1. The ITU-T activities for Conformity Assessment and Interoperability
Regional ITU Consultation on
Conformance Assessment and Interoperability
(Sydney, Australia, September 2010)
The ITU-T activities for Conformity Assessment and Interoperability
Paolo Rosa
Head, Workshops and Promotion Division
Telecommunication
Standardization
Bureau

2. The contents Introduction to ITU&ITU-T
WTSA-08 Res. 76, WTDC-10 Res. 47, Councils 09 and 10 highlights
Conformity
Interoperability
Assistance to Developing Countries
Conclusions

3. Introduction to ITU & ITU-T
Founded in 1865, oldest specialized agency of the UN
Standards making as one of the ITU’s first activities
HQ Geneva, 11 regional offices, 760 staff / 80 nationalities
Named as one of the world’s ten most enduring institutions by Booz Allen
Five elected officials:
ITU-T Product: Recommendations (= “standards”) Freely available to the public
Work (mostly) done in Study Groups (10 of them) + Regional and Focus Groups
Unique partnership of private sector (Sector Members) & government (Member States)
Truly global
Consensus decisions
Very flexible
Fast and transparent procedures
Brand name
Common Patent Policy ITU-T/ITU-R/ISO/IEC 3

4. ITU-T Member State Participation
Region A - The Americas (216)
Region B - Western Europe (178)
Region C - Eastern Europe and Northern Asia (73)
Region D - Africa (182)
Region E - Asia and Australasia (460) A B C D E
Member States: 191 governments
Sector Members: 565 private sector
Membership fee: 31,800 CHF (~= 29k USD)
Associates: 154 private sector
(one Study Group only)
Membership fee: 10,600 CHF (~= 9.6k USD)
Today, 95% of the work in ITU-T is done by the private sector
Member State delegates A216 B178 C73 D182 E460 TOTAL1109 UK49 FRANCE30 GERMANY26 JAPAN42 CHINA162 KOREA134 USA117 4 4

5. Strategic Objectives Develop and publish timely global standards
Promote conformance to ITU-T Recommendations and maintaining an online “conformity DB”
Enhance interoperability by organizing events to prove interoperability of different vendors equipment
Identify relevant areas for future standardization projects by involving academia
Provide the most attractive forum for standardization in the interest of the membership
Promote value of ITU-T to increase membership
Disseminate information and know-how and create awareness
Cooperate and collaborate with other Sectors and other regional and international entities
Provide support and assistance to the membership, in particular from developing countries 5 5

6. ITU-T Working Structure
Workshops,
Seminars,
Symposia…
WTSA
World Telecommunication
Standardization Assembly
Other SDOs
Telecommunication Standardization
Advisory Group
Focus Groups
JCA
Kaleidoscope SG
Study Group SG
IPR ad hoc
Working Party WP WP WP Q Q
Questions: Develop Recommendations Q Q
TSB=Secretariat 6

7. Hot Topics in ITU-T Climate change Conformity and Interoperability
Cybersecurity
Accessibility
Smart grids – Next Generation Electrricity
Intelligent Transport systems
Tech watch
Kaleidoscope and Academia
NGN migration
Multimedia Serrvices
Optical networks

8. The contents Introduction to ITU&ITU-T
WTSA-08 Res. 76, WTDC-10 Res. 47, Councils 09 and 10 highlights
Conformity
Interoperability
Assistance to Developing Countries
Conclusions

9. What happens everyday
Lack of performance and of compliance to conformity and interoperability requirements
Market invaded by counterfeit products
Legacy, regulatory, contractual and legal issues
Developing Countries linked to one vendor only
poor market competition
lack of technology neutrality

10. Some Problems
1) How many Bluetooth™ earpieces are you ready to buy before you find the good one for your mobile?
2) your service provider changes its equipment, are you happy to discover that your just bought “super-wireless-ADSL2+ modem-router” is not compatible?

11. Effects of lack C&I Impact on ITU: Reactions from Developing Countries
Erosion of the perceived importance of ITU as the place of choice to develop the full range of interoperable standards.
Reactions from Developing Countries
Complains due to:
lack of conformance and poor quality of products
counterfeit equipment and lack of legal framework
a plea for ITU to help and to assist in achieving the requested level of conformity to standards and interoperability among vendors
Request to assist in capacity building and test centres.
ITU commitment
WTSA-08 Resolution 76 approved. ITU-T to take actions as successfully done by other SDOs & Forums on C&I issues
WTDC-10 Resolution 47. ITU-T to support and complement the Res.76 from the ITU development sector point of view

12. WTSA-08 Resolution 76 Johannesburg, October 2008
“Studies related to conformance and interoperability testing, assistance to developing countries, and a possible future ITU mark programme”

