ITUNews No. 8 October 2008 – Special Edition

World Telecommunication World Telecommunication World Telecommunication World Telecommunication World Telecommunication World Telecommunication World Telecommunication World Telecommunication World Telecommunication Standardization Standardization Standardization Assembly 2008Assembly 2008Assembly 2008

Hollywood presents Hollywood presents Hollywood presents Emmy Award to ITU, Emmy Award to ITU, Emmy Award to ITU, Emmy Award to ITU, Emmy Award to ITU, Emmy Award to ITU, Emmy Award to ITU, Emmy Award to ITU, Emmy Award to ITU, ISO and IEC ISO and IEC ISO and IEC

No. 8 October 2008 Special EditionINTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION

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AN EVENT EXPLORING POSSIBILITIES IN THE CONVERGING ICT AND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES

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*Information and communication technologies

TOPICS INCLUDE:

ICT AND CLIMATE CHANGE STANDARDS AND SPECTRUM CAR-TO-X COMMUNICATIONS NOMADIC DEVICES VOICE AND AUDIOVISUAL SERVICES ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES FOR CAR PRODUCTION LINES SAFETY SECURITY AND PRIVACY

WORKSHOP ON ICT* IN MOTOR VEHICLES

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ITU News 8 | 2008

World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2008

Global standardization in the spotlightEditorial by Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General

Welcome to South AfricaMessage from Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, Minister of Communications

Emmy Award for ITU, ISO and IECHollywood recognizes work on crucial video standard

Expectations for WTSA-08Interview with Malcolm Johnson, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau

The Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG)Enabler of strategic change for ITU–TGary Fishman, Chairman of TSAG and Technical Standards Director, Alcatel-Lucent

Combating climate change Enabling the low-carbon economy in the information ageLuis Neves, Chair of GeSI, and Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group

More Internet addresses requiredThe move from IPv4 to IPv6

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not engage ITU. The designations employed and presentation of material in this publication, including maps, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of ITU concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or concerning the delimita-tions of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or of certain products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by ITU in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.

Managing Editor: Patricia LuswetiProduction Editor: Janet BurgessArt Editor: Christine Vanoli

Printed in Geneva by the ITU Printing and Dispatch Division. Material from this publication may be reproduced in full or in part, provided that it is accompanied by the acknowledgement: ITU News.

ISSN 1020–4148www.itu.int/itunews10 issues per yearCopyright: © ITU 2008

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Cover photos: © BlendImages/Alamy), ITU/V. Martin, StockxpertBackground photo: N. Raymond

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ITU News 8 | 2008 October 2008

Ubiquitous sensor networksA challenge for standardization

Internet protocol televisionA report on standardization activitiesGhassem Koleyni, Consultant and Chairman of the former IPTV Focus Group

IPTV: New challenges for regulators

Highlights from ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand opening ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008

MoU signed by ITU and Geneva’s Observatoire Technologique

Offi cial announcements

Meeting with the Secretary-GeneralOffi cial visits to ITU

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Global standardization in the spotlightDr Hamadoun I. TouréITU Secretary-General

3


Editorial

/ ITU is delighted to have the opportunity

of holding the World Telecommunication

Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08)

in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 21–

30 October 2008. This “rainbow” nation

has inspired the continent and the world, not least be-

cause of its booming information and communication

technology (ICT) sector.

Johannesburg was also the venue of ITU TELECOM AFRICA

2001, hosted under President Thabo Mbeki. Three years

earlier, at the invitation of President Nelson Mandela, ITU

TELECOM AFRICA 98 took place in the same city. President

Mandela urged the world community to bridge the gap

between the “information-rich” and the “information-

poor”. A decade later, we have made progress, and stand-

ardization has played an important role in this.

Communications cannot take place without stand-

ards linking the sender and the receiver. So, through-

out the course of every year, hundreds of experts gath-

er at ITU to develop new standards (known as ITU–T

Recommendations), or to update existing ones. These are

technical specifi cations and operating parameters for all

types of equipment and systems, including new develop-

ments such as next-generation networks (NGN) based on

the Internet protocol (IP).

The study groups that develop ITU standards, as well

as the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group

(TSAG), will report to WTSA-08 on their activities during

the four-year study period that ends with 2008. Among

their many important achievements,

more than 160 new and revised stand-

ards were produced in 2007 alone, cov-

ering areas ranging from cybersecurity,

broadband via fi bre-to-the-home (FTTH),

to IP television (IPTV).

The NGN Global Standards Initiative has been one of

the largest of such projects in recent times. It involves

cooperative work between leading standards-making

bodies worldwide to defi ne the networks that will de-

liver tomorrow’s converged, broadband services. Audio

and video codecs represent another area in which ITU

has made headlines. In August this year, ITU received an

“Emmy” Award, along with the International Organization

for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical

Commission, for work on an advanced video coding stand-

ard for high-defi nition images that is in wide use across

the industry (see pages 5–7).

But global standards are only truly global if developing

countries’ needs are taken into account. Standards are an

essential aid in building a nation’s infrastructure and en-

couraging growth. Through enabling economies of scale,

they can reduce costs for all: manufacturers, operators and

consumers. WTSA-08 will look at ways to boost involve-

ment by developing countries in the standards-making

process. It will also set new strategies and directions for

ITU–T, and I have every confi dence that it will develop a

vision to help ensure that ITU standards remain a pillar of

progress throughout the world. /

Foto

sear

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Welcome MessageDr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri South Africa’s Minister of Communications

4


/ South Africa is looking forward, on behalf of the

African continent, to welcoming ITU Member States,

Sector Members and other participants to the World

Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08)

in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 21–30 October 2008.

This is a great privilege for our young democracy, as this is

the fi rst time this important event takes place on African

soil.

We are honoured to be your hosts, and are highly ap-

preciative of the global leadership that has been provided

by ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU–T)

in the development of standards for the ICT sector.

WTSA-08 will be preceded by a Global Standards

Symposium, on 20 October 2008. This event will allow

for high-level discussions amongst key stakeholders on the

challenge of bridging the standardization gap in develop-

ing countries.

A number of “side events” have been arranged to take

place after normal meeting hours. At these events, speak-

ers will address issues on ICT and accessibility, cybersecuri-

ty and ICT and climate change. These are issues that South

Africa believes are of critical importance in the ICT arena.

End-users have differing capabilities in utilizing ICT

equipment, as a result of cultural and educational back-

grounds, as well as age, disabilities, and other causes.

Through the standardization of relevant technologies

and promoting ICT awareness, improved accessibility to

ICT can be achieved; for example, disabled people should

be involved in the development and testing of ICT equip-

ment to ensure its accessibility.

Considering the crucial importance of ICT infrastruc-

ture to practically all forms of social and economic activ-

ity, and recognizing the potential vulnerability of networks

to attacks from viruses and other intrusions, South Africa

supports standards being put in place to ensure maximum

protection of ICT infrastructure against such attacks.

There is a growing international awareness in respect

of climate change. It has been estimated that ICT con-

tribute around 2 per cent of global greenhouse gas emis-

sions. However, ICT can also serve as a tool to reduce

greenhouse gas emissions. The effects of climate change

tend to impact more severely on the poorer sections of

the population, especially those dependent on agriculture.

South Africa, with a large portion of its population in this

sector, is acutely conscious of this. Consequently, we see

this as an important area of research in the future.

Many new technologies are conceived in academic and

research communities. It is therefore important to ensure

the participation of academia in ITU activities to ensure

that standards make use of the most modern technology.

Approximately 30 students from South African universities

have been invited to attend WTSA-08 as members of the

South African delegation.

We in South Africa are warm hosts, and we promise

that you, the delegates to WTSA-08, will be well catered

for. I am positive that every delegation will leave South

Africa with happy memories of their stay here, and will

return again for the FIFA Soccer World Cup in 2010. /

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Emmy Award from Hollywood

5

October 2008 ITU News 8 | 2008

/ The United States Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

has awarded the prestigious “Primetime Emmy Engineering

Award” to ITU, to the International Organization for

Standardization (ISO), and to the International Electrotechnical

Commission (IEC), for work in extending an advanced video

coding standard so that it can deliver high-defi nition images. In

use throughout the industry, that standard is Recommendation

ITU–T H.264. (It is also known as ISO/IEC 14496 Part 10 and as

MPEG-4 AVC.)

The three organizations received recognition for their Joint Video

Team's (JVT) landmark achievement in helping to extend the reach of

high-defi nition video to many devices, from mobile phones to high-defi nition

television (HDTV). The JVT was formed in 2001 by the video experts group in

Study Group 16 of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU–T), to-

gether with the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG).

The Engineering Emmy Awards are presented “for developments in en-

gineering that are either so extensive an improvement on existing meth-

ods, or so innovative in nature, that they materially affect the trans-

mission, recording or reception of television.”

H.264 is a highly effi cient video compression method that sub-

stantially reduces the bandwidth needed to deliver high-quality

video and the space required to store it. Seven sets of capabilities,

referred to as “profi les”, have been created for use in specifi c

applications. The great effi ciency of the codec, in

combination with its scalability in delivering ex-

cellent quality across the entire bandwidth spec-

trum — from HDTV to videoconferencing and

third-generation (3G) mobile multimedia — has

led to its increasing popularity.

Emmy Award for ITU, ISO and IECHollywood recognizes work on crucial video standard

The Engineering Emmy Awards are presented “for developments in engineering that are either so extensive an improvement on existing methods,

or so innovative in nature, that they

materially affect the transmission,

recording or reception of television.”This Award was presented at a ceremony on 23 August 2008 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, United States.


6


The Award was presented at a ceremony on 23 August

2008 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, United States. It was

formally received by Malcolm Johnson, Director of ITU’s

Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, accompanied

by Scott Jameson, Chair of the ISO/IEC Joint Technical

Committee on Information Technology (ISO/IEC JTC 1),

and three of the four Chairmen of the JVT: Gary Sullivan,

from Microsoft; Ajay Luthra, from Motorola, and Thomas

Wiegand from the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute in

Berlin.

In his acceptance speech on behalf of ITU, ISO and

IEC, Malcolm Johnson noted that “international standards

have clearly played an enormously important role in the

development of television and the entertainment industry,

and our three organizations have made signifi cant contri-

butions over the years.”

