History in the
making
Charting the
future of the
ICT industry in
Dubai
The opening
ceremony of the
World Conference
on International
Telecommunications
(WCIT‑12),
running from 3
to 14 December
in Dubai, United
Arab Emirates
(UAE), was
addressed by
United Nations
Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon via
video; Mohamed
Nasser Al-Ghanim,
Director-General
of the UAE
Telecommunications
Regulatory
Authority and
Chairman of the
Conference; Fadi
Chehadé,
President and
CEO of the
Internet
Corporation for
Assigned Names
and Numbers
(ICANN); and ITU
Secretary-General,
Dr Hamadoun I.
Touré.
WCIT-12 has the
crucial task of
reviewing the
International
Telecommunication
Regulations
(ITRs). These
regulations were
adopted at the
World
Administrative
Telegraph and
Telephone
Conference in
Melbourne,
Australia, in
1988. They paved
the way for the
phenomenal
growth we have
witnessed across
the information
and
communication
technology (ICT)
sector. “In
1988, there were
just 4.3 million
mobile cellular
subscriptions
worldwide. Today
there are over
six billion –
representing
growth of over
one
thousand-fold!
In 1988, hardly
anybody was
online. Today we
are approaching
2.5 billion
users of the
Internet. WCIT
is about making
sure that we
connect the
billion people
without access
to mobile
telephony. And
that we connect
the 4.5 billion
people who are
still offline,”
Dr Touré said.
Highlighting
these figures,
Dr Touré added:
“Not only were
the 1988 ITRs
instrumental in
enabling rapid
growth in the
ICT sector, but
they also made
possible the
global
deployment of
the Internet –
and many other
ITU activities
continue to be
essential
components of
Internet
growth.”
He pointed out
that ITU
standards are
used every day
in the Internet.
These include
standards for
end-user access
equipment, such
as modems –
including xDSL
and cable
modems;
compression
standards;
security
standards –
including
standards to
combat spam;
standards for
backbone
networks –
including
optical fibre;
and the radio
frequencies used
to implement
Wi-Fi.
Paying homage to
the openness,
innovation,
pragmatism,
freedom of
expression and
multi-stakeholderism
that has helped
the Internet
become the
important global
public resource
it is today, Dr
Touré stated: “I
think we can all
agree that the
Internet is a
valuable global
public resource
which every
citizen in the
world should be
able to benefit
from.”
WCIT-12 is an
excellent
demonstration of
ITU as the
original
multi-stakeholder
organization.
“All
stakeholders are
well represented
here in Dubai,
with national
delegations
comprising
representatives
from government,
industry and
civil society,
as well as
technical and
legal experts
– making this a
fully-inclusive
conference, ” Dr Touré said.
United Nations
Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon
calls for
consensus on how
to most
effectively keep
cyberspace open,
accessible,
affordable and
secure
United Nations
Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon, in
a video message
to the
conference,
underlined the
power of ICT
that continues
to transform our
world. “The Arab
Spring showed
the power of ICT
to help people
voice their
legitimate
demands for
human rights and
greater
accountability.
As we strive to
achieve the
Millennium
Development
Goals and shape
the post-2015
development
agenda, you here
at this
conference are
well placed to
help further
unleash the
benefits of ICT
while promoting
an environment
that drives
innovation,” Mr
Ban stated.
Mr Ban went on
to underline
that the
management of
information and
communication
technology
should be
transparent,
democratic and
inclusive of all
stakeholders,
adding that he
was pleased that
steps had been
taken “to open
the process –
including the
vital voices of
civil society
and the private
sector.”
“The United
Nations system
stands behind
the goal of an
open Internet.
The right to
communicate is
central to the
ITU’s mission.
The Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights
guarantees
freedom of
expression
across all media
and all
frontiers,” Mr
Ban said.
Referring to the
World Summit on
the Information
Society, which
affirmed that
the free flow of
information and
ideas is
essential for
peace,
development, and
progress, Mr
Ban stressed
that these
freedoms are not
up for
negotiation.
“We must
continue to work
together and
find consensus
on how to most
effectively keep
cyberspace open,
accessible,
affordable and
secure. I
trust that
together –
governments,
industry and
civil society
will rise to
this occasion,”
Mr Ban told
delegates.
