As the main source of global and internationally comparable ICT & telecom data, ITU plays an important role in developing standards and definitions

• The World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Definitions identify and define a range of key indicators for analysing the telecommunication/ICT sector

• The Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development's Core ICT Indicators provides definitions, model questions and methodological notes to measure the Information Society. In May 2010, the Partnership launched the Task Group on Measuring the WSIS targets

To coordinate and improve statistical ICT measurements on a global level, ITU, with other organizations, created the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development

ITU has the mandate to measure Target 18 (part of Goal 8) of the Millennium Development Goals: "In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications"