International Telecommunication Union

International Telecommunication Union Place des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 20 Switzerland Telephone: +41 22 730 6039 Fax: +41 22 730 5933 / 730 5939 E-mail: [email protected] www.itu.int

Contents FOREWORDBY THE SECRETARY-GENE Yoshio Utsumi In today’s increasingly wired world, it is hard to imagine life without telecommu- nications. As a result of cooperative efforts between nations spanning more than a century, telecommunication networks now underpin almost every aspect of day- to-day life and are becoming increasingly important to the economic prosperity of all nations. As the world’s oldest international organization, ITU can take much of the credit for developing the vast, interconnected web of networks which have grown to be- come the planet’s largest man-made artifact. Established in 1865 to manage the first international telegraph networks, the Union has worked tirelessly to ensure that the latest technological advances have been rapidly integrated into the telecommunication networks of countries all around the world. Over more than 135 years, the Union’s mandate has expanded to cover the in- vention of voice telephony, the development of radiocommunications, the launch of the first communications satellites, and, most recently, the technological con- 1 vergence that heralds the dawn of a new, telecommunications-based information age. With a membership which includes almost all the world’s countries and over ERAL 650 private members from the telecommunication, broadcasting and information technology sectors, ITU can boast a long and highly successful track record in developing and managing our telecommunication resources. An international organization which is, at heart, a community of its members, today’s ITU remains unsurpassed in its ability to combine an impartial, global perspective and cooperative approach with a solid technical foundation built on the expertise of hundreds of leading manufacturers, carriers and service providers. Through the work of its study groups and its extensive programme of international and regional confer- ences and meetings, ITU provides a multilateral forum where governments and the private sector can meet to broker agreements in areas of mutual interest. Together, in an atmosphere of cooperation and constructive debate, ITU members forge the standards and policies which will help shape tomorrow’s world. The explosive growth of the telecommunication industry over the last two decades has increased the value of ITU membership manyfold. Through its unique, global network, the Union helps its members make the key business contacts essential to success in an increasingly competitive environment, and provides an unparalleled forum for forging alliances among an ever-widening range of players. As the winds of change continue to sweep through our industry, transforming and reshaping the world around us, ITU’s role in developing and managing essential communication resources, combined with its unique ability to bring the industry together in a spirit of partnership and cooperation, will be more impor- tant than ever before. As it has successfully done many times in the past, ITU is committed to reviewing its procedures, its activities and its priorities to ensure it remains at the forefront of the industry it has nurtured, with the aim of serving the needs of its members even more effectively into the new millennium. On 24 May for the link between the capital and to this initial agreement. Today, 1844, Samuel Morse the frontier localities bordering some 135 years later, the reasons sent his first public message over other German States. To simplify which led to the establishment of a telegraph line between Washing- matters, countries began to de- ITU still apply, and the fundamen- ton and Baltimore, and through velop bilateral or regional agree- tal objectives of the organization 2 that simple act, ushered in the tele- ments, so that by 1864 there were remain basically unchanged. communication age. several regional conventions in Barely ten years later, telegraphy place. A New Industry Evolves was available as a service to the The continuing rapid expansion Following the patenting of the general public. In those days, how- of telegraph networks in a grow- telephone in 1876 and the subse- ever, telegraph lines did not cross ing number of countries finally quent expansion of telephony, the national borders. Because each prompted 20 European States to International Telegraph Union be- country used a different system, meet to develop a framework gan, in 1885, to draw up interna- messages had to be transcribed, agreement covering international tional legislation governing tele- translated and handed over at fron- interconnection. At the same time, phony. With the invention in 1896 tiers, then re-transmitted over the the group decided on common of wireless telegraphy – the first telegraph network of the neigh- rules to standardize equipment to type of radiocommunication – and bouring country. facilitate international intercon- the utilization of this new tech- Given the slow and unwieldy nection, adopted uniform operat- nique for maritime and other pur- nature of this system, many coun- ing instructions which would ap- poses, it was decided to convene a tries eventually decided to estab- ply to all countries, and laid down preliminary radio conference in lish arrangements which would common international tariff and 1903 to study the question of inter- facilitate interconnection of their accounting rules. national regulations for radiotele- national networks. However, be- On 17 May 1865, after two and graph communications. The first cause such arrangements were a half months of arduous negotia- International Radiotelegraph Con- managed by each country at a na- tion, the first International Tele- ference held in 1906 in Berlin tional level, setting up telegraph graph Convention was signed in signed the first International Ra- links often required a huge number Paris by the 20 founding members, diotelegraph Convention, and the of separate agreements. In the case and the International Telegraph annex to this Convention con- of Prussia, for example, no less than Union (ITU) was established to fa- tained the first regulations govern- fifteen agreements were required cilitate subsequent amendments ing wireless telegraphy. These 3 regulations, which have since been number of radiocommunication Bern to Geneva. At the same time, expanded and revised by numer- services and the technical peculi- the International Frequency Reg- ous radio conferences, are now arities of each service. istration Board (IFRB) was estab- known as the Radio Regulations. At the 1932 Madrid Conference, lished to coordinate the increas- The year 1920 saw the begin- the Union decided to combine the ingly complicated task of manag- ning of sound broadcasting at the International Telegraph Conven- ing the radio-frequency spectrum; improvised studios of the Marconi tion of 1865 and the International the same year, the Table of Fre- Company, and in 1927, the Inter- Radiotelegraph Convention of 1906 quency Allocations, introduced in national Radio Consultative Com- to form the International Telecom- 1912, was declared mandatory. mittee (CCIR) was established at a munication Convention. It was also In 1956, the CCIT and the CCIF conference held in Washington decided to change the name of the were merged to form the Interna- D.C. The International Telephone Union to International Telecommu- tional Telephone and Telegraph Consultative Committee (CCIF, set nication Union. The new name, Consultative Committee (CCITT), up in 1924), the International which came into effect on 1 Janu- in order to respond more effectively Telegraph Consultative Committee ary 1934, was chosen to properly to the requirements generated by (CCIT, set up in 1925), and the CCIR reflect the full scope of the Union’s the development of these two types were made responsible for coordi- responsibilities, which by this time of communication. nating the technical studies, tests covered all forms of wireline and The following year was marked and measurements being carried wireless communication. by the launch of the first artificial out in the various fields of telecom- satellite, Sputnik-1, and the begin- munications, as well as for draw- A Modern Approach ning of the space age. In 1963, the ing up international standards. In 1947, after the Second World first geostationary communica- The 1927 International Radio- War, ITU held a conference in tions satellite (Syncom-1) was put telegraph Conference also allo- Atlantic City with the aim of de- into orbit following the suggestion, cated frequency bands to the vari- veloping and modernizing the or- made by writer Arthur C. Clarke in ous radio services in existence at ganization. Under an agreement 1945, that satellites could be used the time (fixed, maritime and aero- with the newly created United Na- for the transmission of information. nautical mobile, broadcasting, tions, it became a UN specialized In order to meet the challenges amateur and experimental), to en- agency on 15 October 1947, and of new space communications sys- sure greater efficiency of operation the headquarters of the organiza- tems, in 1959 CCIR set up a study in view of the increase in the tion were transferred in 1948 from group responsible for studying ITUHISTORY

space radiocommunication. In ad- The Developing Role of the In 1992, a plenipotentiary confer- dition, an Extraordinary Adminis- Union ence, known as the Additional trative Conference for space com- In 1989, the Plenipotentiary Plenipotentiary Conference, took munications was held in 1963 in Conference held in Nice recog- place in Geneva and dramatically Geneva to allocate frequencies to nized the importance of placing remodelled ITU, with the aim of 4 the various space services. technical assistance to developing giving it greater flexibility to adapt Subsequent conferences made countries on the same footing as to today’s increasingly complex, in- further allocations and put in place its traditional activities of stand- teractive and competitive environ- regulations governing the use, by ardization and spectrum manage- ment. satellites, of the radio-frequency ment. To this end, it established the As a result of the reorganization, spectrum and associated orbital Telecommunication Development the Union was streamlined into slots. In 1992, allocations were Bureau (BDT) to step up efforts be- three Sectors, corresponding to its made for the first time to serve the ing made to improve communica- three main areas of activity – needs of a new kind of space serv- tions in the developing regions of Telecommunication Standardiza- ice using non-geostationary satel- the world. tion (ITU-T), Radiocommunication lites, known as Global Mobile Per- At the same time, against a (ITU-R) and Telecommunication sonal Communications by Satellite background of increasing globali- Development (ITU-D). The new (GMPCS). The same year, spectrum zation and the gradual liberaliza- system also introduced a regular was identified for IMT-2000, the tion of world telecommunication cycle of conferences to help the Un- ITU-developed next-generation markets, the Nice Plenipotentiary ion rapidly respond to new techno- global standard for digital mobile Conference initiated a re-evalua- logical advances. telephony. Due for commercial im- tion of the Union’s structures, op- plementation early in this new mil- eration, working methods and the Into the Next Millennium lennium, IMT-2000 will harmonize resources allocated to enable it to The Kyoto Plenipotentiary Con- the incompatible mobile systems achieve its objectives. The confer- ference in 1994 adopted the first- currently in use around the world ence established a committee of ever strategic plan for ITU, which while providing a technical foun- experts whose task was to make advocated a more client-oriented dation for new, high-speed wireless recommendations on changes approach and a programme of ac- devices capable of handling voice, which would ensure that the tivities centred around the chang- data and connection to online Union continued to respond effec- ing roles, needs and functions of services such as the Internet. tively to the needs of its members. ITU members. 5

