ITU's activities, policies and strategic direction are
determined and shaped by the industry it serves; an industry that is being
shaped by the trends described in Chapter Two: Understanding Telecommunication
Network Trends.
Since support for IP-based technologies has emerged as a strategic element in the
design, development and use of many telecommunication networks, this has had a
major impact on ITU’s work programmes in its radiocommunication,
telecommunication standardization and development focused-activities. For
example, the growing popularity of the Internet and
other IP-based networks dramatically increased requirements for
telecommunications capacity and bandwidth, which has in turn driven much
innovation in telecommunication access and transport networks. Some examples include leveraging copper wire “last-mile” networks through digital subscriber
line (DSL) technologies, re-architecturing of cable networks to support IP
services and advances in optical networking technologies. Another simple
example is the deployment of voice
over IP (VoIP) technology: for example using ITU-T H.323, the world’s most
widely deployed VoIP technology.
Accompanying
this is an increased focus by ITU members on the regulatory and
policy issues related to convergence and international coordination issues
arising out of this convergence, which includes IP-based networks such as the
Internet.
This chapter explores ITU activities as they relate to the
Internet and IP-based networks. It
starts with a review of extracts from Resolutions and Decisions made by ITU
bodies in Sections 3.2 and 3.3 and follows this with a description of some of the
more detailed ongoing or planned work item activities related to IP-based
networks.
The ITU Plenipotentiary conference, which meets every four
years (the last time in 2002), has outlined the role that ITU should play with
respect to the Internet Protocol (IP)-based network, including the “Internet”.
This term is not used in ITU in isolation. ITU Resolutions refer to “Internet
names and addresses”, “IP-based networks” and “IP-based services”, where IP
stands for “Internet Protocol”, a component of the TCP/IP set of standards
underpinning IP-based networks and services including the Internet. Particular
reference can be made to ITU Member State Resolutions in the Final Acts of the
ITU Plenipotentiary Conference held in Marrakesh in 2002.[1]
ITU Plenipotentiary Resolutions typically require
regular reporting and review by “ITU Council”.
The ITU Council comprises a maximum of 25 per cent of the total number
of Member States, which are elected by the Plenipotentiary Conference with due
regard to the need for equitable distribution of Council seats among five world
regions (Americas, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and
Australasia). The current Council is
comprised of 46 Members.
The role of the Council is to consider, in the
interval between Plenipotentiary Conferences, broad telecommunication policy
issues to ensure that the Union's activities, policies and strategies fully
respond to today's dynamic, rapidly changing telecommunications
environment. The Council takes steps to
facilitate the implementation of the provisions of the ITU Constitution, the
ITU Convention, the Administrative Regulations (International
Telecommunications Regulations and Radio Regulations), the decisions of
Plenipotentiary Conferences and, where appropriate, the decisions of other
conferences and meetings of ITU. The next meeting of the ITU
Council is in June 2004.
As two examples, Annex
1: Council Reports on Management of Internet Domain Names and Addresses provides the reporting for the years 2001 (ITU
Council 2002 (Section 11.1)) and 2002 (ITU Council 2003 (Section 11.2))
respectively, on ITU’s activities related to Management of Internet Domain
Names and Addresses (Resolution 102, revised in Marrakesh 2002) and Role
of Administrations of Member States in the Management of Internationalized
(Multilingual) Domain Names (Resolution 133 (Marrakesh 2002).
