuing efforts to bridge the digital divide.

Companies interested in making a contribution to the fund should contact Thierry Perewostchikow (thierry.perewostchikow[a]itu.int). The relevant Circular Letter can be found here.

07 May 2008 - Regional meetings to prepare for WTSA

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:28:47 +0000

Preparatory meetings for the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08) will take place in Brazil , Ghana , Uzbekistan , Syria and Viet Nam during the months leading up to the event in October. Alongside each event a Regional Development Forum addressing the standardization gap between developed and developing countries will be held.

WTSA is the quadrennial event that defines the future direction for the ITUs Standardization Sector (ITU-T).

Regional organizations APT, ATU, Arab Group, CEPT, CITEL, RCC will host the meetings aiming to coordinate regional views on issues considered to be of particular relevance to each area, and develop common regional proposals for submission to WTSA-08.

The Regional Forums are aimed at encouraging greater understanding of, and participation in, the work of ITU-T. They will explain the status of the current hot topics under discussion in ITU-T, and how to become involved in ITU-T activities in order to champion the interests of each region in the development of international ICT standards.

For details see here.

19 March 2008 - It's good to collaborate

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:51:32 +0000

Increase productivity, save time and money while reducing your companys carbon footprint; this is the ambitious sales pitch for a new family of tools that promise to offer the 3Cs - communication, collaboration and coordination - without the requirement for physical travel. For ITU-T, whose basic mission is to encourage collaborative work among a global membership on the development and adoption of international standards, remote collaboration is a daily necessity.

A new report, the fifth in a series of ITU-T Technology Watch Briefing Reports, describes how Remote Collaboration Tools can facilitate collaboration with colleagues, and support businesses in overcoming the geographical limitations of everyday work. Remote collaboration tools can be used alongside, or integrated with, traditional office applications (such as e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets) or as an enabler of collaboration, communication and coordination. Using online meetings, collaboration that might not have occurred otherwise (as a consequence of tight schedules, long distances, or the high cost of business travel), may now take place.

For developing countries, remote collaboration tools can thus be seen as a helpful instrument in overcoming the digital divide and for Bridging the Standardization Gap, an ITU initiative to facilitate the participation of developing countries in the standards development process.

Furthermore, replacing long-distance travel by online meetings makes remote collaboration tools a clean, green technology, which is particularly important in the context of current global concerns over climate change. In 2007, ITU-T organized and provided logistical and secretariat support for some 85 meetings/workshops, representing a total of 339 meeting days, as well as numerous smaller informal meetings, such as rapporteur groups of steering committees. Holding even a small number of those meetings online would reduce travel and therefore have a significant impact on ITU-Ts carbon footprint.

Two upcoming ITU Symposia on ICTs and Climate Change (April 15-16 in Kyoto, Japan, co-organized and hosted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and 17-18 June 2008 in London, supported and hosted by BT) will be available as a webinar in order that remote participants can see and hear presentations from wherever they are in the world. Provision will also be made for remote participants to submit comments and questions.

Download Technology Watch report on Remote Collaboration Tools

04 February 2008 - WTSA-08 a first for Africa

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:09:45 +0000

The quadrennial event that defines the future direction for the ITUs Standardization Sector (ITU-T) the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) will take place for the first time in Africa in 2008. It will also be the first chaired by a woman (Ms Lyndall Shope-Mafole, Director-General of the South African Department of Communications), and for the first time is preceded by a Global Standards Symposium (GSS). WTSA-08 will be held 21 - 30 October 2008, at the Emperors Palace, Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.

An official Circular letter has been issued encouraging Member States and ITU-T Sector Members to participate in discussions on the future structure of the Sector: the study groups (including regional tariff groups under Study Group 3); and the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG). WTSA-08 will also be unique in that the term limit for chairmanships agreed at the WTSA-2000 will apply for the first time and many of the current chairmen and vice-chairmen will retire. Although this will mean the loss of much experience, it does offer the opportunity to consider a major restructuring of the Sector. Member States and ITU-T Sector Members are therefore advised to await the outcome of the next TSAG meeting in July, when a new structure for the Sector should be clearer, before submitting candidatures for chairmen or vice-chairmen.

