Tunis, Tunisia, 23 April 2018​

Contact: tsbevents@itu.int

Introduction

Since the beginning of the current Study Period (2017-2020), ITU-T Study Group 11 (SG11) organized its first ITU Regional Workshop for Africa, which was devoted to counterfeit ICT devices and conformance and interoperability testing.

This was the second Regional Workshop, which aimed to identify and discuss issues related to combating counterfeiting and Conformance and Interoperability (C&I) with a focus in the African region and ongoing activities under ITU-T SG11 and ITU-T SG11RG-AFR.

The discussion focused on:

• problems and impact of counterfeiting issues on ICT market, ranging from lost taxes and other revenue; erosion of brand value, network disruptions and interoperability challenges resulting in poor quality of service delivery; and risks to health, safety and environment;
• new trends and mechanisms in ICT counterfeiting, tampering and/or duplication of unique device identifiers;
• mechanisms to secure the supply chain management (from manufacturing, importation distribution and marketing) to ensure traceability, security, privacy and trust of people, products and networks;
• technical solutions to combat counterfeit ICT devices;
• Implementation of the ITU C&I Programme;
• C&I activities and testing laboratories in the Region;
• MRAs and Harmonized Standards Development for the Region;
• Joint ITU-T/IEC activities including CASC and joint certification schemes;
• SG11 activities on C&I and combating counterfeiting ICT devices.
  
  This Workshop was followed by the second ITU-T SG11 Regional Group meeting for Africa (SG11RG-AFR) from 23-25 April 2018 in the same venue.
  Note: According to Resolution 54 of WTSA-16, one of the goals of the Regional Group is to encourage the involvement of developing countries in standardization activities in their regions, and to submit written contributions to the parent ITU-T SG11.
  
  Target Audience
  
  ITU members and non-members were invited. Participation was free of charge. In particular, ITU members in the African region were encouraged to attend this event. All vendors and manufacturers, research institutions and academia, laboratories, regulators, operators, NGOs, customs authorities and security agencies, national standards and conformity assessment bodies and other such similar organizations within the African region were welcomed.