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Building global frameworks for the benefit of all
Every time someone picks up a telephone and dials a number, answers a call on a mobile phone, sends a fax or receives an e-mail, takes a plane or a ship, listens to the radio, watches a favourite television programme or helps a small child master the latest radio-controlled toy, they benefit from the universal frameworks of international telecommunication put in place by ITU in the past 139 years.
The International Telecommunication Union defines and adopts telecommunications standards allowing industry to provide services that interconnect people and equipment seamlessly. It also regulates the worldwide use of the radio-frequency spectrum, allowing all international wireless communications to be interference-free thereby enabling the relay of vital information and economic data to all parts of the globe.
Spearheading telecommunications development on a world scale, ITU fosters the development of telecommunications in developing countries, by advising countries on winning development policies and strategies and by providing specialized technical assistance in the areas of technology transfer, management, financing and mobilization of resources, installation and maintenance of networks, and management of human resources.
ITU was founded in 1865 in Paris, as the International Telegraph Union, taking its present name of the International Telecommunication Union in 1934. In 1947, it became a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is the world's first intergovernmental organization and today is the most inclusive telecommunications organization in the world.
ITU's biggest achievement has been its pivotal 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. It would not exist as we know it today without ITU's work.
The ITU mission and goals
ITU's mission is to enable the growth and sustained development of telecommunications and information networks, and to facilitate universal access so that people everywhere can participate in, and benefit from, the global information economy and society - thus advancing the "right to communicate".
To fulfil its mission, ITU:
Provides technical telecommunications help to developing countries, and promotes the development of telecommunications for people everywhere Improves the efficiency, usefulness and availability of telecommunication services, their usefulness, and their general availability to the public; Promotes at global level, the adoption of a broader approach to telecommunications issues in the global information economy and society.
ITU's priority goals include:
Drive cooperation across all its Members (public and private sector) to improve telecommunications and foster their rational use Lead information and communication technology initiatives in the United Nations system Contribute to bridging the digital divide by helping the least developed countries and developing countries to expand their networks and improve access particularly in rural and underserved areas Drive the implementation of the outcome of the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and lead preparations for the second phase Develop tools to safeguard the integrity and interoperability of networks Continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ITU's structures and services and their relevance to the membership Help policy-makers and regulators prepare for the challenges of privatization, competition, globalization and technological change
Main focus areas
The International Telecommunication Union has organized its work into three major domains:
A development domain: to promote the development of telecommunications in developing countries and the extension of the benefits of telecommunications to people everywhere A technical domain: to promote the development, efficient operation, usefulness and general availability of telecommunication facilities and services A policy domain: to promote the adoption of a broader approach to telecommunication issues in the global information economy and society
Driving telecommunication progress in developing countries
ITU's increasingly important role as a catalyst for forging development partnerships between government and private industry is helping bring about rapid improvements in telecommunication infrastructure in the world's developing economies.
The ITU Telecommunication Development Sector advises governments on a huge range of topics that contribute to closing the digital divide and improve access to the benefits of ICTs.
For example, the Telecommunication Development Sector supports governments in reforming the ICT sector to create a stable and transparent framework to attract investment and promote universal access. It also offers practical workshops, best practices and tools to help developing countries automating cost-oriented rate-setting and tariff-rebalancing and it helps in training telecommunication engineers, high-level managers and policy-makers to keep step with technology, policy and regulatory changes. A wide range of e-policies and strategies are also developed to foster e-government, e-health, e-education, e-agriculture and e-commerce in developing countries.
It also leads in implementing the Istanbul Action Plan which seeks to harness the power of ICTs for socio-economic development of the widest number of people, particularly the world's most deprived.
Some of the projects carried out by the Telecommunication Development Sector are co-financed with funds from the ITU's world and regional TELECOM events under a special initiative called the TELECOM Surplus Fund Programme.
The Sector publishes regular reports recognized across the industry as authoritative:
Indicators - regular snapshots of the state of telecommunications development around the world as well as analysis of the trends in the industry. Trends in reform - which monitor and analyze world and regional trends in telecommunication reform and offer vital information for governments reforming their telecommunications sector.
