ITU

Committed to connecting the world

Search

Bridging the Standardization Gap (BSG)

Bridging the Standardization Gap
​
​The BSG programme is a continuation of ITU’s historic mission and concern about the digital divide and development disparities in information and communication technologies. The overarching goal of the BSG programme is to facilitate increased participation of developing countries in standardization, to ensure that developing countries experience the economic benefits of associated technological development, and to better reflect the requirements and interests of developing countries in the standards-development process.
​​​​​​​​​​

What is the standardization gap?

​The standardization gap can be defined as disparities in the ability of developing countries, relative to developed ones, to access, implement, contribute to and influence international ICT standards, specifically ITU Recommendations.

Click here to find out : How can countries participate in ICT standardization process?

Reducing the Standardization Gap

Reducing the Standardization Gap is ITU-T's research project on measuring the standards gap; building standards capacity in the developing world; developing case studies of national standards capability and developing guidelines to help developing countries to establish a standardization secretariat to participate in ITU-T standardization work.

More

Standards Capacity Building

Standards capacity building involves providing training on implementing ITU-T Recommendations and technical assistance on ICT standardization to enhance participation of developing countries in ITU-T meetings. The main objective is to develop human resources on ICT standardization in developing countries. ITU offers training on implementation of ITU-T Recommendations for developing countries with the objective of enhancing understanding of the standard and its adoption at national level. This is carried out through technical tutorials on a regional basis at the request of the developing country.

Technical assistance involves the following activities:
  • Conducting workshops for awareness on ITU-T Standards
  • Facilitating the setting up of a standardization secretariat at national level upon request from developing countries
  • Tutorials for rapporteurs and editors for new delegates (esp. from developing countries)
If you would like to host such activities in your region, please send an e-mail to Venkatesen Mauree indicating the type of training required.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE BSG FUND

The BSG Fund has been created to finance the work programme outlined in Resolution 44 of WTSA 2008 with the objective to:
  • Facilitate the participation of developing countries in the ICT standards development process
  • Allow developing countries to profit from access to new technology development
  • Ensure that the requirements of developing countries are taken into account in the development of standards
Contributions have been received from Nokia Siemens Networks, Microsoft, Cisco, Korea Communications Commission and Canada.

The use of the contribution for specific purposes is used only with the agreement of the sponsor.

TSB's budget is extremely limited and so additional contributions are essential in order to fulfil the requirements of Resolution 44.

Should you be interested to contribute to the BSG Fund, you can send an e-mail to bsg[at]itu.int to find out more how to submit your contribution.

More​​
Retrieving Data
Contact Venkatesen Mauree for any query related to ITU-T Bridging the Standardization Programme or if you would like to share any information or hosting an event related to BSG.

Quick Links

Standards Q&A

Standards Q&A is an open forum for questions concerning the standardization work of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It offers a unique opportunity to engage with the experts that develop the standards that underpin ICTs.

Ask the experts!

© ITU All Rights Reserved

Back to top