International Telecommunication
Regulations
ITRs : Setting the stage for
a connected world
CTO Forum, Colombo, Sri-Lanka
13 September 2010
Malcolm Johnson
Director of ITU-TSB
ITRs: Setting the stage for
a connected world
Background
September 2010
2
[Background]
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been
constantly evolving since 1865
1865
2010
Throughout this evolution the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) has been providing the general principles for the provision and
operation of international telecommunications
3
[Background]
These principles are in the form of treaty-level international
regulations
1865
1879
1906
1932 1938
Regulations for international service of the
Telegraph Convention
(1865- last modified on 1973)
1949 1958
1973
1988
2010
Telegraph Regulations
(1932 - last modified on 1973)
ITRs
(came into
force in 1990)
Telephone Regulations
(1932 - last modified on 1973)
Radio Regulations
(first version 1906 – last modified in 2007)
•
ITRs are one of the four treaties of ITU.
Constitution
Convention
Radio Regulations
ITRs
•
ITRs succeeded the Telegraph Regulations (1973) and Telephone Regulations
(1973) in a new treaty adopted at WATTC-88 (Melbourne). [CS/Art. 4].
•
ITRs came into force in 1990.
4
[Background]
The adoption of the ITRs is often taken as the start of
liberalization in the sector
• Why were they adopted?
• To provide a basis for the provision and operation of
international telecommunication services;
• To outline the respective responsibilities of
governments and Operating Agencies in an industry
that had previously largely been government-owned
or controlled;
• To provide general principles, even for commerciallynegotiated arrangements.
* Administrations or recognized private operating agency(ies)
5
[Background]
Outline
Articles
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
Purpose & Scope of the Regulations
Definitions
International Network
International Telecommunication Services
Safety of Life & Priority of Telecommunications
Charging & Accounting
Suspension of Services
Dissemination of Information [reporting by ITU SG]
Special Arrangements
Final Provisions
1)
2)
3)
Appendices
General Provisions Concerning Accounting
Additional Provisions Relating to Maritime Telecommunications
Service & Privilege Telecommunications
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ITRs: Setting the stage for
a connected world
Influence on the ICT sector
September 2010
7
[Influence on the sector]
Signed by 178 countries, ITRs are a truly global
treaty applied around the world
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Rep.
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo (Rep. of the)
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Rep.
Dem. People's Rep. of
Korea
Dem. Rep. of the
Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Rep.
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran (Islamic Republic
of)
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea (Rep. of)
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao P.D.R.
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal (Republic of)
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Peru
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
The Former Yugoslav
Rep. of Macedonia
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican
Venezuela
Viet Nam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Source: ITU
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[Influence on the sector]
ITRs establish the framework for…
• The international network for international
telecommunication services;
• Safety of life and priority of telecommunications;
• The basis for charging and accounting for international
telecommunication services; and
• The suspension of services.
9
[Influence on the sector]
This treaty set the stage for an increase in
competition and a reduction in accounting rates
ITRs come
into force
Source: ITU
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ITRs: Setting the stage for
a connected world
The need to rejuvenate the ITRs
September 2010
11
[The need to rejuvenate the ITRs]
The ICT sector has changed dramatically since the
adoption of ITRs, both in technologies and in
penetration
A decade of ICT growth driven by new technologies
Shift from
fix to mobile,
from
voice to data
as the drivers of
traffic and main
sources of
revenue
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[The need to rejuvenate the ITRs]
The Internet is now in the center of most ICT services
and every user has become a potential broadcaster
The evolution from Web 1.0 and 2.0 provide an idea of the
range of applications that ICTs may provide in the near future
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[The need to rejuvenate the ITRs]
Opportunities:
Future ICTs could
•
Provide education around the world, so schoolchildren can carry their
textbooks with them in the palm of their hand…
•
Monitor the elderly to ensure their wellbeing…
•
Help track and find lost children…
•
Enable everybody to keep up-to-date with personal and professional
relations, regardless of distance…
•
Provide access to the world’s largest library and online store of
learning, at the click of a mouse…
•
to mention just a few…
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[The need to rejuvenate the ITRs]
Challenges:
At the same time, there are growing issues
and urgent challenges that need to be addressed
Ensuring access to ICTs for all
Fighting illegal content
(such as spam, fraudulent emails or child
pornography)
Distribution of revenues between
carriers and content providers
Preserving cybersecurity;
“Net shaping” or deciding which
services get priority…
Taxation of international services
Sovereignty of public sector over services
provided offshore
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[The need to rejuvenate the ITRs]
The functioning of ICTs is the result of a set of decisions by
governments, ISPs and network operators….
Source: OFCOM.
Greater transparency in traffic prioritization is needed to preserve Quality of
Service for consumers’ benefit….
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ITRs: Setting the stage for
a connected world
What’s next
September 2010
17
[What’s next]
The revision of ITRs has been under discussion since 1998
C99, C00, C01
C03, C04, C05
C07, C08, C09, C10
C11
WCIT12
PP98
PP02
PP06
WTPF-09
Res 79
Res 121
Res 146
Op.6
Expert Group
CWG-ITRs
Expert Group
PP10
CWG-WCIT-12
Res 1312
• Slow progress over the last twelve years shows the complexity
of the issue and the need to build consensus to agree on a
revision of the treaty.
• These issues will be discussed at the November 2012 World
Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12)
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[What’s next]
WCIT-12 will be an opportunity for the 192 ITU Member
States to update the ITRs for the modern
communications era
•
The revised ITRs could continue to provide the general principles for the
provision and operation of international telecommunication services by:
•
facilitating global interconnection & the interoperability of telecom
infrastructure, the base layer underlying the Internet;
•
Underpinning the “harmonious development” & efficient operation of
technical facilities;
•
Promoting the efficiency & availability of international telecom services.
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[What’s next]
This treaty could provide the framework for the healthy growth
of modern international communications by:
• Establishing general principles for the operation of international
telecommunication services;
• Examining issues relating to Net shaping and the prioritization
of international telecommunication services to optimize Quality
of Service (QoS) for consumers’ benefit;
• Ensuring the right of end-users to communicate;
• Promoting cybersecurity and guarding against spam and harm
to facilities or consumers from the use of
telecommunication/ICT services.
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[What’s next]
ITU is committed to Connecting the World…
Ensuring that affordable telecommunication services
are available to all,
and working to ensure
healthy future growth in ICT networks and services
for a safe and secure online world for all.
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ITRs: Setting the stage for
a connected world
Thank you!
Corporate Strategy Division
September 2010
22
[More information]
For more information on WCIT-12 and the ITRs:
The ITRs, time for a revision? (background information for PP10)
http://www.itu.int/plenipotentiary/2010/newsroom/backgrounders/itr.html
CWG-WCIT12:
http://www.itu.int/council/groups/cwg-wcit12/index.html
2007 Background document:
http://www.itu.int/md/T05-ITR.EG-INF-0002/en
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