In addition, the Kyoto confer- of fully interconnected and governments, private sector and for ence identified a need for a forum interoperable networks and serv- a greater outreach to developing where members engage in broad, ices and taking a leading role in the countries. informal discussions on global tele- preparations and follow-up of the ITU will continue to review and communication policies and strat- World Summit on the Information adjust its priorities and its working egies. It thus established the World Society. It also specifies that ITU methods to ensure it remains rel- Telecommunication Policy Forum develop tools, based on contribu- evant and responsive in the face of (WTPF), an ad hoc meeting which tions from members, to safeguard rapid changes in the global tele- encourages the free exchange of the integrity and interoperability of communication environment. As ideas and information on emerging networks. the world becomes ever more reli- policy issues arising from the The Conference also stressed ant on telecommunication tech- changing telecommunication envi- the need for Internet Domain nologies for commerce, communi- ronment. The first WTPF was held Names to reflect the geographical cation and access to information, in Geneva in 1996 on the theme of and functional nature of the ITU’s role in standardizing emerg- global mobile personal communi- Internet with an equitable balance ing new systems and fostering cations by satellite, the second in of interests of all stakeholders. Rec- common global policies will be Geneva in 1998, on trade in tele- ognizing that access to Internet more vital than ever before.
communication services, and the should be available to all citizens third in 2001, also in Geneva, on on a non-discriminatory basis, the Internet Protocol (IP). Conference resolved that the man- The Union’s most recent pleni- agement of Internet Domain potentiary conference, held in Names and addresses should be of Marrakesh from 23 September to concern to both governments and 18 October 2002, endorsed the or- the private sector and requested ganization’s Strategic Plan. In the ITU to take a significant role in the period 2004-2007, the priority ac- domain name debate. Given ITU’s tions to be undertaken by the Un- role in the development of IP stand- ion will seek to achieve the goals ards and protocols for IP-based net- set out in the plan, which include works, the Conference called for bridging the international digital greater partnerships with Internet divide by facilitating development standardization organizations, 1837 Invention of the electric telegraph 1865 17 May: Founding of the International Telegraph Union in Paris by 20 European countries with the adoption of first ITU Convention. First Telegraph Regulations put in place 1868 Vienna – First Telegraph Conference. Decision to establish the headquarters of the Union in Bern 1869 Publication of the Telegraph Journal begins. Renamed Telecommunication Journal in 1934, it is now published under the name ITU News 1876 Alexander Graham Bell patents his invention of the telephone 1885 Berlin – Telegraph Conference. First provisions for international telephone service 1895 First signals transmitted by radio-relay system 1902 First radio transmissions of the human voice 1906 Berlin – International Radiotelegraph Conference (Plenipotentiary). First Radiotelegraph Convention. Worldwide adoption of the SOS emergency distress signal. First trials of broadcasting (voice and music) using radiotelephony 1920 Birth of sound-broadcasting in the improvised studios of the Marconi company 1924 Creation of International Telephone Consultative Committee (CCIF) 1925 Creation of International Telegraph Consultative Committee (CCIT) 1927 Washington – Radiotelegraph Conference (Plenipotentiary). Creation of the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) 1932 Madrid – Plenipotentiary Conference. Telegraph and Radiotelegraph Conventions are merged to form single International Telecommunication Convention. The organization 6 changes its name from International Telegraph Union to International Telecommunication Union 1947 Atlantic City – Plenipotentiary Conference. Creation of the International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB). ITU becomes a specialized agency of the United Nations 1948 ITU headquarters transferred to Geneva 1952 Buenos Aires – Plenipotentiary Conference. ITU commences its programme of technical cooperation 1956 Geneva – CCIF and CCIT are merged to form CCITT (International Telegraph and Tele- phone Consultative Committee) 1957 Launch of Sputnik-1, the Earth’s first artificial satellite 1959 For the first time, the Radio Regulations are entirely revised by the Geneva Administrative Radio Conference 1963 Launch of the world’s first telecommunication satellite, Syncom-1, in geostationary orbit. Geneva first World Space Radiocommunication Conference 1965 Montreux – Plenipotentiary Conference. Centenary of the Union, culminating in a com- memorative ceremony in Paris 1971 ITU launches its first world telecommunication exhibition and forum – TELECOM 71 1973 Malaga-Torremolinos – Plenipotentiary Conference 1982 Nairobi – Plenipotentiary Conference. The Independent Commission for Worldwide Telecommunications Development is established 1983 UN-declared World Communications Year with ITU as the lead agency 1985 ITU’s first regional telecommunication exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region – Asia TELECOM 85 1986 ITU’s first regional telecommunication exhibition in the Africa region – Africa TELECOM 86 1987 Geneva – HF Broadcasting Conference. Revision of the use of high-frequency bands allo- cated to the broadcasting service and adoption of technical standards and procedures for single-sideband radio services 1988 ITU’s first regional telecommunication exhibition in the Americas region – Americas TELECOM 88 Geneva – World Radio Conference on the use of geostationary-satellite orbit (ORB-88). Adoption of plan providing equitable rights of access to the geostationary-satellite orbit. Completion of a comprehensive world satellite direct broadcasting plan. 1989 Nice – Plenipotentiary Conference. Creation of the High Level Committee to carry out an in- depth review of the structure and functioning of the Union 1990 125th anniversary of ITU 1992 Geneva – Additional Plenipotentiary Conference adopts structural reforms following the recommendations of the High Level Committee. Creation of three Sectors (Radiocommunica- tion, Telecommunication Standardization and Telecommunication Development) which integrate the functions carried out by the former IFRB, CCIR, CCITT and BDT 7 1993 Helsinki – First World Telecommunication Standardization Conference. First World Radio- communication Conference (WRC-93) and Assembly (RA-93), held in Geneva 1994 Buenos Aires – First World Telecommunication Development Conference Kyoto – Plenipotentiary Conference 1996 First World Telecommunication Policy Forum in Geneva, on Global Mobile Personal Commu- nications by Satellite (GMPCS) systems. Adoption of the first international standard for universal international freephone numbers (UIFN) 1997 Establishment of the GMPCS MoU and adoption of the first set of arrangements for trans- border use of GMPCS terminals Adoption in Geneva of the First Memorandum of Understanding to restructure the Internet ITU’s first interactive media exhibition and forum – TELECOM Interactive 97 1998 Minneapolis – Plenipotentiary Conference introduces single category of Sector membership according wider rights and obligations to private sector members. Decision to hold a World Summit on the Information Society taken. First Emergency Telecommunications Convention adopted in Tampere, Finland 1999 ITU becomes founding member of the Protocol Supporting Organization of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN PSO) 2000 Istanbul – Landmark decision on the approval of the radio interface specifications for third- generation mobile communications (IMT-2000) and on additional frequency bands for its worldwide operation. Geneva – First worldwide standard on digital sound broadcasting 2001 Geneva – First Universal Personal Telecommunication Number allocated, opening the way to global number portability. New York – The United Nations General Assembly endorses the organization of the World Summit on the Information Society 2002 Marrakesh – Plenipotentiary Conference 2003 ITU’s first global index to rank some 180 economies on access indicators for the informa- tion society Holding of the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, the first Summit of this kind aimed to bring the tools of the information revolution to the service of global development Purposes

Every time someone, somewhere, picks up a telephone and dials a number, answers a call on a mo- bile phone, sends a fax or receives an e-mail, takes a plane or a ship, listens to the radio, watches a fa- vourite television programme or helps a small child master the lat- est radio-controlled toy, they ben- efit from the work of the Interna- tional Telecommunication Union. 8 The Union was established last century as an impartial, interna- tional organization within which governments and the private sec- The Union’s standardization ac- Finally, ITU’s increasingly im- tor could work together to coordi- tivities, which have already helped portant role as a catalyst for forg- nate the operation of telecommu- foster the growth of new technolo- ing development partnerships be- nication networks and services and gies such as mobile telephony and tween government and private in- advance the development of com- the Internet, are now being put to dustry is helping bring about rapid munications technology. Whilst the use in defining the building blocks improvements in telecommunica- organization remains relatively of the emerging global information tion infrastructure in the world’s unknown to the general public, infrastructure, and designing ad- under-developed economies. ITU’s work over more than one vanced multimedia systems which Whether in telecommunication hundred years has helped create a deftly handle a mix of voice, data, development, standards-setting or global communications network audio and video signals. spectrum sharing, ITU’s consensus- which now integrates a huge range Meanwhile, ITU’s continuing building approach helps govern- of technologies, yet remains one of role in managing the radio- ments and the telecommunication the most reliable man-made sys- frequency spectrum ensures that industry confront and deal with a tems ever developed. radio-based systems like cellular broad range of issues which would As the use of telecommunica- phones and pagers, aircraft and be difficult to resolve bilaterally. tion technology and radiocommu- maritime navigation systems, sci- The result is real-life, workable nication-based systems spreads to entific research stations, satellite agreements which benefit not only encompass an ever-wider range of communication systems and radio the telecommunication industry as activities, the vital work carried out and television broadcasting all a whole but, ultimately, telecom- by ITU is taking on growing impor- continue to function smoothly and munication users everywhere.
tance in the day-to-day lives of peo- provide reliable wireless services to ple all around the world. the world’s inhabitants. 9

Under the Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union, the purposes of ITU are: ration

G To maintain and extend international cooperation between all its Member States for the improvement and rational use of telecom- munications of all kinds

G To promote and enhance participation of entities and organizations in the activities of the Union, and to foster fruitful coope and partnership between them and Member States for the fulfilment of the overall objectives embodied in the purposes of the Union of G To promote and offer technical assistance to developing countries in the field of telecommunications, and also to promote the mobilization of the material, human and financial resources needed to improve access to telecommunications services in such countries

G To promote the development of technical facilities and their most efficient operation, with a view to improving the efficiency telecommunication services, increasing their usefulness and making them, so far as possible, generally available to the public

G To promote the extension of the benefits of new telecommunication technologies to all the world’s inhabitants

G To promote the use of telecommunication services with the objective of facilitating peaceful relations

G To harmonize the actions of Member States and promote fruitful and constructive cooperation and partnership between Member States and Sector Members in the attainment of those ends

G To promote, at the international, level,by cooperating the adoption with ofother a broader world and approach regional to intergovernmental the issues of telecommunications organizations and in thethose global non- information economy and society governmental organizations concerned with telecommunications. The International Telecommunica- tion Union is unique among inter- national organizations in that it was founded on the principle of co- operation between governments and the private sector. With a mem- bership encompassing telecommu- nication policy-makers and regula- tors, network operators, equipment manufacturers, hardware and soft- ware developers, regional stand- ards-making organizations and fi- nancing institutions, ITU’s activi- ties, policies and strategic direction are determined and shaped by the industry it serves.

