ITU–D Study Group 1

Halfway to the WTDC in 2010

Audrey Loridan-Baudrier, Chairman of Study Group 1

The current study period of Study Group 1 of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU–D) is proceeding smoothly. There have been positive developments, thanks to some high-quality contributions to our discussions from Member States and Sector Members. Study Group 1 is more finely attuned than ever to the Doha Action Plan, which was issued by the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) in 2006. It is also closely involved in the implementation of Action Line C5, concerning confidence and security in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT), and Action Line C2, on ICT infrastructure, that resulted from the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

Assessment at the halfway mark

By way of a preliminary observation, attention must be drawn to the good cooperation between the Study Group and the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT). Cooperation is driven by the management team and programmes, and takes the concrete form of jointly organized workshops. For example, we organized two workshops on 17 September 2007, on best practice in cybersecurity and on access to ICT for people with disabilities. We will repeat this successful experiment in 2008 with a workshop on universal access to broadband services, and another on tariff and cost models, including for next-generation networks (NGN). These are being organized in coordination with BDT programmes.

Also, thanks to the action of BDT Director Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, Study Group 1 has received the resources it needs to do its work, allowing it to be re-invigorated with a view to stimulating the sharing of information and experience.

The beneficiaries are developing countries. Since 2004, the number of contributions to the Study Group’s work has grown significantly, with a 56-per-cent increase since 2006, or 70 per cent since 2003 (as shown in Figure 1).

Since 2006, progress has been made on all of the Questions being studied (see Figure 2). For Questions 18-1/1 (domestic enforcement of telecommunication laws, rules, and regulations by national telecommunications regulatory authorities) and 22/1 (best practice for developing a culture of cybersecurity), draft reports have already been produced for consideration and comment, thanks to the hard work of the rapporteurs. In addition, questionnaires have been sent out for three other Questions. Also, the BDT Secretariat finalized a new system for responding to questionnaires online. Member States and Sector Members are encouraged to make use of this system in future, and further details can be found at http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/study_groups/SGP_2006-2010/questionnaires/index.html

The next steps to be taken

Study Group 1 is conducting a top-to-bottom renewal of its processes so as to achieve a better fit between its work and the expectations and needs of the Member States and Sector Members. Several milestones have been set up as targets, marking a new roadmap towards WTDC-10.

Annual operational report from the Study Group

Study Group 1 will produce an annual operational report for the Telecommunication Development Advisory Group (TDAG). The report will describe the work accomplished, with indicators for the number of participants and contributions, broken down by meeting and Question, and the number of documents downloaded from the group’s website. Its purpose will be to show the state of progress and give the forthcoming WTDC a complete overview of the Study Group’s achievements and participation in its work.

Foster synergies with BDT programmes

Rapporteurs must maintain constant contact with BDT coordinators, and take part in the Sector’s

 programme events, workshops and meetings as much as possible. In the months to come, Study Group 1 will set up an action plan, in close cooperation with those units within BDT that are involved in the group’s work. To this end, the website will be updated in cooperation with the unit responsible for the BDT website, to create electronic resources and web-based discussion groups.

Optimize the way work is organized

All of the rapporteur groups will hold meetings in the period between February and May 2008. The meetings will be scheduled together as much as possible, and coordinated with the rapporteur groups of Study Group 2. In addition, at the start of each new study period, a workshop should be held at which rapporteurs will have an opportunity to share their observations and discuss their role and working methods in accordance with their terms of reference.

Interaction with the rest of ITU

The 2008 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, on 17 May, has as its theme the issue of access to ICT for people with disabilities, which is also the topic of the Study Group’s Question 20/1. Therefore, it is envisaged that a working group of experts on Questions 7-2/1, 20/1 and 21/1 could be set up to work on the subject of disabled people’s access to ICT and employment.

The rapporteurs (at least those who work for their national administrations) will be able to use G-REX, a powerful information sharing tool, to provide support on demand. It can also be used to provide information for their studies on the various Questions. This cooperation promises to be of benefit to BDT and the study groups.

Fotosearch/PhotoDisc/Bill Davenport/PhotoDisc

Interaction with other international players

The profile of the work done by Study Group 1 needs to be raised. One of the ways in which this could be achieved is by sending printed or CD-ROM copies of all reports on the Questions being studied to such international bodies as the World Bank, the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Alternatively, e-mail alerts could be sent out to announce forthcoming meetings and workshops of the rapporteur groups.