Recommendation 12^[1]  (ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference, Istanbul 20002), requests consideration for disaster telecommunication needs in all telecommunication development activities. The recommendation calls upon government administrations to ensure, that the capabilities of networks to serve in emergency situations be given proper consideration, whenever public networks are developed. It also requests administrations to ensure that emergency telecommunication needs are considered in all national regulations.

ITU Recommendation 12 can therefore help all those involved in emergency and disaster response, to make sure that their needs are properly considered during all stages of a telecommunication development process.