The United Arab
Emirates welcome
the world to
Dubai
Mohamed Nasser
Al-Ghanim said
that the “United
Arab Emirates
throughout its
history is a
living example
of coexistence
between
different
cultures and
races and formed
the ideal
destination to
embrace
everyone,
without
exception.” The
opening of
WCIT-12 almost
coincided with
the 41st
anniversary of
the United Arab
Emirates marking
its founding on
2 December 1971.
“We celebrate
this under the
spirit of our
father the late
Sheikh Zayed bin
Sultan Al Nahyan,
the spirit that
has established
our close ties
and enabled
unity and
solidarity and
has reflected
peace and love
in our relations
with the world.
We aspire today
that the same
spirit of our
union will
facilitate the
work of WCIT-12
and contribute
as much as
possible to play
the role of
consensus
between the
parties in
resolving the
important issues
for the benefit
of everyone and
work on the
conclusion of
the final acts
and appropriate
decisions for
the global
community,” Mr
Al-Ghanim added.
The UAE was
among the first
countries in the
region to invest
heavily in ICT.
“It is the
belief of our
government’s
commitment to
provide the best
technical
services in the
country, and
beyond that we
strongly believe
that the time
has now come to
work towards the
future
understanding
that the economy
is now very much
dependent on
ICT,” Mr Al-Ghanim
commented.
Highlighting the
importance of
WCIT-12 for his
country, he
said: “We are
proud to host
ICT experts from
around the
world, to
participate in
an event which
is the most
prominent of its
kind on the
international
calendar of
events in the
field of
information and
communication
technology. This
conference,
which comes
after a long
period of time
since the last
conference in
1988 in
Melbourne,
Australia, is an
essential
platform for all
of us to talk
about how we can
commit that
responsibility
to the people
that are looking
to us, whether
we are
governments,
service
providers, or
industry
leaders.”
Mr Al-Ghanim
welcomed
delegates to the
land of the
United Arab
Emirates, in the
hope that they
“can all find
new ways to make
our world better
and that the
future for all
members of
society holds
hopes and
aspirations”.
A new season of
cooperation
between ICANN
and ITU
Addressing what
he described as
a “historic
opening
ceremony”,
Fadi Chehadé
said “I am here
because I
believe in the
power of
engagement.
Engagement
starts with
listening” –
He
went on to say
that it is a new
season of
engagement at
ICANN, and for
cooperation
between ICANN
and ITU, which
started recently
at a meeting
with Dr Touré at
the Internet
Governance Forum
in Baku.
“I recognize the
ITU’s deep
impact on the
development of
the
telecommunication
industry, and
the broadband
infrastructure
of which we all
benefit every
day, especially
in the
developing world – the world I
come from.
The ITU and
ICANN have
complementary
roles; and
moving forward,
we shall
cooperate in
good spirit,
while clearly
respecting our
distinct roles.
I therefore join
my fellow
Internet
organizations,
ISOC (the
Internet
Society), IETF
(the Internet
Engineering Task
Force), the
regional
Internet
registries, in
our continued
deep commitment
to service the
world’s needs
for Internet
governance.
To conclude Mr
Chehadé added
“When I started
at ICANN, I said
we could build
organizations
either as
fortresses or as
oases. I invite
you to make our
organizations an
open oasis.
Oases are open
and vital.
Let’s remove
the walls, open
the windows, and
build
organizations
that are
welcoming and
transparent.”
Dr Touré thanked
the President
and CEO of ICANN
and Steve
Crocker, ICANN’s
Chairman, for
accepting the
invitation to
come to WCIT.
“This is a great
opportunity for
our two
communities to
reach out to one
another.
”
Dr Touré said he
looked forward
to the exciting
opportunities
that lie ahead
and all that can
be achieved by
ITU and ICANN
together, in a
positive spirit
of
collaboration.
“The work of
ICANN and ITU
can be and
should be fully
complementary.
And we should
note quite
clearly that ITU
has no wish or
desire to play a
role in critical
Internet
resources such
as domain names
– and that ITU
does not have
any mandate to
challenge
ICANN’s role and
competency.”
He also
welcomed
Australia’s
Minister for
Broadband,
Communications
and the Digital
Economy Senator
Stephen Conroy –
who he singled
out “not just
because of
Australia’s
tremendous
achievements in
broadband, or
because of his
great work on
the Broadband
Commission for
Digital
Development, but
also because the
conference that
originally
discussed the
ITRs took place
in Melbourne,
Australia, in
1988, and set the stage
for the
information
society”.
