ITU and its work in the field of
Standardization
Presented at the
Workshop on ITU activities
Bangalore (India), 30-31 August 2001
by
Houlin ZHAO
Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB)
International Telecommunication Union, Geneva
Place des Nations - CH-1211 Geneva 20 - Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 730 5851
Fax: +41 22 730 5853
E-mail: houlin.zhao@itu.int
ITU Home page address: http://www.itu.int
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1
1837
1844
Invention of the first electric telegraph
Samuel Morse sent his first public message over a telegraph Iine
between Washington and Baltimore
1865
Foundation of the International Telegraph Union by twenty States
17 May with the adoption of the first Convention. First Telegraph Regulations.
1876
Alexander Graham Bell patents his invention of the telephone
1924
1925
1927
1932
Paris - Creation of CCIF (International Telephone Consultative Committee)
Paris - Creation of CCIT (International Telegraph Consultative Committee)
Washington - Creation of the CCIR (Intl. Radio Consultative Committee)
Madrid - Plenipotentiary Conference. Telegraph Union changes name to
International Telecommunication Union
1947
1956
ITU becomes a Specialized Agency of the United Nations
Geneva - CCIF and CCIT merged into CCITT (International
Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee)
1992
Geneva - Plenipotentiary Conference. Creation of 3 Sectors:
ITU-T replaces CCITT, ITU-R replaces IFRB, CCIR, and ITU-D replaces TCD
1999/7 ITU becomes a founding Member of PSO of ICANN
ITU Landmarks
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Plenipotentiary
Conference
Council
Radiocommunication
Sector
Telecommunication
Standardization Sector
Development Sector
World/Regional
Conferences
Radiocommunication
Assembly
World
Telecommunication
Standardization
Assembly (WTSA)
World/Regional
Conferences
Radio Regulations
Board
Coordination
Committee
Study
Groups
Secretary-General
Deputy Secretary-General
Director
General Secretariat
Bureau
Advisory
Group
Study
Groups
Director
Advisory
Group
Bureau
New Structure of the ITU
World Conferences
on International
Telecommunications
Study
Groups
Director
Advisory
Group
Bureau
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CCITT
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
(International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee):
1st Plenary Assembly
2nd Plenary Assembly
Red Books
3rd Plenary Assembly
Blue Books
4th Plenary Assembly
White Books
5th Plenary Assembly
Green Books
1976
1980
1984
1988
6th Plenary Assembly
7th Plenary Assembly
8th Plenary Assembly
9th Plenary Assembly
Orange Books
Yellow Books
Red Books
Blue Books
ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union - Telecom. Standardization Sector):
1993
1st World Telecommunication Standardization Conference (WTSC-93), Helsinki
1996
2nd World Telecommunication Standardization Conference (WTSC-96), Geneva
2000
3rd World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-2000), Montreal
CCITT and ITU-T
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
A UN Specialized Agency

Intergovernmental organization, governments represented through
their telecommunication Administrations (constitutional Members)

Other entities (Recognized Operating Agencies, Scientific Industrial
Organizations, regional and international organizations) admitted
as Sector members

