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Major decisions reached at World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly

Delegates at the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly successfully concluded their 8-day meeting with some major decisions on the future of global standards-setting. After extensive debates on how to chart the future of ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Sector, agreement was reached on a work programme for the next four years, which will promote interconnectivity and interoperability among networks, products and services in a multivendor, multiptatform competitive environment. Major decisions were also made to streamline working methods so as to further reduce time- to-market delivery of standards needed to meet the fast changing needs of the industry and of the market while improving the efficiency of the Sector.

ITU Secretary-General Yoshio Utsumi, advocated project-oriented working methods that would bring relevance and flexibility including a bottom-up approach. "in addition to the classical way of setting global standards which operates in a very structured mode, the ITU should also be home to industry initiatives and become the one-stop shop for global standards" he said. Today, there are over 600 industry for a and consortium around the world, all competing for financial and intellectual resources available in the industry to carry out standards activities. "Simply said, ITU standardization activities should be able to be initiated by any member at any time and, if well supported, could become candidates for ITU global standards" he stressed.

As a very open and inclusive organization and with a track record of 135 years of achievements, ITU has proved to be the unrivalled forum for the exchange of experience, for debates and for negotiating agreements among and between governments and industry. The participation of over 620 delegates from 86 countries including several operators and manufacturers shows that ITU continues to be an important forum for global standardization. "The ITU is equipped and organized to manage convergence and to broker supportive standards development to benefit all parties so there should be no need to go elsewhere, he said, adding, "it can use its experts and processes to benefit from collaboration with experts from other groups, via both format and informal methods. It can also manage the puzzle, bringing the players together and working on agreements, on work flow, cross-referenced standards and specifications, all geared towards the bigger goal of building the Gil".

Mr Utsumi praised the skilful chairmanship of Mr Mike Israel and said that with his competence "a big step forward had been made into a new and exciting future for global standardization".

The Chairman expressing satisfaction on the overall outcome of the Assembly said, "collective wisdom resides in considering the results of our deliberations as representing one hundred per cent of our best efforts even if, for some, they fall short of the totality of their expectations. Such is the yardstick by which to measure progress in a complex multilateral environment such as ours."

Houtin Zhao, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau underlined the fact many proposals to the Assembly were reform-related and illustrated the increasing interest to strengthen ITU's leading position in the global standardization of telecommunication technologies and services. "The ITU-T is now working in a very competitive environment and therefore has to continually revamp its working methods to grapple with new market forces", he said, stressing that private sector members who were the main contributors to the development of technical standards as well as the main users of standards had continuously requested to have their voices heard for all decisions affecting technical standardization, including approval of standards.

In his concluding remarks, Mr Zhao stated that the new tools adopted at Montreal will make the ITU-T more efficient and will work in the direction of reform. "This Assembly comes at a very important juncture in our history," he said. He also stated that the adoption of the new Atternative Approval Process, the Recommendation on International Internet connections and other important decisions clearly demonstrated the strong commitment of ITU Members to strengthen global standardization adding, "the good spirit of cooperation and compromise helped this Assembly reach its goals."

The main highlights of the Assembly include:

* The adoption of new working methods and new tools aimed at remain an active and effective international forum where Member States, Sector Members and Associates work together to encourage the development of global telecommunications. These include new delegation of authority to TSAG, leaner processes including the holding of "virtual" meetings by way of electronic means and a new fast-track approval procedure for technical standards. Under that new procedure, the adoption of a standard could take as little as 2 months from the time the text has become mature.

* The adoption, for the first time, of target rates to be achieved by specified deadlines for each country in order to facilitate smooth transition to cost-oriented rates and the adoption of a resolution instructing Study Group 3 to publish updated indicative target rates calculated on-the basis of the latest data.

* The adoption of a new Recommendation on International Internet Connection which sets out the principle according to which there should be bilateral agreement when two providers establish a circuit between two countries for the purpose of carrying Internet traffic while recognizing the possible need for compensation between them.