ITU
Secretary-General
highlights key
topics where
compromise looks
promising
Compromise is
expected on
several key
topics including
broadband
investment – to
ensure that
there is
sufficient
infrastructure
to handle
massively
increasing
demand for
bandwidth;
energy
efficiency;
accessibility;
security;
unsolicited
content, or
spam; number
misuse; roaming;
reducing
taxation – we
cannot have
heavy taxation
for something
which underpins
all other areas
of economic
activity; price
transparency
(non-discriminatory
pricing); the
fostering of
competitive and
liberalized
telecommunication
markets; and
freedom of
expression –
nothing can stop
freedom of
expression, and
certainly not
this conference.
Dr Touré
appealed to
delegates to
remember
throughout the
conference, the
opening words of
the Charter of
the United
Nations: "We the
peoples of the
United Nations
determined to
save succeeding
generations from
the scourge of
war, which twice
in our lifetime
has brought
untold sorrow to
mankind ... and
for these ends,
to practice
tolerance and
live together in
peace with one
another as good
neighbours and
to unite our
strength to
maintain peace
and security.”
Unlike
elections, which
by definition
are win-lose,
successful
negotiations are
always win-win.
Underlining this
nuance, Dr Touré
said: “I look
forward to
seeing how the
spirit of
consensus, the
spirit of
compromise, and
the spirit of
multi-stakeholderism
will come
together to
deliver that
win-win
solution.”
Saying that the
time had come to
build and that
the conference
will succeed, Dr
Touré quoted
Nelson Mandela
former President
of South Africa,
who once said:
“The time for
the healing of
wounds has
come.” “The
moment to bridge
the chasms that
divide us has
come.” “The time
to build is upon
us.”
Importance of
the ITRs
The Chairman of
the Conference,
Mohammed Nasser
Al-Ghanim,
addressing the
opening Plenary,
pointed out that
“WCIT occupies a
special place in
the ICT
industry, on
account of the
significant and
indeed radical
developments and
changes
witnessed by the
industry during
the past two
decades, which
have not been
matched by any
changes in the
International
Telecommunication
Regulations that
have governed
the industry at
the global level
since 1988.”
Hence the need
to update and
develop the
regulations to
reflect this
evolution, the
Chairman
observed,
underlining that
“the topics to
be discussed at
this conference
are both
extremely
important and
highly
sensitive, and
require us to
cooperate fully
to forge a
compromise in
the common
interest of all
countries of the
world.”
Dr Touré stated
that the current
ITRs established
milestone
principles of
public service;
acknowledged the
right of users
to communicate
by accessing
networks; and
recognized the
right to operate
free from harm
to technical
facilities. “The
ITRs also
enabled the
transition from
the traditional
settlement
system to the
new bilateral
commercial
agreements that
have served us
well for the
past two
decades, and
which set the
stage for the
stellar growth
in the exchange
of international
telecoms traffic
– encompassing
both voice and
data.
Bringing the
benefits of
broadband to all
the world’s
people
Dr Touré urged
delegates to
consider how
best to adapt
Article 6,
dealing with
financial
matters, so that
it will help to
achieve the
desired goal of
bringing the
benefits of
broadband to all
the world’s
people.
“In a global
village, where
commerce goes
quickly beyond
national
borders, and
where we can all
choose to buy
products and
services from
other countries,
to suit our
tastes and our
pocketbooks.
In a global
village, where
my grandchildren
can watch videos
online at their
home in New York
which have been
uploaded by
their friends in
Europe or Africa
or Asia.
In a global
village, where
health workers
in even the
remotest regions
can consult the
vast wealth of
information and
even other
specialists
online when
making diagnoses
and prescribing
treatment.
If a country
does not have
adequate ICT
infrastructure –
and that must
include
broadband, in
the 21st century
– then it simply
cannot
participate in
the global
market.”
Everybody’s
voice is heard
Dr Touré told
delegates that
ITU has made
every effort in
the run-up to
this conference
to ensure that
everyone can
have a say and
that everybody’s
voice is heard.
“And indeed over
the past weeks
and months we
have heard from
all sides and
all
stakeholders.
There has been a
very healthy
debate, which
has spread
through the
online and print
media, and
across the web
through blogs
and social media
sites.”
