ITU FORUM ON IMPLEMENTATION OF
WTSA-08 DECISIONS, NADI, FIJI
16-17SEPTEMBER 2009
RESULTS OF THE GLOBAL SYMPOSIUM
ON STANDARDS
BY
PATRICK MASAMBU, CHIEF EXECUTIVE
UGANDA COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
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1.Introduction
• The inaugural Global Standards Symposium held on
20th October 2008, just beforeWTSA-08, was
attended by about 500 delegates and addressed by
Ministers, Secretary General/ITU and the
Director/ITU-T.
• The need, desire and rationale for holding the
Symposium stemmed from Resolutions of 2006 Antalya
Plenipotentiary as well as ITU Council.
• The symposium themes centred around: bridging the
standardisation gap; identifying key challenges in the
standardisation landscape and global standards
collaboration.
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2.Bridging the Standardisation Gap
 The value and importance of the ITU decision to make
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The linkage between global ICT standards and lowering of prices
payable by consumers.
Global inter-operability is key to bridging the gap
Because of the centrality of ICT’s in economic and social
development,bridging the gap is more than a technical issue.
Adopting some of the principles currently used in Universal
Access;broadening stakeholder involvement and involving research
as well as Unversities in standardisation processes may well be
useful new strategies to consider for adoption.
Bridging the Gap contn’d
 The important linkage between the
Internet economy and bridging the
standardisation gap.
 The session benefitted from country
case studies in respect of Korea,
China,and South Africa.
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3.Global Standardisation Challenges
 The need and importance of involving developing
countries in the process of standards
development.
 The positive impacts and potential negatives of
standards on product innovation and market
dynamism.
 The need to ensure that conformance to
standards leads to inter-operability.
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Global Standardisation contn’d
 Should an open approach to standards that allows for
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adoption of neutral procurement policies through
which agencies and businesses chose the best
software and business models for their specific needs
be considered as apossible option?
 Should accessibility and assistive technologies be
subjected to competition in the industry?
 Drastic rise in connected people will lead to huge
traffic increase and this has implications on
optimisation of network architectures.
Global Standardisation contn’d
 Key
needs of: reducing overlaps and complexities in
different standards bodies, focus on agreed priorities,
addressing internet time challenges and synchronisation
of different bodies based on agreed overall
architectures.
 Development of a new standardisation landscape
that:fosters coherence of activities, promotes
‘complementarities’ and not ‘competition’ and ensures
strong stakeholder commitment.
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Global Standardisation contn’d
 The importance of echo-architecture
and eco-literacy on ICT if sustainability
is to be achieved.
 Global climatic change poses new
challenges and opportunities for
standardisation work.
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4.Global Standards Collaboration
..Convergence has accentuated the need for collaboration
between standards development organisations.
 Methods of work like simplified approvals procedure and
portals for electronic working on standards can enhance
success.
 Regional Co-ordination of similar standards can be very
effective in promoting the work on standardisation.
 Enhancement of collaboration can be effectively achieved
through use of seminars.
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Standards Collaboration contn’d
 It was noted that the provision of free
access to standards by ITU,offering of
remote access and relocation off meetings
as well as programs of regional fora had
enhanced participation in the overall
standardisation process.
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5.Conclusion
 Symposium rated as successful,with several good ideas and
different viewpoints having been shared.
 General consesus on the need to include research
institutions;involve developing countries and pay special
attention to capacity building.
 The need to improve on efficiency of collabobration
between various standards bodies.
 Building the bridge will work best when there is
complementary action from both sides.
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THANK YOU
email: patmas@ucc.co.ug
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