Joint ITU/CTO event:
“Bridging Standardization Gap, ITR and
Interoperability issues”
13 September 2010, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Assessing standardization needs and
issues to bridge and to measure the
standardization gap in Asia Pacific
Paolo Rosa
Head, Workshops and Promotion Division
Telecommunication
Standardization
Bureau
Colombo `13 Sept. 2010
International
Telecommunication
Union
1
Outline
Defining the standardization gap
Measuring and evaluating the gap
ITU-T activities to bridging the gap
International
Telecommunication
Union
ITU-T Member State Participation
A
B
E
D
Region A - The Americas (216)
Region B - Western Europe (178)
Region C - Eastern Europe and Northern Asia (73)
Region D - Africa (182)
Region E - Asia and Australasia (460)
C
Member States: 191 governments
Sector Members: 565 private sector
Membership fee: 31,800 CHF (~= 29k USD)
Associates: 154 private sector
(one Study Group only)
Membership fee: 10,600 CHF (~= 9.6k USD)
Today, 95% of the work in ITU-T is done by the
private sector
Colombo `13 Sept. 2010
International
Telecommunication
Union
3
Outline
Defining the standardization gap
Measuring and evaluating the gap
ITU-T activities to bridging the gap
International
Telecommunication
Union
The Standardization Gap
Disparities in the ability of developing countries to
access, implement, contribute to and influence
international ICT standards, specifically ITU-T
Recommendations
Disparities in the representation of developing countries
cause and manifestation of:
Persistence of the wider digital divide in ICTs (e.g., among
different regions and groups within the society)
Unequal access to technology and the ability to use that
technology
For case studies, best practices, statistics and analysis
of the GAP, see the newly-issued
•
•
”ITU-T Research Report on Bridging the
Gap (December 2009)”, and
“Bridging the Standardization Gap Activity
Standardization
Report (June 2010)”
http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/gap/Pages/default.aspx
International
Telecommunication
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Digital Divide
Standardization Gap &
Participation Relationship
Standardization Gap &
Poor Access to Technologies
Digital Divide ≈ ----------------------------------Increase Participation &
Capacity Building
International
Telecommunication
Union
The concept of Opportunity Index to
measure the information society
Infodensity
ICT 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
International
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Framework for BSG

PP Resolution 123 (Rev. Antalya, 2006)
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
 Fundraising
Resolution 47 (WTDC-10)
Enhancement of knowledge and effective application of
ITU Recommendations in developing countries, increase
capacity building opportunities for interoperability
International
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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
International
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Union
Outline
Defining the standardization gap
Measuring and evaluating the gap
ITU-T activities to bridging the gap
International
Telecommunication
Union
Measuring the Gap - 1
Use of ITU-T Recommendations
Membership & effective participation
Capacity building
Positioning
Colombo 13 Sept. 2010
International
Telecommunication
Union
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
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TIES Accounts
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ITU-T meetings data
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Study groups officials
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Contributions submitted SGs
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Membership and
Participants in ITU-T meetings
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Union
Where are you positioned ?
Commitment
SG,
TSAG
Chairs
SG/TSAG
VChair
WP Ch
HIGH
WTSA
Mgmt &
Contributions
Rapp
MEDIUM
Editor
SG/TSAG
Contr
LOW
Read
Recs
SG, GSI
Particip
WS, FG
Particip
Recs
Implem
Strategic role
International
Telecommunication
Union
Outline
Defining the standardization gap
Measuring and evaluating the gap
ITU-T activities to bridging the gap
International
Telecommunication
Union
Admission of Members from
developing countries
WTSA-08 Res. 74
Enable new members from developing
countries to join ITU-T Such Sector Members
from developing countries (having a threshold
income per capita according to the UNDP) not
affiliated in any way to any Sector Member of
a developed country
Take into consideration levels of financial
contributions equal to those applied for
developing countries for admission in ITU-D
Study Groups
International
Proposal to the ITU Plenipotentiary 2010 Telecommunication
Union
Council 2009/10 Decisions
 Adopted budget allowing TSB to implement
its work programme and WTSA-08 Action
Plan & approved TSB Reorganization
 Endorsed recommendation to introduce new
membership categories for academia and
reduced fee for SME companies from
developing countries.
 Endorsed recommendation to set up new
group on IPv6, and preparations for WCIT to
revise ITRs
 Endorsed recommendations on conformity
and interoperability
International
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Union
Resolution 54 : Creation of
regional groups
Regional Groups
Support within available (or otherwise contributed resources)
and on a case-by-case basis the creation of regional groups
ITU-T RGs: SG2
SG3
SG6
SG12
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Recent Activities in the Regions
ITU-T Workshop on "Delivering Good Quality Telecommunication
Service in a Safe Environment in Africa"
Nairobi, Kenya, 26-27 July 2010
Regional ITU Consultation on Conformance Assessment and
Interoperability for the Americas Region
Quito, Ecuador, 06 July 2010 and Nairobi, Kenya, 30-31 July 2010
ITU-T Workshop on Bridging the Standardization Gap and Interactive
Training Session
Cyberjaya, 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
International
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Union
Workshops: New work, new
blood, new friends
Joint ITU and IETF
workshop on NGN,
2005
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
International
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Union
2009: A year of highlights
Workshops
 30 events, 2500 participants
 Implementation of WTSA-08





decisions
Bridging the standardization gap
ICTs and climate change
Cybersecurity
NGN
Accessibility
Event distribution
Asia /Pacific
17%
Africa
14%
Europe
10%
 First fully virtual ITU
symposium on ICTs and
climate change
 Organised together with the KCC
and TTA
 5th Fully Networked Car
Americas
17%
Geneva
25%
Arab
17%
International
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Technology Watch
Technology Watch surveys the ICT environment for
new study topics. Covered a broad range of topics:
Biometrics, ICT and Climate Change, Telepresence,
ICT and Food Security, Mobile Apps, Cloud
Computing, etc.
TechWatch Alerts
TechWatch Alerts are intended to provide a brief but
concise overview of emerging technologies, trends
and ideas in the field of ICTs.
Technology Watch Briefing Reports provide an
up-to-date assessment of promising new
technologies. Most Recent report:
“Decreasing Driver Distraction (August 2010)”:
Technology-caused driver distraction
International
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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
International
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Increase participation and
collaboration-1
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
International
Telecommunication
Union
Increase participation and
collaboration (2)
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
International
Telecommunication
Union
Increase participation and
collaboration (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
International
Telecommunication
Union
Capacity Building
Technical Flyers
Highlight ITU-T Recommendations
Numbering, Naming and Addressing, VoIP, QoS & QoE, NGN,
ASON, B-PON, CWDM, DSL, G-PON, Optical Fibres and Cables,
OTN, OTS, Synchronization over packet networks,
Accessibility, H.264, H.350, Multimedia Communications,
ASN.1, Security, IMT-2000, …
Available at http://www.itu.int/oth/T0B04/en
ITU-T Tutorial on Optical Fibre Cables and
Systems
Based on the OF&S handbook of SG15
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.
Tutors leading experts from industry contributing to write
handbooks and standards
International
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Union
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
International
Standardization Gap (requires TIES account)
Telecommunication
Colombo 13 Sept. 2010
Union
Conclusions
Bridging the Standardization Gap requires
efforts from ITU and its Membership
Increase the use of ITU-T
Recommendations, membership
Capacity building, training
Increase participation in Study Groups,
management, workshops, meetings and
number of contributions
Encourage contribution to ITU work plans
International
Telecommunication
Union
www.itu.int/ITU-T
http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/gap
International
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