An Evolving Role The climate in which ITU oper- 10 ates today is very different from the one in which it was founded some 135 years ago. Over the past 20 years, telecommunications have many countries have prompted tra- Structure and Activities grown from a tool that facilitated ditional ITU members to look to The three Sectors of the Union – person-to-person communications ITU to provide new services which Radiocommunication (ITU-R), Tele- to the foundation that underpins a place greater emphasis on policy communication Standardization huge number of human activities, development and regulatory guid- (ITU-T), and Telecommunication from international trade and com- ance. Development (ITU-D) – work today merce to health and, increasingly, In addition, a growing number to build and shape tomorrow’s net- education. Fast, reliable telecommu- of organizations working in fields works and services. Their activities nication networks are now a vital in- such as computer software devel- cover all aspects of telecommuni- gredient in the trans-border delivery opment, entertainment and broad- cation, from setting standards that of services such as banking, trans- casting are finding value in ITU facilitate seamless interworking of portation, tourism, online informa- membership as their activities be- equipment and systems on a glo- tion and electronic home shopping. come increasingly focused around bal basis to adopting operational At the same time, the Union’s telecommunications-based serv- procedures for the vast and grow- client base is also evolving, due to ices. ing array of wireless services and changes in the way telecommuni- In this rapidly changing environ- designing programmes to improve cation services are delivered and ment, ITU is changing too, reshap- telecommunication infrastructure the convergence of the communi- ing itself to ensure it remains rel- in the developing world. ITU’s work cation, computing and audio- evant to the evolving needs of its has provided the essential back- visual entertainment industries. long-standing members, while rec- ground that has enabled tele- Liberalization and deregulation of ognizing and fulfilling the expec- communications to grow into a the telecommunication sector in tations of newer players. USD 1 trillion industry worldwide. In ITU-T, experts prepare the tentiary Conference, while the technical specifications for tele- topic of each forum is determined communication systems, networks by the Council, ITU’s annual gov- and services, including their opera- erning body. tion, performance and mainte- ITU is also responsible for organ- nance. Their work also covers the izing ITU TELECOM events, the tariff principles and accounting world’s largest and most influen- methods used to provide interna- tial telecommunication exhibition tional service. and forum. ITU TELECOM WORLD is ITU-D experts focus their work held every three years, with re- on the preparation of recommen- gional events held each year in the dations, opinions, guidelines, intervening years, covering Asia, handbooks, manuals and reports, Africa, the Americas and the Arab which provide decision-makers in States on a rotating basis. De- 11 developing countries with ‘best signed as a service to ITU mem- business practices’ relating to a bers, TELECOM showcases the latest host of issues ranging from devel- technologies and promotes in- opment strategies and policies to depth discussion of key issues fac- network management. ing the industry through a compre- There are currently 22 study hensive, wide-ranging forum pro- groups spanning the Union’s three gramme.
Sectors (7 in ITU-R, 13 in ITU-T, Each of the three ITU Sectors 2 in ITU-D), which together pro- works through conferences and duce around 550 new or revised meetings, where members negoti- Recommendations every year. All ate the agreements which serve as ITU Recommendations are non- the basis for the operation of glo- binding, voluntary agreements. bal telecommunication services. Each Sector also has its own Bu- Study groups made up of experts reau which ensures the implemen- drawn from leading telecommuni- tation of the Sector’s work plan and cation organizations worldwide coordinates activities on a day-to- carry out the technical work of the day basis. Union, preparing the detailed stud- ies that lead to authoritative ITU Special Events Recommendations. In 1996 ITU initiated the World ITU-R draws up the technical Telecommunication Policy Forum characteristics of terrestrial and (WTPF), an informal international space-based wireless services and gathering convened on an ad hoc systems, and develops operational basis to harmonize telecommuni- procedures. It also undertakes the cation policies on issues which ex- important technical studies which tend beyond the domain of any sin- serve as a basis for the regulatory gle country. The frequency of fo- decisions made at radiocommuni- rums is determined by ITU’s top cation conferences. policy-making body, the Plenipo- RADIOCOMMUNICATIONSECTOR

The last decade of the 20th century In their role as global spectrum tools and witnessed extraordinary growth in coordinator, the Member States of services to help fre- the use of wireless communica- the Radiocommunication Sector quency spectrum managers carry tions systems, from cellular and develop and adopt the Radio Regu- out their day-to-day work. cordless phones and radio-based lations, a voluminous set of rules fleet management systems to ra- which serve as a binding interna- The Radio Regulations 12 dio and television broadcasting tional treaty governing the use of Since the global use and man- and next-generation Web-ready the radio spectrum by some 40 dif- agement of frequencies requires a personal digital assistants. At the ferent services around the world. high level of international coopera- same time, radio has become a vi- The Sector also acts, through its tion, one of the principal tasks of tal technology for a growing Bureau, as a central registrar of in- ITU-R is to oversee and facilitate number of essential public services ternational frequency use, record- the complex inter-governmental such as navigation and global po- ing and maintaining the Master In- negotiations needed to develop le- sitioning systems, environmental ternational Frequency Register gally binding agreements between monitoring and even deep space which currently includes around sovereign states. These agree- research. 1 265 000 terrestrial frequency as- ments are embodied in the Radio At the heart of this wireless signments, 87 096 assignments Regulations and in regional plans world lies ITU’s Radiocommunica- servicing 590 satellite networks, adopted for broadcasting and mo- tion Sector (ITU-R), which is and another 46 179 assignments bile services. charged with determining the related to 3 163 satellite earth sta- The first set of Radio Regulations technical characteristics and op- tions. was put in place in 1906 at the erational procedures for a huge and In addition, ITU-R is responsible Berlin International Radiotele- growing range of wireless services. for coordinating efforts to ensure graph Conference, which adopted The Sector also plays a vital role in that the communication, broad- the first Radiotelegraph Conven- the management of the radio- casting and meteorological satel- tion. By 1947, the popularity of frequency spectrum, a finite natu- lites in the world’s increasingly radio-based systems had reached ral resource which is increasingly crowded skies can co-exist without such a point that the Table of Fre- in demand due to the rapid devel- causing harmful interference to quency Allocations, drawn up in opment of new radio-based serv- one another’s services. In this role, 1912 to monitor the use of various ices and the enormous popularity the Union facilitates agreements parts of the radio-frequency spec- of mobile communications tech- between both operators and gov- trum, was made mandatory in or- nologies. ernments, and provides practical der to provide operation of differ- ent services without pose other than the one listed in The Future, Today harmful interference. the Table of Frequency Allocations, One of the Radiocommunication The Radio Regulations changes may be made provided a Sector’s most important recent apply to frequencies rang- consensus is obtained from other achievements has been the devel- ing from 9 kHz to 400 GHz, Member States. In such a case, the opment and acceptance of the and now incorporate over change may be indicated by a foot- IMT-2000 global standard for cel- 1 000 pages of information de- note, or authorized by the applica- lular telephony. scribing how the spectrum may tion of a Radio Regulations proce- Built on the vision of a single, be used and shared around the dure under which the parties con- worldwide standard which would globe. In an increasingly ‘unwired’ cerned must formally seek the harmonize today’s often incompat- world, some 40 different radio serv- agreement of any other nations af- ible regional cellular systems, IMT- ices now compete for spectrum al- fected by the change before any 2000 provides a global platform on 13 locations to provide the bandwidth new use of the band can begin. which to build so-called ‘third-gen- needed to extend services or sup- In addition to managing the Ta- eration’ services – fast data access, port larger numbers of users. ble of Frequency Allocations, world unified messaging and broadband radiocommunication conferences multimedia in the form of exciting Managing the Spectrum may also adopt assignment plans new interactive services. The portion of the radio- or allotment plans for services Work began on IMT-2000 back frequency spectrum suitable for where transmission and reception in 1985 under the auspices of ITU-R communications is divided into are not necessarily restricted to a Study Group 8. Known initially as ‘blocks’, the size of which varies particular country or territory. In FPLMTS (future public land mob- according to individual services the case of assignment plans, fre- ile telecommunication systems), and their requirements. These quencies are allocated on the ba- the standard soon became Interna- blocks are called ‘frequency sis of requirements expressed by tional Mobile Telecommunications bands’, and are allocated to serv- each country for each station 2000, or IMT-2000, reflecting both ices on an exclusive or shared ba- within a given service, while in the the expected year of first imple- sis. The full list of services and fre- case of allotment plans, each coun- mentation (the year 2000) and the quency bands allocated in differ- try is allotted frequencies to be ent regions forms the Table of Fre- used by a given service, which the quency Allocations, which is itself national authorities then assign to part of the Radio Regulations. the relevant stations within that Changes to the Table, and to the service. Radio Regulations themselves, can ITU-R prepares the technical only be made by a world radiocom- groundwork which enables radio- munication conference. Altera- communication conferences to tions are made on the basis of ne- make sound decisions, developing gotiations between national del- regulatory procedures and exam- egations, which work to reconcile ining technical issues, planning demands for greater capacity and parameters and sharing criteria new services with the need to pro- with other services in order to cal- tect existing services. If a country culate the risk of harmful interfer- or group of countries wishes a fre- ence. quency band to be used for a pur- OVERVIEW RADIOCOMMUNICATION

network operators and service pro- viders, culminated in the selection of the main features of the vital SECTOR IMT-2000 radio interface by a meeting in Fortaleza, Brazil, in March 1999. While the meeting left the door open to multiple access technologies (CDMA, TDMA and others), the need to achieve as much commonality as possible in 14 new 3G systems eventually led to the harmonization of the CDMA- fact that the standard is based based proposals. around a radio-frequency alloca- If the industry deploys 3G net- tion in the 2000 MHz band. works and services on the basis of Aside from offering global roam- the IMT-2000 standard, subscrib- ing capabilities, IMT-2000 is ex- ers to third-generation cellular sys- pected to spur the growth of new tems will soon benefit from the services such as mobile Internet seamless global roaming and and wireless data transmission anytime, anywhere access that through its ability to send and re- have been cornerstones of ITU’s ceive information at megabit data IMT-2000 development activities rates, a huge speed improvement since the mid-1980s. on the rates supported by most of IMT-2000 third-generation sys- today’s second-generation digital tems, now starting to be deployed, networks. In addition, dynamic re- will in principle initially operate source control techniques built into alongside existing second-genera- the IMT-2000 standard should tion systems, with multimode greatly improve the spectrum effi- handsets providing users with ciency of third-generation systems transparent, reliable wireless com- and help lower operators’ costs munications across regions, across through increased network capac- countries and across networks.
ity. The many years of cooperative work between ITU members, in- cluding equipment manufacturers, STANDARDIZATIONSECTOR