13. Res.76: instructs the Director of TSB
identify and prioritize the problems of developing countries
study the overall effect on ITU and manufacturers, legal, national and international regulatory implications, cost of set up and location of testing facilities, measures to build the necessary human resource capacities
Conduct studies with the view to introduce the voluntary use of ITU Mark permitting manufacturers and service providers to make a visible declaration of conformity to ITU-T standards of products and to study the relevant financial and legal implications for the ITU-T and ICT industries
to submit the result of these studies to Council-09 for its consideration and required actions

14. Conclusions on Res. 76
Res. 76: meets the needs of Developing Countries for conformance and interoperability aspects
Conformity is a first step to increase the probability of interoperability between different equipment, manufacturers, vendors, service providers
Identification of Labs able to carry out tests according to the ITU-T Recommendations requirements and training programs
Voluntary based ITU conformity programme as a demonstration of conformance to ITU-T Recs and possible creation of an ITU-Mark: the “ITU inside” concept.
The increased business opportunities and benefits to both suppliers and customers, positive industry response

15. The TSB Programme Conformity assessment:
The first step to interop,
Testing: certification / SDOs-Forums recognized labs
Creation ITU conformity database
ITU as facilitator for interop events to:
identify the interoperability problems
develop Interoperability test suites as needed
Use of Current international procedures (ISO/IEC 17025, 17050, ISO Guidelines 65 - CASCO toolbox)
Conduct feasibility studies in developing countries for capacity building and labs
Develop a long-term business plan

16. TSB Director’s Recommendations endorsed by the Council-09
Implement conformance assessment and interoperability events programme, including the creation of a conformance database leaving the ITU mark for further consideration
Creation of human resources capacity building opportunities
Assist establishment of test facilities in developing countries
Report to next Council on the effective implementation of the above.

17. TSB Programme Benefits
Industry: increased business opportunities
(MRA: market expansion, time to market, reduced test costs no TBT issues)
End users: increased QoS &
interoperability legacy to existing
infrastructure, savings, confidence
Developing countries: capacity building opportunities, regional and sub-regional type testing laboratories, bridging standardization Gap and digital divide, promotion of a conformity testing culture

18. Resolution 47 (Rev. Hyderabad, 2010) Enhancement of knowledge and effective application of ITU Recommendations in developing countries, including conformance and interoperability testing of systems manufactured on the basis of ITU Recommendations

19. WTDC-10 Resolution 47
instructs the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau to:
1 encourage the participation of developing countries in training courses and workshops organized by ITU-D on best practices in the application of ITU‑R and ITU‑T Recommendations;
2 assist developing countries in building their capacity, in collaboration with ITU-T, so as to be able to perform conformance testing of equipment and systems;
3 assist the Director of TSB, and in collaboration with the Director of BR, and as appropriate, with equipment and systems manufacturers, internationally and regionally recognized standards development organizations, in conducting conformance assessment and interoperability testing events, preferably in the developing countries, and encouraging developing countries to attend these events; and

20. In collaboration with TSB
WTDC-10 Resolution 47
In collaboration with TSB
First Step:
Issue a Questionnaire on the “status quo” in the region, needs for testing, human, technical and instrumental available resources
Preparation of ToR for implementation of Res. 47 & Res. 76.
Second Step:
Define the framework of the field study on the economic feasibility of and need for creating regional laboratories and to report to Council on results;
Third Step
Identify partners for conducting the Field Study and Training Activities Region by Region.

21. Regional “robust” Consultation Meetings 2010
Quito, Ecuador, 6 July 2010
Nairobi, Kenya, July 2010
BDT event August 2010 Nairobi, Kenya on NGN and creation of test labs in Africa
Sydney, Australia,16-17 September 2010

22. BDT Workshop: NGN Conformity and Interoperability Testing Centre(s)
Nairobi, Kenya, 2-4 august 2010
2011: BDT actions concentrated to the Arab, African and CIS regions (BDT Programme 1)
building test facilities: technologies, training, accreditation, infrastructure
Presented the ITTC testing experience: European operators services conformance testing, conformance testing for IP/MPLS, key features for SIP protocol conformance testing ETSI interoperability testing, key factors for NGN, SIP and MEGACO protocols for testing
Approach of Service Conformance and QoS Testing: Internal NGN functional Blocks testing (RACF)

23. Concerns
The database presents both legal and associated financial liability risks for the ITU and the ICT industry
A step-by-step approach should be taken in order to take into account the concerns of the membership as ITU moves forward in implementing the action lines adopted by Council 2009
The use of accredited test labs is time consuming and expensive, delaying users’ access to technology and slowing global trade
TSB should first prepare a business plan to establish the real costs, potential liabilities and measurable benefits to society before launching the ITU-T Conformity Database
Test centres in developing countries, according to one contributor, would lead to confusion in the market place