"Basic Law" = Convention and Constitution,
to be modified by Plenipotentiary Conferences
INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION (ITU)
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"The functions of the Telecommunication Standardization Sector
shall be, bearing in mind the particular concerns of the developing
countries, to fulfill the purposes of the Union relating to
telecommunication standardization, as stated in Article 1 of this
Constitution, by studying technical, operating and tariff Questions
and adopting Recommendations on them with a view to
standardizing telecommunications on a worldwide basis."
Functions of ITU-T
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Member States:
189
Sector Members:
180 ROAs (Recognized Operating Agencies Network and service providers)
232 SIOs (Scientific and Industrial Organiz.s Manufacturers)
42 others (including ISOC)
(regional, International organizations, etc.)
19 Associates
Membership of ITU-T
(by 1 August 2001)
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WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION
STANDARDIZATION ASSEMBLY
TELECOMMUNICATION
STANDARDIZATION
ADVISORY GROUP
STUDY GROUP
STUDY GROUP
WORKING
PARTY
STUDY GROUP
WORKING
PARTY
WORKING
PARTY
R
R
R
R
R = RAPPORTEUR GROUP
Organizational Structure of ITU-T
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8
4 weeks
3 months minimum
maximum
1 month
minimum
7 working days
SG
meeting
Consultation period
SG or WP
meeting
SG or WP
determination
Edited text
available
Chairman's
request
Text
distributed
Director's
announcement
SG
decision
Director's
notification
Director's request
Deadline for
Member States' replies
Approval of new and revised Recommendations Sequence of events
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(a)
3 weeks
4 weeks
LC
SG or
WP
Meeting
Edited
Text
for LC
Director’s
Announcement
and Posting
for LC
(b)
Director’s
Announcement
and Posting
(c)
(a)
(b)
Comment
Resolution
Edited
Text
Available
LC:
AR:
3 weeks
AR
Director’s
Announcement
and Posting
for AR
SG
Meeting
(b)
(a)
Approved
Director’s
Notification
Last Call
Additional Review
AAP Sequence of events
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
ITU-T studies are driven by contributions from its membership

Contributions are discussed at meetings, with assessment made by
Rapporteurs and management team of Study Groups

Study Group meetings, Working Party meetings, Rapporteur Group
meetings, Joint meetings, etc.

Electronic consultation, EDH
Working methods
Procedures for comments and decision-making
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Approval
time
Publication
time
Notes:
before 1988
1989-1993
1993-1996
1997-2000
2001-2004
4 years
2 years
18 months
9 months
(exceptional
case:
5 months)
2-9
months
2-4 years
2 years
1-1.5 year
6-12 months
3-9 months
1.
Pre-published Recommendations, available on ITU-T Website, from a few days
to four weeks after approval of the text.
2.
Recs in force, pre-published, superseded/obsolete: available on ITU-T Website.
3.
Forms of publication: paper, CD-ROM, electronic bookshop, online, etc.
4.
FREE ONLINE ACCESS SINCE JANUARY 2001 (one free access per member,
3 free downloads for public)
5.
“Approval time” counted between “determination/consent” and final approval
Approval and publication time of
Recommendations
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12
1981-1984 1985-1988
1989-1992
1997-2000
Recommendations
in force by the end
of the period
1,280
1,600
1,897
2,625
Total pages by the
end of the period
11,600
(Red Books)
18,000
(Blue Books)
26,000
76,180
Note:
1. Approx. 300 texts per year during 1997-2000
2. About 180 common texts between ITU-T and ISO/IEC JTC 1
3. ITU-T publishes handbooks and Operational Bulletin
Comparisons
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13
Series AOrganization of the work of the ITU-T
Series B
Means of expression: definitions, symbols, classification
Series C
General telecommunication statistics
Series D
General tariff principles
Series E
Overall network operation, telephone service,
service operation and human factors
Series F
Non-telephone telecommunication services
Series G
Transmission systems and media, digital systems and networks
Series H
Audiovisual and multimedia systems
Series I
Integrated services digital network
ITU-T Recommendations Series
(1)
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Series J
Transmission of television, sound programme and
other multimedia signals
Series K
Protection against interference
Series L
Construction, installation and protection of cables and other
elements of outside plant
Series M
TMN and network maintenance: international transmission
systems, telephone circuits, telegraphy, facsimile and
leased circuits
Series N
Maintenance: international sound programme and
television transmission circuits
Series O
Specifications of measuring equipment
Series P
Telephone transmission quality, telephone installations,
local line networks
ITU-T Recommendations Series
(2)
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Series Q
Switching and signalling
Series R
Telegraph transmission
Series S
Telegraph services terminal equipment
Series T
Terminals for telematic services
Series U
Telegraph switching
Series V
Data communication over the telephone network
Series X
Data networks and open system communication
Series Y
Global information infrastructure
Series Z
Programming languages
ITU-T Recommendations Series
(3)
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2000 - Best selling texts (in the order of sales number):
H.323 (09/99)
G.703
G.723.1 Q.931
G.711
X.690
G.723 Annex A+disk
V.90
E.164
X.680
H.323 (02/98)
G.692
G.729
G.826
G.957
H.225.0
H.263
G.729 Annex A+disk
G.704
V.34
Some well-known ITU-T Recommendations:
E.164
E.190
E.212
G.711
G.720
G.729
G.982
G.990-series (xDSL)
H.245
H.248
H.263
H.323
H.324
H.450
I.365
I.432
I.731
J.112
J.117
M.3000
M.3200 M.3210
Q.1700
Q.1721 Q.1731
Q.1751
T.30
T.37
T.38
V.44
V.59
V.90
V.92
X.25
X.36
X.208
X.509
X.680
X.840-series
Y.1310
Y.1540
Best Sellers
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Three major items:
-
IP-related issues
-
IMT-2000
-
Accounting rates
Other items:
-
Multi-media, access networks (xDSL), security,
numbering and addressing, inter-operabilities, IPR, etc.
Promotion
ITU-T's main work areas
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18

