ITU's 160 anniversary

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GSR 2025

List of Focus Groups that completed their activities (in chronological order)

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  • ​​​​​ ITU-T ​​Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) for Digital Agriculture (FG-AI4A)
    ​(Established 2021-10​; Terminated 2024-06)​​
    ITU-T Focus Group on AI and IoT for Digital Agriculture (FG-AI4A) was established by ITU-T Study Group 20 on 21 October 2021. This Focus Group worked closely with FAO to address the challenges within the agricultural sector. The FG-AI4A examined the existing standardization gaps, and conducted the preparatory work for developing best practices related to the use of AI and IoT in supporting data acquisition and handling, improving modeling based on agricultural and geospatial data, and delivering interventions related to the optimization of agricultural production processes.
  • ​​​​​ ITU-T Focus Group on metaverse (FG-MV)
    ​(Established 2022-12; Terminated 2024-06)​​
    The FG-MV served as a collaboration platform for dialogue, identified stakeholders for ITU-T collaboration, and facilitated the contribution of non-members to its technical pre-standardization work, enriched with the identification of relevant use cases as it relates to the metaverse. The Focus Group gathered more than 500 experts. Seven FG-MV meetings were held in Riyadh, Shanghai, Queretaro, and Geneva. Additionally, two special sessions took place in Arusha and Riga, and five forums were conducted in Riyadh, Shanghai, Arusha, Queretaro, and Geneva, attracting more than 17,000 participants. It established 9 Working Groups and 18 Task Groups, which collectively held 155 meetings. During its tenure, the FG-MV has successfully completed its mandate and approved 52 Technical Specifications and Reports. Following the conclusion of the FG-MV, a new Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds - Discovering the CitiVerse has been launched to continue exploring and advancing study and development on metaverse and virtual worlds.​​​
  • ​​​ ITU-T Focus Group on Testbeds Federations for IMT-2020 and beyond (FG-TBFxG)
    ​(Established: 2021-12; Terminated: 2024-04)​​​​​
    ITU-T Focus Group on Testbeds Federations for IMT-2020 and beyond (FG-TBFxG) was established by ITU-T Study Group 11 in December 2021. The Focus Group served as a platform to harmonize testbeds specifications across SDOs/Fora. The FG-TBFxG developed the description and requirements for application program interfaces (APIs) aligned with the Testbeds Federations Reference Model defined in Recommendation ITU-T Q.4068 and defined a set of use cases for Federated Testbeds and its APIs. The technical specifications developed by FG-TBFxG become a basis for further standardization in the area of federated testbeds. The Focus Group concluded its work in April 2024.​
  • ​​​​​ ITU-T Focus Group on AI for Natural Disaster Management (FG-AI4NDM)​​
    ​(Established 2022-12; Terminated 2024-03)​​
    ITU-T Focus Group on AI for Natural Disaster Management (FG-AI4NDM) was established in December 2020, with the aim of exploring the potential of AI in supporting data collection and handling, improving modelling across spatiotemporal scales, extracting complex patterns and gaining insights from a growing streams of geospatial data, to enhance the preparedness for (and response to) natural hazards and disasters. This FG conducted 12 meetings during its tenure and built a community of over 300 stakeholders and experts – who collectively worked on the development of best practices to underscore the use of AI (in the context of data, modelling, and communication technologies) for natural disaster management. As a part of its outcomes, FG-AI4NDM created a roadmap for AI activities in the context of natural hazard management and also formulated a glossary encompassing over 500 terms related to the application of AI for disaster management. Following the completion of FG-AI4NDM, the Global Initiative on Resilience to Natural Hazards through AI Solutions was launched, together with UNEP, UPU, UNFCCC and WMO, to build on the outputs of the Focus Group and continue activities related to innovation and standardization for disaster management..​​​