Gary Sullivan, who has served as Chairman of the JVT

since its inception, said: “This Award from the Academy

of Television Arts and Sciences recognizes a broad and

collaborative effort that has yielded signifi cant technical

From left to right: Malcolm Johnson, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, accompanied by three of the four Chairmen of Joint Video Team (JVT): Ajay Luthra, from Motorola; Gary Sullivan, from Microsoft andThomas Wiegand from the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute in Berlin, along with Scott Jameson, Chair of the ISO/IEC

Joint Technical Committee on Information Technology (ISO/IEC JTC 1)

Fari

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7


A jewel of a standard H.264 is now being deployed in products and services

from companies such as Adobe, Apple, BBC, BT, France

Telecom, Intel, Motorola, Nokia, Polycom, Samsung, Sony,

Tandberg and Toshiba. It delivers high-defi nition video

images over broadcast television, cable

television and a variety of direct-broad-

cast satellite-based television services,

as well as Blu-Ray disc formats, mobile

phones and Internet protocol televi-

sion (IPTV).

“This amazing video codec can be

found in Blu-ray, YouTube, the iPhone…

products at the cutting edge of today’s

information and communication tech-

nologies," said Mr Johnson. “It brings

high-quality, high-defi nition video to a

vast range of devices and applications.

Numerous broadcasting, cable, video-

conferencing, consumer electronics

and Internet companies incorporate it

into their new products and services.

H.264 is the jewel in the crown of in-

ternational standards collaboration.”

The group of experts that devel-

oped the standard continues to be very

active. JVT has begun working on the next

generation of video coding, aiming to deliver high-quality

video at even greater compression rates. With their track

record of achievement, innovative video compression

standards could soon be on the horizon. /

achievements in entertainment technology.” He applaud-

ed the nine companies that had been cited in the Award

(see box) for their work on the standard, as well as credit-

ing the efforts of “many more”. In addition to the input of

manufacturers, active participation in the JVT by academia

and the research community led to sig-

nifi cant contributions to the develop-

ment of H.264.

ISO Secretary-General Alan Bryden

said “this second Emmy Award in

12 years for multimedia standards de-

veloped by ISO and its partners is living

proof of the market relevance of inter-

national standardization as practised

by ISO, IEC and ITU, while illustrating

the role played by international stand-

ards in translating innovation into use-

able technology.”

Commenting on the Award, the

IEC General Secretary and CEO Ronnie

Amit said he “would like to pay trib-

ute to the experts from the industry,

who have made the work of the JVT so

relevant and timely. Their leadership,

energy and inspiration to bring video

and audio coding standards to fruition

shows what truly international standards

can bring in terms of interoperability and benefi ts, and

how they can touch the lives of billions of people around

the world.”

Nine companies were

recognized as key

contributors to the work

on H.264 within the JVT:

Broadcom Corporation

Dolby Laboratories

Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz

Institute

Microsoft Corporation

Motorola Inc.

Matsushita Electric

Industrial Co Ltd

(Panasonic)

NTT DoCoMo

Sony Corporation

Thomson Corporation

ITU

/V. M

arti

n

8


Bridging the standardization gap, accessibil-Bridging the standardization gap, accessibil-Bridging the standardization gap, accessibil-

ity, helping to combat climate change, collabora-ity, helping to combat climate change, collabora-ity, helping to combat climate change, collabora-

tion with standards-making bodies, introducing a tion with standards-making bodies, introducing a tion with standards-making bodies, introducing a

mark for ITU standards — Malcolm Johnson talks mark for ITU standards — Malcolm Johnson talks mark for ITU standards — Malcolm Johnson talks

about these and other important issues that will about these and other important issues that will about these and other important issues that will

be discussed at the World Telecommunication be discussed at the World Telecommunication be discussed at the World Telecommunication

Standardization Assembly 2008 (WTSA-08) on Standardization Assembly 2008 (WTSA-08) on Standardization Assembly 2008 (WTSA-08) on

21–30 October in Johannesburg, South Africa. For 21–30 October in Johannesburg, South Africa. For 21–30 October in Johannesburg, South Africa. For

the fi rst time, the Assembly will be preceded by a the fi rst time, the Assembly will be preceded by a the fi rst time, the Assembly will be preceded by a

Global Standards Symposium on 20 October, at the Global Standards Symposium on 20 October, at the Global Standards Symposium on 20 October, at the

same venue.same venue.same venue.

WTSA is held every four years to set the di-WTSA is held every four years to set the di-WTSA is held every four years to set the di-

rection and structure of ITU’s Telecommunication rection and structure of ITU’s Telecommunication rection and structure of ITU’s Telecommunication

Standardization Sector (ITU–T). In Johannesburg, Standardization Sector (ITU–T). In Johannesburg, Standardization Sector (ITU–T). In Johannesburg,

the Assembly will defi ne general policy for ITU–T, the Assembly will defi ne general policy for ITU–T, the Assembly will defi ne general policy for ITU–T,

decide future standardization topics, and establish decide future standardization topics, and establish decide future standardization topics, and establish

the Sector’s study groups and approve their work the Sector’s study groups and approve their work the Sector’s study groups and approve their work

programme for the next four years.programme for the next four years.programme for the next four years.

Mr Johnson, this is the fi rst time that you are on

the organizing side of a World Telecommunication

Standardization Assembly (WTSA), rather than a del-

egate. What is it like on the other side of the fence?

Malcolm Johnson: It has been a challenge,

but it has been very satisfying as well to be in-

volved in what I am sure will be a very successful event

— and one that will mark many fi rsts. It’s the fi rst time

for the WTSA to be held in Africa; the fi rst time for

it to be chaired by a woman, the Director-General of

South Africa’s Department of Communications Lyndall

Shope-Mafole, and the fi rst time that the event is pre-

ceded by a Global Standards Symposium and with an

associated exhibition. It’s going to be a challenge be-

cause, also for the fi rst time, the term limit on chair-

manships is going to apply and so we’ll be losing a lot

Expectations for WTSA-08Interview with Malcolm JohnsonDirector of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Bureau


9


of Independent States, for the Arab Group, and for

the Asia-Pacifi c. These regional forums will become a

regular fi xture on the ITU calendar.

We’ve also improved opportunities for partici-

pation in our work at fairly low cost, such as remote

collaboration tools that remove the need to travel to

Geneva. We’ll be looking for sponsorship to contin-

ue with these tools and include them in the working

methods. We have also established a voluntary fund

for bridging the standardization gap. I’m very pleased

to say that we’ve had contributions from Cisco,

Microsoft, Nokia Siemens Networks, and the Korean

Communications Commission. We hope that we will

see more contributions to the fund, which is used to

help cover the cost of events in developing countries,

as well as providing fellowships to attend them.

What work is being done on improving accessibil-

ity to ICT?

We have given a high profi le to work on ac-

cessibility to ICT by people with disabilities.

We’ve developed a checklist which has to be con-

sidered at the very start of work on a new standard.

This is so that accessibility requirements are built in

at the beginning, rather than trying to retrofi t them

once the standard has been developed, which can be

very costly and diffi cult. We’ve formed a joint coor-

dination activity on accessibility, whose convenor is

Andrea Saks — a winner earlier this year of an ITU

World Telecommunication and Information Society

Award. She’s helping us, too, with preparations for a

workshop on accessibility at the Internet Governance

Forum in December in India, where we will also be

organizing a workshop on climate change. These two

issues are going to be attracting a lot of interest at the

WTSA, with a resolution on accessibility as well as one

on climate change.

of experienced people in study group leadership posi-

tions. But that gives us an opportunity to get some

fresh thinking. So it is a very exciting time to be taking

the lead in organizing the WTSA.

What are the key issues for the Assembly?

One of the most important issues is bridging the

standardization gap. Basically, what that means

is to involve all our membership in the development of

our standards, in particular the developing countries

that haven’t been able to participate fully in the past.

I hope that this Assembly will adopt new ways of ena-

bling people from developing countries to participate

more easily in our work, to ensure that our standards

meet their requirements. This will be an issue for the

Global Standards Symposium as well. So I hope that

we will get a renewed commitment to resolving the

gap, along with some new working methods and

structures that will allow us to meet this objective in

the next study period for ITU’s Telecommunication

Standardization Sector (ITU–T).

Closing the standardization gap is clearly a prior-

ity. What has been achieved so far?

We’ve been approaching the issue in several

ways. For example, in Kigali, Rwanda, in October

2007, we held a forum at which we introduced all the

hot topics that we are dealing with on standardiza-

tion. It was open to anyone to attend and it attracted

a tremendous amount of interest from people from all

over Africa, many of whom had never attended an ITU

meeting before. It was such a success that ITU organ-

ized fi ve events this year that looked at similar issues

in the run-up to WTSA-08: Regional Development

Forums in Africa, the Americas, in the Commonwealth


10


There are several hundred standards-making

bodies today. Is this a challenge for ITU, or an

opportunity?

When the new ITU management team started

its work in January 2007, the Secretary-General

emphasized quite clearly that we are in the business

of collaboration, not competition, with all who have a

role to play in the development of ICT standards. On

my part, I am very keen to increase collaboration with

the various standards bodies worldwide. For instance,

we meet regularly with the heads of the International

Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and

we do a lot of joint activities with ISO and IEC un-

der the umbrella of the World Standards Cooperation

(WSC). In fact, the Emmy Award I was honoured to

accept in August this year for the development of a

video codec standard ITU–T H.264 was developed in a

joint group with ISO and IEC.

We meet annually with all the major regional

standards-development organizations in the Global

Standards Collaboration (GSC) to exchange informa-

tion, reduce duplication, and support ITU as the pre-

eminent global telecommunication and radiocom-

munication standards-development organization. We

have also organized joint events with the Institute

of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and for

the fi rst time we had a joint group with the Internet

Engineering Task Force (IETF) this year to study the

application of multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)

in next-generation networks (NGN). We have also

recently developed a direct liaison arrangement with

the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

We need to ensure collaboration with all these

various bodies so that we don’t have any duplica-

tion of effort. ITU’s Sector Members may belong to

many other standards bodies and don’t want to be

How important is the issue of climate change?

We’ve been doing quite a lot on ICT and climate

change. We raised awareness of the issue in a

Technology Watch Report in December 2007, and this

year we held two very successful symposia in Kyoto

and in London, and we established a focus group

which began work in September. The intention is to

standardize a methodology for estimating the impact

of ICT on climate change — both in terms of direct

greenhouse gas emissions by the sector and how ICT

can help mitigate the emissions in other sectors.

It’s true that with the ever-increasing number

of users of ICT, there will be greater demand for en-

ergy to power devices. But we’re directing a lot of

effort into reducing energy consumption per user;

for example, this will be examined in the new focus

group. We have also recently developed an energy-

effi ciency checklist to apply to our standards. For ex-

ample, standards such as VDSL-2 recognize the need

for devices to have multiple power levels, rather than

being fully powered all the time. We can make big

cuts in energy consumption per user. But, because the

number of users is rising so fast, for the ICT sector as

a whole it’s going to be very diffi cult to reduce total

energy consumption in percentage terms.