approved the reports for the 1997-2000 activities

approved Recommendations:
- Rec. D.140, Annex E (transitional tariff and
accounting arrangements)
- Rec. D.50 (cost-sharing principle for internet traffic)

established a Special Study Group on IMT-2000 and beyond

Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of SGs nominated
WTSA-2000 results
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
Recommendation A.AAP, now called “Rec. A.8”, (Alternative Approval
Procedures), quicker, WEB consultation

EDH (Electronic Data Handling);
e-mail, tele-conferencing, e-consulting, paperless meeting

Flexibility: new meeting arrangements

Resolution 17: Telecommunication standardization in relation to the
interests of developing countries:
- to cooperate with ITU regional office, possibly to hold ITU-T meetings
in the region;
- to strengthen cooperation with regional organizations;
- to provide free electronic access to Recommendations if approved by
the Council;
- to encourage participation of developing countries in ITU-T activities;
- to hold information meetings;
- to assist developing countries with technical priority studies;
- etc.
WTSA-2000 results
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
TSAG (Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group):

more power, including:
- establishment or discontinuation of Study Group(s)
- endorsement of new working methods
- review of approval procedures
- taking care of external relationships
- strategic guidance

“Associate”: Sfr. 10.500 per year (1/3 of Sector Membership fee)

Reform of ITU-T
WTSA-2000 results
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Study Group 2:
Operational aspects of service provision, networks and
performance
Study Group 3:
Tariff and accounting principles including related
telecommunications economic and policy issues
Study Group 4:
Telecommunication management, including TMN
Study Group 5:
Protection against electromagnetic environment effects
Study Group 6:
Outside plant
Study Group 7:
Data networks and open system communications
Study Group 9:
Integrated broadband cable networks and television
and sound transmission
Study Group 10:
Languages and general software aspects for
telecommunication systems
New structure
(1)
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Study Group 11:
Signalling requirements and protocols
Study Group 12:
End-to-end transmission performance of networks
and terminals
Study Group 13:
Multi-protocol and IP-based networks and
their internetworking
Study Group 15:
Optical and other transport networks
Study Group 16:
Multimedia services, systems and terminals
Special Study Group:
IMT-2000 and beyond
TSAG
New Structure
(2)
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
WTDC-2002, March 2002, Istanbul, Turkey