“considering
a) that advances in the
global information infrastructure, including the development of Internet
Protocol (IP)-based networks and especially the Internet, are an issue of
crucial importance to the future, as an important engine for growth in the
world economy in the twenty-first century;
b) that
the increased use of the Internet is replacing existing services and
introducing new ones based on its highly advanced technology: the utilization
of e-mail has become commonplace, voice over Internet is being developed
rapidly;
c) that IP-based networks
will continue to introduce dramatic changes in the way we acquire, produce,
circulate and consume information;
[…]
encourages
a) ITU-T to
continue its collaborative activities on IP-based networks with ISOC/IETF;
b) all Sectors
to consider their future work programmes on IP-based networks,
resolves
1 that ITU
shall fully embrace the opportunities for telecommunication development that
arise from the growth of IP-based services;
[…]”
“Instructs the Secretary-General:
1 to take a significant role in
international discussions and initiatives on the management of Internet domain
names and addresses, taking into account associated developments and the
purposes of the Union;
2 to
encourage all Member States to participate in the discussions on international
management of Internet domain names and addresses, so that worldwide
representation in the debates can be ensured;
3 to liaise
and to cooperate, in conjunction with the Bureaux, with the regional
telecommunication organizations pursuant to this resolution;
4 to provide
assistance, in conjunction with the Bureaux, to Member States, if so requested,
in order to achieve their stated policy objectives with respect to the
management of Internet domain names and addresses;
Instructs the Director of TSB:
1 to continue
to liaise and to cooperate with appropriate entities on relevant Internet
domain name and address management issues, such as the transition to IP Version
6 (IPv6), ENUM, and internationalized domain names (IDN);
2 to work
with Member States and Sector Members, recognizing the activities of other
appropriate entities, to review Member States' ccTLD and other related
experiences;
3 to work
with Member States and Sector Members, recognizing the activities of other
appropriate entities, to develop a recommendation to clarify the management of
the domain ".int";
Instructs the Director of BDT:
1 to organize
international and regional forums, in conjunction with appropriate entities,
for the period 2002-2006, to discuss policy, operational and technical issues
on the Internet in general and the management of Internet domain names and
addresses in particular for the benefit of Member States, especially for least
developed countries;”
“pursuing
initiatives that assist in bridging the standardization gap between developing
and developed countries.”
“2) intensify work within existing ITU study
groups in order to:
i) reach a common understanding on the
importance of information and communication network security by studying
standards on technologies, products and services with a view to developing
recommendations, as appropriate;
ii) seek ways to enhance exchange
of technical information in the field of information and communication network security,
and promote cooperation among appropriate entities;”
“1 to take an active part in all international discussions and
initiatives on the management of Internet domain names and addresses;
2 to take any necessary action to ensure the sovereignty of
ITU Member States with regard to country code numbering plans and addresses
will be fully maintained, as enshrined in Recommendation E.164 of the ITU
Telecommunication Standardization Sector, in whatever application they are
used;
3 to promote effectively the role of Member States in the
internationalization of domain names and address of their respective
languages;”
At its 5-16 May 2003 meeting, the ITU Council discussed
document C03/27 R1, which is the report by the Secretary-General, the Director
of BDT, and the Director of TSB, concerning activities related to management of
Internet domain names and addresses in accordance with ITU Plenipotentiary
Resolutions 102 and 133.[4] (See the Summary
Record of the Twelfth Plenary Session of Council 2003, 15 May 2003).[5]
The Council unanimously endorsed the ITU report and
expressed its full support for ITU's initiatives to date. It further encouraged
the efforts made by the Bureaux particularly in the areas of network security
and internationalized domain names. The Council also endorsed a proposal made
by several countries for ITU-T, in collaboration with ITU-D, to develop an IP
policy manual to advise Member States, especially developing countries, on the
management of Internet domain names and related issues.[6]
The responsibility
of specific ITU-T Study Groups is defined in WTSA 2000 Resolution 2,[7] as updated by Telecommunication
Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG).[8] An overview of some of the ITU-T’s Study
Group IP-based networks activities is given in Sections 4.8 - 4.18.