  • ​ ​​​​​ ITU-T Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (FG-AI4H)
    ​(Established 2018-07; Terminated 2023-09​​)​​​​​
    The ITU-T Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (AI4H) was established by ITU-T Study Group 16 at its meeting in Ljubljana, 9-20 July 2018, which operated in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) towards a common methodology for the assessment of AI4H solutions until its closure in September 2023. It produced 36 deliverables and its work is grandfathered in the Global Initiative on AI for Health (GI-AI4H) launched during the AI for Good Summit​ on 5 July 2023​ ​​by ITU, WHO and WIPO​.​
  • ​ ​​​​​ ITU-T Focus Group on Autonomous Networks (FG-AN)​​
    ​(Established: 2020-12; Terminated: 2024-03)​​​​​
    FG-AN has successfully completed its mandate and produced nine deliverables on use cases for AN, trust in AN, architecture framework for AN, trustworthiness evaluation for autonomous networks including IMT-2020 and beyond, knowledge Management for AN, definitions glossary, gap analysis, proof of Concept (PoC) and passed over all of those to its parent ITU-T Study Group 13. In addition, FG-AN had on track a Build-a-Thon challenge - PoC development activity, to build upon a key concept in FG AN, especially intended to prove the concept practically with code, test setup and demo setup.​​​​​​
  • ​ITU-T Focus Group on "Environmental Efficiency for Artificial Intelligence and other Emerging Technologies" (FG-AI4EE)
    ​(Established 2019-05; Terminated 2022-12​​)​​​​​
    The ITU-T Focus Group on “Environmental Efficiency for AI and other Emerging Technologies” (FG-AI4EE) was tasked to identify the standardization gaps related to the environmental performance of AI and other emerging technologies including automation, augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality, smart manufacturing, industry 5.0, cloud/edge computing, nanotechnology, 5G, among others. The focus group has developed technical reports and technical specifications to address the environmental efficiency, as well as water and energy consumption of emerging technologies.​​​​​
  • ​ITU-T Focus Group​​ on AI for autonomous and assisted driving (FG-AI4AD)
    ​(Established 2019-10; Terminated 2022-09)​​​​
    FG-AI4AD supported standardization activities of AI evaluation in autonomous and assisted driving. To this end, the FG developed three deliverables that leads towards international harmonisation on the definition of a universal minimal performance threshold for AI enabled driving functions (such as AI as a Driver) which is essential to building the global public trust required for widespread deployment of AI on our roads. The FG-AI4AD worked in accordance with the 1949 and 1968 Convention on Road Traffic of the UNECE Global Forum for Road Safety. The three deliverables of FG-AI4AD were submitted to the parent group, ITU-T SG16 that agreed to progress these studies towards the development of ITU-T Recommendations. ​​
  • ​ITU-T Focus Group​​ on AI for health (FG-AI4H)
    ​(Established 2018-07; Terminated 2023-09)​​​​
    ​The ITU-T Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (AI4H) was established by ITU-T Study Group 16 at its meeting in Ljubljana, 9-20 July 2018, which operated in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) towards a common methodology for the assessment of AI4H solutions until its closure in September 2023. It produced 36 deliverables and its work is grandfathered in the Global Initiative on AI for Health (GI-AI4H) launched during the AI for Good Summit​ on 5 July 2023​ ​​by ITU, WHO and WIPO​. ​​
  • ITU-T Focus Group on "Vehicular Multimedia" (FG-VM)
    (Established 2018-07; Terminated 2022-09)
    ​FG-VM analyzed and identified gaps in the vehicular multimedia and infotainment standardization landscape, and developed three technical reports covering vehicular multimedia use cases, requirements, architectures and implementation aspects. The three deliverables were further submitted to its parent group, ITU-T SG16 that used these studies to develop relevant ITU-T Recommendations.