The Sector also brings together the regulatory community for the annual Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR). The 2003 GSR, which attracted regulators from more than 80 countries, agreed on a list of best practice regulatory guidelines for achieving universal access. In addition to the Symposium, the Sector provides an on-line forum for regulators and policy makers, known as the Global Regulators Exchange (GREX). Using GREX, regulators have an opportunity to share experiences and exchange best practices on an on-going basis. Users are able to pose questions on the GREX "hotline" about burning regulatory issues and receive responses from their counterparts around the world.
Driving standardization - towards tomorrow's worldwide, information infrastructure
The International Telecommunication Union has provided the framework for the growth of new Internet-based technologies such as VoIP, e-commerce, broadband. It is now helping to define the building blocks of the emerging global information infrastructure, and is designing advanced multimedia systems which handle a mix of voice, data, audio and video signals.
Today, ITU generates on average, one telecom standard per day.
In 10 years, the networks that now underpin a vast proportion of the world's business communications have evolved from circuit-switched, voice-oriented systems, based on costly, 'big-iron' equipment to packet-based, flexible, data-oriented systems that can meet the needs created by convergence.
The emergence of multi-service networks carrying a mix of traffic types, combined with lightning-fast product development cycles, has spurred a huge demand for new, global standards that ensure new services and equipment will integrate seamlessly with legacy systems, both within an operator's own network and at its interface with other networks around the world. To manage this demand, the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector studies technical, operating, and tariff questions and adopts global standards on networks and systems. Although they are not binding, ITU standards are generally complied with because they drive interconnectivity across networks, systems, equipment and associated protocols, and provide the global framework for services to be provided worldwide.
One of the most enduring examples of ITU's work is in numbering and addressing systems. From the International Country Codes that brought direct-dialling to the world, to today's Universal Numbers that enable companies to trade internationally with little capital outlay, through to Identification Codes for mobile phones and Electronic Numbering "ENUM", ITU develops telecommunication numbering and addressing standards to ensure that we can stay in touch on any device, anywhere.
Radiocommunication - fair, efficient, economical use of finite resources
From fixed and mobile wireless services to aeronautical communications, from broadcasting and meteorology to global positioning systems and space research or for communication services that ensure the safety of life at sea and in the skies - all require spectrum to operate, and a coordinated use of frequencies to avoid harmful interference.
The ITU Radiocommunication Sector manages the radio-frequency spectrum which ensures that radio-based systems - cellular phones and pagers, aircraft and maritime navigation systems, scientific research stations, satellite communication systems and radio and television broadcasting - can function smoothly and provide reliable wireless services to the world.
The ITU Radiocommunication Sector ensures rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of this spectrum by all radiocommunication services, including those using the geostationary and other satellite orbits. Both the spectrum and satellite orbits are finite natural resources and are increasingly under pressure from a growing number of services.
Through an international treaty called the Radio Regulations, the ITU Radiocommunication Sector coordinates efforts on a worldwide basis to ensure reliable communications by ensuring that radio stations between different countries can operate without harmful interference. It carries out the technical groundwork to facilitate the taking of sound decisions by world radio conferences held every two to three years to revise the treaty. This work includes the development of regulatory procedures and the examination of planning parameters and sharing criteria with other services in order to calculate the risk of harmful
interference, both for terrestrial and space services.
It develops technical recommendations on the characteristics of radiocommunication services and systems that serve as a basis for equipment manufacturing.
Safety at sea is one striking example of the importance of the work of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector. When ships cross oceans, they depend on a global safety telecommunications infrastructure made possible through the work of ITU. For each ship with a radio station on board, the Radiocommunication Sector allocates a unique identity code.
This information is made available on the ITU website around the clock to identify it in case of
distress. Radio is used in a variety of communications: satellites or shortwave enable ship-to-shore communications; the crew relies on satellite-delivered weather forecasts for its navigation; global positioning systems locate the ship's position and determine its route; and distress beacons make use of frequencies reserved for safety of life communications.