* The creation of a Special Study Group on IMT-2000 and beyond whose main task will be to enhance network interoperability among existing IMT-2000 systems specified by ITU-T and external standards development organizations (SDOs), Partnership Projects (PPs), IETF, and relevant external forums and to provide a migration path regarding network, aspects and mobility from existing IMT-2000 systems towards systems beyond IMT-2000. The Special Study Group will operate under a provisional set of working procedures that will be specific to the Group, giving it a flexible and dynamic modus operandi better suited to mobile market requirements.

* The adoption of measures aimed at enhancing a greater involvement of developing countries in standardization activities

* The adoption of the conditions under which Associates can participate in the work of the ITU-T. The creation of this new category by the Plenipotentiary Conference in 1998 aims at encouraging greater participation in the work of ITU by smaller companies, institutions and organizations with highly focused areas of activity, to draw on the knowledge and expertise of entities when mutual interests exist.

* The setting up of 14 Study Groups with their areas of responsibility and the designation of their chairmen and vice-chairmen. WTSA also designated the chairman and vice-chairmen of TSAG and agreed to limit to approximately eight years (two mandates) the terms of office of all chairmen and vice-chairmen. The WTSA confirmed the continuation of the Inter-Sector Coordination Group on Satellite matters (ICGSAT) and of the regional tariffs groups. It also proposed the creation of a new regional tariff group for Arab countries.

Fast-track approval

One of the key decisions of this Assembly is the adoption of a fast-track approval process for the adoption of standards that do not have policy and regulatory implications Considered a fundamental tool to improve the efficiency of work, the adoption of the Recommendation came up against two schools of thought: one that considered that the right of Member States was essential and that further consideration in the change of rights of private sector members should be considered within overall ITU Reform discussions. The other considered that the two categories of members should act together as provided for in a resolution adopted by the Minneapolis Plenipotentiary Conference; and in that perspective, private sector members should be given increased rights including being able to approve standards. Despite several proposals tabled attempting to bridge the differences, the only way acceptable to all was to adopt the draft text that had been tabled at the outset and had been agreed upon by the TSAG.

Under the new alternative approval process, standards that are developed to a sufficiently mature state, will be sent for comment to Member States and Sector Members. After a four week period, it will be considered approved if no comment of substance has been received, and if the standard meets the requirements of the ITU patent policy. If comments are made by the end of the last call, a series of processes will be triggered by the Study Group to attempt to come up with agreement.

The new fast-track procedure is applicable with immediate effect but will be applicable only to technical standards. For the approval process for technical questions or standards with policy or regulatory implications, WTSA agreed on criteria that should serve to provide guidance to Study Groups. In addition to matters identified by decision of Member States or recommended by TSAG, issues considered as having policy or regulatory implications include the right of the public to correspond, the protection of telecommunication installations, numbering and addressing resources, safety of life and practices applicable to competitive markets. For such matters, the traditional approval process (TAP), where format adoption by Member States is required, will be applied.

International Internet Connection

The discussions on this very contentious issue found a positive outcome on the last day of the Assembly. The purpose of the recommendation is to set out the principle according to which there should be bilateral agreement when two providers establish a circuit between two countries for the purpose of carrying Internet traffic. The possible need for compensation between the providers has also been recognized. At present, when providers install Internet circuits, they generally have a choice between the "sender-keeps-all" or peering system of bilateral connections when traffic is more or less balanced, or the asymmetrical system whereby the initiating provider pays for the whole connection with the other country (full-circuit cost).

The Recommendation endorsed by the WTSA, which represents a very delicate balance between the various interests, calls for arrangements to be negotiated and agreed upon on a commercial basis when direct Internet links are established internationally. The Recommendation requires only that the two providers involved reach a mutual agreement and does not prescribe any particular formula or system, thus leaving to providers their freedom to determine the forms or methodologies to be used in implementing the principle.

The Recommendation, which is voluntary, suggests that parties involved take into account the possible need for compensation for elements such as traffic flow, number of routes, geographical coverage and the cost of international transmission among others when negotiating such commercial arrangements. In addition, the Assembly agreed that while international Internet connections remain subject to commercial agreements between operating agencies, there is a need for on-going studies in this area. The Chairman recalled that the decision made in Montreal provided a framework for future discussions and was therefore only the beginning of a process where issues would be further analyzed. Two countries - the US and Greece - made reservations and stated that they would not apply it in their international charging arrangements.