For industry as a whole, though, it’s been esti-

mated that ICT can reduce total greenhouse gas emis-

sions by at least 15 per cent, and some analysts even

suggest 40 per cent. Even if you take the most con-

servative estimate, that equates to a saving of at least

USD 800 billion in energy costs by 2020. ICT have a

great role to play, and I am pleased to see a number

of proposals for a resolution to encourage ITU–T to

do more in this area — which we certainly would like

to be doing.


11



been proved to comply with ITU Recommendations

and that shows a level of interoperability with other

equipment that also meets ITU Recommendations.

I believe it would also be an opportunity to indicate

whether equipment meets the new requirements that

we’ve introduced on energy effi ciency — we could

also have a green mark for such equipment.

This has been discussed since July in several of

the regional preparatory groups for WTSA-08, and I’m

pleased that there is a lot of support. Such a mark

would be an excellent tool to increase the visibility of

ITU and help buyers make better informed choices.

Obviously, there are a number of aspects that are go-

ing to have to be studied, and a business plan would

need to be developed. If the principle is agreed at the

Assembly, then we can start work and, hopefully, put a

proposal to the Plenipotentiary Conference in 2010.

How important have been the regional prepara-

tions for this Assembly, and will they help in decision-

making?

I’m a great proponent of regional preparations

for ITU conferences, and in fact I proposed the

very fi rst ITU Resolution on regional preparations, at

the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) in

1997 (Resolution 72). I fi rmly believe that we need

very good regional preparations if we’re to reach sat-

isfactory conclusions at ITU conferences and assem-

blies. We only have a short time at these events to

achieve consensus among countries from across the

putting effort into duplicated work. Quite a few have

expressed concern about the proliferation of stand-

ards bodies, and they are looking to ITU to take a

role in clarifying this complex scenario. I believe we

can do that, by facilitating regular discussions among

top-level representatives from our Sector Members, to

shed light on the best place to develop a particular

standard. This is likely to be discussed at the Global

Standards Symposium, and I hope that the member-

ship will see that it would be of benefi t both to our

Sector Members and to ITU as a whole.

There are plans to introduce an “ITU inside” mark.

What would be the benefi ts of such a symbol?

The idea of an “ITU inside” mark is in response

to a visit I had some time ago from a minister

who explained a problem of having bought equip-

ment from two vendors, who each confi rmed that it

complied with ITU Recommendations — but the two

sets of equipment wouldn’t work together! The minis-

ter asked me: “Why doesn’t ITU do something about

this?” When you consider that one of the reasons for

establishing ITU, back in 1865, was to ensure interop-

erability of international communications, it seemed

to me that we should be doing something to address

this concern.

So, in July this year, I suggested to a meeting

of the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory

Group (TSAG) that we should look at the possibility of

issuing a certifi cate, or mark, for equipment that has


12


cal specifi cations for their implementation. Work on

that issue is coming to maturity. So, over the next

study period, I foresee a shift in emphasis towards

how we can use NGN to provide a greater variety of

services and applications — which in themselves will

need standardization so they can be offered globally.

Environmental issues are another area that I believe

will be given greater emphasis, and not just climate

change. For example, we might also look at the recy-

cling of equipment and measures against dumping.

These and other environmental issues are very impor-

tant, as are continuing efforts to ensure that the ben-

efi ts of ICT are brought to all citizens of the world,

including those in disadvantaged areas and to people

with disabilities.

Any fi nal thoughts?

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of par-

ticipating in a very interesting annual event in

South Africa at which industry and academia come

together. Companies offer prizes to students who pre-

pare papers. It’s very similar to what we have initiated

with our Kaleidoscope event launched this year, and

which refl ects the increasing interest in ITU’s work

that is being shown by the academic world. I believe

we could link Kaleidoscope with the initiative in South

Africa, and I hope that we could generate similar ini-

tiatives in other countries, too.

I know that South Africa is inviting students

to come along to WTSA, and we are going to have

special side events to explain to them some of the

workings of ITU–T. I hope to see many students at the

Assembly, because we need to welcome the young

people of today who will become the ICT experts of

tomorrow.

globe, and that would be almost impossible if we had

to rely on proposals from individual countries. That’s

why I participated in all six regional preparatory meet-

ings for the WTSA, and I’m very pleased to see that

there are a lot of common proposals coming in from

the regions. I hope that, with the assistance of their

representatives, during the Assembly we can come to

conclusions which will satisfy all the various interests

from around the world.

Without prejudging the decisions of the Assembly,

what will be the future structure of ITU–T study

groups?

The study group structure of ITU–T has to be

the most effi cient possible, in order to pro-

duce results based on the work programme. A com-

mon theme running through all our discussions has

been the need to reduce the number of study groups.

Clearly, fewer groups would mean fewer meetings,

and make it easier for people to participate. However,

this will be a diffi cult debate, because the proposals

on how to reduce the number of study groups are not

the same from all regions. But I’m convinced that we

will be able to achieve the objective of an effi cient

structure with a smaller number of study groups. This

will reduce the resources that the membership needs

to follow the work, and it will also save our own, in-

creasingly stretched resources at ITU.

What do you see as the new areas of work for

ITU–T over the next four years ?

We’ve done a tremendous amount of work

on next-generation networks and the techni-

Kaleidoscope 2009Call for papers on “Innovations for Digital Inclusion”

ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU–T) is calling for original academic papers that propose innovative ways to foster digital inclusion. Prizes worth a total of USD 10 000 will be granted to the best papers, and certifi cates awarded to young authors who are still studying for doctorates. Accepted papers will be presented during Kaleidoscope 2009, which takes place on 31 August–1 September in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The best papers will be evaluated for potential publication in IEEE Communications Magazine. The deadline for papers to be submitted is 15 January 2009.

Like the fi rst such event in May 2008, Kaleidoscope 2009 will bring together academics, researchers and experts working on stand-ardization of ICT. They will look at technologies, services and applications that can capitalize on next-generation net-works and promote universal, sustainable and afford-able access by all. Social and regulatory challenges will be examined too.

The conference is being organized by ITU–T in collaboration with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

For m

ore info

rmat

ion, visi

t: www.it

u.int/i

tu-t/

uni/k

aleidosc

ope/2009

For m

ore info

rmat

ion, visi

t: www.it

u.int/i

tu-t/

uni/k

aleidosc

ope/2009

For m

ore info

rmat

ion, visi

t: www.it

u.int/i

tu-t/

uni/k

aleidosc

ope/2009

ITU

/V. M

arti

n

Delegates at the TSAG meeting of July 2008

14


/ Over the past few four-year study

periods, the strategic plan for ITU’s

Telecommunication Standardization

Sector (ITU–T) has evolved from one that

focused on the signifi cant and emerg-

ing technologies of the day to one that

focuses on the need and the means to

be responsive to the rapidly changing

telecommunication environment.

This shift from “what” to do, to

“how” to do it, in itself signalled a

change in strategic direction for the

Sector. Not only were the right, high-

quality Recommendations needed, but

— more than ever — they had to be pro-

duced at the right time. As the meaning

of “the right time” shifted from the pe-

riod following years of experience with

a given technology to a timeframe that

preceded implementation, ITU–T was

under increasing pressure to change

its methods of working. The Telecom-

munication Standardization Advisory

Group (TSAG) has guided ITU–T in re-

sponding to these pressures.

TSAG was instrumental in enabling

these changes by constantly examining

and re-examining the “what” and the

“how” in between World Telecommu-

nication Standardization Assemblies

(WTSA) that are held every four years,

and then by implementing the changes

as and when they were needed. In this

way, the membership of ITU–T, acting

The Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group: Enabler of strategic change for ITU–TGary FishmanChairman of TSAG and Technical Standards Director, Alcatel-Lucent

Gary Fishman

ITU

/A. d

e Fe

rro

n

TSAG

15



participants and those from developing countries, to

come on-board faster and more smoothly than in the

past.

Visibility and accessibility: TSAG gave advice on many

occasions over a fi ve-year period to implement free

electronic access to ITU–T Recommendations before it

was fi nally enacted in January 2007. Experience since

then has shown an increase — by several orders of

magnitude — in the reach of ITU–T Recommendations,

in particular within developing countries.

These are only a few of the strategic changes cham-

pioned by TSAG, but its job is not yet done. In the period

following WTSA-08, TSAG will be examining and acting

on other fundamental shifts in the telecommunication in-

dustry, in ITU, and in its membership. I expect that this will

result in future strategic action by TSAG to increase partici-

pation by experts from developing countries, to promote

greater interaction between industry and government

experts with those from academia, to further reduce the

time-to-market of ITU–T Recommendations while reduc-

ing costs to the membership and to ITU, and to implement

enhanced modes of cooperation with other standards-

making bodies. /

through TSAG, has changed the Sector’s strategic direc-

tion in many areas. Here are some examples.

Implementation of the Alternative Approval Process (AAP): The AAP has reduced the approval and publica-

tion time of Recommendations from years to an aver-

age of a couple of months, saving millions of Swiss

francs and untold reams of paper at the same time.

Aggressive implementation of electronic working methods: TSAG was the mechanism for bringing to-

gether the membership and the relevant ITU depart-

ments to defi ne and drive the shift from a paper-based

environment to a paperless environment for all those

who desire it, and for the greater use of electronic

meetings.

External relationships: TSAG created cooperative

procedures between ITU–T and dozens of other stand-

ards-making organizations, enabling sharing of infor-

mation and collaborative work.

Training: TSAG developed training material and many

guideline documents for use by all ITU–T study groups,

and it created a Workshop and Seminar Coordination

Committee and the TSAG Young Delegates Group, all

to enable participants in ITU–T work, in particular new

Foto

sear

chFo

tose

arch

Study Group 2

Study Group 3

Study Group 4

Study Group 5

Study Group 6

Study Group 9

Study Group 11

Study Group 12

Study Group 13

Study Group 15

Study Group 16

Study Group 17

Study Group 19

Study groups of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU–T) and their areas of work in the period 2005–2008

Operational aspects of service provision, networks and performance

Tariff and accounting principles, including telecommunication economic and policy issues

Telecommunication management

Protection against electromagnetic environment effects

Outside plant and related outdoor installations

Integrated broadband cable networks and television and sound transmission

Signalling requirements and protocols

Performance and quality of service

Next-generation networks (architecture, evolution and convergence)

Optical and other transport network infrastructure

Multimedia terminals, systems and applications

Security, languages and telecommunication software

Mobile telecommunication networks

Siem

ens

Pres

s Pi

ctur

e

ICT can be used to save energy in "smart" buildings

16


/ The most recent results presented

by climate scientists are alarming. The

accumulation of greenhouse gases

in the Earth’s atmosphere is growing

faster than predicted. Scientists, econ-

omists and policy-makers are calling

for emission targets of at least 20 per

cent below 1990 levels in 2020.