Dispelling myths
created around
WCIT-12
Dr Touré said
that one of the
most persistent
myths concerned
freedom of
expression,
where there had
been suggestions
that WCIT-12
might in some
way act to
restrict the
open and free
flow of
information.
But as he
reminded
delegates, in
Article 33 of
the ITU
Constitution,
Member States
recognize the
right of the
public to
correspond by
means of the
international
service of
public
correspondence.
And the ITRs
cannot, he
stressed,
contradict that
provision, or
indeed any other
article in the
ITU
Constitution.
This concept is
paralleled in
Article 19 of
the Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights –
which he quoted:
“Everyone has
the right to
freedom of
opinion and
expression; this
right includes
freedom to hold
opinions without
interference and
to seek, receive
and impart
information and
ideas through
any media and
regardless of
frontiers.” So
here in Dubai we
are not going to
be challenging
Article 19, or
indeed any other
article in the
Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights.
In this regard,
Dr Touré
welcomed the
proposal from
Tunisia and
others to
include a
provision on
freedom of
expression in
the ITRs.
“Fears have also
been expressed
that new
provisions in
updated ITRs
might help to
legitimize
government
censorship. And
I fully agree
that this should
not happen. This
conference will
not stand in the
way of the need
to protect the
right of the
freedom of
expression, the
right to
communicate, and
the right to
privacy.”
None of these
freedoms can
exist without
security –
especially in
the online
world. “If you –
your personal
information,
your banking
details and even
your identity –
are not secure,
then how can you
use ICT with
trust and
confidence? So
let me urge you
to work together
in good faith to
achieve a sound,
reliable and
honourable
compromise. So
that we can all
benefit from:
cyber-resilience
instead of
cyber-threats;
cybersecurity
instead of
cybercrime; and
cyberpeace
instead of
cyberwar,” urged
the
Secretary-General.
Affordability
Affordability
remains a big
barrier for the
billions of
people around
the world who
are still
offline. “We all
know that the
cost of
connectivity is
too high in most
developing
countries. And
not just in
developing
countries. We
are also well
aware that
international
mobile roaming
prices in many
parts of the
world are still
far too high. We
all want to see
greater Internet
usage across the
world. And I
presume we all
want consumers
to feel that
they are getting
good value for
money when they
roam. We will
find ways to
bring down the
cost of Internet
connectivity,
while ensuring
sufficient
revenues for
operators to
deploy broadband
infrastructure.
And we will find
ways to ensure
that both
customers and
operators feel
that roaming
prices are fair
and reasonable.”
All people, from
all regions of
the world, have
a right to
participate in
the knowledge
society and the
dawning digital
economy. This
includes people,
no matter where
they come from.
This includes
people, no
matter what
their personal
circumstances.
And this
includes the 650
million people
worldwide living
with a
disability of
some kind.
Highlighting the
importance of
connecting those
who are still
offline, the
Secretary-General
reminded
delegates that
it is their
moral duty “to
recognize the
vital importance
of measures to
promote access
to broadband
around the
world, in all
countries and in
all regions –
and to help
deliver total
inclusion.”
In this context,
he cited George
Washington, one
of America’s
founding
fathers, who once
said: “Happiness
and moral duty
are inseparably
connected.”
Describing the
work ahead as
intense,
constructive and
productive, the
Secretary-General said that the
conference might
sometimes
struggle to find
agreement.
“But let us not
confuse
differences of
opinion about
the way ahead
with differences
of opinion about
our common goal.
Indeed, we will
welcome
differences of
opinion, as we
have always
done. Here in
Dubai, we will
not see clashes
between people,
but friction
between minds.
And as we all
know, from
friction comes
light. The light
that will help
us see our
common goal.”
That goal is “To
build a
knowledge
society – where
everyone,
whatever their
circumstances,
can access, use,
create and share
information,”
the
Secretary-General
underlined,
adding “We have
the power to
create a brave
new world, where
social and
economic justice
prevails. So
let’s get to
work!”
General
principles
agreed
There was
general
agreement during
the Plenary that
the outcome of
the conference,
and the updated
ITRs, should be
technology
neutral and
should contain
high-level
guiding
principles.
They should also
be consistent
with the
preamble and
Article 1 of the
Constitution.
Discussion then
followed on a
more specific
subject;
recognized
operating
agencies and
operating
agencies, which
will be
continued at the
next plenary
session.