The Global Standards Symposium (GSS) will be held at the same venue on 20 October 2008. It will see leading figures in the telecom/ICT field, both from government and the industry, give their vision of the future, and suggest ways of increasing the involvement of developing countries in the development and implementation of standards (bridging the standardization gap). Additionally the event will examine global ICT standards challenges, such as accessibility, climate change and collaboration among standards development organisations (SDOs). Although not formally a part of the WTSA-08, the GSS will provide a report to the WTSA for information and action as appropriate, giving participants a unique opportunity to provide input to the event that decides the future direction for ITU-T.

08 October 2007 - Importance of standards for developing world highlighted at Rwanda event

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:56:39 +0000

The government of Rwanda generously hosted ITUs first ever global Forum on Bridging the ICT standardization and development gap between developed and developing countries, in Kigali, Rwanda, 2-4 October. Participants welcomed the recent establishment of a special fund for voluntary contributions from world governments and industry to address the issue.

The ICT standardization gap refers to the shortage of human resources in developing countries, relative to developed ones, in terms of being able to participate effectively in the standards-making and implementation process. Standards are an essential tool in bridging the digital divide, in reducing costs, and bringing vital aid to developing countries in building their infrastructure and encouraging economic development.

Over 160 participants from 38 countries took part in the meeting, with several countries being represented at government Minister or company CEO level. The conclusions of the Forum, outlining the importance of addressing the standardization gap, will be provided as input to the upcoming Connect Africa summit to be held in Kigali, 29-30 October.

The Forum was formally opened by H.E. Albert Butare, Minister of State in charge of Energy and Communications. He drew attention to the countrys National Information and Communications Infrastructure (NICI) Plan where the aim is to focus on the benefits of ICTs for national development and prosperity so that by 2020 Rwanda will have achieved middle-income status as a knowledge-based economy. The Minister welcomed the support being given by ITU and the international community in helping Rwanda to achieve its goals.

Mr. Malcolm Johnson, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, speaking in Kigali at the opening of the Forum, said: The significance of the standardization gap is that it contributes to the persistence of the wider digital divide in ICTs. That is because one of the underlying causes of the digital divide is unequal access to technology and the ability to implement and use that technology. The process of technology transfer and implementation will happen much faster when African engineers can participate in standards development, particularly at the requirements-gathering stage, and are familiar with the relevant standards.

Meeting participants agreed that a sustained commitment to raising standards awareness and to capacity-building is of particular importance and the meeting called on the ITU to step up its efforts, welcoming ITUs organisation of a Global Standardization Symposium to address the issue. This will be held on 20 October 2008 just ahead of the next World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08), planned for South Africa.

A chairmans report from the Forum is available online as well as a full set of presentations: here.

27 September 2007 - Millennium Goal @ Home - Volunteer computing for malaria control

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:30:44 +0000

A group of young African researchers presented their project MalariaControl during the Global Forum on Youth and ICT for Development (Geneva 24-26 September 2007), co-hosted by the Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) and ITU.

MalariaControl, is a partnership comprising the Swiss Tropical Institute, the University of Geneva, the European Organization for Nuclear Research and the NGOs International Conference Volunteers and Informaticiens sans Frontières. Using Volunteer Computing (VC) it develops simulation models of transmission dynamics and health effects of malaria. The models represent an important tool for malaria control - optimal strategies for new vaccines or chemotherapy can be determined.

VC is used because the simulation of the full range of transmission patterns relevant for malaria control is complex and extremely computer intensive. The approach was popularised in 1999 with the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence: SETI@home.

