Bridging the Standardization Gap: ITU Initiatives for Global ICT Standards Development

1. ITU-T Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gapand Interactive Training Session (Nadi, Fiji, 4 – 6 July 2011 ) Bridging The Standardization Gap Vijay Mauree Programme Co-ordinator ITU

2. Outline • Overview of ITU • Global ICT standards • Standardization gap • Activities to bridge the gap

3. ITU: Telecoms and ICT since 1865 • Specialized United Nations agency responsible for ICT • 192 Member States, 700 Sector Members • Focus on • Development • Radiocommunication • Standardization

4. ITU-T Strategic Goals • Develop interoperable, non-discriminatory international standards (ITU-T Recommendations) in a multi-stakeholders public/private environment. • Assist in bridging the standardization gap between developed and developing countries • Extend and facilitate international cooperation among international, regional and national standardization bodies, forums and consortia

5. Standards Success Stories

6. Global ICT Standards Are Vital Engine For Economic Growth Imagine a world with no standards Influence global ICT standards work

7. The Standardization Gap • Defined as the disparities in the ability of developing countries, relative to developed ones, to access, implement, contribute to and influence international ICT standards, specifically ITU‐T Recommendations. • The standardization development gap is itself both a cause and a manifestation of the wider digital divide • Bridge the standardization gap: PP Res 123, WTSA Res 44 and WTDC Res 47

8. Bridging The Standardization Gap

9. Activities To Bridge The Gap Enhance Standardization Capability Develop Human Resources Assist in enhancing efforts in standards applications Set up Regional Groups Establish BSG Fund

10. Enhance Standardization Capability • Research on measuring and reducing the standardization capability gap • Free access to ITU-T Standards • Increase remote participation and collaboration • Admission of Sector Members and Associates from developing countries • Increase number of officials (Chairs / Rapporteurs) from developing countries in ITU-T Study Groups • Increase SG meetings in developing countries

11. Develop Human Resources

12. Enhance Standardization Capability • Research on measuring and reducing the standardization capability gap • Free access to ITU-T Standards • Increase remote participation and collaboration • Admission of Sector Members and Associates from developing countries • Increase number of officials (Chairs / Rapporteurs) from developing countries in ITU-T Study Groups • Increase SG meetings and workshops in developing countries

13. Regional Groups • Regional Groups and meetings • SG2 Group for Arab Region • SG3 Groups for Asia and Oceania, Africa, Europe and Mediterranean, Latin America and Caribbean (Tariff and accounting principles) • SG12 for Africa (Performance, QoS)

14. BSG Fund • BSG Fund set up in 2008 : CHF 289,000 • Objective • Facilitate the participation of developing countries in the 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 standards • Korea Communications Commission, Nokia Siemens Networks, Microsoft, Cisco

15. Conclusions • Bridging the Standardization Gap • Increase the use of ITU-T Recommendations, membership and participation of developing countries • Capacity building on standardization • Increase participation in Study Groups, Workshops, Meetings and number of contributions

16. Thank you! Contact: vijay.mauree@itu.int Website: http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/gap