The Telecommunication Stand- ardization Sector (ITU-T) embodies ITU’s oldest activity – developing internationally-agreed technical and operating standards (in ITU parlance, ITU-T Recommenda- tions) and defining tariff and ac- counting principles for interna- 15 tional telecommunication services. The work of ITU-T aims to foster seamless interconnection of the world’s communication network and systems. International standards for infor- world look to migrate to an IP- Essential to the smooth func- mation and communication tech- based infrastructure. The conver- tioning of the world’s fast-expand- nologies (ICT) are growing in im- gence between Internet protocol ing communication networks, glo- portance not only because of glo- (IP), public switched telephone bally agreed, globally accepted balization but also because the ICT network (PSTN), digital subscriber standards allow all nations to ben- sector is one of the pillars in today’s line (DSL), cable television (CATV), efit from access to leading-edge economy. Whether we exchange wireless local area network technologies and provide a basis voice, data or video messages, (WLAN) and mobile technologies for commercial application of tech- communications cannot take place is a task that many believe is im- nological advances on a global without standards linking the possible without the development scale. sender and the receiver such as of global standards. Through standardization efforts SS7, E.164, JPEG, MPEG, H.323, spanning more than 130 years, ITU TCP/IP, GSM, ADSL, etc. The tel- A Seamless Transition has helped the global telecommu- ephone network, arguably one of International standards-setting nication industry grow to become the most complex projects ever activities represent a global collec- the world’s third-largest business undertaken, is based on a myriad tive effort amounting to several sector with an annual value of over of standards, and ITU’s work was hundreds of millions of dollars USD 1 trillion. Now, as an increas- instrumental in its creation. every year. ITU-T makes a vital con- ing number of operators re-orient In the field of global information tribution to this process with an their business plans to move to infrastructure, ITU-T is leading the open, worldwide membership and next-generation – all-IP – net- way through standards develop- a collaborative, impartial ap- works, ITU-T’s work programme is ment efforts aimed at defining the proach. Private sector and govern- adapting and expanding to encom- building blocks of a new ment members work together to pass developments in these sys- broadband global infrastructure. identify areas for standardization tems. The next-generation network and the best possible technical so- With a majority of its member- (NGN) is a key area of study for lutions which are quickly ratified ship from the private sector, ITU-T ITU-T as operators around the as ITU-T Recommendations. understands the crucial balance OVERVIEWS

between rapid delivery and stabil- dable economies of scale and lower hammered out between the 16 ity in standards development. The development and hardware costs, world’s key telecommunication Sector has already made great they mean lower prices to end us- players. In such an environment, progress in speeding up time-to- ers. Finally, global standards pro- ITU provides a unique multilateral market of its Recommendations, tect users from incompatibility forum which allows competing in- and continues to work hard to en- problems between rival systems – terests to meet in an atmosphere sure vital new standards are made a situation which could prove of constructive debate, providing a available to the industry in the disastrous in a world increasingly framework for companies to medi- shortest possible time. reliant on information and commu- ate their differences for the benefit nication technologies (ICT) to of consumers. Setting the Standard support economic activity and Throughout the course of every essential public services such as Leading the Way year, hundreds of experts gather at health care. Recent years have seen growing ITU meetings, contributing their concern over security in ICTs. ITU- time, know-how and expertise to A Unique Forum T is increasingly active in this area. the study groups which develop ITU-T Recommendations are As well as authoring one of the ITU-T Recommendations. ITU-T technical specifications and oper- most well known standards in the currently produces around 210 ating parameters for equipment area, X.509, which is used for se- Recommendations each year – rep- and systems covering every aspect curing the connection between a resenting one new or updated of network operation, from number- browser and a server on the web standard for every working day. ing plans and accounting rates to and for providing digital signatures Worldwide standards provide the functioning of circuit-switched that enable e-commerce transac- manufacturers with a solid basis on and packet-based voice and data tions to be conducted, ITU’s work which to compete in the global networks. covers security from network at- marketplace, unhindered by tech- An increasingly competitive tacks, theft or denial of service, nical barriers. Also, because global market means technical specifica- theft of identity, eavesdropping, standards can translate into formi- tions for new systems are often telebiometrics for authentication, STANDARDIZATIONSECTOR

17

security for emergency telecommu- specifies control protocols of mul- around four years to develop nications and telecommunication timedia communications and 10 years ago, can now be approved networks security requirements. H.261, a source coding algorithm in as little as eight weeks for tech- Over 70 standards have been pub- for video terminals, to name just a nical standards and nine months lished by ITU in the security field. few. for Recommendations having Behind the success of the H.323, which facilitates the de- policy or regulatory implications. Internet are a number of other ITU- livery of voice, video and data over These productivity gains, T standards. ASN.1 is a key part of computer networks like the brought about by the implementa- the Simple Network Management Internet, remains the most used tion of accelerated approval proce- Protocol (SNMP) that is used to standard for this job. The H.323 dures, electronic processing and manage the Internet’s operation. family of standards has been cru- distribution of documents and And the X.500 “domain name sys- cial in fostering the development more efficient office working meth- tem” is used extensively within to- of new voice-over-IP services ods, were effected to offer a better, day’s IP-based networks in the (VoIP), winning widespread sup- faster service to members. form of object identifiers for object port from equipment vendors be- In an increasingly dynamic en- code modules for SNMP. cause it enables interoperability vironment for telecommunication Thanks to the work of ITU-T between products from different systems and services, ITU-T recog- study groups, web surfers around manufacturers. nizes that its members rely on the world can access real-time timely, stable standards which al- video from remote servers through A New Approach low them to remain competitive yet a host of ITU-T standards. H.264, Over the last decade, ITU-T protect their investment in manu- the latest video compression algo- has dramatically overhauled its facturing systems and costly rithm, gives users unprecedented standards-making, streamlining research and development.
levels of quality. A raft of other approval procedures and cutting standards help to create a better development time by as much as user experience – H.324 for low bit- 95 per cent. This means that an rate multimedia, H.245 which average standard, which took DEVELOPMENTSECTOR

