The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was founded in 1865, and as such is the world’s oldest intergovernmental organization. Today it is the largest and most influential telecommunications organization in the world.
As of August 2001, the ITU comprised 189 Member States and nearly 700 Sector Members (scientific and industrial companies, public and private operators, broadcasters, regional/international organizations).
The ITU’s biggest achievement has been its role in the creation of the international telecommunications network, which is the largest ever man-made artifact. The network keeps us in touch, brings us world news and underpins the global economy – and it would not exist without ITU’s work.
The ITU defines and adopts telecommunications standards – allowing people to communicate with each other from every corner of the globe. It also regulates the use of the radio-frequency spectrum – allowing aircraft communications to be interference-free, and television signals to be sent and received. And it furthers telecommunications development around the world, particularly in the developing nations.
BACKGROUND
Founded in Paris, as the International Telegraph Union, the International Telecommunication Union took its present name in 1934 and became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1947. It moved to Geneva from its previous headquarters in Bern in 1948.
The ITU is an intergovernmental organization, within which the public and private sectors cooperate for the development of telecommunications. The ITU adopts international regulations and treaties governing all terrestrial and space uses of the radio-frequency spectrum as well as the use of the geostationary-satellite orbit, within which countries adopt their national legislation. It also develops standards to facilitate the interconnection of telecommunication systems on a worldwide scale regardless of the type of technology used. Spearheading telecommunications development on a world scale, the ITU fosters the development of telecommunications in developing countries, by establishing medium-term development policies and strategies in consultation with other partners and by providing specialized technical assistance in the areas of telecommunication policies, the choice and transfer of technologies, management, financing of investment projects and mobilization of resources, the installation and maintenance of networks, and the management of human resources.
MISSION
In essence, the Union's mission covers the following domains:
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a technical domain: to promote the implementation and efficient operation of telecommunication facilities, in order to improve the efficiency of telecommunication services, their usefulness, and their general availability to the public;
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a development domain: to promote and offer technical assistance to developing countries in the field of telecommunications, to promote the mobilization of the human and financial resources needed to develop tele-communications, and to promote the extension of the benefits of new telecommunications technologies to people everywhere;
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a policy domain: to promote, at the international level, the adoption of a broader approach to the issues of telecommunications in the global information economy and society.
WHAT DOES THE ITU CONSIST OF?
The Union comprises:
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a Plenipotentiary Conference. This is the supreme authority of the Union which meets every four years to adopt the strategic plan, set the budget and the fundamental policies of the organization, and decide on the organization and activities of the Union. The next Plenipotentiary Conference will be held in Morocco in 2002.
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the Council, composed of a maximum of 25% of the ITU Member States (currently 46) which acts on behalf of the Plenipotentiary Conference and meets annually to consider broad telecommunication policy issues in order to ensure that the Union's policies and strategies fully respond to the constantly changing telecommunication environment. The Council is also responsible for ensuring the efficient coordination of the work of the Union and the approval of budgets.
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World Conferences on International Telecommunications, which meet whenever necessary to establish the general principles which relate to the provision and operation of international telecommunication services offered to the public as well as the underlying international telecommunication transport means used to provide such services; they also set the rules applicable to administrations and operators in respect of international telecommunications.
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a Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R).
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a Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T).
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a Telecommunications Development Sector (ITU-D).
Each of the three sectors operates through a Bureau which is located at the ITU’s Headquarters in Geneva, as is the General Secretariat.
RADIOCOMMUNICATION
The aim of the Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) is to ensure rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the radio-frequency spectrum by all radiocommunication services, including those using the geostationary and other satellite orbits.
This aim is achieved by:
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World and Regional Radiocommunication Conferences which develop and adopt Radio Regulations and Regional Agreements covering the use of the radio-frequency spectrum;
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establishing ITU-R Recommendations on the technical characteristics and operational procedures for radiocommunication services and systems;
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co-ordinating efforts to eliminate harmful interference between radio stations of different countries;
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maintaining the Master International Frequency Register;
- providing tools and information as well as organizing seminars to assist national radio-frequency spectrum management.
The legislative and policy functions of the Radiocommunication Sector are performed by World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs) and Radiocommunication Assemblies which are supported by study groups. The WRC, which was most recently held in Istanbul in May 2000, is the biggest event the ITU organizes, with the exception of the ITU
TELECOM
event.