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) plays a key role in reaching Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs were agreed at the Millennium Summit (New York, 6-8 September 2000), where 192 United Nations Member States and all the worlds leading development institutions agreed to try to achieve the - eight - goals by the target date of 2015. The goals range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education.

In VC, a type of distributed computing, software clients installed on privately owned computers around the world perform calculations to progress in complex research fields. Home computers are idle most of the time. Owners donate their computer's idle CPU time, memory and network connection for distributed research. VC contains aspects of Grid Computing, see the three point checklist by scientist Ian Foster (PDF).

The open-source software client for VC, called BOINC (Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing), can be downloaded for various computer platforms.

VC has also been discussed as a tool to carry out research on environmental phenomena and disaster prevention.

04 June 2007 - ITU-T expert group to examine International Telecommunication Regulations

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:52:08 +0000

ITU-T is establishing an ''Expert Group'' which will review the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs).

The ITRs are an international treaty whose purpose is to promote the development of telecommunication services and their most efficient operation while harmonizing the development of facilities for worldwide telecommunications.

The ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) was requested by the Plenipotentiary Conference of 2006 to start the review process of the ITRs, which was last updated in 1988. The review is considered appropriate in light of the changing ICT environment characterized by convergence of telecoms, IT, broadcast as well as other industry sectors and also the liberalization of telecoms markets.

The Expert Group will examine the existing ITRs. The output of the ITU-T review will feed into a World Conference on International Telecommunication (WCIT) scheduled for 2012. A different process, the World Telecommunication Policy Form (WTPF), will consider emerging telecommunications policy and regulatory issues with respect to international telecommunication networks and services.

The first meeting of the Expert Group will be held in Geneva, 10-11 October 2007. Information relating to the expert group will be available on the ITU-T website here . Information on the WTPF is available on the ITU-T website here.

30 May 2007 - Satellites in NGN

Wed, 30 May 2007 12:57:11 +0000

Recognizing that satellite systems could be an important part of emerging Next Generation Networks (NGN), an ITU-T Workshop entitled Satellites in the NGN? will take place 13 July 2007 in Montreal, Canada. Following the workshop, the third meeting of the Intersector Coordination Group on Satellite Matters (ICG SAT) will take place.

The objectives of the workshop, hosted by ATIS, include examination of the role of satellite systems in NGN, and development of a perspective on current and future NGN standards. Participation is open to all interested parties.

Sessions will give an overview of NGN, examine QoS and QoE (E for experience), IPTV and mobility support, network management and requirements for disaster relief.

The role of the ICG SAT is to monitor and coordinate the work programmes of the relevant Study Groups in ITU-R and ITU-T in relation to the use of satellites. It aims also to draw the attention of the relevant Study Groups to emerging technologies and perform gap analysis to identify new work areas.

14 May 2007 - 888 assigned to OCHA

Mon, 14 May 2007 13:38:11 +0000

Following up on advice from ITU-T Study Group 2 (see previous story), the Director of TSB has assigned E.164 country code 888 to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for the purpose of facilitating the provision of an international system of naming and addressing for terminals involved in disaster relief activities in an area of a country that has been cut off from the national telecommunications system of that country.

This separate, alternate naming and addressing system will continue in operation until such time as normal telecommunications can be restored and the disaster location is once more part of the national telecommunications infrastructure. The use of any numbering resource will therefore be relatively short lived and the resource may be re-used at a later date for another location.

Subsequent digits of the codes (for example, identification codes under the E.164 code) will be allocated and administered by OCHA.

The numbering resources are assigned solely for the use of UN emergency responders and not for other purposes. The commercial aspects of the use of the numbering resource will be negotiated between OCHA and the appropriate operators and service providers. In addition, the Mobile Network Code (MNC) 88 under the E.212 shared Mobile Country Code 901 has been assigned to OCHA for the same purposes.

