ITU FORUM ON IMPLEMENTATION OF
DECISIONS OF WTSA-08
(Accra, Ghana, 16-17 June 2009)
Conformance and Interoperability
Testing: (WTSA-08) Resolution 76
Joshua Peprah
Director,
Regulatory Administration,
National Communications Authority
Accra, Ghana, 16-17 June 2009
International
Telecommunication
Union
Background
Recent years have seen ever increasing
demand of customers for sophisticated
communications equipment, systems and
services.
While acknowledging the proliferation of
communications/ICT systems as signs of
growing competition as well as reduction
in prices of terminal equipment
Same can’t be said for the sub-standard
equipment that are dumped onto our
markets.
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Background Contd.
Electronic communication equipment
should meet minimum technical
standards.
The purpose is to ensure electrical and
electromagnetic compatibility,
prevention of interference and public
network connectivity and ensure
interworking.
Compliance to these technical standards
require laboratory conformity testing.
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WTSA-08 and Resolution 76
The African Group submitted
contribution AFCP No. 4 (ITU Type
Approval of Telecommunication
Equipment) towards the realization
of the setting up of at least a
regional Type Approval Testing
Facilities.
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WTSA-08 and Resolution 76
Contd.
Ghana also submitted contribution
meant to support the proposed ITU
mark program.
where equipment could be tested and
certified to be conformed to ITU
standards and subsequently be issued
with ITU mark.
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WTSA-08 and Resolution 76
Contd.
At the WTSA-08 several proposals
and comments resulted in the
passing and adoption of Resolution
76
studies related to conformance and
interoperability testing, assistance
to developing countries and a
possible future ITU Mark Program
The assembly instructed the Director of
TSB to:
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“Instruct 1”
“To cooperate with the Radiocommunication Bureau and the
Telecommunication Development
Bureau, to conduct exploratory
activities in each region in order to
identify and prioritize the problems
faced by developing countries related
to achieving interoperability of ICT
equipment and services”
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African views on “Instruct 1”
Problems with increased poor quality
equipment in our markets
Lack of testing centers, facilities and
trained professionals
Lack of national or regional laws and
regulations
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African views Contd.
Problems with the Selection of
interoperable equipment supplied by
different telecom manufacturers.
Lack of understanding of
recommendations and of test results
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“Instruct 2"
based on results of ”Instruct 1” above,
the Director TSB is to study the following
items:
the overall effect on ITU and manufacturers
legal and national and international
regulatory implications
cost of set-up of facility
location of testing facility
measures to be taken to build the necessary
human-resource capacities;”
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Overall effect on ITU and
Manufacturers
ITU:
providing technical support for
Recommendation developers,
implementers of Recommendations and
testers;
Defining in the current and future ITU
Recs., additional conformance and
interoperability test specifications,
including test methods and developing
additional Recommendations to support
testing.
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Overall effect on ITU and
Manufacturers Contd.
improving the quality of
Recommendations
Making ITU more visible globally
Serving as an additional source of
income to ITU in fulfillment of Res. 158
Antalya.
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Overall effect on ITU and
Manufacturers Contd.
Manufacturers:
Cost of testing and certification could
increase prices of equipment
Time of introduction of equipment to
markets
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Legal and national and international
regulatory implications
the WTO technical barriers to trade
agreement which countries are
signatories to are obliged to limit the
use of standards in order to avoid
the creation of unnecessary barriers
to trade
APEC, FCC etc… employs Mutual
recognition Agreement meant to
facilitate trade in telecoms
equipment.
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Legal, national and international
regulatory implications Contd.
European Union as a regional body
has a similar regulatory regime in
place meant to protect its citizens.
ITU as a global body may be
encouraged to do same.
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Cost of setting up facility
TSB is invited to study this.
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Location of testing facility
ITU could continue to assist countries
in the setting up of their own test
laboratories which could check
conformance and interoperability
issues
ATU could also corroborate with ITU
in finding an appropriate location for
setting up of an African Regional Test
Center.
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Measures to build the necessary
human-resource capacities
Organization of consumer awareness
and training of engineers on
standardization making processes.
Introduction of standardization
making processes as a subject in our
higher institutions in accordance with
res 71
The regional organizations like ATU
could initiate regional flagship group
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Measures to build the necessary
human-resource capacities Contd.
Possible use of the Bridging the
Standardization Gap Fund. The
income received could be used on a
range of topics related to Bridging
the Standardization Gap, including
work on conformity and
interoperability testing.
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Conclusions
Resolution 76 is a way to addressing
conformance and interoperability
problems developing countries
particularly Africans are faced with.
The Resolution is a way that ITU
could use to provide technical
assistance to regulators and regional
standard bodies in the setting up of
telecommunication equipment type
centers, facilities and laboratories.
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Conclusions Contd.
Member states are therefore invited
to provide inputs to the report that
would be submitted to council 09
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THANK YOU!
MERCI!
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