As a growing sector, it is clear that

the impacts of information and com-

munication technologies (ICT) on cli-

mate change need to be understood.

The report “SMART 2020 — Enabling

the low-carbon economy in the infor-

mation age” found that, although its

own products and services contribute

2 per cent of global emissions today,

a future-oriented ICT industry can re-

spond quickly to the challenge of glo-

bal warming. It has a critical role to

play, with other sectors, in designing

and deploying the solutions needed

to create a low-carbon society. The

report was published in June 2008 by

The Climate Group on behalf of the

Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI).

It was introduced to participants at

ITU’s second international symposium

on "ICT and Climate Change", held in

London on 17–18 June 2008.

The report shows that greenhouse

gas emissions from the ICT sector are

estimated to rise signifi cantly, from

0.53 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent

in 2002, to 1.43 billion tonnes in 2020,

if we remain on a path of business as

Combating climate change

Enabling the low-carbon economy in the information ageLuis Neves, Chair of GeSI, and Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group

“ The ICT industry is a key

driver of low-carbon growth

and can lead transformation

towards a low-carbon economy

and society. ”Luis Neves, Chairman of GeSI

Head of Sustainable

Development and Environment,

Deutsche Telekom

BT

ICT and climate change

17


signifi cant proportion of the reductions below 1990 lev-

els that scientists and economists recommend by 2020

to avoid dangerous climate change. In economic terms,

the more effi cient use of energy enabled by ICT would

translate into cost savings of some USD 946.5 billion (at

December 2007 rates).

Given the unpredictable nature of techno-

logical innovation, there is always uncertainty

in estimating future impacts, and the report

describes a number of hurdles to overcome in

order to realize the large savings it identifi es.

Furthermore, the ICT sector will have to focus

on reducing its direct footprint as the demand

for its products and services grows.

Standardization — a crucial factor Standardization is a crucial step that leads

to the ultimate goal of the “smart transforma-

tion” of our economies. It goes without saying

that ITU has a very important role to play in this

area, and it has already made climate change a

priority in its work. Energy consumption should

be an important component of all technical

standards within the ICT sector itself. And we

need to ensure that measurement methods are

standardized across the whole life of products

and services, in order to understand how much

greenhouse gas is emitted at each stage.

One of the reasons for the ICT sector’s suc-

cess is that it has developed layers of interna-

tionally standardized ways for machines to communicate

with one another — from international dialling codes to

Internet domain names. In other industrial sectors too,

protocols must be developed to enable smart systems to

interact.

Interoperable protocols allowing for communication

among devices and applications, as well as the stand-

usual. But it also identifi es many opportunities for the ICT

industry to replace goods and services with virtual equiva-

lents and to provide technology that improves energy

effi ciency. The real opportunity is for ICT to enable effi -

ciency — and therefore emission reductions — across the

economy in such areas as logistics, buildings, the power

grid and motor systems. We

now have evidence that the

ICT industry is a key player in

creating a low-carbon society

and can do a lot more to help

push the world in this direc-

tion by 2020.

ICT can cut global emissions

The “SMART 2020” report

looks at where ICT could en-

able signifi cant reductions to

be made in the CO2 equiva-

lent emissions of other sec-

tors of the economy, and has

quantifi ed these in terms of

cost savings. Aside from emis-

sions associated with agricul-

ture and deforestation, the

largest contribution to man-

made greenhouse gas emis-

sions comes from power gen-

eration and the fuel used for

transport. ICT can help improve energy effi ciency in power

transmission and distribution, in buildings and factories,

and in the delivery of goods.

ICT could save 15 per cent of the total greenhouse

gas emissions expected in 2020 if business continues as

usual — or 7.8 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent out of

an assumed total of 51.9 billion tonnes. This represents a

“ Consumers and businesses

can’t manage what they can’t

measure. ICT provides the

solutions that enable us to 'see'

our energy and emissions in

real time, and could provide the

means for optimizing systems

and processes to make them

more effi cient. ”Steve Howard

CEO, The Climate Group

The

Clim

ate

Gro

up


Siem

ens

Pres

s Pi

ctur

e

This hybrid bus in London employs electric drive technology and energy management controls

ITU News 8 | 2008

18

October 2008

ardization of information exchange, would

allow more effective monitoring, control

and minimization of energy use and carbon

emissions. They would enable, for example,

communication between refrigerators and

smart electricity meters, thermostats and

generation facilities, or global navigation

systems and delivery trucks. Already, ITU is

developing standards to support scientific

monitoring, networking in cars, and other

areas.

A “SMART” futureThe scale of emission reductions that

could be achieved by the smart integra-

tion of ICT into new ways of living, work-

ing, learning and travelling makes the sec-

tor a key player in the fight against climate

change, despite its own growing carbon

footprint. No other sector can supply tech-

nology capabilities so integral to energy ef-

ficiency, and across such a range of other

industries.

The report notes that by standardizing

(S), monitoring (M) and accounting (A) for

energy consumption, and by rethinking (R)

how economies should operate, we can

transform (T) the way we live and work. This

all adds up to a “SMART” future. As a way

forward, the report recommends implemen-

tation of the SMART framework it proposes,

and outlines key actions required by the ICT

sector, governments and industry leaders.

GeSI and the Climate Group will be

taking the report’s findings to the United

States, China, India and Europe to work with

decision-makers and leading companies to

develop a vision of how to turn the ideas

presented in the “SMART 2020” report into

a global reality. /

The Global Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) is an international, strategic partnership of businesses

and industry associations in the ICT sector, together with non-governmental organizations such

as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF). Formed in

2001, GeSI is a partner of ITU, as well as of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),

and the World Business Council of Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

The Climate Group is an independent, not-for-profit organization that works internationally with

government and business leaders to advance climate change solutions and accelerate a low-

carbon economy. It was founded in 2004 and has offices in Australia, China, India, the United

Kingdom, and the United States.


19


The report examines a

number of opportunities for ICT

to help reduce greenhouse gas

emissions:

Smart motor systems:

Without technological im-

provements, 10 per cent of

emissions from manufactur-

ing in China (2 per cent of

global emissions) in 2020

will come from its motor

systems alone. Improving

efficiency by just 10 per cent

would save up to 200 mil-

lion tonnes of greenhouse

gas emissions. Applied

globally, optimized motors

and industrial automation

would reduce emissions by

970 million tonnes in 2020,

worth USD 107.2 billion.*

Smart logistics: Through

a host of efficiencies in transport and storage, smart

logistics in Europe could deliver fuel, electricity and

heating savings of 225 million tonnes of CO2 equiv-

alent. The global emission savings from smart logis-

tics in 2020 would reach 1.52 billion tonnes, worth

USD 441.7 billion.*

Smart buildings: In North America, better building de-

sign, management and automation could avoid 15 per

cent of buildings’ emissions. Globally, smart buildings

would enable 1.68 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas

emissions to be saved, worth USD 340.8 billion.*

Smart grids: Transmission and distribution of elec-

tricity can be made more efficient through using ICT

to create “smart grids”. For example, losses in India’s

power sector could be cut by 30 per cent through bet-

ter monitoring and management. Smart grid technolo-

gies could globally reduce greenhouse gas emissions

by 2.03 billion tonnes, worth USD 124.6 billion.*

Dematerialization: The substitution of high-carbon

products and activities with low-carbon alternatives

(for example, replacing face-to-face meetings with vid-

eoconferencing, or paper with e-billing) could reduce

emissions by 500 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

The enabling effect of ICT

Excerpts from the report “SMART 2020 — Enabling the low-carbon economy in the information age”

* USD rates as at December 2007.

Billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent that could be saved in 2020

Smart buildings

Smart logistics

Smart motors

Smart grid

Dematerialization

Other

1.68

1.52

0.97

2.03

0.5

1.1

Source: SMART 2020 — Enabling the low-carbon economy in the information age.

Sto

ckxp

ert

20


just one public IP address to connect to the Internet.

However, the best long-term answer is expected to be de-

ployment of a new version of the Internet protocol, IPv6.

Using 128-bit addresses, IPv6 generates a total number

that is so huge it would yield trillions of addresses for every

person on Earth, and for the Internet of things.

Although it was defined some ten years ago, the new

version of the Internet protocol is still in the early stag-

es of deployment. Only in February 2008 were the first

computers using IPv6 linked through Internet master serv-

ers without needing IPv4 technology. However, an IPv6-

only website cannot reach the IPv4 Internet, and “dual

stack” equipment that can cope with both protocols will

be needed for several years while the IPv4 Internet per-

sists. The challenge is to manage the transition so that

the Internet does not fragment, while maintaining serv-

ices and expansion. As IPv4 addresses become scarce, a

market could develop in which any spare addresses are

sold. This favours those who were able to join the Internet

/ The Internet protocol (IP) is a set of rules by which

computers worldwide are linked together. Data flowing

around the Internet knows where to go because every

connected device has a unique label: its IP address. The

problem is that, with the massive expansion of the net-

work, IP addresses are beginning to run out.

Currently, the vast majority of links use version 4 of

the Internet protocol, or IPv4, which was defined by the

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in 1981 for a much

smaller network. The protocol provides 32-bit addresses

each consisting of four groups of numbers. This yields a

maximum of some 4.3 billion unique addresses — which is

not enough to satisfy booming demand from not only per-

sonal computers and Internet-connected mobile phones,

but also from the microchips and sensors of ubiquitous

networks (see article on pages 24–27).

Various ways to try and overcome the shortage have

been devised, such as network address translation (NAT).

This allows many computers on a private network to use

More Internet addresses requiredFrom IPv4 to IPv6

Internet addresses

21


works (NGN). Recently, it ap-

proved three standards on this

topic, and there is another in the

pipeline.

ITU coordinates with other

standards development organi-

zations on the promotion of IPv6.

Additionally, ITU has worked

with the European Union Task

Force, which is responsible for

planning the deployment of IPv6

in all business sectors within the

EU. ITU’s strategy is based on

the progress made by these and

other organizations, to which the Union brings the added

value of a forum for a consensus-based approach to pol-

icy-making on IPv6 and its deployment and management.

