As an open and inclusive organization with a track record of 135 years of achievements, ITU has proved to be the unrivalled forum for the exchange of experience, for debates and for negotiating agreements among and between governments and industry. The huge participation in the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (Montreal, September-October 2000) shows that ITU continues to be an important forum for global standardization. Indeed, more than 620 delegates from 86 countries, including several operators and manufacturers, participated in the event.
Speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Martin Cauchon, Minister of National Revenue of Canada, who opened WTSA-2000 stressed the tremendous importance of the work of the Assembly to come up with a blueprint for future global standards-setting. "We believe this consensus will be a critical component to the realization of worldwide connectivity for the benefit of all", Mr Cauchon said. The fact that industry and government work together in partnership to achieve positive results in the field of global standardization is equally impressive and the Government of Canada will take every oportunity to ensure that our country continues to be recognized internationally as a high-tech nation, the Minister declared.
Above all, WTSA-2000 approved new working methods and tools that should help ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) remain an active and effective international forum where Member States, Sector Members and Associates can work together and encourage the development of global telecommunications. These include: new delegation of authority to the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG), leaner processes such as the holding of "virtual" meetings through electronic means, and a new fast-track approval procedure for technical standards.
"Collective wisdom resides in considering the results of our deliberations as representing 100 per cent of our best efforts even if, for some, they fall short of the totality of their expectations. Such is the yardstick by which to measure progress in a complex multilateral environment such as ours", declared Mike Israel, Chairman of WTSA-2000.
Congratulating Mr Israel for his competence and skilful chairmanship, ITU Secretary-General, Yoshio Utsumi, said that the Assembly had taken a big stride into a new and exciting future for global standardization. "ITU is equipped and organized to manage convergence and to broker supportive standards development to benefit all parties. There should be no need to go elsewhere. ITU can also manage the puzzle of bringing players together and working on agreements, cross-referenced standards and specifications, all geared towards the bigger goal of building the global information infrastructure (GII)", the Secretary-General said.
ITU is equipped and organized to manage convergence and to broker supportive standards development to benefit all parties
Photo: © 2000 PhotoDisc, Inc. (ITU 000081)
For Houlin Zhao, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB), many proposals to the Assembly had been reform-related, illustrating the increasing interest to strengthen the Union's pre-eminent position in global standardization of telecommunication technology and services. "WTSA-2000 comes at a very important juncture in our history. The decisions taken clearly demonstrate the strong commitment of ITU Members to strengthen global standardization. The good spirit of cooperation and compromise helped the Assembly reach its goals, and the new tools it has adopted will make ITU-T more efficient", Mr Zhao concluded.
One of the key decisions of the Assembly was the adoption of a fast-track approval process for standards without policy and regulatory implications. Known as Alternative Approval Process (AAP), the new procedure allows for standards that are developed to a sufficiently mature state to be circulated to Member States and Sector Members for comment. After a four-week period, such standards will be considered approved if no comment of substance has been received, and if they are in line with the ITU patent policy. If comments are made by the end of the last call, the study group having developed the standard should trigger a series of processes in a bid to reach agreement. Under this new approval procedure, the adoption of a standard could take as little as two months from the time the text is mature.
The fast-track approval process will only be used for approving technical standards, and was to be applied with immediate effect. In the case of technical questions or standards with policy or regulatory implications, the Assembly agreed on criteria that should guide study groups. So far, the issues identified as having policy or regulatory implications include: the right of the public to correspond, the protection of telecommunication installations, numbering and addressing resources, safety of life and practices applicable to competitive markets. For such matters, the Traditional Approval Procedure (TAP), where formal adoption by Member States is required, will continue to be applied.
Two schools of thought emerged during the discussion on the AAP. The first argued that the right of Member States was at stake here and urged that any debate regarding the change of rights of private sector Members should take place within the overall on-going discussions in the Working Group on ITU Reform. The second recalled a resolution of the Plenipotentiary Conference (Minneapolis, 1998), which talks of the two categories of Members (i.e. Member States and Sector Members) acting together. It went on to suggest that from this perspective, private sector Members should be given increased rights, including being able to approve standards.
Despite several proposals tabled in a bid to bridge these differences, the only way acceptable to all was the adoption of a text from TSAG. This text, which sets out the fast-track approval process, had been tabled from the outset of the Assembly to provide a way forward.
