Regional ITU Consultation on
Conformance Assessment and
Interoperability for the Africa region
(Nairobi, Kenya, 30-31 July 2010 )
Measuring Interoparability:
From Theory to Practice
Dr. Ulrich Sandl,
Head of Division
Federal Ministry of Economics
and Technology
Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
The political dimension of
interoperability

Interoperability means (not only)


Functional capability
But also
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Competition
Lower prices
 Innovation
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
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Independence
Transparency and Openness (security)
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
The political framework(s) in
Germany and the EU

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On European level
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The Digital Agenda
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The European Interoperability Framework
In Germany
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The ICT Strategy (Germany 2015)
SAGA (Standards and Architectures fo e-government)
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
The carrot and the stick strategy
The carrot
 R&D
 Public Procurement
 The stick
 Competition law(s)
 Regulation
 And...

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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
The practice: testing wether it works
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
The challenges for
interoperability testing

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The dynamic technological environment
The different application areas
The convergence of new technologies
Downwards interoperability
The costs...
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
The areas of needs from public
procurement in Germany (1)
Application Area
Application software
System software
IT security
Plug in card
Network interfaces
Micro cpontroller
Storage media
Chipset (CPU)
Yes, there are
problems
73,5
72,1
53,6
25,6
28,6
25,8
22,5
21,9
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
Institut für Wirtschaft, 2009
IW, 2009
The areas of needs from public
procurement in Germany (2)

High
•
•
•

Guidelines for the implementation of standards
Consistent interpretation of standards
Acceptance testing incl. interoperability
confirmation
Low
•
Conformance testing
 addressed with early and continuous
consideration of interoperability aspects in
public procurement
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
How to achieve interoperability
– in general

Standards are the basis for interoperability
•
•

Profiling is the framework for the use of a
standard
•

Gaps of interpretation anticipate interoperability
BUT: standard conformity means not (necessarily)
interoperability
Reduction of interpretation gaps
Testing methods and guidelines for the
documented evidence of interoperability
•
Closing of interpretation gaps
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
The cost benefit relationship
interoperability
time and effort
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
Precondition of a testing body

Vendor neutrality

Uses consistent and mature
(acknowledged) testing methods

Is incorporated in a mutual recognition
network
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
How to achieve interoperability
- in public procurement

Enable public procurers to integrate „interoperability“ as
criteria in public procurement processes

establish testlabs as a test environment to prove
interoperability and to develop and demonstrate a
transparent, standardized and robust valuation methodology

develop typical scenarios with the objective of analyzing,
testing, verifying and demonstrating interoperability of
selected systems in specific areas of application

Set up an information and communication portal to deliver
common and specific information to stakeholders and foster the
building of an interoperability-community and assure
equal access to information
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
Five basic steps of an
interoperability methodology
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
Test process
 Scenario-based testing


Identification of typical and relevant requirements and scenarios
(Semi-)Automated test execution
 Specification-based testing



Extension of scenario-based tests with conformance-oriented
tests
Objective test specifications (TTCN-3)
Fully automated test execution
Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
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Project aims
•
Proof and publication of interoperability of between products,
systems and solutions
 Developing actions to support the enhancement of interoperability, with a special
focus on public procurement
 Developing and upgrading of testbeds
 Specifying and profiling of existing standards
 Developing certifiable test processes and –solutions
 Facilitation of an acknowledged proof
• Make products, systems and solutions more transparent
 Providing best-practice examples, experiences, instructions and publications
• Reduction of the lack of information
 Setting up a modern communication- and information platform
 Promoting the dialogue with interoperability-community
• And…
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
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International cooperation
Mutual recognition
Interoperability testing events
Know how transfers
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
Future Demands

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Cloud Computing
SOA
Next Generation Networks – e.g. IPv6
ePassport, German eIdentity card
transborder cooperation – e.g. crossborder services
Internet of things – e.g. smart grid
...
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010
Thank you for your attention
Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010