Infrastructure is central for enabling universal, sustainable, ubiquitous and affordable access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) and services for all.
The ICT sector is characterized by rapid technological change, and by convergence of technological platforms for telecommunications
1, information delivery, broadcasting and computing. The deployment of common broadband technology and network infrastructures for multiple telecommunication services and applications and the evolution to all IP-based wireless and wired next-generation networks (NGNs) and their evolution open up opportunities but also imply significant challenges for developing countries.
The rapid deployment of wireless and mobile technologies indicates the growing importance of radio spectrum management and the role it plays in the socio-economic development of countries. Also notable is the worldwide transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, enabling more efficient use of spectrum and higher quality audio and video delivery.
Conformity to international standards and interoperability, i.e. the ability of equipment from different vendors to successfully communicate between them, can help avoid costly market battles over different technologies.
Availability of high-performing and interoperable products accelerates widespread deployment of infrastructure, technologies and associated services, granting people access to the information society regardless of location or choice of device.
Increasing knowledge and capacity of developing countries, for the effective application/implementation of standards (Recommendations) developed in ITU‑T and ITU‑R is fundamental for bridging the standardization gap.