  • ​ ITU-T Focus Group on Quantum Information Technology for Networks (FG-QIT4N)
    (Established 2019-09; Terminated 2021-11)
    The Focus Group on Quantum Information Technology for Networks (FG-QIT4N) concluded its activities and submitted nine deliverables to its parent group, TSAG. The group studied the evolution and applications on QIT for networks (including telecom/network aspects of QKD networks (QKDN) and those beyond QKDN) focused on terminologies, new use cases, protocols and transport technologies and developed technical reports that provide technical background information to inform standardization efforts on QIT. The group also provided an open collaborative platform to discuss QIT for networks with ITU-T Study Groups and other SDOs and organized a series of thematic webinars which brought together various stakeholders to promote its activities and share knowledge on QIT.​​​
  • Focus Group on Machine Learning for Future Networks including 5G (FG ML5G)
    (Established 2018-11; Terminated 2020-07​​​)
    FG ML5G produced and submitted ten technical specifications on use cases, architecture framework, intelligence level, data handling, machine learning (ML) function orchestrator, serving framework and others to its parent ITU-T Study Group 13. Half of those specifications have already been turned into ITU standards, and the remaining half is being progressed by ITU-T SG13. ​
  • Focus Group on Technologies for Network 2030 (FG NET-2030)
    (Established 2018-07; Terminated 2020-07​​​)
    The ITU-T Focus Group on Technologies for Network 2030 (FG NET-2030) FG NET-2030 has concluded its activities and submitted eight deliverables to its parent ITU-T Study Group 13. The group examined how emerging technologies can enhance network capabilities to meet the demands of 5G systems and future innovations. The group studied new media, services and architectures to identify communication needs and use cases for the year 2030 and beyond; it elaborated the vision for Network 2030. In focus were applications including augmented and virtual reality and holograms, and time-sensitive applications in fields such as telemedicine and industrial automation.​​
  • Focus Group on Application of Distributed Ledger Technology (FG DLT)
    (Established 2017-05; Terminated 2019-08​​​)
    ​​Distributed ledger technology (DLT) refers the processes and related technologies that enable nodes in a network to securely propose, validate and record state changes (or updates) to a synchronised ledger that is distributed across the network’s nodes. ​
  • Focus Group on Digital Currency inlcuidng Digital Fiat Currency (FG DFC)
    (Established 2017-05; Terminated 2019-06​​​)
    The ITU-T Focus Group Digital Currency including digital fiat currency was established by ITU-T TSAG at its meeting in Geneva, 1-4 May 2017. FG-DFC established​​ a forum for dialogue among players in the banking, fintech and telecom sectors to share information, best practices, develop a series of deliverables and showcasing innovations, requirements for network infrastructure and standards in the area of central bank issued digital currency.
  • Focus Group on Data Processing and Management to support IoT and Smart Cities & Communities (FG-DPM)
    (Established 2017-03; Terminated 2019-07)
    The Focus Group on Data Processing and Management to support IoT and Smart Cities & Communities was established by ITU-T Study Group 20 at its meeting in Dubai, 13-23 March 2017.
  • Focus Group Digital Financial Services (FG DFS)
    (Established 2014-06; Terminated 2016-12)
    The Focus Group Digital Financial Services (FG DFS) was set up in June 2016 to facilitate effective consultation and collaboration on the key challenges that are preventing the growth of DFS in the developing world. FG DFS has developed a set of 85 policy recommendations and 28 technical reports that will fast track policy reform to support numerous developing countries in implementing the financial inclusion strategy and promoting DFS at scale. TSAG endorsed the reports and recommendations of FG DFS at its meeting in May 2017.
  • Focus Group on IMT-2020 (FG IMT-2020)
    (Established 2015-05; Terminated 2016-12)
    The Focus Group on network aspects of IMT-2020 was established in May 2015 to analyse how emerging 5G technologies will interact in future networks as a preliminary study into the networking innovations required to support the development of 5G systems. The group took an ecosystem view of 5G research of development and published the analysis in a Report to its parent group, ITU-T Study Group 13​.
  • Focus Group on Aviation Applications of Cloud Computing for Flight Data Monitoring (FG AC)
    (Established 2014-06; Terminated 2016-02)
    The Focus Group on Aviation Applications of Cloud Computing for Flight Data Monitoring (FG AC) will identify the requirements for telecommunication standards for an aviation cloud for real-time monitoring of flight data. FG AC held five face-to-face meetings in the period from December 2014 to December 2015. TSAG endorsed the four Deliverables of the Focus Group in February 2016.
