Multimedia & digital technologies
ITU-T Study Group 16 (SG16)
Multimedia and Related Digital Technologies
Created in 1997 from parts of ITU-T Study Groups 1 and 15, plus Study Group 14, ITU-T Study Group 16 was the lead group within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for multimedia coding, systems, and applications. It played a pivotal role in shaping global standards for video, audio, and image compression, as well as enabling interoperable multimedia services across networks.
As of the 2025–2028 study period, SG16 has been consolidated with ITU-T Study Group 9 into new ITU-T Study Group 21 (SG21), which continues its mandate under a broader scope encompassing technologies for multimedia, content delivery and cable television for current and future networks.
Key Achievements:
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Video Compression: Developed H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, and H.266/VVC standards, widely used in streaming, broadcasting, and conferencing. These standards earned multiple Emmy Awards for their impact.
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Image Coding: Contributed to JPEG and JPEG 2000 standards in collaboration with ISO/IEC.
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Speech and Audio: Standardized a range of codecs for telephony and real-time communication.
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IPTV and Digital Signage: Defined architectures and protocols for global IPTV interoperability.
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Telepresence and Conferencing: Enabled immersive and real-time communication systems.
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E-Health and Safe Listening: Partnered with WHO to develop standards for telemedicine and hearing safety.
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ICT Accessibility: Advanced accessibility standards for persons with disabilities, including captioning and user interface design.
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Intelligent Transport Systems: Supported standards for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication and smart mobility.
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Metaverse and Immersive Media: Developed studies on immersive experiences and future multimedia ecosystems.