“noting
a) that the procedures governing the
allocation and management of international numbering and addressing resources
and related codes (e.g. new telephone ISDN country codes, telex destination
codes, signalling area/network codes, data country codes) are laid down in the
relevant E‑, F-, Q- and X-Series ITU‑T Recommendations;
b) that the principles concerning future
numbering and addressing plans to deal with emerging services and relevant
number allocation procedures to meet international telecommunication needs will
be studied in accordance with the ongoing work programme approved by this
Conference for ITU-T Study Groups;
c) Articles 14 and 15 of the Convention
concerning the activities of ITU-T Study Groups and the responsibilities of the
Director of the TSB, respectively,
considering
that the assignment
of international numbering and addressing resources is a responsibility of the
Director of the TSB and the relevant Administrations,
instructs
1 the Director of the TSB before
assigning, reassigning and/or reclaiming international numbering and addressing
resources, to consult:
i) the
Chairman of the relevant Study Group or if needed the Chairman's delegated
representative; and
ii) the
relevant Administration(s); and/or
iii) the
applicant/assignee when direct communication with the TSB is required in order
to perform its responsibilities.
In the Director's
deliberations and consultation the Director will consider the general
principles for numbering and addressing resource allocation, and the provisions
of the relevant E-, F-, Q- and X-Series of ITU-T Recommendations.
2 the relevant Study Groups to provide
the Director of the TSB with advice on technical, functional and operational
aspects in the assignment, reassignment and/or reclamation of international
numbering and addressing resources in accordance with the relevant
Recommendations, taking into account the results of any ongoing studies.”
One of the main
purposes of this Programme as adopted by ITU Member States is “Access to the
information society should be one of the main goals of this Programme…”. The
main tasks in this Programme in the domain of Internet Protocol include:
- Advise Member States in formulating relevant national and
regional strategies and policies for the use of Internet;
- Organize workshops, meetings and seminars to address
technical, legal and policy issues for Internet Protocol;
- Provide assistance
to Member States in developing laws and model legislation for
e-services/applications, prevention of cyber-crime, security, ethical
issues and data privacy;
- Develop Internet Protocol toolkits for policy makers;
- Develop tools to facilitate the exchange of project
information, best practices, technology and policy issues on Internet
Protocol, IT security, legal issues related to the areas of activity of
this Programme;
- Assist in developing guidelines on the technology and policy
aspects of Internet Protocol;
- Enhance ICT literacy and building public awareness;
- Promote public awareness and foster the use of the Internet.
This activity is
follow-up to the BDT’s implementation of ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2002
Resolution 102 (see Section 3.2.2).
3.3.4.1
Kigali Declaration
- We
recommend that the development of information and communication
technologies (ICTs), including DNS management and IP address allocation,
be considered at the highest political level including at national,
sub-regional and Africa Union levels, in cooperation with ITU and other
appropriate entities.
- We
recommend that national policy-makers and/or regulators pay particular and
urgent attention to the issue of allocation/assignment of Internet names
and addresses. It was emphasized that the Internet is a global resource.
- We
strongly recommend that ITU engage itself in the establishment of an enabling
international framework that fully recognizes the sovereign and legitimate
interests of all ITU Member States. This includes, inter alia, the
allocation and management of ccTLDs and the protection of country names.
- We recommend that ITU organize a symposium as early as
possible on the topic of establishment of Internet Exchange (IX) points at
national and regional levels to keep traffic local and thereby reduce
international traffic and related costs. The symposium should address
related topics including sharing of country experiences and the necessity
of regional interconnection.
3.3.4.2
Moscow Declaration
- For the
consideration of national authorities, ITU is requested to provide
examples of best practices and models of national organization structures
and, if appropriate, model law frameworks with regard to administration of
country code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs).
- ITU is
requested to provide assistance to ITU Member States, upon specific
request, in the repatriation of the management of their ccTLDs as well as
to provide technical and policy assistance concerning ccTLD management
including dispute resolution considerations, the latter in partnership
with WIPO.
- Recognizing
the sovereign and legitimate interests of ITU Member States with regard to
the protection of their country names in the DNS, ITU is requested to keep
Member States appraised of the current state of discussions concerning
implementation of the WIPO recent recommendations in this regard.
- ITU is
encouraged to enhance its training initiatives with regard to DNS and IP
address management and recommend best practices, including with regard to
deployment of IPv6, in cooperation with appropriate entities;
