Interconnection and Interoperability
APT-ITUworkshoponInternationalTelecommunicationsRegulations
Bangkok,6-8February 2012
RichardHill,ITU
Background (1/4)
• Yesterday
– 1980’s : “interconnection” covering circuit and
packet switched networks, simple fixed end
user devices
• Today :
– “interoperability” largely embodies the
concepts of both interconnection and
interworking
• Interoperability has been one of the more
sensitive issues facing ITU since 2008.
Background (2/4)
• The need to address interoperability is
included in Resolutions from the highest
organs of the ITU:
– Resolution 76 from WTSA 2008
– Resolution 47 from the WTDC 2010
– Resolution 177 from the 2010 ITU
Plenipotentiary
– Resolution 62 from WRC 2012 (2012)
– ITU Council Decisions in 2009, 2010 and
2011.
Background (3/4)
• All agree: Interoperability must happen
• However: how to get there?
• Real world: complex mix of de jure, de facto
and proprietary standards
Background (4/4)
• ITU’s conformity & interoperability
programme (Resolution 177, Guadalajara)
1. Conformity assessment programme including
conformity database
2. Interoperability events programme
3. Human resources capacity building
4. Assistance in the establishment of test
facilities in developing countries
Interconnection (1/2)
• 'Interconnection' shall mean the physical and
logical linking of public communications
networks used by the same or a different
service provider in order to allow the users of
one service provider to communicate with
users of another service provider, or to access
services provided by another service
provider” (ITU-T E.800)
Interconnection (2/2)
• Sometimes incumbents have little incentive to
allow access to their network/service on
reasonable terms
• Regulatory intervention can lead to a more
efficient outcome.
• Interconnection does not guarantee
interoperability
Interoperability (1/2)
• One of three strategic goals of ITU-T:
– “To develop interoperable, non-discriminatory
international standards (ITU-T Recommendations)”
• Interoperability: “The ability of two or more
systems or applications to exchange information
and to mutually use the information that has been
exchanged” (ITU-T Y.101)
• Striving for interoperability is a never ending task
– ever-changing technology and operational
environment
Interoperability (2/2)
• How to acquire the “big picture” of
interoperability?
• Which standards, regulations, policies and
procedures that apply?
• Who should perform the testing? Self
assessment? 3rd party testing?
• What test results can be released to the
public domain?
Other pieces in the puzzle (1/2)
• Conformance testing: “Testing the extent to
which an implementation under test is a
conforming implementation” (ITU-T X.290)
• Test suites needed
• “Conformance testing does not include
assessment of the performance nor the
robustness or reliability of an implementation.
… Thus conformance to a test suite alone
cannot guarantee interworking” (ITU-T X.290)
Other pieces in the puzzle (2/2)
• Operational testing:
– Realistic testing of large complex systems; normally
performed in situ rather than in off-site labs
– a key final step before a system is turned over to a
service provider and enters commercial service
– Operational testing may reveal the need for
modifications over time
CWG-WCIT proposals
• Proposals submitted to CWG-WCIT
related to interconnection and
interoperability
• Relevant to Articles 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7 b)
and c) and 9 of the ITRs
• No consensus for the time being