Discussion on this very contentious issue of international Internet connection found a positive outcome on the last day of the Assembly when this august body adopted a new recommendation. The latter sets out the principle according to which there should be bilateral agreement when two providers establish a circuit between two countries for the purpose of carrying Internet traffic.
At present, when providers install Internet circuits, they generally have a choice between the "sender-keeps-all", peering system of bilateral connections when traffic is more or less balanced, or the asymmetrical system whereby the initiating provider pays for the whole connection with the other country (full-circuit cost).
The Assembly adopted a new recommendation which calls for arrangements to be negotiated and agreed upon on a
commercial basis when direct Internet links are established internationally
Photo: © 2000 PhotoDisc, Inc. (ITU 000082)
The recommendation, which represents a very delicate balance between the various interests, calls for arrangements to be negotiated and agreed upon on a commercial basis when direct Internet links are established internationally. Furthermore, it suggests that when negotiating such commercial arrangements, parties involved should take into account the possible need for compensation for elements such as traffic flow, number of routes, geographical coverage and the cost of international transmission. The recommendation is voluntary and does not prescribe any particular formula or system, thus leaving to providers their freedom to determine the forms or methodologies to be used in implementing the principle.
WTSA-2000 also agreed that while international Internet connections remain subject to commercial agreements between operating agencies, there is a need to continue studies in this area. Two countries, the United States and Greece, voiced reservations on this recommendation, stating that they would not apply it in their international charging arrangements.
Another burning issue concerned the target rates to be applied to the international settlement of accounts. Discussions on reforming accounting rates have been going on for years in ITU-T Study Group 3. In December 1999, indicative target rates, along with specified deadlines for each country, were put forward for approval as an annex to Recommendation D.140 with the aim of easing transition to cost-oriented rates. This annex was the result of very delicate negotiations, but had been opposed by one country.
At the Assembly, those opposing the annex considered the target rates unacceptable, arguing that the annex failed to represent market conditions. Many countries however said that they had strived to move from monopoly to competitive environments and to bring this liberalization process to fruition. So, for them, a transition plan was imperative. Accounting rates had gone down by 12 per cent in the last three years. Many considered that even if the annex was far from perfect, it would provide a sound basis to continue the discussion in Study Group 3. In the end, the annex was adopted by an overwhelming majority. Furthermore, the Assembly passed a resolution instructing Study Group 3 to publish updated indicative target rates, calculated on the basis of the latest data available.
| New study group structure | |
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Study Group 2 |
Operational aspects of service provision, networks and performance. Lead Study Group for service definition, numbering and routing |
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Study Group 3 |
Tariff and accounting principles including related telecommunications economic and policy issues |
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Study Group 4 |
Telecommunication management, including TMN. Lead Study Group on TMN |
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Study Group 5 |
Protection against electromagnetic environment effects |
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Study Group 6 |
Outside plant |
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Study Group 7 |
Data networks and open system communications. Lead Study Group on frame relay and for communication system security |
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Study Group 9 |
Integrated broadband cable networks and television and sound transmission. Lead Study Group on integrated broadband cable and television networks |
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Study Group 10 |
Languages general software aspects for telecommunication systems.Lead Study Group on languages and description techniques |
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Study Group 11 |
Signalling requirements and protocols. Lead Study Group on intelligent networks |
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Study Group 12 |
End-to-end transmission performance of networks and terminals |
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Study Group 13 |
Multi-protocol and IP-based networks and their internetworking. Lead Study Group for IP-related matters, B-ISDN, global information infrastructure and satellite matters |
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Study Group 15 |
Optical and other transport networks. Lead Study Group on access network transport and on optical technology |
| Study Group 16 | Multimedia services, systems and terminals. Lead Study Group in these areas |
| Special Study group on IMT-2000 and beyond | Studies relating to network aspects of International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) and beyond, including wireless Internet, convergence of mobile and fixed networks, mobility management, mobile multimedia functions, internetworking, interoperability. Lead Study Group for overall network aspects of IMT-2000 and beyond |
As anticipated, a special study group has been set up on IMT-2000 and beyond. This decision follows an intense and lively debate on the need for a new flexible and dynamic approach that would be better suited to respond rapidly to mobile market requirements. While all agreed with this objective, at the heart of the matter was the extent to which the new group's working methods should differ from those of other study groups.