ITU Radiocommunication Sector's work is of critical importance too in the aftermath of catastrophe or natural disaster. Following an earthquake, access to information is paramount. But most communication links are disrupted. Relief agencies need to know who needs assistance and where search and rescue teams are most needed. In such circumstances, workers rely on radiocommunications to manage rescue operations. ITU allocates frequency bands for VHF and HF communications and for satellite phones used by rescue teams. ITU also provides spectrum for radio amateurs whose support is often vital, and sets standards for Satellite News Gathering used to provide TV coverage and mobilize international assistance. Sharing among services is decided through world agreements that are brokered at world radio conferences.
World Radiocommunication Conferences
World radiocommunication conferences are an important international meeting where ITU Member States revise the Radio Regulations.
The latest World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-03) was held in 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland. Taking a number of landmark decisions to deal with the increasing pressure placed on the radio frequency spectrum, the Conference:
Reaffirmed its support for the continued deployment of mobile wireless communications by agreeing to study technical and operational issues relating to the future development of IMT-2000 (ITU's brand for 3G) and beyond to achieve seamless inter-working between the multitude of systems that will make up systems beyond IMT-2000 (3G systems and their enhancements, WLAN-type systems, short-range connectivity systems, and broadcast systems)
Provided new allocations for the implementation of wireless access systems such as RLANs Agreed on bands potentially available for the deployment of high altitude platform stations (HAPS) Approved additional spectrum for the aeronautical services to enhance navigation and surveillance systems and provide passengers with access to e-mail and Internet services internationally Approved a resolution to pave the way for the deployment of new technologies for wide- and broadband public protection and disaster relief applications
Strategy and Policy
The ITU Strategy and Policy Unit (SPU) identifies emerging trends in the telecommunications environment and analyzes their implications for ITU and its membership. Based on its research on telecommunication and the Internet, the Strategy and Policy Unit produces reports and case studies and organizes strategic planning workshops, symposia, and Telecommunication Policy Forums including the Forum programmes held during ITU TELECOM world and regional events. These workshops and seminars bring together high level representatives of the telecommunication industry from the public, private and academic sectors.
Reports on telecommunications and Internet policy trends
Each year, ITU issues a number of reports and databases for decision makers in the telecommunication industry. Recent reports covered topics such as broadband, competition policy, network security and IP telephony.
Telecommunication and Internet country case studies
Based on the key topics, SPU produces country case studies on telecommunication and the Internet. These case studies provide detailed information on how individual countries have addressed various telecommunication issues and they assess past and current experiences. They are aimed at a wide audience including regulators, corporate managers and academics. ITU conducts research in the countries and in collaboration with government officials and key industry players.
Strategic planning workshops and symposia
SPU organizes workshops that address key issues and bring together telecommunication leaders in the private, public and academic sectors. In March 2004, one such workshop provided a platform to discuss whether people were well-equipped, as a society and as individuals, to live in a world of technological ubiquity made possible by the explosive growth of mobile communications everywhere. Another held in February 2004 enabled participants to exchange views and make analytical studies on definitions, viewpoints and visions on Internet governance from several aspects, including legal, technological, administrative and commercial issues. Other workshops that have been held recently explored the topics of Competition in Telecommunications, Creating Trust in Critical Network Infrastructure and Improving IP Connectivity in Least Developed Countries.
ITU TELECOM
ITU TELECOM events 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.
But for ITU, ITU TELECOM events are much more: they further telecommunications development efforts around the world. TELECOM helps promote this cause by providing a forum where industry and government representatives from developed and developing countries can meet and build partnerships which bring mutual benefits. ITU TELECOM events also foster knowledge transfer by showcasing the very latest equipment, services and leading industry speakers.
Since the first show in 1971, ITU TELECOM WORLD events have attracted in total more than 900 000 visitors and have provided a showcase and platform to almost 7 000 exhibitors.
The next ITU TELECOM event, ITU TELECOM ASIA 2004, will be staged in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 7 to 11 September 2004.
The endeavour to bring everyone within easy reach of telecommunications
Whether it is in developing the standards necessary for creating the infrastructure or enhancing telecommunications systems and services on a worldwide basis; whether it is in managing the radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits to support a variety of wireless services that can bring connectivity to every corner of the world; whether it is by providing support to countries for building infrastructure, attracting investment, or meeting their human resources requirements, all of ITU's work converges in the endeavour to bring every human being in the world within easy reach of telecommunications.
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