Workshop fosters dialogue on implementationITU organized a workshop in Geneva on 4–5 September

2008, in order to foster dialogue and international co-

operation on the implementation of IPv6. “We have

noted voices and opinions from the developing world

and from the developed world, from academia and re-

search institutes, as well as from industry members,” said

Malcolm Johnson, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication

Standardization Bureau (TSB), in a speech to welcome

workshop participants. “Often these voices focus on the

issue of the management of Internet resources, including

IPv6 addresses, and that it may be appropriate to consider

systems that avoid some of the problems that have arisen

with IPv4 allocations.”

The workshop considered the OECD report, among

other contributions, and Mr Johnson invited the “IPv6

global community” to engage with ITU on this important

topic. “It will be essential in the coming months to address

some of the roadblocks that have so far stalled IPv6 im-

early, and could have an impact

on developing countries that are

just starting to go online.

There have been many discus-

sions of the technical, administra-

tive and coordination issues that

the migration to IPv6 entails, but

much more work remains to be

done. The challenges were dis-

cussed in June 2008 at a ministe-

rial meeting of the Organisation

for Economic Co-operation and

Development (OECD) in Seoul,

Republic of Korea, on the topic

of Internet address space (see box). It noted that “immedi-

ate costs are associated with deployment of IPv6, whereas

many benefi ts are long-term and depend on a critical mass

of actors adopting it.” Migration to IPv6 “requires plan-

ning and co-ordination over several years”. This means

that increased awareness of the issues is needed among

all players, including governments.

ITU’s involvementAs a primary forum for these players, ITU has been ad-

dressing IPv6 for several years, including at the last two

Plenipotentiary Conferences (in Marrakesh in 2002 and

Antalya in 2006), World Telecommunication Standardi-

zation Assemblies, and World Telecommunication Devel-

opment Conferences. All of these meetings have passed

relevant resolutions, including on aspects of IPv6. And the

World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) empha-

sized the role of international organizations in ensuring

that Internet-related developments, such as IPv6, are used

to help everyone in the world gain access to information

and communication technologies (ICT).

Study Group 13 of ITU’s Standardization Sector (ITU–T)

is looking at the impact of IPv6 on next-generation net-

A critical situation“There is now an expectation among

some experts that the currently used

version of the Internet Protocol, IPv4,

will run out of previously unallocated

address space in 2010 or 2011… The

situation is critical for the future of the

Internet economy, because all new us-

ers connecting to the Internet, and all

businesses that require IP addresses for

their growth, will be affected,” says an

OECD report on Internet address space,

issued in June 2008. “IPv6, on the other

hand, vastly expands the available ad-

dress space and can help to support the

proliferation of broadband, of Internet-

connected mobile phones and sensor

networks, as well as the development of

new types of services.”

ITU

/J. B

urge

ss

The ITU workshop on IPv6 was sponsored by Cisco and by Tiscali International Network, and was chaired by Nabil Kisrawi, permanent representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to ITU, and Detlef Eckert from the European Commission. Almost 150 people took part, from 45 countries

22


0.1 per cent of this traffic is IPv6,” he said. A major prob-

lem is the lack of end-user equipment that supports the

new protocol. “Don't buy new gear that can't do IPv6,”

urged Mr Verma, because “by 2020, IPv4 will be gone”.

The question of whether the system is working well was

raised in a contribution to the workshop on “Economic,

tariff and accounting issues related to IP address alloca-

tion,” presented by Nabil Kisrawi, permanent representa-

tive of the Syrian Arab Republic to ITU. It had already been

discussed by ITU–T Study Group 3, and covered such key

issues as the economic or tariff incentives that might be

put in place to make sure that IPv4 addresses allocated by

the Regional Internet Registries (RIR) are used efficiently, as

well as the economic effects if holders of IPv4 addresses

are able to sell them to others. In addition, the contribu-

tion examined the costs of migration to IPv6, in particular

for developing countries, and the effects upon them of

the growing scarcity of IPv4 addresses.

Didier Le-Moine, convener of the correspondence

group on IPv6 of ITU–T Study Group 2, reported on its

findings. He said that some participants believe that the

distribution of IPv4 addresses correctly reflects current use

of the Internet and the proper functioning of market forc-

es, while others believe that it is affected by the economic

benefits that early adopters derive from addresses allocat-

ed to them. Some in the correspondence group think that

there is nothing wrong with the slow rate of migration to

plementation,” he said, adding that “ITU has proven and

relevant competence as the architect and custodian of the

world’s international telephone numbering system, a sys-

tem which is characterized by stability”. ITU could play an

active role in areas such as technical and standardization

issues, which will enable the most efficient and effective

usage of IPv6. It would also take part in capacity building

and technical assistance to help countries in the deploy-

ment process and parallel running of IPv4 and IPv6.

Eliot Lear, a senior consulting engineer at Cisco, noted

that “the Internet has changed the way people live, work,

play, and learn. The methods and address allocation mod-

els that have been used to get us thus far have worked re-

markably well. But we are not without our challenges.” A

vicious circle constraining demand for IPv6 was described

by Leo Vegoda, Manager of Number Resources at the

Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which over-

sees IP address allocation and is operated by the Internet

Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN.

“IPv6 does not offer any significant new features, so end-

users don’t see a reason to deploy it,” Mr Vegoda said.

This means that “Internet service providers (ISP) can’t

make money deploying it, so no-one asks for it — so no-

one deploys it!”

Akhil Verma, Head of Product Management at Tiscali

International Network (TInet), confirmed the slow progress

of IPv6. “Today, TInet carries terabits of traffic, but less than

Internet addresses

23


funded projects to develop IPv6 applications. Mr Liu

described how all network operations during the 2008

Beijing summer Olympics had used IPv6, as had an offi cial

Olympic website. It had been one of the fi rst major show-

cases for the new protocol.

Conclusions The workshop recognized the role of governments in

efforts to foster the deployment and usage of IPv6. It was

also noted that the transition to IPv6

might be market driven, and that those

ISP keen to ensure business continuity

will benefi t from the migration.

Participants agreed that there is a

need to share knowledge, because mi-

gration scenarios are not yet completely

clear. In this regard, it could be helpful

to publicize comparisons between the

architecture of IPv4 and IPv6, in order

to demonstrate to decision makers the

value of a more agile network. It was

felt that there is still uncertainty about the possible con-

sequences of non-deployment of IPv6. Some alternatives

were identifi ed, specifi cally with respect to transfer mar-

kets, and consideration was given to the role of the RIR.

The meeting recommended that a project should be

created within ITU to assist developing countries, based

on regional needs as identifi ed by the Telecommunication

Development Bureau (BDT). This project should include a

training component and should be carried out jointly by

TSB and BDT, taking into consideration the involvement

of partners who are willing to join and contribute their

expertise.

“The stability of the Internet is paramount. I am sure

that the problems experienced so far are surmountable,

and I know that ITU has the knowledge, strength and will

to assist,” said Mr Johnson. /

IPv6, which is being driven by market forces at an eco-

nomically optimum rate. Others disagree, stating that the

migration involves tariff questions and that players respon-

sible for the migration (such as network operators and ISP)

see only costs (capital expenses, training, reconfi guration,

user support, and so on) and no benefi ts.

The workshop heard from experts such as Martin Potts

of the IPv6 Forum, Tayeb Ben Meriem, of the European

IPv6 Task Force, and Mustapha Guirari, of Case Technology,

who talked about IPv6 deployment in

the Gulf Region. Participants also learned

about the practical challenges faced by

a “latecomer” to the Internet: Bulgaria.

Krassimir Simonski, Deputy Chair of the

Bulgarian State Agency for ITC, said that

NAT can provide a short-term solution

to the lack of IPv4 addresses in coun-

tries such as his, because “an almost

unlimited number of computers can be

connected behind a fi rewall.” However,

NAT produces problems such as diffi cul-

ty in tracking Internet users and in sharing resources. For

Bulgaria, a move to IPv6 would “unleash the information

behind NAT,” said Mr Simonski. It would allow access to

the “Internet of things” and optimize traffi c for multime-

dia applications. However, exclusive areas of IPv6 should

be avoided, he said, because “the Internet should be an

equalizer, not a divider.”

Asia is home to several pioneering deployments of

IPv6. Japan has long been a leader in research on the

technology, and the major service providers in the NTT

Group have invested heavily in its deployment. China is

home to the world’s biggest IPv6 infrastructure project,

covering more than 40 cities nationwide, said Liu Dong,

President of Beijing Internet Institute (BII) Group Holdings.

This is part of the China Next Generation Internet (CNGI)

programme, which includes more than 100 government-

Sto

ckxp

ert

Siem

ens

Pres

s Pi

ctur

e/Po

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co

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ny

RFID tags can differentiate individual product items to which they are attached

24


/ Often, when you enter a modern offi ce building, the

glass doors open for you, and lights may come on au-

tomatically as you go into a dark room. This “magic” is

achieved by motion sensors. When entering a building of

the future, you might be automatically identifi ed and wel-

comed with a personal greeting. This could be done by

using not only motion sensors, but also a radio-frequency

identifi cation (RFID) tag embedded in your name badge

that interacts with a database containing your profi le.

These three elements — sensors, tags and commu-

nication and processing capacity — make up future net-

works that have been given several names. Some people

call them “invisible”, “pervasive” or “ubiquitous” comput-

ing, while others refer to “ambient intelligence” or the

“Internet of things”. In this article, the term used is “ubiq-

uitous sensor networks” (USN).

ApplicationsThe revolutionary aspect of USN is their ability to con-

nect almost any object with another, through detecting,

storing, processing and integrating information gathered

from sensors. This forms a network that is “aware” of its

context. It can tell, for example, whether an object is mov-

ing or stationary; hot or cold.

Sensor technologies have enormous potential, as they

could facilitate new applications and services in a wide

range of fi elds. Most applications fall into one of three

broad categories:

Detection of intruders, for example, or when temper-

atures pass a threshold. And sensors on robots could

save lives and limbs by detecting landmines in former

confl ict zones.

Tracking , of items in supply chains, for instance, (in-

cluding cattle and meat) and of vehicles in intelligent

transport systems.

Ubiquitous sensor networksA challenge for standardization

Ubiquitous sensor networks

This article is based on

a Technology Watch

Briefing Report issued in

February 2008 by ITU’s

Telecommunication

Standardization Sector

(ITU–T). The reports

evaluate emerging

technologies to assess

their implications for the

ITU membership, especially

developing countries, and

to identify candidates for

standardization work. See

www.itu.int/ITU-T/techwatch/

reports.html

A sensor is installed and programmed on the Reventador volcano in Ecuador

Har

vard

Uni

vers

ity,

Sch

oo

l of

Engi

neer

ing

and

App

lied

Sci

ence

s

25


for documenting hazards, and for determin-

ing where to locate facilities to respond to

disasters, store emergency supplies and plan

reconstruction.

