Terms of Reference

1.  To encourage active collaboration and participation of African administrations, regulators, operators and academia in the work of ITU-T SG13 and to report to them ITU-T SG13 outcomes and deliverables.

2.  To maintain an electronic forum to drive discussions on the implementation challenges related to future networks, including regulatory issues facing administrations, operators and regulators in Africa.

3.  To establish training needs on current ITU-T SG13 standardization areas, future networks and emerging network technologies for administrations, operators, Academia and regulatory authorities in Africa and coordinate the organization of technical tutorials in the region on such topics with ITU-T SG13.

4.  To encourage participation of African countries in workshops, Rapporteur meetings and other ITU-T SG13 events.

5.  To act as facilitator for contributing to the parent Study Group.

6.  To reflect the relevant priorities of the region as per ITU-T SG13 mandate. In this study period, the priority areas are:

• Future Computing and Data Handling
• Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence as applied to networks
• IMT-2020 and Beyond (non-radio aspects)
• Autonomous Networks
• Future technology trends towards 2030
• Trusted networks
• Quantum enhanced networking
• Fixed, mobile and satellite convergence
• SDN/NFV
• Emerging networks technologies

7.  To encourage African countries to contribute to the development of new/revised ITU-T Recommendations on current standardization areas, hot topics and future networks and report on their respective activities.

8.  To disseminate relevant information provided by ITU-T SG13 on current standardization areas, hot topics and future networks standards and document relevant use cases, architectures and services including emerging mobile services.

9.  To provide a better follow up from and to the ITU-T SG13RG-AFR focal points identified on current standardization areas, hot topics and future networks in African countries.

10.  To serve an incubator of new ideas for future technologies and their implementation scenarios shaped to the best to work in this part of the world.

11.  To serve a platform to share the expertise and experience in early implementation of ITU-T SG13 standards.

12. To bring new member country initiatives to the attention of all SG13RG-AFR  members.

13.  To provide personalities for top positions to lead standardization efforts in ITU-T SG13 subgroups.

14.  To build a community of collaborators for mainstreaming new technologies and new proposals for standardization related to the scope of the parent group.

15.  To encourage review of existing ITU-T SG13 Recommendations from the region perspective with the goal of their update and improvements.

16.  To encourage the involvement of women from Africa into the activities of ITU-T SG13 Regional Group for Africa and ITU-T SG13 in accordance with WTSA Resolution 55 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Mainstreaming a gender perspective in ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector activities.

17.  To cooperate with the African Telecommunication Union (ATU) and other telecommunication organizations and regional standardization bodies in Africa to create possible synergies.

18.  To preserve the interest of the region in all ITU-T SG13 activities.