1. Bridging the Standardization Gap
ITU Workshop on
“Bridging the Standardization Gap” (Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012)
Bridging the Standardization Gap
Vijay Mauree,
Programme Co-ordinator, TSB, ITU
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

2. Bridging the Standardization Gap ITU Activities to bridge the gap
Outline
Standardization gap
Bridging the Standardization Gap
ITU Activities to bridge the gap
Standardization Capability Study
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

3. The Standardization Gap
One of the three strategic goals of ITU-T
Defined as the disparities in the ability of developing countries, relative to developed ones, to access, implement, contribute to and influence international ICT standards, specifically ITU‐T Recommendations.
The standardization development gap is itself both a cause and a manifestation of the wider digital divide
Bridging the standardization gap: PP Res 123, WTSA Res 44 and WTDC Res 47
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

4. Bridging The Standardization Gap

5. ITU Activities to Bridge the Gap
Enhance Standardization Capability
Develop Human Resources
Set up Regional Groups
Establish BSG Fund
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

6. Enhance Standardization Capability
Mentoring programme for newcomers to Study Groups
Mentor role in study group
Research on measuring and reducing the standardization capability gap
Free access to ITU-T Standards
Increase remote participation and collaboration
Reduced fees (CHF 3,975) for developing countries including academia
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

7. Enhance Standardization Capability
Increase number of officials (Chairs / Rapporteurs) from developing countries in ITU-T Study Groups
Increase SG meetings and workshops in developing countries
Standards Q&A Online Forum
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

8. Standards Q&A http://groups.itu.int/itu-t/StandardsQA.aspx
Open to everyone
Moderated Forum
Objectives
Enable developing countries to seek advice directly from ITU-T study group experts
Ensure developing countries have a better understanding of ITU-T Recommendations
Enhance the application of ITU-T Recommendations in developing countries
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

9. Standards Q&A 26 Topics : some examples Naming, numbering IPv6
ICT and Climate Change
Optical Transport Networks
IPTV
Cloud Computing
Cybersecurity
Future networks and NGN
Home Networking
Multimedia coding
Accessibility
Conformity and Interoperability
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

10. Develop Human Resources
Capacity Building
In Depth Technical Manuals/ Tutorial
Workshop
Crash Courses/ Webinar
E-Learning
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

11. Develop Human Resources
Manuals and handbooks
Handbook on Testing (2011)
Convergent Networks (2010),
ITU-T Manual on Optical Transport Networks from TDM to Packet (2010) 
DSL Story (2010),
Deployment of packet based networks (2009)
Handbook on Fibre Optic Cables and Systems (2009),
Security in Telecommunications and IT (2009)
E-learning course on ITU-T Meeting Procedures NEW!
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

12. Regional Groups SG2 Groups for Arab and East Africa Regions
SG3 Groups for Asia and Oceania, Africa, Europe and Mediterranean, Latin America and Caribbean (Tariff and accounting principles)
SG5 Groups for Arab, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean (ICT and Climate Change)
SG12 Group for Africa (Performance, QoS)
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

13. BSG Fund BSG Fund : CHF 289,000 Objective
Facilitate the participation of developing countries in the standards development process
Allow developing countries to profit from access to new technology development
Ensure that the requirements of developing countries are taken into account in the development of standards
Korea Communications Commission, Nokia Siemens Networks, Microsoft, Cisco

14. ICT Standardization Capability Study
Understand the primary gaps that must be bridged to improve the standards development, implementation, and usage capacities of developing countries.
Identify variables necessary for developing countries to effectively develop, access, and deploy standards.
Develop a national profile of standards readiness and recommend best practices for national standards participation

15. Methodology Tool for Assessing Standards Capability
a questionnaire designed to elicit a self-assessment of standards capacity for effectively developing, accessing, and deploying ICT standards
Distributed to LDCs/Developing Countries
Scope limited to ICT standards
Preliminary Report published in December 2009
Case Studies : China, Czech Rep., Lebanon, Mali, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Thailand, Zambia

16. Questionnaire Standards Development Capability
Government Standards Policy
Standardization Human Resources
National Standards Use and Adoption
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

17. National Standards Capability Scale
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

18. National Standards Capability Scale
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012 18

19. Strategies To Improve How to interface with ITU-T?
Public-private partnership for ICT standardization activities at national level
identify new ICT standards requirements
define strategy for participation in regional and international standards-setting organizations.
Capacity building programme on ICT standardization for officials of the national standards body and ICT regulatory authority
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

20. Strategies To Improve
Offer government-sponsored ICT standards training in collaboration with private industry and international standards-setting organizations
Provide incentives towards hosting international ICT standards conferences and workshops in the country.
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

21. Conclusions Bridging the Standardization Gap
Enhanced co-ordination on ICT standardization at national level
Increase the use of ITU-T Recommendations
Capacity building on standardization and ITU-T Recommendations
Increase participation in Study Groups, Workshops, Meetings and number of contributions
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, July 2012

22. Thank You