Monitoring the activity of two dangerous

volcanoes in Ecuador, for example, was the

aim of a joint project by vulcanologists and

computer scientists from Harvard University

and three other institutions in the United

States. They deployed a wireless sensor net-

work at the Tungurahua and Reventador vol-

canoes to collect seismic and low-frequency

acoustic signals that were sent to a remote

location (Figure 1). The project was among

the first to use tiny, low-power wireless sen-

sor nodes, which are cheaper, lighter and

smaller than previous systems.

Monitoring , such as of a patient’s blood

pressure, of dangerous environments, of

the structural status of bridges, or of the

movement of wild animals.

Depending on the sensor type, the links

between them may be provided by either

wired or wireless communication. Domains

in which USN are used include civil engineer-

ing, education, health care, agriculture and

environmental monitoring. They also have

much to offer regions that are vulnerable to

natural disasters, where extensive warning

systems are needed to prevent loss of life

and property. Receiving quick, accurate data

is vitally important when responding to nat-

ural disasters. High-resolution remote sens-

ing data, for example, are especially useful

Figure 1 — Monitoring a volcano

Source: Harvard University, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.


The main components of a USN are:

Sensor network:

Comprising sensors, linked

through a wired or wireless

connection, and an

independent power source

(e.g. battery, solar power).

Access Network:

Intermediary or “sink

nodes” collecting

information from a group

of sensors and facilitating

communication with a

control centre or with

external entities.

Network infrastructure:

likely to be based on a

next-generation network

(NGN).

Middleware: Software

for the collection and

processing of large

volumes of data.

Applications platform:

A technology platform to

allow USN to be used in a

particular industrial sector

or situation.

ITU News 8 | 2008

26

October 2008

Some sensor nodes are so tiny (so-called

“smart dust”) that they involve nanotech-

nology, while the need to support mobility

could mean working with a range of wire-

less standards — from second-generation

(2G) to third-generation (3G) and WiMAX

— as well as other technologies such as

near-field communications. Furthermore,

because a USN may provide a platform for a

wide range of applications (many of which

have unique requirements), there is also a

need to standardize common elements that

can be shared by applications. One of the

most important issues is the development

of protocols for sensor networks, as well

as interoperation with backbone network

infrastructure such as next-generation net-

works (NGN).

A number of standards development

organizations (SDO) are working on USN,

which can either be based on the Internet

Protocol (IP) or on other protocols. ITU’s

Telecommunication Standardization Sector

(ITU–T) has established a platform to help

coordinate the work of SDO: the Joint

Coordination Activity on Network aspects

of Identification systems, (JCA-NID), includ-

ing RFID and USN. Current efforts include

the development of a standards roadmap

and a harmonized terms and definitions

document relevant to USN, which aims to

enhance the common understanding of

technical challenges at an international level

(for more information visit www.itu.int/

ITU-T/jca/nid).

Just 16 battery-powered sensor nodes

were installed on the upper slopes of

Reventador (see photograph on page 25).

The collected data were sent over a long-

distance radio link to an observatory. Over

three weeks, the network captured 230 vol-

canic events, producing useful data for sci-

entific research and disaster prevention. The

low cost, size, and power requirements of

wireless sensor networks give them an ad-

vantage over previous instrumentation.

Wireless sensor networks have also

found commercial applications in the con-

struction industry. For example, in San

Francisco, United States, a wireless sensor

network is embedded into the Golden Gate

Bridge to continuously monitor stress loads.

In bad weather or earth tremors, engineers

receive alerts and can take action to keep

the bridge safe.

Targeted services could also benefit from

USN. For example, shops and restaurants

could send messages to the mobile phone

of a potential customer in the vicinity with

matching tastes. USN could also provide di-

rections to a mobile device used by a person

with disabilities, so that he or she could fol-

low an accessible route.

Standardization is neededStandardization is essential for the effec-

tive diffusion of any technology. However,

because they are highly diverse, USN present

a standardization challenge that is unusually

complex.


Developing countries could gain by manufacturing RFID microchips (above) and tags (below), which are increasingly in demand for USN

Sto

ckxp

ert

27


Although most of the research and

standardization work on USN is taking place

in the developed world, it can be said that

developing countries will benefi t most from

the technology. For example, the manufac-

turing of RFID chips and sensors as com-

ponents of USN is likely to soon become a

commodity business. China has emerged

as a leading manufacturer of RFID chips,

and developing countries that have a soft-

ware sector (such as India, the Philippines

and Viet Nam) could benefi t from contracts

to create customized USN middleware.

On the demand-side, it is also likely that

developing countries will be major benefi ci-

aries, especially in the fi eld of environmen-

tal monitoring. They are most at risk from

natural disasters related to climate change,

with particular vulnerabilities among least

developed countries and small island de-

veloping States. In other applications,

such as landmine clearance or agricultural

management, in the long term, develop-

ing countries might become the main users

of USN. /

Within ITU–T, standardization of USN is

being carried out in various Study Groups

under the Next-Generation Network

Global Standards Initiative (NGN-GSI).

At an NGN-GSI meeting held in Seoul in

January 2008, for example, the Republic of

Korea’s Electronics and Telecommunications

Research Institute (ETRI) submitted a pro-

posal to Study Group 16 for a new study

question on USN applications and services.

The proposal foresees a work programme of

new and amended Recommendations for

completion by 2010. This could form part

of a larger programme of work on “Beyond

NGN”.

Meanwhile, ZigBee, for example, pro-

vides a suite of communication protocols.

Released in 2004, it is an implementation

of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard for wireless

personal area networks (WPAN). Alternative

technologies include ultra-wide band (UWB),

Bluetooth, and WiBree.

Benefi ts for developing countries The falling prices of sensor units (below

USD 100) and RFID tags (below 5 US cents)

are increasing the number of potential ap-

plications for USN. In developing countries,

USN could be applied in situations where

network engineers face particular chal-

lenges, such as unreliable power supplies.

Because they can be operated with batter-

ies or solar power, USN can be deployed in

diverse environments.

Standardizing IPTVSe

m R

ox

28


/ Internet Protocol tel-

evision (IPTV) is thought

by the majority of users to

represent exclusively the

delivery of television pro-

grammes over the Internet

protocol (IP). The reasons

for this are historic. It was

in the mid-1990s that, for the fi rst time, television pro-

grammes (in streaming mode) were delivered over the

Internet protocol, resulting in the introduction of the term

IPTV. It is a major application of next-generation networks

(NGN), which are based on IP and provide extensive capa-

bilities and opportunities for service providers, through the

integration and convergence of services.

At present, the main driver for IPTV is video on de-

mand (VoD), a service in which the consumer can select

video content as and when desired, and control the timing

by which the content is viewed (for example, the ability

to start the viewing, pause, fast-forward or rewind). To

provide VoD, service providers can envisage two models:

centralized and distributed. In the centralized model, all

content is stored in a central server. This model is mainly

confi gured for small VoD service deployment. In the dis-

tributed architecture, more intelligent content distribution

technology is required. Each of these architectures has its

own advantages and disadvantages.

To provide IPTV services, audio and video codecs and

encrypting devices are used. Examples of codecs used for

VoD are MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. A cable, digital subscriber

line (DSL), or fi bre-optic Internet connection (all using mo-

dems or set-top boxes) is then used to provide IPTV serv-

ices to the consumer.

Several standards development organizations (SDO)

pursue activities on IPTV. However, no globally accepted

standards were available to cover all aspects of an end-to-

Internet Protocol TelevisionA brief introduction and report on standardization activitiesGhassem Koleyni, Consultant and Chairman of the former IPTV Focus Group

Ghassem Koleyni

Standardizing IPTV

The initial set of global standards for IPTV was

published in April 2008 as proceedings of the IPTV

Focus Group. The publication gives an overview of

the group's activities and achievements, focusing

on IPTV architecture and requirements; QoS and

performance aspects; service security and content

protection; IPTV network control; end systems

and interoperability aspects, and middleware,

application and content platforms.

29


the IPTV-GSI meets more frequently than the study groups,

thus expediting the completion of the standards.

IPTV architecture encompasses four distinct domains:

content provider, which is the entity that owns or is li-

censed to sell content or content assets; service provider,

who provides telecommunication services to consumers;

network provider, which is the organization that maintains

and operates the network components required for IPTV

functionality, and fi nally the consumer, who is the end

user of the products or services.

Taking into account pre-standard deployments and

the emergence of NGN, ITU–T chose three IPTV functional

architecture approaches that enable service providers to

deliver IPTV services:

“Non-NGN IPTV functional architecture”, which is based on existing network components and protocols

or interfaces.

“NGN-based non-IMS IPTV functional architecture”, which uses components of the NGN framework ref-

erence architecture to support the provision of IPTV

services.

“NGN IMS-based IPTV functional architecture”, which uses components of the NGN architecture, including

the IMS component, to support the provision of IPTV

services, in conjunction with other IMS services if re-

quired. (IMS stands for “IP multimedia subsystem,”

an architecture that carries IP multimedia to mobile

devices.)

end solution — from provider to consumer — until ITU’s

Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU–T) started

to seriously work on the topic. In April 2006, ITU–T initiat-

ed an IPTV Focus Group with the mandate “to coordinate

and promote the development of global IPTV standards,

taking into account the existing work of the ITU study

groups as well as SDO, forums and consortia”.

The fi rst important task for the focus group was to

come up with a globally acceptable defi nition for IPTV, in

order to indicate its existing and future capabilities for an

end-to-end solution. ITU–T defi ned IPTV as: “multimedia

services, such as television, video, audio, text, graphics,

and data, delivered over IP-based networks managed to

provide the required level of quality of service (QoS), qual-

ity of end-user experience (QoE), security, interactivity and

reliability.”

What is signifi cant in this defi nition is the emphasis

on the term “managed”, which distinguishes IPTV from

other services, such as free Internet television channels

or “YouTube”, where anyone can watch television pro-

grammes or upload and/or watch any video clip at will,

any time, and regardless of quality. Specifi cations for IPTV

that have been defi ned and prepared by the standardiza-

tion bodies help operating companies, cable providers and

the vendor communities in providing secure and cost-ef-

fective revenue generating services which are comparable

to — or better than — what is in existence today.

The activities of the IPTV Focus Group ended in January

2008, at which time its documents were transferred to

the appropriate study groups in ITU–T for the

development of draft Recommendations. The

ongoing work continues under the umbrella

of the Internet Protocol Television Global

Standards Initiative (IPTV-GSI), where working

groups from several study groups meet at the

same time and at the same location to facili-

tate interaction between them. Additionally,

Standardizing IPTV

30


According to figures published by the Multimedia

Research Group Inc., in April 2008, the number of sub-

scribers to IPTV worldwide will grow from 24 million in

2008 to 92.8 million in 2012, a compound annual growth

rate of 31 per cent (Figure 1).