The full text of the Recommendation is found at http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press/documents/diii.htm

Global target schedules for accounting rates

Another burning issue at WTSA was target rates applicable for the international settlement of accounts Discussions on the reform of the accounting rates have been going on for years in Study Group 3. last December, as a result of very delicate negotiations, indicative target rates and specified deadlines for each country in order to facilitate smooth transition to cost-oriented rates were put forward for approval as annex to Recommendation D. 140, but were opposed by one country.

Those opposing the annex considered the target rates as unacceptable because it did not represent market conditions. Many countries however said that they had strived to move from monopoly to competitive environments and to bring this liberalization process to fruition, a transition plan was imperative. Accounting rates went down by 12% in the last three years. Many considered that even if it was far from perfect, it would provide a sound basis to continue the discussions in Study Group 3.

The Annex was finally adopted by an overwhelming majority,

New Special Study Group for IMT-2000 and beyond

The Assembly considered the creation of a group to deal with IMT-2000 and beyond. An intense and lively debate took place on the need for a new flexible and dynamic approach that would be better suited to rapidly respond to market requirements. While all agreed to that objective, the extent to which the working methods should differ from that of other Study Groups was at the heart of the debate.

It was finally decided that a Special Study Group would be created. While having the status of a standard Study Group, it would operate under a provisional set of working procedures that would be specific to that Group.

This Group, identified as lead Study Group for the network aspects of IMT-2000 and beyond, will be responsible for-the harmonisation of different IMT-2000 family member standards as they evolve beyond IMT-2000 as well as the evolution of network aspects of IMT-2000 from the existing fixed network by utilizing the IMT-2000 radio transmission technologies as fixed wireless access.

It will also provide a migration path regarding network aspects and mobility from existing IMT-2000 systems towards systems beyond IMT-2000 and will enhance an overview roadmap on network aspects and mobility of existing IMT-2000 systems specified by ITU-T and external standards development organizations (SDOs), Partnership Projects (PPs), IETF, and relevant external forums.

The development of a near term IP-based internet working and long term common IP-based network architecture as applicable to IMT-2000 with also be considered.

Finally the Special Study Group is charged with undertaking an assessment of the possible standardization of IMT-2000 interfaces to provide multi-vendor advantages for operators, if these are not provided by external organizations.

In order to assist developing countries in the application of IMT-2000 and related wireless technologies, consultations should be held with representatives of development sector of the ITU with a view to identifying how this might best be done.

The type of output of the Special Study Group will be Recommendations to be developed and approved in the same manner as other study groups. The Special Study Group will report on its activities and progress to each TSAG meeting.

The first meeting of the Special Study Group is foreseen to take place before the end of the year.

Reform

A great deal of discussion went into the reform of ITU standardization activities and in particular, on the work of an ad hoc Group established by the ITU Working Group on Reform to consider a new global standardization entity under the umbrella of ITU.

WTSA adopted a Resolution which encapsulates its views on the fundamental attributes of technical standardization functions within ITU, based on the following eight key messages:

* Global standards activities should be within the framework of ITU-T.

* A distinction should be made between technical and regulators work. The criteria to make the distinction between those two Recommendations should be addressed.

* Very close relations with other standards-setting organizations need to establish to avoid duplication.

* The impact on the work programme of the three sectors of ITU should need to be ascertained.

* A phased approach would need to be adopted to determine what can be implemented in the short term by the WTSA and TSAG and what would require a decision of Council andlor the Plenipotentiary Conference.

* The impact on ITU finances would need to be evaluated

* The needs of developing countries would have to be considered

* The importance of close links with the regions would need to be reflected.

The Resolution includes ten fundamental attributes of a global standardization body and twelve key issues to address, taking into account the following principles, namely: openness, transparency, visibility, consensus-based and responsiveness. It also decided that TSAG should actively support the ongoing work of the Working Group on Reform including its Ad Hoc Group on the issue of a new global standardization entity under the umbrella entity.

A very fruitful and stimulating exchange of views characterized the discussions that led to the adoption of the Resolution.

www.itu.int.

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