12 April 2007 - Mobile telephony charges initiative

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:28:30 +0000

Analysis that aims to narrow the difference between fixed and mobile call termination charges will have to go deeper, say delegates to the recent Study Group 3 meeting. Following a more in-depth analysis of the results of two questionnaires issued by SG 3 and answers to some new questions posed to operators worldwide they should be able identify charges that are too high, and negotiate better rates that will in the long term benefit customers and operators alike.

Initial analysis shows that while call termination charges are significantly higher for mobile than for fixed line telephony, they are dropping. There seems to have been a particularly marked decrease in Europe where at the time of the first questionnaire, reflecting the situation 1 January 2006, charges were as much as ten times higher for mobile termination. The second questionnaire, reflecting the situation 1 January 2007, showed charges reduced to three times higher than fixed. However since the respondent groups to the two surveys were not exactly the same the results have not been formally adopted by the Study Group.

In order to get a better picture, it will be necessary, say experts, to understand more on the conditions of the service being offered, for example teledensity (thats the number of telephones per 100 individuals), the type of technology used and whether or not the market is fully competitive. For this reason a third questionnaire will be issued covering the same period as the second.

Termination charges occur when calls are terminated in a network other than that from which they have originated. The goal of the analysis is to develop target rates that can give guidelines to operators. Given target rates it will be easier in areas where there is a big difference between fixed and mobile termination charges to negotiate better rates.

A similar exercise was undertaken for fixed line termination charges in the nineties and resulted in reduced charges.

ITU - Digital Divide

15 May 2013 - Winning App converts SMSs to sign languages

13 May 2013 - Workshop extends ITU-T work on human exposure to electromagnetic fields

30 April 2013 - Microsoft tops up the BSG Fund

28 March 2013 - Egypt to host first ITU Smart Water event

14 March 2013 - ITU-T Study Group 11 jumpstarts Conformance and Interoperability Programme

26 February 2013 - Central American workshop to promote environmentally sound e-waste management

01 February 2013 - 3rd Green ICT Application Challenge: Deadline extended

24 November 2012 - Bangalore workshop on sustainable rural communications

07 August 2012 - Lao PDR Workshop offers concrete actions to bridge the standardization gap

07 August 2012 - African regional groups identify their priorities for ITU-T

11 June 2012 - ITU Workshop on "ICT Innovations for Developing Countries" Tunis, Tunisia, 20 June 2012

19 March 2012 - Remote participation Bridging the Gap: from Innovation to Standards

16 March 2012 - ITU joins SDOs from China, Japan and Korea to enhance cooperation

13 March 2012 - 100 days to Rio+20: the role of ICTs in The Future We Want

03 February 2012 - TSAG establishes new Focus Group on Disaster Relief Systems, Network Resilience and Recovery

19 January 2012 - TSAG establishes new Focus Group to Bridge the Gap between Innovation and Standardization

26 October 2011 - Arabic Version - ITU Regional Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gap for Arab and Africa regions, Interactive Training Session and Academia Session

26 October 2011 - Atelier regional de l UIT sur la reduction de l ecart en matiere de normalisation a l intention des regions Etats arabes et Afrique- Seance formation interactive et seminaire

19 October 2011 - ITU Regional Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gap for Arab and Africa regions, Interactive Training Session and Academia Session

29 September 2011 - International agreement on green ICT methodology - ITU addresses conflict minerals, environmentally-friendly batteries