Figure 2 shows that global revenues from IPTV serv-

ices are expected to rise from USD 7.2 billion in 2008 to

USD 31.6 billion in 2012, representing a compound an-

nual growth rate of 34.5 per cent.

The IPTV architecture is access agnostic, meaning that

access can be through fixed line, cable or wireless systems,

for example. IPTV services can be provided to fixed or mo-

bile devices.

Thus far, ITU–T has approved, consented or deter-

mined standards on IPTV functional architecture, require-

ments for the support of IPTV services, overview of IPTV

terminal devices, high-level specification of metadata for

IPTV, quality-of-experience requirements for IPTV services,

and home networks supporting IPTV services. Activities are

going full steam ahead to prepare and finalize standardi-

zation of aspects related to IPTV security, protocols, traffic

management and middleware. It is expected that, by mid-

2009, a full set of ITU–T Recommendations on IPTV will be

available as the first set of global standards. /

Growing demand for IPTV

Mill

ions100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

20082009

20102011

2012

Asia

Europe

North America

Rest of the world

USD

billi

ons32

302826242220181614121086420

20082009

20102011

2012

Asia

Europe

North America

Rest of the world

Figure 1 — Forecast of global IPTV subscribers Figure 2 — Forecast of global IPTV service revenues

Source: MRG, Inc. Source: MRG, Inc.

This article is based on a section of ITU's upcoming 2008 edition of “Trends in Telecommunication Reform”.

Sony

Eri

csso

n

31


/ Today’s upgraded networks based on the Internet

protocol (IP) allow telecommunication providers to offer

not only voice and data, but also video services known as

IP television, or IPTV. However, its deployment can bring

challenges for existing laws and regulations.

Broadcasting or telecommunications?Broadcasting and telecommunications are converg-

ing, but to which of these does IPTV belong? Various ap-

proaches have been taken to this question, ranging from

simply not classifying IPTV, to defining it as a regulated

broadcasting service. Or, some services offered over IPTV

platforms are seen as broadcasting, but not others.

In the United States, for example, IPTV has yet to be clas-

sified, although the Federal Communications Commission

(FCC) has addressed barriers to its deployment. A technol-

ogy-neutral approach has been adopted by countries such

as Canada, where IPTV is seen as a broadcast distribution

technology for television programming, and companies

are licensed accordingly. In Singapore, “broadcasting” in-

cludes the IP transmission of any television programmes

— scheduled channels or video on demand (VoD). The

Republic of Korea classifies IPTV as an “Internet multime-

dia broadcasting” service.

Some jurisdictions base their regulatory classification

of IPTV services on how much interactivity they allow.

For instance, New Zealand and countries in the European

Union differentiate between transmissions at a scheduled

time (subject to broadcasting and content regulations),

and VoD that the user can select and view whenever de-

sired (wholly or partially exempt from regulation).

Most operators of third-generation (3G) mobile serv-

ices offer VoD or streaming video. Regulators have only

recently begun to consider the regulatory classification of

these services, which also use the Internet. Some countries

classify mobile television as an information service, while

others regulate it as broadcasting.

Regulating contentCountries have various regimes for regulating the con-

tent of video transmissions. Restrictions might apply only

to free, over-the-air broadcasts, or only to subscription tel-

evision services. Alternatively, specific content regulations

may be developed for different types of operator.

IPTV: New challenges for regulators

Regulating IPTV

32


Network unbundling In order to promote competition, several countries

have required the unbundling of local loops, including all

members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation

and Development (OECD), except Mexico, and many de-

veloping countries. Where IPTV already has a high market

penetration (such as in France, Italy and Spain), unbun-

dling has been a key factor allowing new entrants to de-

velop competing offers and increase the spread of IPTV.

As incumbents build upgraded next-generation net-

works, regulators are considering whether to modify un-

bundling rules so as to avoid disrupting the incumbents’

broadband Internet and IPTV services. Among the issues

being considered is the feasibility of unbundling the last

mile of fi bre-optic networks, and whether to introduce ac-

cess obligations for additional local-loop elements.

Clarity is requiredFor regulators, there is no right or wrong approach.

What is important is to give IPTV service providers certain-

ty about how they will be regulated. It is also important to

minimize jurisdictional debates among government agen-

cies, as well as regulatory hurdles and licensing require-

ments that delay the deployment of new services that

hold such potential benefi ts for consumers. /

In certain jurisdictions (such as Singapore) IPTV must

obey the content regulations imposed on subscription

television. In many European countries, IPTV operators

using fi xed networks are subject to “must-carry” rules

that oblige cable or satellite operators to rebroadcast the

signals of local over-the-air television stations. As in the

EU, the regulator in India says that telecommunication

providers offering IPTV services should not be subject to

regulation for unaltered content obtained from television

broadcasters. However, IPTV providers should follow the

programme and advertising codes that govern cable tel-

evision networks.

Licensing issuesThere is also a variety of approaches towards the li-

censing of IPTV. European countries, for example, take a

technology-neutral approach that considers any television

service, provided over any platform, to be broadcasting.

Canada says a broadcasting licence is needed for any

television service (including VoD) that is provided over a

managed IP network.

In some countries, such as the Republic of Korea, new

licences have been developed for IPTV services. In Pakistan,

IPTV providers must not only obtain a licence for an IPTV

channel distribution service, they must also hold a fi xed lo-

cal loop licence for the same coverage area. In Singapore,

all companies wanting to offer any form of subscription

television require a licence. This includes IPTV (scheduled

channels or VoD) sent to households via broadband.

In Hong Kong, China, IPTV providers must obtain a

licence for providing domestic subscription television.

However, as in Pakistan, these are only granted if the op-

erator already holds a fi xed network licence. In India, the

regulator says that telecommunication operators and ca-

ble operators offering IPTV should be licensed according

to the separate legislation that applies to their fi elds.

Who provides IPTV?As well as mobile phone companies, telecom-

munication providers — such as France Telecom,

Telefónica in Spain, AT&T and Verizon in the

United States, and PCCW in Hong Kong, China

— are offering IPTV over their copper asymmet-

ric digital subscriber lines (ADSL) or, increasingly,

fi bre-optic networks. Newcomers, including

Fastweb in Italy and Hanaro in the Republic of

Korea, may offer IPTV as part of a basic ADSL

subscription. Cable and satellite companies also

offer IPTV, while equipment manufacturers are

introducing IPTV into their set-top boxes in com-

bination with digital cable, terrestrial, or satellite

access. In addition, some fi rms that offer sub-

scription television channels are combining IPTV

with existing packages to offer enhanced func-

tionality, such as on-demand content.

ITU

/M. E

lmo

re

Highlights from ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008

Princess Sirindhorn (right) is welcomed to ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008 by Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré. She has become known in Thailand as the “princess of information technology,” because of her commitment to promoting ICT as a key element of national development. She is an honorary patron of ITU’s Connect the World initiative, as well as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

33


A royal opening

/ Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri

Sirindhorn opened ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008,

which took place in Bangkok, Thailand, on

2–5 September. The Princess said she hoped

that TELECOM ASIA would help extend the ben-

efi ts of the latest advances in information and

communication technologies (ICT) to people

across the region, as well as foster new business oppor-

tunities within Asia and beyond. She added that the com-

bination of high-level networking opportunities and spe-

cial events such as the Youth Forum would help Thailand

become even better prepared to meet the

challenge of global competitiveness.

ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I.

Touré praised the energy and innovation

that drives Asia’s booming ICT sector. “Asia

is truly at the cutting edge in defi ning new

digital lifestyles,” he said. Dr Touré presented

the ITU Award for Connecting the World

to Princess Sirindhorn, in recognition of her

contribution to promoting ICT in Thailand and around the

world. The Princess also toured the exhibition at TELECOM

ASIA, where she met leading industry fi gures and saw the

many exciting technologies on display.

Sun

Stud

io

Sun

Stud

io

More than 170 exhibitors from around the world took part in the Exhibition at ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008

34


Ministers meet to set development goals

A Ministerial Round Table on 1 September delved into

the question of how to connect the unconnected in the

Asia-Pacifi c region, and outlined a vision for the develop-

ment of ICT services. They also met later for a high-level di-

alogue with business leaders, focusing on investment and

the market environment, as well as public-private partner-

ships and future cooperation between governments and

industry.

Greater Mekong Subregion Telecommunications Ministerial Forum

On 2 September there was a meeting of ministers

from across the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), which

comprises Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet

Nam, along with China’s Yunnan Province. Linked by the

4350-km-long Mekong River, it is home to some 320 mil-

lion people.

The region has enormous growth potential, stressed

Dr Touré. “Carefully targeted investment in infrastructure

and human resources could see the GMS become one of

the world's fastest growing regions,” he said. The aim of

the ministers’ meeting was to forge a harmonized pro-

gramme of ICT-focused goals designed to accelerate such

social and economic development.

Under the theme “Digital Bridge Over the Mekong

River,” discussions focused on creating innovative and sus-

tainable models for delivering ICT access to low-income ru-

ral areas. Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication

Regulatory Commission Manzurul Alam described its

strategy for enhancing rural access. The meeting also

heard a presentation from Direk Charoenphol, Advisor to

Thailand’s National Telecommunication Commission, on

emergency telecommunications, highlighting Thailand’s

experience during the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

The GMS Ministerial Forum “offered a unique oppor-

tunity for high-level representatives from government and

industry to pinpoint common issues, defi ne common so-

lutions and identify new partners who can help achieve

ambitious ICT development targets,” said Director of ITU’s

Telecommunication Development Bureau Sami Al Basheer

Al Morshid. ITU provides development assistance to the

GMS through activities to promote capacity building and

regulatory reform.

Forum refl ects a vibrant Asia

TELECOM ASIA featured a Forum at which current issues

were debated by leading players (see article in ITU News

of September 2008). These included cybersecurity, ICT

and climate change, emergency telecommunications, new

business models, and the regulatory environment for next-

generation networks.

ITU Deputy Secretary-General Houlin Zhao, who is

Acting Executive Manager of ITU TELECOM, said “Thailand is

a major hub of Asia’s booming ICT industry. A host of new

technologies, such as Wi-MAX or next-generation mobile,

Sun

Stud

io

Sun

Stud

io

The exhibitors included national pavilions of China, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation,

Thailand and the United States, as well as leading companies in ICT products and services

35


Telecommunication Development Symposium

The Telecommunication Development Symposium

(TDS) was opened by Director of ITU’s Telecommunication

Development Bureau Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid. He said

the theme “Innovative Asia” had been chosen for the TDS

to refl ect the region’s achievements in advancing ICT, and

in addressing the new challenges that result. “It is clear

that the ability to innovate is key to development. How do

we develop and, perhaps even more important, keep at

home the right kind of talent?” he asked.