  • Focus Group on Smart Water Management (FG SWM)
    (Established 2013-06; Terminated 2015-03)
    The Focus Group on Smart Water Management (FG SWM) was established by the ITU-T TSAG meeting in Geneva, 4-7 June 2013. FG-SWM will provide a platform to share views, develop a series of deliverables and showcasing initiatives, projects, policies and standards activities that are taking place in the area of smart water management. The Focus Group completed its work on 2nd March 2015 and submitted the deliverables to ITU-T Study Group 5.
  • Focus Group on Smart Sustainable Cities (FG SSC)
    (Established 2013-02; Terminated 2015-05)
    The Focus Group on Smart Sustainable Cities was established by ITU-T Study Group 5 in February 2013 and concluded its work in May 2015. FG-SSC acted as an open platform for smart-city stakeholders and developed 21 Technical Specifications and Reports. Work on smart cities continues in ITU-T Study Group 20. ​
  • Focus Group on Bridging the Gap: from Innovation to Standards (FG Innovation)
    (Established 2012-01; Terminated 2015-05)
    ITU-T Focus Group on Bridging the Gap: from Innovation to Standards (FG Innovation) was established by ITU-T TSAG at its meeting in Geneva, 10-13 January 2012. The objective of this Focus Group is to document and analyze successful cases of ICT innovations and identify relevant standardization gaps which can lead to new study items for ITU-T. The Focus Group completed its work in May 2015 and submitted its report to TSAG.
  • Focus Group on Disaster Relief Systems, Network Resilience and Recovery (FG-DR&NRR)
    (Established 2012-01; Terminated 2014-06)
    ITU-T Focus Group on Disaster Relief Systems, Network Resilience and Recovery (FG-DR&NRR) was established by the ITU-T TSAG meeting in Geneva, 10-13 January 2012 and successfully concluded in June 2014.
  • Focus Group on Smart Cable Television (FG SmartCable)
    (Established 2012-06; Terminated 2013-12)
    ITU-T Focus Group on Smart Cable Television (FG SmartCable) was established by ITU-T SG 9 at its meeting in Geneva, 30 April - 04 May 2012. The objective of this Focus Group is to collect and analyze information from existing relevant activities as well as to develop deliverables that would assist the future development of ITU-T Recommendations to support "Smart Cable Television" including requirements, use cases, technical methods, etc.
  • Focus Group on Machine-to-Machine Service Layer (FG M2M)
    (Established 2012-01; Terminated 2013-12)
    ITU-T Focus Group on M2M Service Layer (FG M2M) was established by ITU-T TSAG at its meeting in Geneva, 10-13 January 2012. The objective of this Focus Group was to develop technical reports to support the progress on M2M APIs and protocols to support M2M services and applications.
  • Focus Group on Audiovisual Media Accessibility (FG AVA)
    (Established 2011-05; Terminated 2013-10)
    ITU-T Focus Group on Audiovisual Media Accessibility (FG AVA) was proposed by ITU-T Study Group 16 for creation in-between TSAG meetings. The Terms of Reference of the Focus Group are available here. It was successfully concluded in October 2013.
  • Focus Group on Driver Distraction (FG Distraction)
    (Established 2011-02; Terminated 2013-03)
    ITU-T Focus Group on Driver Distraction (FG Distraction) was established by ITU-T TSAG at its meeting in Geneva, 8-11 February 2011. The objective of this Focus Group was to reduce injuries and fatalities by minimizing the cognitive demands associated with both driving tasks (e.g., navigating, collision avoidance) and non-driving tasks (e.g., talking on the phone, checking meeting information). FG Distraction successfully concluded its work in March 2013.
  • Focus Group "From/In/To Cars Communication" (FG CarCom)
    (Established 2009-11; Terminated 2013-03)
    The Focus Group on Car Communication (FG CarCOM) was established by SG 12 at its 3 - 12 November 2009 meeting. It was successfully concluded in March 2013.
