ITU Regional Standardization Forum for Americas
(Washington D.C., United States,
21 September 2015)
Conformance and Interoperability
Activities in CITEL PCC.I
Wayne Zeuch
Rapporteur: Standards, Conformity
and Interoperability
CITEL PCC.I
waynezeuch@aol.com
Conformance and Interoperability in CITEL PCC.I
• Since 2010, PCC.I meetings have examined Conformance and
Interoperability in the Americas Region as well as monitoring the
progress of the Conformance and Interoperability Testing
Programme at the ITU
• CITEL PCC.I has already developed positions on interoperability.
CITEL IAPs on Interoperability were forwarded to the ITU
Plenipotentiary Conference PP-10 (Guadalajara October 2010) ,
WTSA-12 (Dubai: November 2012) and PP-14 (Busan: October
2014). Positions included:
– Encouraging the analysis of conformance and interoperability
mechanisms to prove their viability and, prior to implementation,
follow a “step-by-step” approach - the first step being the
identification of interoperability problems in the Americas Region.
• CITEL PCC.I has approved mandates and terms of reference with
respect to conformance and interoperability studies within the
Working Group on Deployment of Technologies and Services
(WGDTS)
CITEL PCC.I Rapporteurship on
Standards, Conformity and Interoperability
Mandate:
• To study the standards development activities for information
and communication technology (ICT) standards and the
conformity of products and network deployments to these
standards
• To focus on the ongoing evolution toward converged networks
to ensure the interoperability of network equipment and
services
• To promote the exchange of information and to raise
awareness about the development of standards and about
conformity assessment and interoperability activities that
best serve the current and future needs of the users of these
networks in the region
Conformance and Interoperability
Technical Notebook
• This Technical Notebook provides a repository for new and
historical information on conformance testing and interoperability
activities and programs within the Americas Region and
internationally
• Objectives for maintaining this Notebook include:
– the identification of mechanisms and methodologies that assist
in the evaluation of product and network interoperability
based on existing standards
– archiving discussions and positions within CITEL PCC.I and
within the ICT community if the Region
Promoting interoperability by highlighting
conformance and testing initiatives, identifying issues
and archiving valuable information for the use of the
ICT standards community
Americas Region Input
• Two Standards Organizations, representative of
the Americas Region, are:
– ICT Standards Advisory Council of Canada (ISACC), and
– Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions
(ATIS)
• In 2010, both organizations had the opportunity to
present views regarding Interoperability at the
15th Global Standards Collaboration Meeting
(GSC-15)
• Excerpts from these presentations have been
captured in the Technical Notebook on
Conformance and Interoperability
ISACC on Interoperability
New Paradigm for SDOs
Key elements of telecom standards development in 21st Century for
competitive SDOs:
– Natural language standard vs. formal description of standard using
FDTs (Field Device Technologies)
– Test suites and test methodology for the standard
– Testing for conformance with the standard
– Interoperability testing including conformant products embedded in
systems
Definition of Interoperability (in the context of telecom systems/ products)
– Interoperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse
systems and products to work together (inter-operate)
– Standards and conformance to standards is the fundamental basis
for interoperability
• a necessary but insufficient condition
• cooperation and peer recognition of competence based on trusted credentials is
the basis for sharing test results to minimize costs of testing
ISACC on Interoperability
Root Causes of Non-Interoperability
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Fundamentally incompatible systems
Non-standard or inaccessible interfaces
Proprietary closed solutions
Inadequate specification of system requirements
Errors and omissions in definition of requirements
Incompatible selection of options in standards
Incomplete understanding of legacy and outside network points of
interconnection and interfacing
Inconsistent or inaccurate interpretation of the standards
Lack of formal specifications and imprecision of natural language
text
Absence of conformance testing data for standard implementation
Poor understanding of the technology and standards
Need for capacity building especially in developing countries
ATIS on Interoperability
Strategic Direction
– Since 1984, ATIS has assessed a range of options to most
effectively promote interoperability:
• Develop technical standards and associated programs
to inform the industry about these standards
• Provide guidelines to facilitate interconnection
• Develop test suites
• Conduct Interoperability tests
ATIS on Interoperability
• Complementing its primary focus on development of technical
standards, ATIS provides guidance related to interconnection and
occasionally sponsors targeted testing programs - validating that
standards are “interoperable”
• ATIS provides an open forum to facilitate discussion and resolution of the
operational and interoperability issues necessary to effectively
interconnect multiple service provider businesses
• The ATIS Next Generation Interconnection Interoperability Forum (NGIIF)
developed guidelines and templates for interoperability and testing
• In several very special cases, ATIS has sponsored one-time,
interoperability testing programs to meet targeted, national needs
• ATIS and its members have also played prominent roles in FCC Advisory
Committees on the topics of interoperability and interconnection.
ATIS on Interoperability
Challenges
– Standards processes, while promoting interoperability, should also
foster innovation, competition and infrastructure development that
address user needs on a timely and cost-effective basis.
– The inclusion of options, ambiguities, etc., in standards make
interoperability more difficult, but reflect the realities of consensusdevelopment and the need for users to decide what features and
capabilities meet their needs.
– Compliance with technical standards does not guarantee
interoperability
– Innovations in user applications and in network capabilities to
support them are driving the development of standards.
– These challenges can be mitigated through interop “profiles”
backed by detailed test specifications for the profile
Summary
• Interoperability of networks and network components is a
key mandate within CITEL PCC.I
• CITEL continues to monitor conformance testing and
interoperability activities and programs within the
Americas Region and internationally
• CITEL PCC.I invites contributions from Member States and
the ICT industry regarding interoperability issues and their
root causes, conformance testing programs and selections
of standards that maximize interoperability
• Providing interoperability of networks and network
components through standardization encourages market
growth, promotes innovation and deployment of new
services, and serves the current and future needs of the
users of these networks throughout the Region
Thank You
Wayne Zeuch
CITEL PCC.I
Vice Chair, Working Group on Deployment
of Technologies and Services
Rapporteur, Standards Coordination,
Conformity and Interoperability
waynezeuch@aol.com