During 2001, the Sector’s Study Groups concentrated on the preparation of new and updated Recommendations on spectrum issues and system characteristics following the decisions of Radio Assembly 2000. The Radiocommunication Bureau also issued the new edition of the Radio Regulations, prepared by WRC-2000, which will come into force on January 1st, 2002. With the introduction of a new document management system at the ITU, all of these texts are now made available in electronic format and in three languages (English, French and Spanish) on the ITU's website.
TELECOMMUNICATION STANDARDIZATION
The duties of the Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) are to study technical, operating, and tariff questions and to issue Recommendations on them with a view to standardizing telecommunications on a world-wide basis, including recommendations on terrestrial networks, and on interconnection with radiocommunication systems in public telecommunication networks and on the performance required for these interconnections. Technical or operating questions specifically related to radiocommunications come within the purview of the Radiocommunication Sector.
The legislative and policy functions of the Telecommunication Standardization Sector fall within the mandate of World Telecommunication Standardization Assemblies (WTSAs) which are supported by ITU-T Study Groups.
ITU-T Study Groups are groups of experts in which administrations and public/private sector entities participate. Their focus of work is on the standardization of telecommunication services, operation, performance and maintenance of equipment, systems, networks and services, tariffs principles and accounting methods.
Although they are not binding, ITU-T Recommendations are generally complied with because they foster the interconnectivity of networks, systems, equipment and associated protocols, and technically enable services to be provided on a world-wide scale.
TELECOMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT
The mission of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) is to provide advice to government in priority areas such as international agreements and national regulation, tariffs and finance, new and convergent technologies and the feasibility stage of negotiations. It is also to facilitate and enhance telecommunication development worldwide by offering, organizing and coordinating technical cooperation and assistance activities.
Some of the projects carried out by the Telecommunication Development Sector are co-financed with the surplus revenues from the ITU’s World and Regional
TELECOM
events.
The Sector discharges the Union’s dual responsibility as a United Nations specialized agency and executing agency for implementing projects under the United Nations development system or other funding arrangements.
The Sector is also responsible for publishing the highly-regarded series of Indicators publications which provide regular snapshots of the state of telecommunications development around the world as well as analysis of the trends in the industry. Another series of flagship publications monitor and analyze world and regional trends in telecommunication reform and offers vital information for governments reforming their telecommunications sector.
Sector activities range from policy and regulatory advice, advice on the financing of telecommunications and on low-cost technology options, to assistance in human resource management, the development of initiatives targeting rural development and universal access.
The policy functions of the Telecommunication Development Sector are fulfilled by World and Regional Telecommunication Development Conferences, supported by study groups.
GENERAL SECRETARIAT
The task of the General Secretariat is to manage the administrative and financial aspects of the Union’s activities, including the provision of conference services, the management of IT infrastructure and applications, long range strategic planning, and corporate functions (Communications, Legal advice, Finance, Personnel and Common Services) including:
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management of the Union’s many meetings and regional and international assemblies and conferences (organizational and logistical support, provision of administrative services, documentation, translation and interpretation services). Production of documents and publications, their marketing, sales and dispatch to customers worldwide.
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preparation of papers and reports tracking changing trends in the global telecommunications environment, development of corporate communication materials promoting the work of the Union. Relations with international and regional organizations and operational analysis activities to improve working methods and identify cost-saving measures.
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Management of the finances of the Union and of personnel and human resources, provision of legal advice and opinions and support functions to the Secretary-General in his role as the ITU’s legal representative and depository of treaties and other agreements concluded by the ITU or under its auspices.
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Organization of the world and regional ITU
TELECOM
Exhibitions and Forums.
ITU TELECOM
Arguably the most public side of ITU’s work is the organization of the World and Regional ITU
TELECOM Exhibitions and Forums. The ITU
TELECOM events put on show the industry’s latest products and services at the Exhibition. They also have a unique track record in bringing together governments, industry, operators, investors and other key players in telecommunications to debate, discuss and analyze the latest trends.
The ITU’s TELECOM events are also of direct benefit to the developing world, since the surplus funds generated by them are used for telecommunication development projects, primarily in the world’s least developed and lowest income countries. The next ITU
TELECOM event,
AFRICA 2001, will be staged in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 12 to 16 November 2001. It will be the ITU's fifth regional event for Africa since the first one was held in 1986, and is the only telecoms event being hosted by the Government of the Republic of South Africa in the year 2001. Taking place as it does in – and for – the region of the world that most needs increased telecoms development,
AFRICA 2001 promises to be a crucial event in Bridging the Digital Divide.
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