  • Focus Group on Smart Grid (FG Smart)
    (Established 2010-02; Terminated 2011-12)
    ITU-T Focus Group on Smart Grid (FG Smart) was established further to ITU-T TSAG agreement at its meeting in Geneva, 8-11 February 2010 followed by ITU-T study groups and membership consultation. The objective of the Focus Group was to collect and document information and concepts that would be helpful for developing Recommendations to support Smart Grid from a telecommunication perspective. It was successfully concluded in December 2011.
  • Focus Group on Cloud Computing (FG Cloud)
    (Established 2010-02; Terminated 2011-12)
    ITU-T Focus Group on Cloud Computing (FG Cloud) was established further to ITU-T TSAG agreement at its meeting in Geneva, 8-11 February 2010 followed by ITU-T study groups and membership consultation. The objective of the Focus Group was to collect and document information and concepts that would be helpful for developing Recommendations to support Cloud Computing from a telecommunication perspective. It was successfully concluded in December 2011.
  • Focus Group on Future Networks (FG FN)
    (Established 2009-01; Terminated 2010-12)
    SG13 has established "Focus Group on Future Networks (FG-FN)" to share the discussion on Future Networks and ensure global common understanding about Future Networks with collaboration and harmonization with relevant entities and activities.
  • Focus Group "From/In/To Cars Communication II" (FG CarCom II)
    (Established 2007-10; Terminated 2009-11)
    The creation of the new Focus Group on From/In/To Cars Communication II (FG CarCom) was established by SG 12 at its 2 - 11 October 2007 meeting. The objective of the Focus Group is to develop a new set of requirements and specifications to help advance the work of the ITU-T SG12, mainly Questions 4/12 and 12/12 and to encourage the participation in this activity of members of other standards organisations involved in car and Telecommunications/ICT industries, including experts and individuals who may not be members of ITU. The main focus is on wideband communication in cars.
  • Focus Group Security Baseline for Network Operators (FG Security Baseline for Network Operators)
    (Established 2005-10; Terminated 2009-07)
    The FG "Security Baseline for Network Operators" was established by SG 17 at its 5-14 October 2005 meeting. Participation is open to any individual from a country which is a member of ITU. The objective of the FG is to help advance the work of the ITU-T SG17 in (a) defining security baseline against which network operators can assess their network and information security posture in terms of what security recommendations and standards are available, which of these standards should be used to meet particular issues, when they should be used, and how they should be applied, and (b) identifying security recommendations and standards to support evaluation of security baseline implementation. The FG will develop a security baseline that will provide meaningful criteria against which each network operator can be assessed if required.
  • Focus Group on ICTs and Climate Change (FG ICT&CC)
    (Established 2008-07; Terminated 2009-04)
    The Focus Group will identify from the standardization viewpoint, within the competences of ITU-T, the impact of ICTs on Climate Change, in particular the reduction of ICT's own emissions over their entire lifecycle (direct impact), the mitigation that follows through the adoption of ICTs in other relevant sectors (indirect impact), and facilitating the monitoring of relevant climate parameters.
  • NGN Management Focus Group (NGNM FG)
    (Established 2004-09; Terminated 2008-05)
    The goal of the NGN Management Focus Group established by SG4 is to organize and undertake a centralized approach regarding specification of NGN-related Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, and Security Management interfaces. A key element in the operation of the FG is that it engages key individuals from various organizations with management expertise and specifications applicable to NGN to collaborate in and contribute to this activity.
  • IPTV Focus Group (FG IPTV)
    (Established 2006-04; Terminated 2008-01)
    As a result of the TSB Director's open consultation meeting with ITU-T Members on IPTV service and its standardization held in Geneva, 4-5 April 2006, the Focus Group in IPTV (FG-IPTV) was established. The mission of the FG-IPTV was to coordinate and promote the development of global IPTV standards taking into account the existing work of the ITU study groups as well as Standards Developing Organizations, Fora and Consortia.
