Conformance and Interoperability Testing: (WTSA-08) Resolution 76

1. ITU FORUM ON IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISIONS OF WTSA-08 (Accra, Ghana, 16-17 June 2009) Conformance and Interoperability Testing: (WTSA-08) Resolution 76 Joshua Peprah Director, Regulatory Administration, National Communications Authority

2. Background • Recent years have seen ever increasing demand of customers for sophisticated communications equipment, systems and services. • While acknowledging the proliferation of communications/ICT systems as signs of growing competition as well as reduction in prices of terminal equipment • Same can’t be said for the sub-standard equipment that are dumped onto our markets.

3. Background Contd. • Electronic communication equipment should meet minimum technical standards. • The purpose is to ensure electrical and electromagnetic compatibility, prevention of interference and public network connectivity and ensure interworking. • Compliance to these technical standards require laboratory conformity testing.

4. WTSA-08 and Resolution 76 • The African Group submitted contribution AFCP No. 4 (ITU Type Approval of Telecommunication Equipment) towards the realization of the setting up of at least a regional Type Approval Testing Facilities.

5. WTSA-08 and Resolution 76Contd. • Ghana also submitted contribution meant to support the proposed ITU mark program. • where equipment could be tested and certified to be conformed to ITU standards and subsequently be issued with ITU mark.

6. WTSA-08 and Resolution 76Contd. • At the WTSA-08 several proposals and comments resulted in the passing and adoption of Resolution 76 • studies related to conformance and interoperability testing, assistance to developing countries and a possible future ITU Mark Program • The assembly instructed the Director of TSB to:

7. “Instruct 1” “To cooperate with the Radio-communication Bureau and the Telecommunication Development Bureau, to conduct exploratory activities in each region in order to identify and prioritize the problems faced by developing countries related to achieving interoperability of ICT equipment and services”

8. African views on “Instruct 1” • Problems with increased poor quality equipment in our markets • Lack of testing centers, facilities and trained professionals • Lack of national or regional laws and regulations

9. African views Contd. • Problems with the Selection of interoperable equipment supplied by different telecom manufacturers. • Lack of understanding of recommendations and of test results

10. “Instruct 2" based on results of ”Instruct 1” above, the Director TSB is to study the following items: • the overall effect on ITU and manufacturers • legal and national and international regulatory implications • cost of set-up of facility • location of testing facility • measures to be taken to build the necessary human-resource capacities;”

11. Overall effect on ITU and Manufacturers ITU: • providing technical support for Recommendation developers, implementers of Recommendations and testers; • Defining in the current and future ITU Recs., additional conformance and interoperability test specifications, including test methods and developing additional Recommendations to support testing.

12. Overall effect on ITU and Manufacturers Contd. • improving the quality of Recommendations • Making ITU more visible globally • Serving as an additional source of income to ITU in fulfillment of Res. 158 Antalya.

13. Overall effect on ITU and Manufacturers Contd. Manufacturers: • Cost of testing and certification could increase prices of equipment • Time of introduction of equipment to markets

14. Legal and national and international regulatory implications • the WTO technical barriers to trade agreement which countries are signatories to are obliged to limit the use of standards in order to avoid the creation of unnecessary barriers to trade • APEC, FCC etc… employs Mutual recognition Agreement meant to facilitate trade in telecoms equipment.

15. Legal, national and international regulatory implications Contd. • European Union as a regional body has a similar regulatory regime in place meant to protect its citizens. • ITU as a global body may be encouraged to do same.

16. Cost of setting up facility • TSB is invited to study this.

17. Location of testing facility • ITU could continue to assist countries in the setting up of their own test laboratories which could check conformance and interoperability issues • ATU could also corroborate with ITU in finding an appropriate location for setting up of an African Regional Test Center.

18. Measures to build the necessary human-resource capacities • Organization of consumer awareness and training of engineers on standardization making processes. • Introduction of standardization making processes as a subject in our higher institutions in accordance with res 71 • The regional organizations like ATU could initiate regional flagship group

19. Measures to build the necessary human-resource capacities Contd. • Possible use of the Bridging the Standardization Gap Fund. The income received could be used on a range of topics related to Bridging the Standardization Gap, including work on conformity and interoperability testing.

20. Conclusions • Resolution 76 is a way to addressing conformance and interoperability problems developing countries particularly Africans are faced with. • The Resolution is a way that ITU could use to provide technical assistance to regulators and regional standard bodies in the setting up of telecommunication equipment type centers, facilities and laboratories.

21. Conclusions Contd. • Member states are therefore invited to provide inputs to the report that would be submitted to council 09

22. THANK YOU!MERCI!