Participants discussed the concept of “open innova-

tion” that uses global ICT networks to exchange ideas

beyond the borders of a single company or country. They

agreed that governments and businesses should promote

“thinking outside the box,” rather than continuing with

established technology simply in order to maximize prof-

its. Innovation is not about technology, but about people,

they said.

Another session of the TDS was devoted to the de-

velopment challenges posed by climate change. Samoa’s

Minister of Communications and Information Technology

Safuneituuga Paaga Neri pointed out that many small de-

veloping countries, such as her own, are heavily affect-

ed by natural hazards and do not have the resources or

know-how to monitor dangers and protect their popula-

tions. She said ITU has an important role in highlighting

the dangers and in providing solutions.

are gaining ground across the region, and these have the

potential to reach out to huge numbers of new users.”

At the beginning of 2008, the total number of tel-

ephone subscribers in the region passed the two billion

mark, giving a teledensity of 37 per cent for Asia, up from

just 7 per cent a decade ago. The expansion of Internet ac-

cess is also crucial — a view that was stressed by Thailand’s

Minister of Information and Communication Technology

Mun Patanotai, who emphasized the importance Thailand

is placing on delivering broadband access not just in cities,

but in remote areas too.

Japan’s Vice-Minister for Policy Coordination Akira

Terasaki gave an overview of his country’s plans for mo-

bile and broadband development over the next decade

— which will see mobile broadband bandwidth grow

from around 10 Mbit/s today up to an incredible 1 Gbit/s

by 2020. And China Mobile’s Chairman and CEO Wang

Jianzhou provided an insight into his work at the world’s

biggest mobile phone company, which has over 400 mil-

lion subscribers and is adding seven million more every

month. “The recent Olympics in Beijing were a real test for

us,” he said, “as we had to make sure there was enough

reliable capacity to handle 220 000 calls per hour — at

times we had 260 000 people simultaneously on the net-

work, just from around the Bird’s Nest stadium.”

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Participants in the Youth Forum at ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008

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Youth Forum looks at the impact of ICT on a new generation

The Youth Forum brought together 75 partici-

pants from around 40 countries across the Asia-Pacifi c.

Welcoming them, Chairman of the ITU TELECOM Board of

Directors Reza Jafari stressed that “capacity building starts

with young people and is part of the larger vision of ITU.

The Youth Forum is an opportunity for the new generation

to take responsibility for the future.”

The participants had been selected from university-lev-

el students who could become future leaders in the fi eld

of ICT. Already, they are a generation that is familiar with

the power and attraction of ICT, which will have a major

impact on society and make new demands of govern-

ments and industry.

After mingling with policy-makers and business leaders

and debating the challenges ahead, the Youth Forum par-

ticipants produced a Declaration stating that “our vision is

a world which enjoys freedom of expression and connec-

tivity for all.” They put forward a two-pronged approach

to bridging the digital divide, as well as the gaps in access

to education, health care and economic opportunities.

This consists of an Action Plan covering the promotion

and enhancement of ICT, and the use of ICT for people’s

welfare.

OLPC donates laptopsAt the start of the Youth Forum, Matt Keller, Director

of Europe, Middle East and Africa for the One Laptop per

Child (OLPC) association, noted that 150 million children

worldwide — mostly girls — have never been to school.

“Children lack opportunity, not capability,” he said. “Which

is why OLPC made it its mission to develop a low-cost lap-

top that could revolutionize how we educate the world's

children. Access to quality education is essential for a fair,

equitable and sustainable society.”

Mr Keller donated an “XO” laptop from OLPC to each

of the Youth Forum delegates, as part of a drive to deliver

connectivity to young people everywhere — especially in

developing countries. /

ASIA 2008 highlights

Kuala Lumpur to serve as the physical home of ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Agenda

Mohd Noor Amin (left), Chairman of Malaysia’s Internation-

al Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber-Terrorism (IMPACT)

and ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré (right) signed

a memorandum of understanding, under which IMPACT in

Kuala Lumpur will serve as the physical home of ITU’s Global

Cybersecurity Agenda. ITU and IMPACT will work together to

provide early warning and response to attacks, analysis and

dissemination of information on global cyberthreats, and ca-

pacity building in cybersecurity. The MoU was signed in the

presence of Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development

Bureau Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid (centre).

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To Geneva for ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009

From left to right:

ITU Deputy Secretary-General

Houlin Zhao; President of

the State of Geneva Laurent

Moutinot; ITU Secretary-

General Hamadoun I. Touré,

and Geneva State Chancellor

Robert Hensler

At the end of ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008, the baton passed to Geneva, which will host ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009 on 5–9 October

next year. As Acting Executive Manager of ITU TELECOM, Mr Zhao said the new-look event would offer participants and

exhibitors a host of facilities. “High-level interaction between business and government will be stepped up with ministe-

rial and CEO roundtable discussions and the attendance of Heads of State and Government,” he said. Mr Hensler said

“the success of ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009 will be the best proof that our new business model for world-class events meets

the needs of industry. This is our real aspiration as we welcome ITU TELECOM back to the home of ITU.”

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MoU with Geneva

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/ On 23 September, ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun

I. Touré, and Geneva’s State Councillor in charge of the

Department of Construction and Information Technology

Mark Muller, signed a memorandum of understanding

(MoU). It aims to “establish collaborative linkages be-

tween ITU and the Observatoire Technologique in the area

of foresight in technology and its impact on society”.

The Observatoire Technologique is part of the

Information Technology Department of Switzerland’s

State of Geneva. Its main mission is to provide “strategic

and technological expertise on the impact of information

and communication technologies (ICT) on society and its

development”.

The MoU, which Dr Touré described as historic, aims

to “promote the respective strategies and missions of ITU

and of the Observatoire Technologique and to exchange

viewpoints, research, information and intelligence on ex-

isting and future ICT, as well as other new and emerging

technologies in general”. Among those listed in the MoU

are biotechnology, nanotechnology, grid computing and

quantum computing. In the realm of convergence be-

tween telecommunications and broadcasting, the docu-

ment mentions voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), Internet

protocol television (IPTV), and mobile Internet access.

Mr Muller commented that the MoU was signed in

the context of “international Geneva”, and would be in-

strumental in developing ICT projects to put the State at

the forefront of the digital revolution. He said that e-gov-

ernment services, in particular, would be enhanced. This

is one of the topics mentioned in the MoU, where ICT

is seen as promoting transparency and accountability in

both the public and private sectors.

ICT’s role in sustainable development and economic

growth is another key area of cooperation. It includes the

issues of climate change and of using ICT to help identify

and mitigate new sources of risk to the global economy,

such as oil price shocks, instability in the fi nancial system,

or surges in food and commodity prices.

“User benefi ts of new technologies” are also covered

in the MoU. Aspects of key importance in this area include

the rise of local and user-generated content and forms of

online collaboration. Privacy and identity rights manage-

ment, ethics and the combating of fraudulent use of ICT

are among issues that will be examined. /

ITU signs MoU with Geneva's Observatoire Technologique

ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré (left) with Geneva State Councillor Mark Muller (right), after signing the MoU

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Official announcements

From official sources

New Sector Members

Radiocommunication SectorOJSC Intellect Telecom (Moscow, Russian Federation) has been admitted to take part in the work of this Sector.

Telecommunication Development SectorOJSC Intellect Telecom (Moscow, Russian Federation) and TM International Berhad (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) have been admitted to take part in the work of this Sector.

New Associates

Telecommunication Standardization SectorVictor Company of Japan Ltd (Kanagawa, Japan) has been admitted to take part in the work of Study Group 16.

New denomination

Telecommunication Standardization SectorCeltel Nigeria Ltd has changed its name to Celtel Nigeria Ltd (T/A Zain) (Lagos, Federal Republic of Nigeria)

Telecommunication Development SectorCeltel Nigeria Ltd has changed its name to Celtel Nigeria Ltd (T/A Zain) (Lagos, Federal Republic of Nigeria)

Iber Band Exchange S.A. has changed its name to LET’S GOWEX S.A.(Madrid, Spain)

Change of status

Telecommunication Standardization SectorCopperGate Communications (Tel Aviv, State of Israel), formerly an Associate, has become a Sector Member of ITU–T.

Up-to-date details of forthcoming ITU meetings and conferences can be viewed on the ITU website at

Diary of ITU events

www.itu.int/events/index.asp

ITU News 8 | 2008

40

October 2008

Meeting with the Secretary-General

Offi cial VisitsDuring September 2008, courtesy visits were made to ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré by the

following ministers, ambassadors to the United Nations Offi ce and other international organizations in

Geneva, and other important guests.

Director of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Mali, Choguel Maiga

ITU Deputy Secretary-General Houlin Zhao (right); Chancellor of the State of Geneva Robert Hensler (centre)

ITU/V. Martin ITU/V. Martin

Deputy Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research Christiane Agboton Johnston

ITU/V. Martin

Benin’s Minister for Communication and for Information and Communication Technologies Goundé Désiré Adadja

ITU/V. Martin

Ambassador of Burkina Faso Prosper Vokuma

ITU/V. Martin

Ambassador of Ecuador Mauricio Montalvo (left); Executive Secretary of the Convenio Andrés Bello (CAB*) Francisco Huerta-Montalvo (centre)*CAB is an intergovernmental organization for cultural, edu-cational, scientifi c and technological cooperation, compris-ing Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain and Venezuela.

ITU/V. Martin

I n t e r n a t i o n a l T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n U n i o n

I n te rnat iona l Te lecommun icat ionUn ion

WORLD

RADIOCOMMUNICATION

SEMINAR

2008

GENEVA, 8-12 DECEMBER 2008

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www.itu.int/ITU-R/go/geneva-2008

Get a new perspective on the global ICT industry at ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009. From

leaders of industry to heads of government, regulators, innovators and visionaries, the

world’s top ICT names will be there. More than an Exhibition and Forum, ITU TELECOM

WORLD 2009 will be the ultimate global networking platform for the ICT industry. Organized

by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Visit www.itu.int/world2009

Geneva 5-9 October

2009

MAKE THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS

Committed to connecting the world

ITUNews No. 8 October 2008 – Special Edition

Documents

Transcript of ITUNews No. 8 October 2008 – Special Edition