24. Support Interoperability as Mission for ITU (Res. 71 – Strategic Plan)
Res. 76: intended to assist DCs and manufacturers should contribute to its implementation
Consultations presented case studies on problems
The conformance database would be exceedingly useful for operators and end users for whom equipment are manufactured. Good experience in this field is proven by existing DBs from other SDOs
Confidence of users in the kind of equipment they buy is more important than how quickly they appear on the market
ITU-T Study Groups will study Recommendations also in view of conformance assessment and interoperability testing as relevant

25. The contents Introduction to ITU&ITU-T
WTSA-08 Res. 76, WTDC-10 Res. 47, Councils 09 and 10 highlights
Conformity
Interoperability
Assistance to Developing Countries
Conclusions

26. Conformity
Ability of a product to meet the requirement(s) of a standard
A first step to increase the
probability of interoperability
ITU Programme intended to create a conformity mentality and to make visible products conform to ITU-T Recommendations

27. ITU Conformity Pilot Database
Voluntary and free-of-charge tool permitting manufacturers and service providers to make a visible declaration that their equipment conform to ITU-T Recommendations when duly tested.
Information.
Users advised that
the DB contains only information entered directly by vendors, and
the ITU is not in a position to verify the accuracy of the information received: Vendor’s Declaration of responsibility
The Pilot Database may provide information on applicable normative references by other standards organizations complying with Recommendation ITU-T A.5.

28. Concerning the effectiveness of Databases: the others do
Shown Conformance Databases produced by other SDOs aimed at: - reduce time-to-market, - reduce testing costs also thanks to Mutual Recognition Agreements and/or Arrangement (tested once tested everywhere), - increase competition, - increase confidence of end users to products, - be a window available to vendors to show conform products.

29. Conformity Assessment / Certification
ITU-T Recs &
test suites
Conformity Assessment / Certification
accredited lab
(ISO/IEC 17025)
Route 1
Route 2
Test lab
(Certification Body / Rec.A.5 SDO/Forum lab)
Supplier’s
conformity route
decision
Test results
(ITU-T X.290)
Test results
(ITU-T X.290)
Implementation of the ITU Conformity Programme
Route 2 A
Accredited
(ISO/IEC Guide 65) Certification Body Evaluation
1st party
Evaluation
Route 2 B
Product successfully tested in a lab recognized by
any Rec. ITU-T A.5
SDO / Forum
Conformity
Certificate issued by Certification
Body
Supplier’s Conformity
Declaration
(ISO/IEC 17050)
ITU C&I services
Supplier’s Request to ITU
ITU Conformity Database

30. The contents Introduction to ITU&ITU-T
WTSA-08 Res. 76, WTDC-10 Res. 47, Councils 09 and 10 highlights
Conformity
Interoperability
Assistance to Developing Countries
Conclusions

31. Interoperability
Ability of two or more systems or applications or network management products and services from different suppliers to exchange information and to mutually / fruitfully make use of it 31

32. TSB interoperability initiatives www.itu.int/interop
TSB facilitator and co-organizer, calendar of interoperability events & partnership with relevant SDOs/forums/consortia
Possible hot topics:
IPTV
G.9960 (Home Networking); HomeGrid Forum
VDSL; Broadband Forum
GPON (Gigabit-capable Passive Optical Network)
G.hn (home grids / networks)
Interested Companies SDOs, Forums, Consortia to contact TSB

33. IPTV Interop event

34. Next ITU Interop events
Singapore – IPTV – September 2010
Geneva – G.hn ??? – November 2010
India – IPTV – December 2010
Interested Companies SDOs, Forums, Consortia
to contact TSB

35. The contents Introduction to ITU&ITU-T
WTSA-08 Res. 76, WTDC-10 Res. 47, Councils 09 and 10 highlights
Conformity
Interoperability
Assistance to Developing Countries
Conclusions

36. Assistance to DCs: Capacity Building and Regional Test Centres
The ITU-T Secretariat (TSB) is implementing proposals on human capacity building in close collaboration with the ITU-D Secretariat (BDT) (WTDC Res. 47), needed to:
The ITU-T will assist in the establishment of test facilities in developing countries and in cooperation with international institutions is planned (UNIDO, International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation - ILAC, International Accreditation Forum - IAF,…)
Visits to various Labs are in progress in the regions
A project to create a test center in Tanzania is in progress

