ITU Agenda to Include Standardization, Cybersecurity
The International Telecommunication Union plans to increase developing countries’ participation in creating standards, said Chairman Richard Wiley of the Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policy. David Gross, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, said telecom industries worldwide feel “lots of ripples” from the financial crises but not major ones. They spoke during a meeting of advisory group Thursday.
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The standardization gap is replacing the digital divide as the barrier to expanding telecom infrastructure in many developing countries, Wiley said. Compatibility is a challenge as many countries develop next-generation networks, he said. Gross said bridging the standardization gap lets developing countries profit from access to new technology development and ensure their requirements are included in the development of specifications.
The coming World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly in South Africa will define standards policy and adopt working methods, including on the approval process and the structure of study groups, Wiley said. The assembly also will deal with procedures for ITU-T and the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector, Wiley said. The ITU is devoting more attention to the sector, Gross added.
Members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development agreed at a ministerial meeting to promote the Internet economy and stimulate sustainable economic growth, Gross said. Member countries will encourage a more efficient use of radio frequency spectrum to promote Internet access, and will encourage the adoption of IPv6, especially by governments and big businesses, he said. Gross said members see challenges, including expanding Internet access, promoting Internet-based competition, security, privacy and intellectual property rights.
Cybersecurity has been a focus of nearly all recent U.S. bilateral meetings and industry meetings, Gross said. Network reliability has been a concern for both developed and developing countries, he said.