As we enter a timated four billion people living in For this reason, ITU’s role in tele- new era based the world’s developing countries, communication development has on the flow of the situation is radically different. shifted from that of a provider of digital informa- At the dawn of the new millen- technical assistance to an adviser tion across high- nium, pockets of humankind still on a wide range of issues relating 18 speed global networks, telecom- have no access to even simple tel- to telecommunication sector re- munications are rapidly growing ecommunication services – a fact form. from a service dominated by voice which continues to have enormous The Istanbul Action Plan, a six- communications, to the fabric social and economic ramifications point framework for development which underpins almost all eco- for many countries. nomic activity. A lack of reliable access to ba- Over the last decade, the elec- sic telecommunication services tronic processing and exchange of currently affects around two- information has come to dominate thirds of ITU’s 189 Member States. the world of business, making af- It is the vital task of ITU’s Tele- fordable and reliable access to tele- communication Development Sec- communication networks an es- tor (ITU-D) to help redress this im- sential element in the economic balance, promoting investment competitiveness of nations around and fostering the expansion of tele- the world. At the same time, the communication infrastructure in fast growth of online information developing nations throughout resources like the Internet is cre- the world. ating a new world in which timely access to information is increas- Sustainable Benefits ingly dependent on access to ad- Over recent years, it has become drawn up by the 2002 World Tele- vanced telecommunication serv- clear that achieving sustainable communication Development Con- ices. development and improved access ference held in Istanbul, Turkey, For people living in the industri- to telecommunications requires serves as the broad outline for the alized world, access to telecommu- the existence of a political and work of the Sector. The plan targets nications is all too often taken for socio-economic framework condu- the key issues which need to be ad- granted. Unfortunately, for the es- cive to business and investment. dressed in order to make real and 19 rapid inroads in resolving the prehensive overview of an indus- opment issues. As partners, they chronic difficulties which have held try in full transition, and the Tele- consider policies and devise inno- back telecommunication develop- communication Regulatory Survey, vative forms of cooperation with a ment in many of the world’s poorer an annual survey which monitors view to achieving balanced tel- countries. world telecommunication reform ecommunication development. Sector activities include policy and serves as the basis of a regu- They also establish best business and regulatory advice, advice on latory database offering vital infor- practice for the deployment, man- the financing of telecommunica- mation for governments reforming agement and maintenance of net- tions and on low-cost technology their telecommunication sector. works and services. Special atten- options, assistance in human re- tion is paid to the needs and con- source management, and the de- Thinking Globally, cerns of the UN-designated least velopment of initiatives targeting Acting Locally developed countries. rural development and universal To effectively serve the needs of Finally, the Sector serves as a fo- access. Throughout all these activi- members around the world, the rum for meetings of the Telecom- ties, ITU-D maintains a strong em- Sector maintains a strong regional munication Development Advisory phasis on brokering partnerships presence via 11 offices located in Group (TDAG), which advises the with the private sector, with a view Africa, the Arab States, the Ameri- to harnessing the commercial drive cas, Asia and the Pacific as well as of industry to meet the needs of de- Europe and the CIS countries. It veloping nations. also holds regular world and re- The Sector also produces a gional conferences on telecommu- range of authoritative information nication development which focus resources which provide analysis of on results-oriented initiatives that trends in the global telecommuni- target rapid, sustainable improve- cation sector backed by official sta- ments in access to telecommuni- tistics from the world’s leading cation services. source of telecommunication infor- In addition, men and women mation. Examples include the from all regions of the world meet World Telecommunication Devel- throughout the year within the opment Report (WTDR), a flagship framework of the Sector’s two publication which provides a com- study groups to discuss key devel- Partnerships for Development OVERVIEWDEVELOPMENTSECTOR With traditional sources of inter- national development funding growing increasingly scarce, the future success of telecommunica- tion development programmes will depend on partnerships between the public and private sectors and on close cooperation between a range of players, including govern- ment, regulators, operators, finan- cial institutions, equipment manu- facturers and service providers. In this new environment, ITU-D is using its unique position as an organization having strong ties with both government and private industry to play a catalytic role in Director of the Bureau on the for- promoting strategic partnerships mulation of strategies for the De- which offer win-win benefits. The velopment Sector and on the Sector is also working hard to as- preparation and implementation of sist countries create an economic BDT’s budget and operational climate and regulatory framework plan. attractive to private investment, and develop strategies and pro- The Power to Change grammes which stimulate access Whether used to improve agri- to telecommunication services. 20 culture and the distribution of food, Through a special development education, health services, manu- initiative, surplus funds generated facturing or other activities such as by ITU’s highly successful ITU electronic commerce, telecommu- TELECOM events are now used as nications now have a crucial role seed money to fund promising de- to play in the economies of all velopment projects in partnership nations. with the private sector in areas ITU-D understands that rapid such as electronic commerce, tele- action is needed to upgrade education, telemedicine and the telecommunication networks in establishment of specialized tel- the developing world to bolster ecommunication centres of excel- economic development and to lence.
bridge the gap with more advanced nations. But perhaps even more im- portantly, the Sector also recog- nizes that emerging new technolo- gies like tele-education, electronic commerce and telemedicine can open up new possibilities for poorer nations, giving communities a chance to make dramatic improve- ments in their social infrastructure and allowing them to participate as equals in an emerging digital marketplace. 21 THE UNION’S They have since been amended by classes of contribution announced DECISION-MAKING the Plenipotentiary Conferences of by Member States Kyoto (1994), Minneapolis (1998) G elects the Member States FUNCTIONS and Marrakesh (2002). which serve on the Council and In the period between plenipo- determines the number of Coun- The decision-making functions of tentiary conferences, a yearly cil seats

ITU are performed by Member States meeting of the ITU Council acts as G elects the Secretary-General, during conferences, assemblies, the Union’s governing body. Deputy Secretary-General and the study groups or at the Council. Under the ITU Constitution, the Directors of the three Bureaux

Plenipotentiary Conference: G elects the members of the Radio

Plenipotentiary Conference G determines the general policies Regulations Board

The supreme authority of the needed to fulfil the purposes of the G considers and adopts proposals Union is the Plenipotentiary Con- Union for amendments to the Constitu- ference, a meeting composed of G considers reports by the Coun- tion and Convention delegations from the Union’s Mem- cil on the Union’s activities since G concludes or revises agree- ber States, held every four years to the last plenipotentiary confer- ments between the Union and adopt the underlying policies of the ence and on the policy and stra- other international organizations, organization and determine its tegic planning of the Union and examines any provisional structure and activities. G establishes the basis for the agreements with such organiza- Plenipotentiary conferences de- budget of the Union and deter- tions concluded by the Council termine the direction of the Union mines, in the light of decisions G examines and approves the ac- and its activities, and make deci- taken on the activities of the counts of the Union sions relating to the structure of Union and on the recommended G provides general directives on the organization via a treaty called policy and strategic planning of the staffing of the Union and, if the Constitution and Convention the Union, financial limits until necessary, fixes basic salaries, of the International Telecommuni- the next plenipotentiary confer- salary scales and the system of cation Union. The current Consti- ence allowances and pensions for all tution and Convention date back G establishes the total number of officials of the Union to 1992, and were adopted by the contributory units for the period G amends the rules of procedure Additional Plenipotentiary Confer- up to the next plenipotentiary of conferences and other meetings, ence held in Geneva that year. conference, on the basis of the if required, and G deals with any other telecommu- date the Radio Regulations, which today’s dynamic, rapidly changing nication issues which require action. govern the use of the spectrum by telecommunication environment. Exceptionally, in the interval be- a growing number of services It also prepares the ITU strategic tween two ordinary plenipotentiary worldwide. plan. conferences, an extraordinary In addition, the Council is re- 22 plenipotentiary conference may be ITU Council sponsible for ensuring the smooth convened with a restricted agenda. The ITU Council was established day-to-day running of the Union, ITU’s 16th Plenipotentiary Con- in 1947 under the name Adminis- coordinating work programmes, ference was held in Marrakesh, trative Council, following a decision approving budgets and controlling Morocco, from 23 September to taken by the 1947 Plenipotentiary finances and expenditure. 18 October 2002. Conference in Atlantic City, New Finally, the Council takes all Jersey, United States. steps to facilitate the implementa- World Radiocommunication It comprises a maximum of 25% tion of the provisions of the ITU Conference (WRC) of the total number of Member Constitution, the ITU Convention, World radiocommunication con- States, which are elected by the the Administrative Regulations ferences are international treaty- Plenipotentiary Conference with (International Telecommunication making conferences held under the due regard to the need for Regulations and Radio Regula- auspices of ITU’s Radiocommuni- equitable distribution of Council tions), the decisions of plenipoten- cation Sector. WRCs revise and up- seats among the five world tiary conferences and, where ap- regions (Americas, Western Europe, propriate, the decisions of other Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and conferences and meetings of the Australasia). The current Council Union. comprises 46 Member States. Except in the case of vacancies, The role of the Council is to con- Member States of the Union sider, in the interval between pleni- elected to the Council hold office potentiary conferences, broad tele- until the date on which a new communication policy issues to en- Council is elected by a plenipoten- sure that the Union’s activities, poli- tiary conference. Each Member cies and strategies fully respond to State appoints a representative to MEMBER STATES OF THE ITU COUNCIL 2002-2006 23 Region A – Americas Argentina Mexico tional treaty governing the provi- Brazil Suriname sion and operation of public tele- Canada United States communication services, as well as Cuba Venezuela the underlying transport mecha- nisms used to provide them. The Region B – Western Europe France Portugal regulations provide a broad, basic Germany Spain framework for telecommunication Italy Switzerland administrations and operators in Norway Turkey the provision of international tel- ecommunication services. Region C – Eastern Europe Because of the rapid evolution Bulgaria Romania of telecommunication technology, Czech Republic Russia the International Telecommunica- Poland tion Regulations focus on broad general principles aimed at facili- Region D – Africa tating global interconnection and Algeria Morocco interoperability on the basis of mu- Burkina Faso Nigeria tual agreement between telecom- Cameroon Senegal Egypt South Africa serve on the Council, who may be munication carriers. Detailed tech- Ghana Tunisia assisted by one or more advisers. nical specifications relating to the Kenya Uganda Member States of the Council are functioning and operation of equip- Mali eligible for re-election. ment and systems are contained in ITU-T standards, which are con- Region E – Asia & Australasia World Conference on Interna- tinually updated on the basis of in- Australia Korea (Rep. of) tional Telecommunications dustry requirements.
China Malaysia World conferences on interna- India Pakistan tional telecommunications are held Indonesia Saudi Arabia at the request of the Plenipotenti- Iran (Islamic Rep. of) Thailand ary Conference, and are empowered Japan Viet Nam to revise the International Telecom- munication Regulations, an interna- RADIOCOMMUNICATIONSECTOR

24

Radiocommunication Under the terms of the ITU Con- cil. It may also be changed at the Conference stitution, a WRC can: request of the Council itself. In all

World radiocommunication confer- G revise the Radio Regulations and cases, any change to an agenda ences (WRC) are held every two to any associated frequency assign- must be accepted by a majority of three years. It is the job of WRC to re- ment and allotment plans Member States.