23 September 2011 - ITU and the Broadband Commission for Digital Development

12 September 2011 - Increasing standards participation in the CIS region

22 July 2011 - Tutorial on optical fibre and systems: Mexico

22 July 2011 - Increasing standards participation in the Arab region

15 July 2011 - New country, new number - Country code 211 officially assigned to South Sudan

08 July 2011 - Conformity assessment highlighted in Fiji meeting

06 June 2011 - Bridging the Standardization Gap Regional Workshop in Fiji

12 May 2011 - Bridge the standardization gap in Guatemala

15 November 2010 - UNTV report for CNN: Kenya's Telemedicine

07 October 2010 - Standardization tutorial, 16 December, Pune, India

19 January 2010 - Building standards capacity in the developing world

15 July 2009 - Bridging digital divide essential to climate change challenge

29 June 2009 - Consultation on conformance and interoperability announced

28 May 2009 - Updated Background Paper on ICTs and Climate Change published

14 May 2009 - Accra workshop to focus on WTSA action

09 April 2009 - Optical technology standards guide available

12 February 2009 - Report finds that mobile operators are better placed to weather the economic storm

11 February 2009 - Report finds that the most immediate impact of the financial crisis is on investment & financing

27 January 2009 - The Board of the "Digital Solidarity Fund" meets in Bamako: "World Digital Solidarity Day" to be celebrated on 17 May

29 November 2008 - Global broadband subscribers exceeded 400 million in November 2008

28 November 2008 - The Lyon Conference for Digital Solidarity asks ITU Secretary-General to forward the final declaration of the Conference to the WSIS + 3 meeting held in Hammamet this week.

04 November 2008 - IEEE Comms Mag features ITU

27 October 2008 - Egyptian Government launches new ICT stats portal

23 October 2008 - Technology leaders call for clarity in standards landscape, green house gas commitment

21 October 2008 - Insights into growth in mobile transmission capacity from CMO of Harris Stratex

21 October 2008 - FibroLAN unveils new 10 Gigabit Ethernet NTU

16 October 2008 - What living in a Hyperconnected world means - juggling devices & applications

16 October 2008 - Vodacom SA improves its 3G offering with Alcatel as partner

15 October 2008 - Emerging markets accounted for 60% of WiMAX subscribers in 2007

09 October 2008 - China overtakes USA to become the world's Broadband Number One

06 October 2008 - Drivers of Broadband in Latin America

03 October 2008 - Different business strategies for WiMAX deployments

25 September 2008 - China is pursuing a multi-pronged approach to 3G

25 September 2008 - Point Topic Survey - mobile broadband has finally overtaken WiFi as the most popular mobile Internet access

25 September 2008 - Worldwide mobile cellular subscribers to reach 4 billion mark late 2008

13 September 2008 - ITU TELECOM Asia 2008 - Interview with ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun I. Toure

01 September 2008 - ITU's Asia-Pacific Telecommunication and ICT Indicators Report focuses on broadband connectivity: Too much or too little?

28 August 2008 - ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008 - Youth Forum participants to get free laptops: One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) donates 100 computers to ITU

30 July 2008 - ITU Secretary-General at the 24th Universal Postal Congress: ITU and UPU have long worked towards the ideal of universal access

13 July 2008 - ITU Secretary-General participates in CANTO's 24th Annual Telecommunications Conference and Trade Exhibition on Connect the Caribbean

09 July 2008 - ITU and Servei de Telecomunicacions d'Andorra join forces to connect least developed countries and Small Island Developing States

02 July 2008 - Effective regulatory framework to spur investment in Africa - African ICT regulators and policy makers meet in Dakar

21 May 2008 - Regional Development Forum for the Americas

07 May 2008 - ICT giants contribute to bridging the standardization gap

07 May 2008 - Regional meetings to prepare for WTSA

19 March 2008 - It's good to collaborate

04 February 2008 - WTSA-08 a first for Africa

08 October 2007 - Importance of standards for developing world highlighted at Rwanda event

27 September 2007 - Millennium Goal @ Home - Volunteer computing for malaria control

04 June 2007 - ITU-T expert group to examine International Telecommunication Regulations

30 May 2007 - Satellites in NGN

14 May 2007 - 888 assigned to OCHA

12 April 2007 - Mobile telephony charges initiative

13 March 2012 - 100 days to Rio+20: the role of ICTs in The Future We Want

29 September 2011 - International agreement on green ICT methodology - ITU addresses conflict minerals, environmentally-friendly batteries