Infrastructure is central for enabling universal, sustainable, ubiquitous and affordable access to ICTs and services for all.

Conformity with international standards and interoperability, i.e. the ability of equipment from different vendors to successfully communicate between them, can help avoid costly market battles over different technologies.

ITU-D continues to implement and update the ITU Interactive Terrestrial Transmission Maps online. The ITU Interactive Transmission Maps (for broadband backbone optical fiber, microwave links and satellite earth stations as well as submarine cables) have been continuously updated in all regions and made available online. The plan for including IXPs on the ITU Interactive Transmission Maps is ongoing.

A report on the Implementation of Evolving Telecommunication/ICT Infrastructure for Developing Countries: Technical, Economic and Policy Aspects was developed and shared with all participants of the ITU-D Study Groups.

In accordance with WTDC Resolution 47, regional forums and training courses on C&I were conducted in collaboration with TSB and BR, focusing on conformity assessment procedures, type approval testing for mobile terminals, and different C&I testing domains for Africa, Americas, Arab States, Asia-Pacific, and CIS.

Regional integration is increasing along with ICT infrastructure development through assessment studies in the regionsto encourage the establishment of harmonized C&I programmes, notably through the development of Mutual Recognition.

The Spectrum Management System for Developing Countries (SMS4DC) is now in use in over 40 countries, and training on SMS4DC was provided to a significant number of countries.

Guidelines have been prepared to assist countries in the development of their national table of frequency allocations, their national spectrum management assessments, for tendering for their national spectrum monitoring system and developing spectrum fee regimes.

ITU-D assisted Palestine on spectrum-related aspects, including frequency notification and coordination, technical examinations, transition to digital broadcasting, the digital dividend, and the allocation of spectrum and licensing. It also provided 20 schools in remote, rural or underserved areas in Palestine with broadband connectivity and equipment, including teachers' training.

Capacity of ITU members was built on a range of telecommunications/ICT network issues. Direct assistance was provided regarding frequency planning; spectrum management master plans; the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting; and other technical issues.

D.2-3 Innovation and partnership [92]

Innovation has been recognized as a powerful engine to promote development and address socio-economic challenges as well as increase the overall competitiveness of countries, while telecommunications/ICTs have been recognized as a key enabler for fostering innovation in various cross-sectors especially in a converged ICT eco-system. To contribute to bridging the growing innovation divide, several innovation dialogues noted  below have fostered knowledge and built capacity for ICT-centric innovation at national, regional and global levels, e.g.:

• An annual innovation track support during ITU Telecom in 2016, where innovation dialogues were in forum sessions on various challenges facing innovation ecosystems.
  
• An annual innovation track support during WSIS in 2016, where with Innovation dialogues were organized in on ICT-centric innovation ecosystem.

As a result of extensive consultations and dialogues from various regions and global events, an innovation framework was developed identifying key pillars essential for monitoring, diagnosing, developing and impacting ICT-centric innovation ecosystems.

The framework and methodology for national reviews of ICT-centric innovation ecosystems was the subject of consultation and revision with membership at WSIS 2016 in Geneva with over 75 participants in three sessions.

An ICT-centric innovation country review was conducted for Albania, with over 50 participants from the key stakeholders representing 40 organizations participating through a global innovation project developed and funded by the Republic of Korea.

Innovation tools, processes which allow using ICT innovative driven processes and methods, have been developed for innovation to help scale results, e.g.: an innovation platform (innovation.itu.int portal; a co-creation tool (cocreate.itu.int);  and a design-thinking methodology (creativity process), which has been developed around delivery of innovation dialogues, assessment, and development of digital innovation frameworks.

The 6th CRO meeting was conducted as a pre-event of GSR-16 where 20 participants reaffirmed the need for a selected portfolio of agreed proposals to be shared and piloted with interested regulators.

In addition, the Industry Leaders' Debate was held on 14 May 2016, in parallel with the regulators' track during the last day of GSR-16.

The 7th CRO meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 13 November 2016 as part of the pre-event of ITU Telecom and focused on concrete case studies and project proposals for future elaboration.

Partnerships with academia to promote the development of telecommunications/ICTs, in particular in bringing new technologies and fostering ICT innovation, was and is being fostered, including through the development of studies and platforms for increased engagement with academic members.

​​​