37. Capacity building and test centers
The ITU-T Secretariat (TSB) is implementing proposals on human capacity building in close collaboration with the ITU-D Secretariat (BDT) (WTDC Res. 47), needed to:
The ITU-T will assist in the establishment of test facilities in developing countries and in cooperation with international institutions is planned (UNIDO, International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation - ILAC, International Accreditation Forum - IAF,…)
Visits to various Labs are in progress in the regions
A project to create a test center in Tanzania is in progress
Training on Optical Fiber Network design – Rwanda Sept 2010

38. The Global Conformity and Interoperability ITU Portal
Information on the meaning of Conformity and Interoperability
Search functions in databases from ITU and from other SDOs/ Forums on a reciprocal collaboration basis
Links to C&I-related international organizations e.g. ILAC, IAF, NABs, Labs (Where are is the lab for my products?), SDOs
Repository/link for global MRAs for C&I
Information on ITU and other SDOs Interop events worldwide
Contributions on best practices for certification, interop organization, MRAs
Link to civil society and consumers associations
….?????

39. The contents Introduction to ITU&ITU-T
WTSA-08 Res. 76, WTDC-10 Res. 47, Councils 09 and 10 highlights
Conformity
Interoperability
Assistance to Developing Countries
Conclusions

40. What we said
Resolutions 76(ITU-T) and 47(ITU-D) : the replies to the needs of Developing Countries about conformity and interoperability
Conformity one of the tools able to increase probability of interoperability
Created the voluntary based and free pilot conformity database
ITU-T interop events successfully started
TSB and BDT committed to implement Res. 76 and Res. 47
Capacity Building activities and creation of test centers started

41. Useful links ITU-T Conformity and Interoperability www.itu.int/C&I
ITU-T Conformity :
ITU-T Interoperability :
ITU-T Workshops and Seminars
ITU-T News

42. Thank you
Thank you. 42

43. ADDITIONAL SLIDES

44. ICTs Matter
ICTs (excluding radio sector) as an estimated 2-3% of global Greenhouse Gas emissions
Around 0.9 Gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq)
Telecoms contributed around one quarter of this total
Airplanes and shipping about 3% each
Estimated distribution of global CO2 emissions from ICTs
Source: Gartner Group

45. Universal charger
Approved ITU-T Rec. L “Universal power adapter and charger solution for mobile terminals and other ICT devices”
Delivers 50% reduction in standby energy consumption, eliminates 51,000 ton of redundant chargers, and cuts GHG emissions by 13.6 million ton CO2 annually
Current version covers charger for mobile terminals but will cover other ICT devices in future 45

46. Accessibility
Champions principles Universal Design enshrined in the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Includes accessibility features in all standards
Strong advocacy focus
Group to coordinate activities on accessibility
ITU led Dynamic Coalition on the Internet and Accessibility at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
Proposed new Focus Group on Interoperability of Accessibility protocols 46 46

47. Next generation electricity
Chief Technology Officer Group highlighted Smart Grid as a priority area
Focus Group on Smart Grid will
Identify impacts on standards development
Investigate ITU-T study items
Familiarize ITU-T with emerging attributes of smart grid
Encourage collaboration between ITU-T membership and utilities 47 47

48. Intelligent Transport Systems
ITU, ISO and IEC and Geneva Motor Show
Annual Event
New work:
Wideband communication in cars
Vehicle gateway protocol 48 48

49. Safety in the cyber world
Identity management
Security standards for:
NGN
IPTV
Home networks,
Ubiquitous sensor networks
Mobiles
Traceback
Countering spam 49 49

50. Technology Watch: Scouting for future technologies …
Recent paper/reports:
Remote collaboration tools
Ubiquitous Sensor Networks
ICTs and Climate Change
Telepresence
High-performance video-conferencing
Intelligent Transport Systems
Lawful interception (LI)
Next-Generation Networks (NGNs) and energy efficiency
Mobile applications
Batteries for portable ICT devices
Upcoming: ICTs and food security, network robotics, telebiometrics
New Briefing Reports published in ITU News 50 50

51. Involving future engineers
1st Kaleidoscope event 2008:
140 contributions from academic institutions from around the world
2nd Kaleidoscope event:
Innovations for Digital Inclusion
September 2009, Mar del Plata, Argentina
Best papers proposed as new work
Published by IEEE
Sponsorship opportunities 51 51 51

52. Kaleidoscope 2010 Pune, India, 13-15 December 2010
Exhibition by local universities
Best paper awards $10,000
Proceedings  IEEE Xplore online library
New this year:
Standards Corner (tutorial)
Jules Verne’s Corner
(SciFi writers and dreamers)
Additional info: itu-kaleidoscope.org/2010
Associated events: Focus Group on Future Networks 52