  • Open Communications Architecture Forum (OCAF) Focus Group (FG OCAF)
    (Established 2004-05; Terminated 2008-01)
    The objective of Study Group 13's OCAF Focus Group was to agree on specifications for a set of components for a new carrier grade open platforms that will accelerate deployment of NGN infrastructure and services. The specifications has encouraged development of and availability of low cost standardized Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) components to be integrated in the platform.
  • Focus Group "From/In/To Cars Communication (FG CarCom I)
    (Established 2006-06; Terminated 2008-01)
    A new focus group on From/In/To Cars Communication was established by SG 12 at its 5 - 13 June 2006 meeting. The objective of the Focus Group is to develop a new set of requirements and specifications to help advance the work of the ITU-T SG12, mainly Questions 4/12 and 12/12 and to encourage participation in this activity of members of other standards organizations involved in car and Telecommunications/ICT industries, including experts and individuals who may not be members of ITU
  • Focus Group on Identity Management (FG IdM)
    (Established 2006-12; Terminated 2007-09)
    The Focus Group on Identity Management was established by Study Group 17 at its 6-15 December 2006 meeting. The objective of the Focus Group is to facilitate the development of a generic Identity Management framework, by fostering participation of all telecommunications and ICT experts on Identity Management. The FG has produced a substantial number of deliverables/reports and these were reviewed during the September 2007 SG17 meeting.
  • Multi-Technology Network Management Focus Group (MTNM FG)
    (Established 2005-02; Terminated 2006-06)
    The MTNM FG has been created byStudy Group 4 in February 2005 in response to the request from the TeleManagement Forum (TMF) to publish ITU-T Recommendations that reference the MTNM v3.0 interface specifications. Its overall goal was to provide the necessary foundation by which the MTNM specifications can be aligned with and/or adapted to the ITU-T Study Group 4 management architecture and frameworks.
  • Focus Group on Next Generation Networks (FG NGN)
    (Established 2004-05; Terminated 2005-12)
    The NGN Focus Group was created under Study Group 13 to address the emerging needs for global standards for Next Generation Networks (NGN) regarding service requirements, functional architecture and mobility, security, QoS, control and signalling capability, evolution and future packet-based bearer network. Further information of FGNGN activities can be found in its website. Its work is being continued under the umbrella of theNGN Global Standardization Initiative(NGN-GSI).
  • Focus Group for Enhanced Telecom Operations Map (FG eTOM)
    (Established 2004-05; Terminated 2005-02)
    This is one of the two three Focus Groups created between ITU-T Study Group 4 and the TeleManagement Forum (TMF) and hads as objectives to develop draft ITU-T Recommendations and to document of the linkages between eTOM business processes and ITU-T M.3400 functional groups for Enhanced Telecom Operations Map.
  • Focus Group for Human Machine Interface (FG HMI)
    (Established 2004-05; Terminated 2005-02)
    This is one of the two three Focus Groups created between ITU-T Study Group 4 and the TMF and has had as objectives the development of draft ITU-T Recommendations and instantiating a HMI Road Map (or reference guide) for developers of telecom management products and service providers.
  • Full-Service VDSL Focus Group (FG-VDSL)
    (Established 2002-05; Terminated 2003-05)
    The Full Service - VDSL (FS-VDSL) Focus Group was a Focus Group created under ITU-T Study Group 16 to produce specifications enabling "triple-play" over VDSL. This was the first case in which and existing industry forum - the FS-VDSL Committee - was fully merged into an "affiliated" ITU-T organization as an ITU-T/A.7 Focus Group. (see here for more info on A.7).
  • ​Focus Group on Accounting Rate Reform
    (Established and teminated in 1998)
    In 1998, Study Group 3 agreed the creation of the first-ever ITU-T Focus Group, tasked to study a possible scheduled reduction of accounting rate. The Focus Group's task was to propose transitional arrangements towards cost orientation beyond 1998. The work of Focus Group has been completed but its web page has been regularly updated and provide the most recent "target rates".
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