In the end, the Assembly agreed that while having the status of a standard study group, the special group would operate under its own specific, provisional set of working procedures. According to its mandate, the group will:
- Enhance network interoperability among existing IMT-2000 systems specified by ITU-T, external standards development organizations, partnership projects, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), and other relevant external forums.
- Harmonize different IMT-2000 family member standards as they evolve beyond IMT-2000.
- Provide, in terms of network aspects and mobility, a migration path from existing IMT-2000 systems towards systems beyond IMT-2000.
- Serve as Lead Study Group for the network aspects of IMT-2000 and beyond.
- Assess the possible standardization of IMT-2000 interfaces to provide multi-vendor advantages for operators, if these are not provided by external organizations.
- Consult representatives of ITU's Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) in order to define how best to assist developing countries in the application of IMT-2000 and related wireless technologies.
In terms of output, the Special Study Group will develop and approve recommendations (standards) in the same manner as other study groups. It will report on its activities and progress to TSAG meetings.
Much debate also took place on reforming ITU standardization activities. Special emphasis was placed on the work of an ad hoc group, which was established by the Working Group on ITU Reform to consider the question of creating a new global standardization entity under the umbrella of ITU. WTSA-2000 passed a resolution encapsulating its views on the fundamental attributes of technical standardization functions within ITU, based on eight key messages:
- That global standards activities should be within the framework of ITU-T.
- That a distinction must be drawn between technical and regulatory work. The criteria needed to draw this distinction should be defined.
- That very close relations with other standards-setting organizations need to be established to avoid duplication.
- That the impact on the work programme of ITU's three Sectors needs to be ascertained.
- That a phased-approach would need to be adopted to determine what can be implemented in the short term by WTSA and TSAG and what would require a decision of Council and/or the Plenipotentiary Conference.
- That the impact on ITU finances would need to be evaluated.
- That the needs of developing countries would have to be considered.
- That the importance of close links with the regions would need to be reflected.
The resolution also contains ten fundamental attributes of a global standardization body and twelve key issues to address, taking into account a number of principles, namely: openness, transparency, visibility, consensus building and responsiveness. Furthermore, WTSA-2000 decided that TSAG should take an active part in the on-going discussion of the Working Group on ITU Reform, including the ad hoc Group on the issue of creating a new global standardization entity.
Mobile telephony goes multimedia. With its high-definition screen, this GSM handset provides wireless access
to multimedia applications in colour
Photo: Nokia (ITU 000083)
Another resolution calls for greater involvement of developing countries in standardization activities. The resolution notes the difficulties which developing countries and least developed countries (LDC), particularly in Africa, encounter in their efforts to participate effectively in the work of the Standardization Sector. The resolution calls for close cooperation with ITU Regional Offices, as well as with regional organizations. This would include the possibility to hold ITU-T meetings in the regions and to assist developing countries in studies on priority questions such as voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP), mobile technology or multimedia. Furthermore, the Assembly decided to provide administrations of developing countries and those of LDCs with free electronic access to standards and publications posted on the Web, pending approval by ITU's annual governing body.
WTSA-2000 adopted the conditions under which Associates can participate in the work of ITU-T. The decision to establish a new category of participants in ITU work, known as Associates, was taken by the Minneapolis Conference in 1998. In essence, interested entities or organizations will now be able to join the Sector as Associates, and be entitled to take part in the work of a selected single study group, as well as in the process of preparing standards within that group.
The creation of this new category aims to encourage greater participation in the work of ITU by smaller companies, institutions and organizations with highly focused areas of activity. ITU hopes to draw on the knowledge and expertise of these entities, when mutual interests exist.
A total of 193 questions have been allocated to the Sector's 14 study groups. General areas of responsibility were also agreed upon to guide each study group in the development of post-2000 study questions. The new study group structure will become effective on 1 January 2001.
WTSA-2000 designated the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the study groups, as well as those of TSAG and has limited
their terms of office to eight years (two mandates). The Assembly also retained the Inter-Sector Coordination Group on
Satellite Matters (ICG-SAT) and the existing regional tariff groups for Africa, Asia and Oceania, Latin America, and
Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. Furthermore, it has proposed that a new regional tariff group be established for the
Arab countries.
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