view, and, if necessary, revise the Ra- G address any radiocommunica- In addition to world radiocom- dio Regulations, the international tion matter of worldwide charac- munication conferences, an ITU re- treaty governing the use of the radio- ter gion or a group of countries may

frequency spectrum and the G give instructions to the Radio hold a regional radiocommunica- geostationary-satellite and non- Regulations Board and the Radio- tion conference, with a mandate to geostationary-satellite orbits. Revi- communication Bureau, and re- develop agreements concerning a sions are made on the basis of an view their activities particular radiocommunication

agenda determined by the ITU Coun- G determine Questions for study service or frequency band. cil, which takes into account recom- by the Radiocommunication As- However, such conferences can- mendations made by previous world sembly and the Sector’s study not modify the Radio Regulations, radiocommunication conferences. groups in preparation for future ra- unless approved by a WRC, and the The general scope of the agenda diocommunication conferences. Final Acts of the conference are of world radiocommunication con- In addition, a WRC agenda may only binding on those countries ferences is established four to six include any question deemed nec- that are party to the agreement. years in advance, with the final essary by a plenipotentiary confer- agenda set by the ITU Council two ence, and may be altered at the ex- Radiocommunication years before the conference, with press request of at least one quar- Assembly the concurrence of a majority of ter of the Union’s Member States, Radiocommunication assem- Member States. subject to the approval of the Coun- blies (RA) are responsible for ap- 25

proving the programme of work for addition, they identify suitable top- It is the Board’s job to approve the ITU-R’s study groups, for set- ics for the agenda of future WRCs. the Rules of Procedure, which in- ting up the structures required to Radiocommunication assem- clude technical criteria used by the carry out this work, for making blies are normally convened every Radiocommunication Bureau in work assignments (including con- two to three years, and may be as- the application of the Radio Regu- ference preparatory work and ra- sociated, in terms of timing and lations, to consider matters that diocommunication studies), and location, with radiocommunica- could not be resolved by the ap- for determining the priority, ur- tion conferences. plication of the Radio Regulations gency and time-frame for comple- or existing Rules of Procedure, to tion of studies. The Radio Regulations Board consider reports by the Bureau on Radiocommunication assem- The Radio Regulations Board investigation of cases of harmful blies also approve some ITU-R (RRB) is a part-time body compris- interference, and to formulate rec- Recommendations covering the ing 12 members (or 6% of the total ommendations for resolution of technical specifications of systems number of ITU Member States, such interference. If agreement and their operational require- whichever is the greater) repre- cannot be reached between an ad- ments, and approve the technical senting the world’s five regions ministration and the Board on a studies which serve as the basis (Americas, Western Europe, East- Rule of Procedure, the matter is for the regulatory work of radio- ern Europe, Africa, Asia and submitted to a world radiocommu- communication conferences. In Australasia). nication conference for ruling. STRUCTURE&FUNCTIONING RADIOCOMMUNICATIONSECTOR

The Radio Regulations Board ITU-R Study Groups also provides advice to radiocom- More than 1 500 specialists from munication conferences and radio- telecommunication organizations communication assemblies, and and administrations around the may perform any additional duties world participate in the work of the relating to the assignment and uti- Radiocommunication Sector’s lization of frequencies and the use seven study groups. ITU-R study of the satellite orbits, if they fall groups:

within the competence of ITU-R. G develop ITU-R Recommenda- The RRB members are elected tions on the technical characteris- by the Plenipotentiary Conference tics of and operational procedures for a term of four years. The Chair- for radiocommunication services man and Vice-Chairman of the and systems

Board are elected from among its G draft the technical bases for ra- members, and serve for a period of diocommunication conferences Director of the Radiocommunication

one year. At the end of that year, G compile handbooks on spectrum Bureau on the Sector’s priorities, the Vice-Chairman succeeds the management and emerging radio- programmes and strategies. It also Chairman, and a new Vice-Chair- communication services and sys- monitors progress in the implemen- man is elected. tems. tation of the ITU-R work pro- 26 The Board holds up to four meet- In addition, regulatory and pro- gramme, provides guidelines for the ings each year, with a quorum of cedural matters are overseen by a work of study groups, and promotes two-thirds required before a meet- special committee, and studies of cooperation with other organiza- ing can take place. In principle, de- mutual interest to the Radiocom- tions and ITU Sectors. Comprising cisions are made by consensus, but munication and Telecommunica- representatives from the Union’s if a consensus cannot be reached, tion Standardization Sectors are Member States and Sector Mem- the agreement of at least eight overseen by intersector coordina- bers, as well as chairmen of ITU-R members is required for a decision tion groups (ICG). study groups, RAG meets once or to be adopted. Finally, conference preparatory twice a year. The Director reports Since RRB members serve as meetings (CPM) prepare a consoli- annually to members of ITU-R and custodians of an international pub- dated report on the technical, op- to the Council on the work carried lic trust and not as representatives erational and regulatory/proce- out by the group. of their respective countries or re- dural bases for a WRC. The CPM gions, they are not authorized to consolidates the output from the The Radiocommunication form part of national delegations study groups and the special com- Bureau at radiocommunication confer- mittee, together with any new ma- The Radiocommunication Bu- ences or assemblies where they terial submitted to it. reau, or BR, is the executive arm of participate as members of the the Radiocommunication Sector, Board. In the case of plenipotenti- The Radiocommunication and is headed by an elected Direc- ary conferences, where only the Advisory Group tor. The Director of BR acts as Ex- Chairman and Vice-Chairman are Established by the 1993 Radio- ecutive Secretary to the Radio entitled to participate as repre- communication Assembly following Regulations Board, and is respon- sentatives of the Board, the other a decision made by the Additional sible for the coordination of the Board members may join their na- Plenipotentiary Conference in 1992, work of the Sector. tional delegations. the Radiocommunication Advisory On the basis of the experience Group (RAG) provides advice to the gained in the day-to-day applica- tion of the Radio Regulations the Di- G applying the provisions of the rector prepares, for consideration Radio Regulations and various re- by the Member States and further gional agreements approval by the Radio Regulations G recording and registering frequ- Board, new Rules of Procedure to ency assignments and orbital cater for situations where problems characteristics of space services, could not be solved by the applica- and maintaining the Master Inter- tion of existing rules. national Frequency Register

Should a finding by the Radio- G providing advice to Member communication Bureau be chal- States on the equitable, effective lenged by an administration, it is and economical use of the radio- the Director’s responsibility to sub- frequency spectrum and satellite mit it, at the request of the admin- orbits, and investigating and as- 27 istration, to the Radio Regulations sisting in resolving cases of harm- Board for review. ful interference

The Director is also charged G coordinating the preparation, with the preparation of reports on editing and dispatch of circulars, the activities of the Radiocommu- documents and publications de- nication Sector for presentation to veloped within the Sector world radiocommunication confer- G providing technical informa- ences, or, if a conference is not tion, holding seminars/workshops planned, a report which covers the on national frequency manage- two-year period since the previous ment and radiocommunications, report, which is submitted instead and working closely with the Tel- to the Council and, for information, ecommunication Development to Member States and Sector Bureau in assisting developing Members. countries. In addition, the Director is re- The Director of BR is assisted by sponsible for preparing annually a a team of high-calibre engineers, rolling four-year operational plan computer specialists and manag- for review by the Radiocommuni- ers who, together with administra- cation Advisory Group. The Direc- tive staff, make up the Radiocom- tor participates in an advisory ca- munication Bureau.
pacity in radiocommunication conferences, radiocommunication assemblies and ITU-R study groups. Other tasks entrusted to the Bu- reau include:

G providing administrative and technical support to radiocommu- nication conferences, radiocom- munication assemblies and study groups, including working parties and task groups STANDARDIZATIONSECTOR

World Telecommunication at least one quarter of ITU Member global information infrastructure. 28 Standardization Assembly States, providing a majority of States Areas under study include optical World telecommunication stand- agrees, through a proposal put to the networking, IP interworking and ardization assemblies approve the ITU Council or on the recommenda- ground-breaking technologies re- work programme of ITU-T and de- tion of a previous assembly. lated to new multimedia systems, termine the priorities, urgency and including special protocols and sig- time-frame for completion of work ITU-T Study Groups nal processing systems, high- relating to the preparation of stand- The 13 study groups of ITU-T speed modems, digital subscriber ards. Assemblies also approve, cover a huge range of topics relat- line systems (xDSL), network as- modify or reject draft ITU-T Recom- ing to the smooth and efficient pects of mobility and new types of mendations (de facto standards) and functioning of a growing range of multimedia terminal. consider the reports of the study telecommunication equipment In order to better focus on par- groups and the Telecommunication and services. Topics covered in- ticular areas of difficulty, study Standardization Advisory Group. In clude numbering systems, multi- groups create working parties to addition, they decide on the struc- media services and systems, net- study specific subjects. ture of study groups and on the al- work and service operation, tariff location of Questions to be studied and accounting principles, tele- Lead Study Groups by each study group. To facilitate the communication network manage- When topics span the mandate participation of developing coun- ment systems, signalling, trans- of several study groups, work is co- tries in the work of ITU-T study mission and transport systems, ordinated by a lead study group groups, the Assembly aims to iden- data networks, and new value- whose role it is to facilitate the co- tify and group together Questions of added services such as universal ordinated development of Recom- interest to developing countries. international freephone numbers. mendations, ensuring work pro- A world telecommunication In addition, ITU-T is charged ceeds smoothly with no overlap or standardization assembly is held with coordinating the development omissions. Topics now being coor- every four years. Additional assem- of the systems and technologies dinated by lead study groups cover blies may be held at the request of which constitute the emerging a wide range of issues from serv- 29 STRUCTURE&FUNCTIONING STANDARDIZATIONSECTOR ice definition, numbering, routing Tariff Groups and global mobility to telecommu- Within the framework of Study nication management networks, Group 3, regional tariff groups de- optical networking technologies, velop the methods and criteria used frame relay and IP interworking in setting accounting rates and col- and related matters. They also in- lection charges. There are four re- clude communication system se- gional tariff groups: the Tariff Group curity, intelligent networks, access for Africa (TAF), the Tariff Group for network transport, languages, de- Latin America (TAL), the tariff group scription techniques, global infor- for Asia and Oceania (TAS) and the mation infrastructures and multi- Tariff Group for Europe and the media services and systems. Mediterranean Basin (TEUREM). Regional tariff groups meet on an Rapporteurs and Focus ad hoc basis, providing the flexibil- Groups ity needed to meet the particular To make the most effective use concerns of each region. of available resources, chairper- sons of study groups and working Intersector Coordination 30 parties (including joint working Groups parties) delegate to rapporteurs the Because some topics require responsibility for the detailed study close coordination between the Ra- of individual Questions, small diocommunication and Telecom- groups of related Questions, parts munication Standardization Sec- of Questions, terminology, and tors, intersector coordination amendments to existing Recom- groups (ICG) have been estab- mendations. lished. ICGs coordinate, plan and Rapporteurs are authoritative facilitate the work of various study experts in a specific field who pro- groups across the two Sectors. At pose new solutions and coordinate present, there is one ICG on satel- the activities of other experts. Re- lite matters. ICGs are not empow- view and approval of the work of ered to develop standards, and rapporteurs resides with the study work within a mandate clearly de- group or working party. fined by a joint decision of the Ra- Focus groups provide a new, flex- diocommunication and Telecom- ible structure to help address short- munication Standardization Advi- term needs and produce specifica- sory Groups. tions and agreements. They can also be established to help accelerate the Coordination with Other work of ITU-T study groups, at the Organizations request of a study group or of the Recognizing the importance of Telecommunication Standardization close coordination with other or- Advisory Group. Focus groups are ganizations engaged in standards- typically obliged to complete their setting, ITU-T has put in place work within nine to twelve months. mechanisms to foster cooperation working level to develop a common work of the Sector, which are in- text, which is then approved using cluded in the total budget of the the normal approval process of Union. The Director participates in each organization. an advisory capacity in the work of the World Telecommunication The Telecommunication Standardization Assembly as well Standardization Advisory as in ITU-T study groups. Group The tasks conferred on TSB in- The Telecommunication Stand- clude:

ardization Advisory Group (TSAG) G organizing and coordinating the assists the Director of TSB by regu- approval process of ITU-T Recom- larly reviewing the priorities, pro- mendations as well as their timely grammes and strategies of the Sec- publication (print and online) and tor, providing guidelines for the distribution to members

work of the study groups, and G assisting the work of the Sector based on a set of established crite- working to foster inter-organization and making all necessary prepara- ria. In general, coordination efforts cooperation with other relevant tions for assemblies and meetings are established at study group standardization bodies, including of the Telecommunication Stand- level. In the case of groups associ- industry forums and consortia. ardization Sector, in consultation ated with one or more Study Comprising representatives from with the General Secretariat

Groups, the decision to pursue a the ITU Member States and ITU-T G processing information received cooperative development approach Sector Members who participate from telecommunication adminis- is taken by the lead study group. on an equal footing, TSAG meets trations relating to provisions of the To avoid multiple requests to ex- as often as necessary, but at least International Telecommunication 31 ternal standards-setting agencies once a year. Regulations or decisions of the and to facilitate evaluation by World Telecommunication Stand- study groups, the Director of the The Telecommunication ardization Assembly, and prepar- Telecommunication Standardiza- Standardization Bureau ing that information for publica- tion Bureau (TSB) coordinates re- The Telecommunication Stand- tion, if appropriate quests from ITU-T and makes a pre- ardization Bureau (TSB) is the ex- G disseminating data from mem- liminary analysis of the responses ecutive arm of the Telecommuni- bers needed to ensure efficient day- received from external standards- cation Standardization Sector, and to-day operation of telecommuni- making organizations. is headed by an elected Director. cation services, such as interna- In addition to a communication The Director of TSB is responsi- tional telephone routes, numbering process, where exchange of infor- ble for regularly updating the work changes, operational bulletins, sta- mation forms the primary channel programme of the Sector approved tistical information and other noti- of cooperation, more formal coop- by world telecommunication fications which keep administra- erative arrangements can be es- standardization assemblies, in con- tions informed on matters of impor- tablished. For example, in a case sultation with the chairmen of the tance for the provision of domestic where two organizations are work- ITU-T study groups and the Tele- and international telecommunica- ing in the same area but the prime communication Standardization tions responsibility falls to one of the two Advisory Group. G managing and maintaining the bodies, work can be carried out in The Director of TSB also pre- databases of the Sector, and ar- the primary organization with the pares reports on the activities of the ranging, if appropriate, for their other organization participating, as Telecommunication Standardiza- publication appropriate, through a liaison ar- tion Sector for world telecommu- G acting as registrar for value- rangement. The result is published nication standardization assem- added services such as universal by the primary organization and is blies, as well as an annual report international freephone numbers referenced, as needed, by the other on the Sector’s activities, which is (UIFN), universal international pre- organization. Where, for a given submitted to the Council. In addi- mium rate numbers (UIPRN) and area of work, each organization tion, the Director manages the al- international shared cost numbers plans to develop an international location of ITU-T’s financial and (ISCN) standard, mutual consensus is human resources, and is responsi- G providing technical information built through collaboration. In this ble for preparing cost-based and support to the Telecommuni- situation, meetings are held at the budget estimates covering the cation Development Sector.
DEVELOPMENTSECTOR

32 Telecommunication Pacific regions as well as a Development Conferences roadmap to achieve regionally- World telecommunication de- defined goals. velopment conferences (WTDC) are The World Telecommunication convened every four years with the Development Conference provides purpose of reviewing the progress direction to the Telecommunica- made in telecommunication in de- tion Development Bureau (BDT) veloping countries and to establish and establishes mechanisms and ICT development priorities, strate- work programmes for BDT in gies and Action Plans for the fu- light of the high-level recognition ture. Priority is accorded to the ex- of the digital divide created by the pansion and modernization of net- rapid and pervasive expansion of works, the mobilization of re- ICTs. sources and regulatory reform WTDC also establishes study needed to boost telecommunica- groups to undertake studies on is- tion penetration and access in the sues of relevance to developing world’s poorer countries. countries, including development They also serve to promote in- policies, financing, network plan- ternational cooperation and part- ning, and introduction of new serv- nerships which can sustain infra- ices, and is charged with examin- structure and institutional ing the reports of such study strengthening in the developing groups. countries. Regional preparatory meetings (RPMs) establish regional The Istanbul Action Plan priorities in Africa, Americas, Arab The multi-pronged Istanbul Ac- States, Europe and CIS and Asia- tion Plan, adopted by the World 33

Telecommunication Development that ultimate goal, a new pro- Conference held in Istanbul in gramme on e-strategies specifi- 2002, has the elements needed to cally focuses on bringing applica- make it possible to fast-track ITU’s tions to people that will improve objectives of bridging the Digital their standards of living in a sus- Divide. tainable way and contribute to- Based on six programmes, the wards poverty eradication. The Plan seeks to empower all e-strategies programme aims at stakeholders in telecoms develop- improving the quality of life of ment to bring applications and those in low-income rural and services for the benefit of all. This underserved areas through com- is particularly important for the munity access, improved govern- world’s most deprived, whether it ance or better access to a wider be through capacity and compe- range of socio-economic services tency-building in regulatory mat- such as e-education and e-health. ters, relevant technology and ICT The programme also seeks to inte- solutions, human resource devel- grate the development of the tele- opment, information sharing, mu- communication infrastructure with tually reinforcing financing the deployment of IP and value- schemes or greater awareness of added e-services. the potential of ICTs. It also strives to reduce access costs to enable ITU-D Study Groups the greatest number of people pos- ITU-D manages two study sible to cross the Digital Divide. groups: one in the area of strategy While the six programmes of the and policy and the other in devel- Action Plan all converge towards opment and management. These STRUCTURE&FUNCTIONING DEVELOPMENTSECTOR

groups serve as a forum for devel- opment Advisory Group (TDAG) The Telecommunication oping and developed countries and advises the Director of BDT on the Development Bureau public and private sector organiza- formulation of strategies for the The Telecommunication Devel- tions to meet, with the purpose of Development Sector and on the opment Bureau (BDT) is the execu- devising innovative solutions preparation and implementation of tive arm of the Telecommunication which address specific problem BDT’s budget and operational Development Sector, and is headed areas as identified by the World Tel- plan. by an elected Director. Its duties ecommunication Development TDAG reviews priorities, pro- and responsibilities cover a variety Conference. grammes, operations, financial of functions ranging from pro- The topics under study include matters and strategies relating to gramme supervision and technical universal access, establishment of the activities of the Sector. It also advice to the collection, processing independent regulatory bodies, regulatory impact of convergence of telecommunication, broadcast- ing, information technology and content sectors. They also focus on tariff policies, use of the Internet in developing countries and 34 technology transfer and inform- atization. In addition, telemedecine, rural applications, migrations from 2nd generation mobile networks to IMT-2000 and beyond, and inter- operability and cost/benefit analy- ses of digital broadcasting systems reviews progress in the implemen- and publication of information rel- are important areas of study. tation of the Sector’s work pro- evant to telecommunication devel- Participation in ITU-D study gramme, provides guidelines for opment. groups is open to all ITU Member the work of study groups and pro- The BDT Director works in part- States and to all ITU-D Sector poses measures aimed at fostering nership with the Union’s other Sec- Members. cooperation and coordination with tors to strengthen its catalytic role To encourage participation in development and financial institu- in telecommunication develop- the work of ITU-D study groups, a tions. ment, and participates in an advi- fellowship programme is available TDAG is open to representatives sory capacity in the work of world to representatives from eligible of ITU Member States and Sector telecommunication development developing countries. The pro- Members and to chairpersons and conferences and in the work of gramme covers the cost of travel, vice-chairpersons of study groups. ITU-D study groups. accommodation and daily ex- In addition, the Director may invite The Director is also required to penses for one representative from representatives of bilateral coop- submit a report on the activities of each eligible nation to attend study eration and development aid agen- the Telecommunication Develop- group meetings. cies and multilateral development ment Sector to world telecommu- The Telecommunication institutions to participate in TDAG nication development conferences, Development Advisory Group meetings. TDAG generally meets and to prepare a report on the Sec- The Telecommunication Devel- twice a year. tor’s activities for the Council. Preparation of cost-based budget Sector, and arranging, as appropri- authorities, regional telecommuni- estimates covering the work of the ate, for their publication. cation organizations and other Sector for inclusion in the total relevant bodies. budget of the Union is also the re- Field Operations and Regional They also assist developing and sponsibility of the Director. Presence least developed countries to meet The tasks conferred on BDT in- ITU’s policy on regional pres- their development goals. In addi- clude: ence is designed to enable the Un- tion to providing technical and

