Highlights in May

On 31 May 2002, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) announced the approval of interim procedures for an Internet telephone number mapping protocol, better known as ENUM. Developed in cooperation with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), ENUM proposes to make available seamless access among the fast-growing number of communication devices that use different types of networks (circuit-switched and packet switched, including Internet protocol) and different numbers and addresses by mapping a single number to these addresses through the Internet Domain Name System (DNS). For example, the number +41 22 123 4567 would become 7.6.5.4.3.2.1.2.2. 1.4.E164.TLD, where the number is written backwards with the E164.TLD at the end. “E164.TLD” stands for an Internet Top Level domain. The “E164” stands for ITU–T Recommendation E.164, which defines the international public telecommunications numbering plan. ENUM is a technology that builds a bridge between the public switched telephone network and the Internet.

Under the proposed ENUM protocol, and subject to national authorities and end-user approval, it will be possible for consumers to use a single number to access many types of terminals and services such as telephone, fax, e-mail, pager, websites or any other services available through an Internet addressing scheme.

Two key applications that ENUM will make possible, for the first time, are the ability to call a personal computer from the public switched telecommunication network and to determine easily what type of terminal is associated with the number. Some analysts predict that this will permit the introduction of new innovative applications where a call to a telephone number can invoke Internet type services. For example, calling an ENUM-enabled telephone number from a third generation (3G) multimedia handset could allow access to a location-based mobile Web service, thus avoiding entering Internet-type addresses on numeric keypads.

ITU tackles network security issues

Network security has become essential to the global information society, as our economic dependency upon information and communication technologies has grown. However, computer networks have also become increasingly vulnerable to all forms of attack ranging from simple viruses to sophisticated cyberterrorism. Two ITU workshops were held in Seoul in the Republic of Korea in May this year to address this hot topic. The first workshop was organized by the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau from 13 to 14 May 2002, and placed special emphasis on cyberattack defence, biometric authentication, mobile security technologies and information security management. The second workshop was held from 20 to 22 May 2002 as part of the ITU New Initiatives Programme, and was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Korea. It discussed the theme of “Creating trust in critical network infrastructures”. In this context, the workshop examined the need and possible approaches for international cooperation to protect global critical network infrastructures. Issues were discussed both at national and international level from a private and public sector perspective. You can read more about these events in the July-August 2002 issue of “ITU News”.

Women express overwhelming support for information and communication technologies

An ITU survey of women from all regions of the world shows striking solidarity in the belief that information and communication technologies (ICT) are critical to women for meeting their personal and professional goals, in overcoming the inequality of the digital divide, and as entrepreneurs. The survey was released on World Telecommunication Day (17 May), which commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union in 1865. The theme of this year’s celebration was: “ICT for all — empowering people to cross the Digital Divide.” Some 99 per cent of women surveyed expressed the view that access to ICTs is important to women entrepreneurs for two key reasons. Firstly, that ICTs provide “improved information sources”. Secondly, that they offer “the opportunity to learn through shared experience”. This ranking was consistent across all regions, except in Africa where “access to additional markets” was ranked second. Women from all regions ranked “improved customer access and service” in third place. They also recognize the importance of ICTs for increased opportunities for cooperation, community economic development and personal empowerment. The information gathered from the survey (www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2002/13b.html) will be extremely useful to ITU as it presses ahead with preparations for the World Summit on the Information Society to be held in Geneva in December 2003 and in Tunis in 2005. The survey was conducted online between 18 April and 15 May 2002 in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic. Some 27 per cent of respondents identified themselves as working for government, 34 for non-government organizations and 39 in the private sector.