about the new initiatives
programme
In 1999, the ITU Council endorsed the
New Initiatives programme with the
aim of identifying emerging trends in the telecommunication environment,
analysing their implications for ITU and its membership, preparing position
papers and reports on issues of a strategic nature, and promoting the
growth and expansion of the Internet, mobile wireless networks and the
global information society as a whole. The New Initiatives programme,
which is managed by the ITU’s Strategy and Policy Unit (SPU), comprises:
• A comprehensive research programme;
• Content-rich resources on many different topics;
• Country case studies and thematic studies; and
• International expert workshops.
The purpose of the programme is to track changes in rapidly changing
technologies, market trends, and regulatory frameworks, so as to promote
information exchange among the membership and generate new
ideas supporting the activities of the ITU’s Sectors. Since 1999, more
than 15 workshops have been held and more than 50 studies and 200
presentations have been published on the internet. In addition, numerous
publications have been released on paper and/or CD-ROM.
background
It was in
1999 that the ITU Council endorsed the
New Initiatives programme
for the Union to promote the growth and expansion of electronic
commerce and to facilitate the transition of the
telecommunications community in the age of the Internet and the
mobile information society. The workshops are held in line with
a set of guidelines approved by Council at its 2000 Session (in
Council decision 496) see Guidelines for Strategic Planning
Workshops (also in FR, ES).
The New Initiatives programme includes
strategic planning workshops,
country case
studies and online resources.
new initiatives workshops
The international workshops held under the
New Initiatives programme deal
with topics that are of high current interest, and that are especially relevant
to policy-makers, regulators, industry, corporate analysts, academics and
others. The topics are chosen as priorities by ITU Member States and Sector
Members on the basis of a questionnaire. These workshops, which are
reported on annually to the ITU Council, are on topics that cut across the
work of ITU and are conducted with a view to bringing new topics into the
regular work programme of the Union and its Sectors. Participation in the
workshops is open to all ITU Member States and Sector Members and other
experts may participate at the invitation of the ITU Secretary-General. The
workshops are conducted according to the guidelines set out in Council
Decision 496.
In preparation for each workshop, a briefing paper and a series of country
case studies and/or thematic studies are prepared. A background resources
website is also created and a list of issues prepared for discussion at the
workshop. The output of each workshop typically takes the form of a chair’s
report, published as a printed document and/or CD-ROM as well as on the
event website.
June
2006: The Regulatory
Environment for Future Mobile Multimedia Services
March 2006:
What rules for
IP-enabled NGNs?
April
2005: Ubiquitous Network Societies
March
2004: Shaping the Future Mobile
Information Society
February
2004: Radio-spectrum Management for
a Converging World
February
2004:
Internet Governance
April
2003: Promoting Broadband
November
2002: Competition Policy in Telecommunications
May
2002: Creating Trust in
Critical Network Infrastructures
April
2002: Improving IP
Connectivity in Least Developed Countries
December
2001: Multilingual Domain Names: Joint
ITU/WIPO Symposium
November
2001:
The Internet in South East Asia
September
2001:
Licensing Policy for 3rd
Generation Mobile
May
2001:
Regulatory
Implications of Broadband
September
2000: Fixed-Mobile Interconnection
June
2000: IP Telephony
December 1999:
Electronic Signatures and
Certification Authorities
new initiatives
publications
Under the New Initiatives programme, each topic is typically supported by
a number of different country case studies or thematic studies that provide
an analysis of contemporary issues in information and communications—
and how they are being addressed in individual Member States. These
studies are aimed at a wide audience, ranging from regulators to corporate
managers, and from consultants to academics. Research for the case studies
is conducted in collaboration with government officials, consultants and
industry players. Each case study sets out its context, defines the ‘issues’,
analyses the various models or strategies that might be employed, describes
current approaches, identifies obstacles and assesses past and current
experiences. The goals of these studies are to raise awareness of new and
emerging issues among government officials, regulators and industry
players both in developing and developed countries and to provide policymakers
and other players with relevant in-depth information.
A full set of country case studies
can be
downloaded free of charge.
Other New Initiatives studies
are also
available online on the SPU website
as well as on the
SPU newslog.
The studies are also made available as part of a New Initiatives publication,
available from the ITU sales office.
Buy the full publications (paper or
electronic version) |
|
Ubiquitous Network Societies
(August 2005)
Topics covered include the impact of ubiquitous
technologies on the traditional
telecommunication industry, the role and
application of RFID technology, privacy and
public policy issues. Country case studies on
Italy, Japan, Korea and Singapore are also
featured. |
|
Shaping the Future Mobile
Information Society (June 2004)
Topics covered included the social and
human considerations for a more mobile world and broadband
mobile communications towards a converged world. The experiences
of Norway, Morocco, Korea and Japan are featured, as is a survey
on mobile phones and youth. |
|
Internet
Governance (April 2004)
This publication summarizes contributions to the ITU process
that will prepare its inputs and position vis-à-vis the United
Nations working group to be established on Internet governance,
resulting from the Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action
adopted on 12 December 2003 at the first phase of the World
Summit on the Information Society. |
|
Radio
Spectrum Management for a Converging World
(April 2004)
Topics covered include advanced
wireless technologies and spectrum management. In this context,
issues related to the unlicensed portions of the radio spectrum
are included as well as property rights and wireless licence
values. The experiences of Australia, Guatemala, United Kingdom
are highlighted.
|
For more full publications under this programme, please visit the
ITU New Initiatives Publication Sales Website
Other Publications produced by the Strategy and Policy Unit
|