ITU-T Standardization and other key ITU Activities

La Havana, Cuba, 8-9 February 2011

Bridging The Standardization Gap (BSG)

Paolo Rosa ITU

Outline

Defining the standardization gap

Measuring and evaluating the gap

ITU-T bridging the gap

Digital Divide Standardization Gap &

Participation Relationship

Standardisation and Standards

Standardisation Key building block for building a globally connected society

Importance of standards

Foster innovation

Competition

Enable interoperability

"Global standards create a positive user experience. They help to satisfy consumers' expectations that technology products will work together easily. “ – Justin Rattner, Intel 4

The Standardization Gap

It is defined as 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

It contributes to the persistence of the wider digital divide.

5

The concept of Opportunity Index to measure the information society

InfodensityICT capital [telecommunication network infrastructures (fixed, mobile, internet) and of ICT, including equipment (cables, routers, etc),

Info-use

Three indicators:

• Internet users every 100 inhabitants• PC owners every 100 inhabitants• Houses and TV sets proportion

disparity

Framework for BSG

PP-10 Resolution 123 Recognizing “the continued shortage of human

resources in the standardization field of developing countries, resulting in a low level of developing country participation in ITU-T and ITU-R meetings …”

Resolution 44 (WTSA-08): Action Plan Strengthening standards-making capabilities Assisting ITU-D in enhancing application of standards Human resource building Flagship groups for bridging the gap BSG Fund

Resolution 47 (WTDC-10) Enhancement of knowledge and effective application of

ITU Recommendations in developing countries, increase capacity building opportunities for interoperability

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ITU-T Mandate to Bridging the Gap

PP-06 (Res. 123), WTSA-04/08 Resolutions 44, 17, 54, 59, 74

ITU-T mandated to bridge the standardization gap between developing and developed countries

Mandated actions include: Improve standards making capabilities Assisting in enhancing efforts in standards

applications Human resource building Establish a flagship group for bridging the gap BSG fundraising

How can countries bridge the gap?

Bridging the standardization development gap

requires a sequence of steps, depending on the

level of:

economic development

local manufacturing capability

local R&D capability

previous engagement with ITU

These steps can be conceptualized in terms of a

“Ladder of Standardization Development”

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Growing usage of ITU Recommendations

ITU Sector or Associate Membership

National training and capacity - building in use of

ITU Recommendations

Going to Study Groups and related

meetings

Entering proposals at WTSAon future study questions

and work programmes

Nominating representativesas study group chairs, vice -

chairs. rapporteurs , focus group chairs etc

Giving contributions at Study Groups andrelated meetings

Attracting ITU meetingsand/or regional groups

(Res 54)

How can countries bridge the gap?

8 - Entering proposals at WTSA on future study questions and work programmes

7 - Nominating representatives as SG chairs, vicechairs, Rapporteurs, focus group chairs, etc

6 - Giving contributions at SGs and related meetings

5 - Attracting ITU meetings and/or regional groups

4 - Going to SGs and related meetings

3 - ITU Sector Membership and Associate status

2 - National training and capacity-building in use of ITU Recommendations

1 - Growing usage of ITU-T Recommendations 10

RecsImplem

Commitment

Where are you positioned ?

MEDIUM

Rapp

Editor

SG/TSAG VChairWP Ch

Read Recs

LOW SG, GSI Particip

WS, FGParticip

HIGH

Strategic role

SG/TSAG Contr

SG, TSAG Chairs

WTSAMgmt &

Contributions

Outline

Defining the standardization gap

Measuring and evaluating the gap

ITU-T bridging the gap

ITU-T Research : Measuring and Reducing the Gap

Assess the standards development capability of developing countries

Supported by a grant from Korea Communications Commission.

Survey questionnaire sent to all developing countries

Case Studies done for 9 nine countries

Report published in December 2009.

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/gap/Pages/default.aspx

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ITU-T Research : Measuring and Reducing the Gap

Standards Development Capability

Government Standards Policy

Standardisation Human Resources

National Standards Use and Adoption

14

National Standards Capability Scale

15

Measuring the Gap - 2

Possible criteria: Number of downloads of ITU-T

Recommendations from website Number of TIES* users Number of Sector Members and

Associates Number of Study Group Chairmen and

Rapporteurs from developing countries Number of participants in meetings and

their contributions by country

Questionnaires to Membership* TIES: Telecommunication Information Exchange Service: set of networked information resources and services offered by ITU to its Members

TIES Accounts

ITU-T meetings data

Study groups officials

Contributions submitted SGs

Membership andParticipants in ITU-T meetings

Outline

Defining the standardization gap

Measuring and evaluating the gap

ITU-T bridging the gap

ITU-T Activities to Bridge the Gap

Improve standards making capabilities

Assist in enhancing efforts in standards applications

Human resource building

Establish regional groups for bridging the gap

Set up BSG Fund

Improve Standards Making Capabilities

Research on measuring and reducing the 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 from developing countries in ITU-T Study Groups

Increase SG meetings in the regions

Implement Res. 76/47 on capacity building and creation of test labs in the regions

New Membership Category for Academia and Sector members from developing countries (Res. 71 and Res. 74)

PP-10 endorsed recommendation to introduce new membership categories for academia and reduced fee for companies from LDCs.

