What ITU-T can do for GRIDs – or ITU-T in an 8-minute nutshell

1. What ITU-T can do for GRIDs – or ITU-T in an 8-minute nutshell reinhard.scholl@itu.int Deputy to the Director Telecommunication Standardization Bureau International Telecommunication Union www.itu.int/ITU-T

2. Outline • ITU-T – The Organization • ITU-T – The Work & Services • What can ITU-T do for the Grid industry? eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

3. ITU-T – The Organization eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

4. Structure of ITU: 3 Sectors • ITU-D: aid to developing countries • ITU-R: radio spectrum & satellite slot allocations • ITU-T: standardization (this talk) • Telecom network: arguably one of mankind’s most complex projects • ITU-T made the necessary standards • ITU Secretariat: based in Geneva • ITU = UN agency eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

5. Who comprises ITU/ITU-T? • ITU: Member States (189 countries) • ITU-T: Sector Members = private sector • Operators & manufacturers • From start-ups to big companies • Telecom and Computing • ITU-T Product: Recommendations (ITU-T speak for “standards”) • Work is done by Member States & Sector Members: • 95% of work is done by private sector • Member States: if regulatory impact eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

6. ITU-T has changed dramatically in last years • ITU-T is fast to • start work: 1 day / few weeks (from 2-4 yrs) • develop work: weeks to 2-3 yrs (from 2-3 yrs) • approve work: 2 months (from 4 yrs) • “Speedy Gonzalez approval procedure” for technical standards (=95% of work) • publish work: couple of days after approval (from 2-4 yrs) • ITU-T standardizes hot topics • ITU-T is very flexible & unbureaucratic eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

7. Flexible collaboration: ITU-T Focus Group Concept • Create forum-like entities as an “arms-length” organization under ITU-T Study Group • Goal: • Encourage participation of members of other organizations / non-members • Very flexible, e.g. • Focus group can establish its own rules of approval eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

8. Strengths of ITU-T • Unique partnership of industry & government • Truly global • Consensus decisions guarantee wide acceptance • Excellent, transparent, fast procedures • Very flexible to collaborate with fora and standards organizations • Excellent networking opportunities • Brand name • IPR Policy • World-class meeting facilities • Excellent Secretariat staff eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

9. 2. ITU-T – The Work & Services eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

10. Making Standards: Recent highlights • Quadrupling fibre optic transmission capacity (10 Gbit/s to 40 Gib/s): ITU-T Rec. G.959.1 • Fat pipes get fatter through Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing (ITU-T Rec.G.695) • Novel video coding algorithm (with ISO/IEC) - expected to be deployed in all future DVD players, 3G phones and video-conferencing equipment (ITU-TRec.H.264) • Opening up world for interactive TV providers(ITU-T Rec. J.202) eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

11. ITU-T Study Groups • SG 2 Operational aspects of service provision, networks and performance • SG 3 Tariff and accounting principles including related telecommunications economic and policy issues • SG 4 Telecommunication management, including TMN • SG 5 Protection against electromagnetic environment effects • SG 6 Outside plant • SG 9 Integrated broadband cable networks and television and sound transmission   • SG 11 Signalling requirements and protocols • SG 12 End-to-end transmission performance of networks and terminals • SG 13 Multi-protocol and IP-based networks and their internetworking • SG 15 Optical and other transport networks • SG 16 Multimedia services, systems and terminals • SG17 Data networks and software for Telecommunication • SSG Special Study Group "IMT-2000 and beyond" • TSAG Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

12. Further ITU-T Services • Management of numbering resources • Organization of workshops: • Convergent regulation – is it becoming technology-neutral?, 17 May 04 • All Star network access, 2-4 June 04 • Home networking and home services, 16-18 June 04 eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

13. 3. How ITU-T can help the Grid industry eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

14. Possible steps forward • Grid-community to give talks at ITU-T standards meetings (mostly in Geneva) – and vice versa • Has already been started • ITU-T Workshop on Grids with focus on interaction Grid & telecom industry • Focus group concept: very flexible way to form partnerships eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004

15. Up-to-date information: ITU-T e-Flash • Want to know the latest ITU-T news? • Then subscribe to ITU-T e-Flash • send "subscribe" in subject to ITU-T_e-flash@itu.int • Issued monthly; since February 04 • Previous issues: www.itu.int/ITU-T/e-flash eInfrastructures Open Workshop (Internet & Grids), 15 April 2004