PP-02, September-October 2002, Marrakesh, Morocco

World Telecom Exhibition: TELECOM 2003,
Geneva, Switzerland, October 2003

World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS),
Geneva, Switzerland, December 2003
Future public activities of ITU
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24
NGOs
Intergovernment
ITU
(ITU-T and ITU-R)
Task Force
IETF
Forums & Consortia
1394TA
AOEMA
CBOP
COS
ECE
EIDX
FCIA-J
Home API
IMTC
JCTEA
JMF
Mobile Web
ODVA
PCMCIA
SDR
TSC
WDF
3GPP
AOW
CDG
CTFJ
ECHONET
EMA
FIPA
HomePNA
IMWA
JECALS
LONMARK
MOPA
OIF
PHS MoU
SSIPG
UMTS
Web 3D
3GPP2
ATMF
CIF
DHF
ECOM
EMF
FRF
HRFWG
IrDA
JEDIC
MCPC
MPLSF
OMG
PICMG
STA
USBIF
WfMC
AIM
BINTERMS
CII
DISA
ECTF
ERTICO
FSAN
IDB Forum
ITS America
JEMA
MDG.org
MSForum
OSGi
POF
TINA-C
UWCC
WIN Forum
ITU positioning
AMF
Bluetooth
CommerceNet
DOPG
EDIFICE
EWOS
GSM Assoc.
IFIP
ITS UK
JICSAP
MITF
MWIF
PCCA
Salutation
TMForum
W3C
WLIF
ISO,IEC,
IEEE, ETSI, ECMA
TTC, Committee T1,
ARIB, TIA, SCTE
AMI-C
Cable Modems
CommerceNet J
DSLF
EEMA
FCIA
HNF
IFSA
JAVA
JIMM
MMCF
OASIS
PCISIG
SCF
TOG
WAP
XTP Forum
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Membership fees
Note
Annual fee
(US$)
Budget
SDO
(25,000,000 $)
40,000,000 SFr
ITU-T
ITU-R
choice minimum
½ unit (31,500 SFr)
20,000
20,275,000 $
(21,909,000
Euros)
ETSI
obliged turnover
45 units (5,000 Euros/unit)
211,050
IETF
Depending on
participation
350 $/500 $ per meeting per person,
3 meetings per year
1050/1500 x ?
Obliged
$ 42,000 / $ 18, 000 / $ 10,000
standards free
42,000
Through national
members
Shared by national members
(five big members pay 9% of the
budget)
(individual
company up to
50,000)
1,200,000 $
ECMA
(18,300,000 $)
29,305,000 SFr
ISO
(11,900,000 $)
19,000,000 SFr
IEC
(4,456,200
Euros)
4,000,000 $
3GPP
Shared by 6 SDOs
Average
500,000/SDO
1,840,000 $
3GPP2
Shared by 5 SDOs
Average
360,000/SDO
W3C
Obliged
50,000 $ / 5,000 $, standards free
IEEE
Obliged
ATM
obliged + meeting fees
50,000
5,000
$ 14,000/5,000/3,500/1,500,
14,000+1,000/1,100 x?
$ 250/275 per meeting
4 meetings/year, standards free
(Some SDOs receive secretariat support from their members; such expenditures are not counted in the budget.)
2,870,000 $
Company’s dues to SDOs
(ITU-T Associate fee: US$ 6,000)
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ROAs (87/1783)
Administrations (96/2208)
SIOs (167/1875)
U.S.A.
342
NTT
188
Lucent
166+58 +
China
232
FT
184
Ericsson
147+5+
Germany
187
BT
148
Siemens
136+17+
France
106
DT
134
Nortel
91+51+
Russia
99
ATT
77
Alcatel
35+23+40+18+
U.K.
95
KDDI
69
CSELT
69
Canada
63
Telecom Italia
65
NEC
47
Japan
63
Swisscom
65
Nokia
46
India
62
KT
59
Fujitsu
42
Ukraine
58
Telenor
58
Telecordia
36
Italy
56
Royal KPN
58
Motorola
27+8
Syria
53
Telia
46
OKI
32
Korea
50
Telekom Austria
37
ETRI
32
Total:
1466 (66%)
Total:
1188 (67%)
Total: 1126 (60%)
(Note – Cisco: 13)
ITU-T Top 13 Members participation (07/98-08/00)
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- Increase your participation in the ITU
- Present your own ideas/opinions to ITU
- Add your own values to ITU
- See you in ITU activities