Academia and research institutions Developed Countries : CHF 3,975 Developing Countries : CHF 1,987

LDCs Sector Members CHF 3,975 25

Assist in enhancing applications of standards

Publication of Manuals on applications of ITU-T Recommendations E.g Fibre Optic Manual, ITU-T Security Manual.

Workshops on Standardisation 2 BSG workshops were held in Fiji in September 2009 and

another in Cyberjaya, Malaysia in June 2010, to provide best practices and guidance on improving national standards readiness.

3 BSG workshops planned in 2011.

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Human Resource Building

Capacity Building

ITU-T Recommendations

• Better understanding of the ITU-T Recommendations, how to design and implement projects choosing the most appropriate equipment according to the state-of-the art.

• ITU-T Tutorial on Optical Fibre Cables and Systems Based on the handbook of SG15

• Tutors leading experts from industry contributing to write handbooks and standards

Simulated Study Group Meetings

Fellowships provided to representatives of developing countries

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Regional presence ITU-T Workshop on "Delivering Good Quality Telecommunication Service

in a Safe Environment in Africa"Nairobi, Kenya, 26-27 July 2010

3 Regional ITU Consultations on Conformance Assessment and Interoperability for the Americas , Africa and Asia Pacific Regions(Quito, Nairobi, Sydney)

ITU-T Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gap and Interactive Training SessionCyberjaya, Sleangor, Malaysia, 29 June - 01 July 2010

ITU-T Workshop “ICTs: Building the green city of the future”Shanghai, China, 14 May 2010

ITU-T Study Group 5 Buenos Aires, Argentina 12-16 April 2010 ITU-T Study Groups 11 and 13 and IPTV-GSI Mar del Plata, Argentina

2-12 September 2009 ITU Symposium on ICTs and Climate Change and Forum on

"Implementation of decisions of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08) “ Quito, Ecuador, 7-10 July 2009

Tutorial on Optical Fiber systems – Kigali, Rwanda Sept 2010 India, Egypt, Sri Lanka, USA, Italy, China, Malaysia, …. 28

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Fig.1 - Geographical repartition of Events

Fig.2 - Geographical repartition of Days

2010 Events worldwide

Increase participation and collaboration (1/3)

Workshops, seminars and other events Regional Groups and meetings

SG2 Group for Arab Region (Operational aspects) SG3 Groups for Asia and Oceania, Africa, Europe

and Mediterranean, Latin America and Caribbean (Tariff and accounting principles)

SG12 for Africa (Performance, QoS, QoE)

Block Meetings Flagship Groups Promote remote collaboration and participation

Increase participation and collaboration (2/3)

Cooperation with regional organizations: CITEL, RCC, APT, ASTAP, ATU, LAS,…

One meeting per year per region Topics decided by the Membership,

corresponding to any ITU-T Study Group Official status as generator of contributions to

parent Study Groups TSB provides secretarial support, EDH facilities

as any other SG meeting

Increase participation and collaboration (3/3)

Flagship Group Americas (WTSA-08 Res. 44, Annex, Programme 4)

Create permanent regional standards awareness Offer training on standardization, produce and

provide training materials, manuals, audio/video material

Translate ITU-T material Support remote or direct participation of experts

in ITU-T activities Creation of regional Testing & Calibration labs Invite regulators to put in place mechanisms to

consider international standards when preparing national technical regulations

Regional Groups (WTSA-08 Res. 54)

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)

ITU-T Activities to Bridging the Gap

Increase visibility, information, awareness, participation and collaboration

Admission of Sector Members and Associates from developing countries

Increase number of officials in ITU-T Study Groups

Increase SG meetings in the regions Create regional groups Implement Res. 76 on capacity building and

creation of test labs in the regions

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Workshops: New work, new blood, new friends

Outreach to non ITU audience Can result in new work

eg Identity Management Partnerships: IETF, IEEE, OASIS,

Grid Forum, ISO, IEC 2005-8 of 78 workshops 18 in

PASC area. Remote participation now possible Future more workshops North

America and Europe

Joint ITU and IETF workshop on NGN, 2005

BSG Fund

BSG Fund set up in 2008

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

CHF 288,000

Korea Communications Commission, Nokia Siemens Networks, Microsoft, Cisco

Conclusions

Bridging the Standardization Gap requires efforts from ITU and its Membership

Increase the use of ITU-T Recommendations, membership and participation of developing countries

Capacity building on standardisation

Increase participation in Study Groups, workshops, meetings and number of contributions

Resolutions and Resources ITU-T Research Project: Measuring and Reducing the Standards

Gap (December 2009) Bridging the Standardization Gap Activity Report (June 2010) Summary of Questionnaire on Bridging the Standardization Gap (June 2008) WTSA-08 Resolution 44: Bridging the standardization gap between

developing and developed countries WTSA-08 Resolution 17: Telecommunication standardization in relation to the

interests of developing countries WTSA-08 Resolution 59: Enhancing participation of telecommunication

operators from developing countries Report on the outcome of the Global Standards Symposium (GSS) (October

2008; requires TIES account) PP-06 Resolution 123: Bridging the standardization gap between developing

and developed countries TSAG 07/08 TD 610 Rev.1: Bridging the Standardization Gap (requires TIES

account) TSAG 02/07 TD 417: Draft Report of the Group on Bridging the

Standardization Gap (requires TIES account)

Thank you