G at the request of ITU members, ion to work as closely as possible logistical support to development initiating studies and offering ad- with its members and to tailor ITU activities, field offices fulfil the ba- vice on national and regional tel- activities to meet the ever-increas- sic functions of the development ecommunication problems, taking ing and diverse needs of the sector as a specialized and execut- ing agency, resource mobilizer and information centre. 35 ITU’s regional presence serves also to assist the ITU General Sec- retariat, the Radiocommunication Bureau and the Telecommunica- tion Standardization Bureau in ful- filling their missions by:

G promoting their work, repre- senting them at regional and na- tional events

G assisting them in organizing events of a regional character in their respective domain of activi- ties or in joint activities with BDT into account economic factors world’s developing and least devel- G representing ITU’s elected offi- when a comparison of technical al- oped countries. ITU currently man- cials at regional events ternatives is involved ages a network of eleven field of- G expressing the visions and the G assembling and preparing for fices. These include regional offices needs of the countries in the dif- publication technical and admin- in Addis Ababa (for Africa), Brasilia ferent domains of activities and istrative information which can (for Americas), Cairo (for the Arab proposing actions for responding to help developing countries to im- States) and Bangkok (for Asia and their needs.
prove their telecommunication net- Pacific) and a number of area of- works fices in each of these regions. The

G promoting the activities and pro- Europe and CIS countries unit at grammes of the United Nations ITU headquarters is currently act- which relate to telecommunication ing as regional office for that region development pending the opening of a new of-

G coordinating the timely publica- fice in Moscow. tion of ITU-D Recommendations, ITU field offices provide support and distributing them to Member for all Union activities, helping States and Sector Members implement its strategic and policy

G managing and maintaining objectives through direct, sus- documents and databases of the tained contact with national 36

The General Secretariat of ITU was established by the Vienna Interna- tional Telegraph Conference of 1868 and was set up in Bern, Switzer- land, in 1869. It has been known, successively, as the Bureau interna- tional des administrations télégraphiques (1909-1933); Bureau de l’Union internationale des télécommunications (1934-1947); and the General Secretariat of ITU tions as well as with marketing, preparation of the Union’s draft (since 1948). sales and dispatch of publications budget, preparation of cost analy- The task of the General Secre- to customers worldwide. sis, and financial reporting. tariat is to manage the administra- In the area of strategic planning, It is the responsibility of the Gen- tive and financial aspects of the policy development, external rela- eral Secretariat to manage the Un- Union’s activities, including the tions and corporate communica- ion’s legal affairs, providing advice provision of conference services, tion, the General Secretariat is in- and legal opinions on a wide range information services, long-range volved in activities ranging from the of important documents including strategic planning, and corporate preparation of papers and reports formal agreements and international functions (communications, legal tracking changing trends in the glo- treaties. It also has an important role advice, finance, personnel and bal telecommunication environ- to play in assisting the Secretary- 37 common services). ment, to the development of corpo- General in his role as ITU’s legal rep- The General Secretariat’s work rate communication policies and resentative and depositary of trea- in managing the Union’s many materials promoting the work of the ties and other agreements con- meetings, regional and interna- Union. cluded by ITU or under its auspices. tional assemblies and conferences The General Secretariat manages ITU’s internal communications covers organizational and logistical relations with the media, with the requirements are also handled by support, the provision of adminis- United Nations and with other inter- the General Secretariat, which pro- trative services, documentation, national and regional organizations, vides an up-to-date information and the provision of translation and and handles matters of protocol. In technology infrastructure, informa- interpretation services in the six addition, it proposes improvements tion exchange services, administra- working languages of the Union. In to working methods and identifies tive software applications and soft- addition, its work involves provid- cost-saving measures through opera- ware development environments. ing legal advice, communication tions analyses. Finally, the General Secretariat support and media relations serv- The management of the finances assists the Secretary-General in de- ices for these events. of the Union is also the responsi- veloping policies relating to person- Through an extensive document bility of the General Secretariat. nel and human resources, provid- preparation and handling centre, Activities include advising and ing essential advice on a wide range the General Secretariat is also informing the membership and of matters including recruitment, charged with the production and legislative bodies of the Union on staff training, counselling and post printing of documents and publica- financial and budgetary matters, classification.
38 ITU Telecom Events

ELECOM Events A World of ITU T ITU TELECOM WORLD ITU TELECOM AMERICAS ITU TELECOM ASIA AFRICA ITU TELECOM TATES EAST & ARAB S ITU TELECOM MIDDLE

39 In 1971, ITU launched a new serv- in partnership with major players development projects overseen by ice to its members – an exhibition from the telecommunication and ITU’s Telecommunication Develop- of equipment designed to promote information technology industries. ment Sector.
the benefits of telecommunications Over the years, ITU TELECOM has and demonstrate recent techno- been responsible for showcasing logical advances. Some thirty years many of the technological ad- after the first ITU TELECOM event vances that we now take for held in Geneva, the ITU TELECOM granted – ISDN, satellite broad- exhibitions and forums have grown casting systems, digital and opti- to become the largest and most im- cal switching systems, ATM, cel- portant telecommunication events lular telephony, and most recently in the world, providing a global IP telephony, the Internet, and third- showcase for the latest technolo- generation mobile. Many of these gies, news and views through a new technologies have proved an programme of regular world enormous boon to developing events, and regional events held on countries, which can use them to a rotating basis around the world. tackle chronic problems that have Today’s ITU TELECOM events long hindered network growth. serve as a privileged and unique The ITU TELECOM events also meeting place for government play an important role in the de- leaders, senior executives from the velopment process by bringing to- world’s leading operators, manu- gether representatives of leading facturers, service providers and de- players from the telecommunica- velopers, telecommunication regu- tion industry and delegates from lators, investors, the business com- the highest level of government, munity and the press. which in turn fosters the creation ITU TELECOM also remains an im- of partnerships to boost telecom- portant element of ITU’s continu- munication development in coun- ing efforts to promote international tries where it is most needed. In ad- telecommunications as a prime dition, surplus funds generated by driver of global economic activity, the events are allocated to specific ITU is the world’s leading publisher in English, French and Spanish. for sale at a price which covers their 40 of telecommunication technology, The ITU website boasts an average production costs. The exception to regulatory and standards informa- of over 1.5 million hits per month. this rule is the Catalogue of Publi- tion. Its 4 000 titles address the Through the ITU Electronic cations, published twice a year, and needs of the administrations and Bookshop ,members the List of Recommendations in organizations which participate in and the general public alike can or- Force for ITU-T and ITU-R, which the work of the Union, as well as a der, pay for and download materi- are available on request at no cost growing number of service provid- als directly from the Bookshop from the ITU Sales Service. Both ers, educational and research or- website. As a special promotion, publications are also available on ganizations and consulting groups. the Union is offering its customers TIES and the ITU website at The large output of traditional three electronic standards per per- itu.int/publications. In addition, printed material is now balanced son at no charge. general information leaflets and by an extensive programme of elec- It also manages a yearly online brochures are provided free of tronic publication and distribution, paid subscription service for major charge, on request. encompassing CD-ROMs and collections like telecommunication Most ITU publications are avail- online services. and radiocommunication stand- able in English, French and Span- In addition, more than 100 000 ards, statistical data and opera- ish. Some are also published in web pages contain information on tional information. Armed with a Arabic, Chinese and Russian. every aspect of ITU’s structure, username and password, users can Member States which appear on functioning, conferences and download publications on demand the UN list of least developed coun- events, its strategic planning and as they need them. All ITU mem- tries are entitled to a discount of the work of its numerous study bers now receive a free online sub- 80% on the cost of all ITU publica- groups, as well as useful statistics, scription to the standards of the tions, in order to facilitate access study papers, media information sector of which they are a member. to important data and promote in- and databases, including a termi- Under a self-financing scheme, formation exchange between the nology database with more than ITU publications are not distrib- Union and its members. University 60 000 telecommunication terms uted free of charge but are offered libraries also benefit from a reduc- 41

tion of 80% on the price of all elec- nual reports and provides access to tronic publications (CD-ROM or ITU’s news magazine online and to online versions only). employment opportunities. ITU publications are also publicly avail- Telecom Information able for online purchase, or by an- Exchange Services (TIES) nual subscription. The ITU Telecom Information Some information, such as work- Exchange Services (TIES) is a set of ing documents of Study Groups and networked information services and contributions for treaty-making resources for the global telecommu- conferences may be accessed only nications community. Most of these by members. Referred to as “TIES services are available via the World registered users”, this user group Wide Web. One of the main goals of may access the Electronic Docu- TIES is to help make ITU’s activi- ment Handling (EDH) services, in- ties, such as telecommunication cluding working documents and standardization work, more effi- FTP “drop boxes” for the electronic cient. Another goal is to make a submission of documents. TIES wide range of information available registered users have access to to ITU’s various constituencies. In dial-up Internet Services (E-mail, general, ITU information is public FTP, the Web) to enhance their par- with no need for prior registration. ticipation in ITU activities. This includes corporate information More information is available such as ITU mission, general infor- from the ITU TIES Helpdesk Serv- mation on the organization, its ice at [email protected] or from structure, functioning, on activities the ITU TIES Web pages found at and events or on current issues; it itu.int/TIES/.
also includes press releases and an- Finance and

ITU LEADERSHIP Secretary-General Yoshio Utsumi (Japan) Staffing Deputy Secretary-General Roberto Blois (Brazil) Director, Radiocommunication Bureau Valery Timofeev (Russia) Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau Houlin Zhao (China) Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau Hamadoun I. Touré (Mali)

FINANCE the Plenipotentiary Conference for At 31 December 2003 the The Union’s main source of financ- two budgetary cycles. number of ITU staff stood at 784, ing is the contributions of its Mem- For the years 2004-2005, representing 81 nationalities ber States, which account for 66.1% the budget of the Union stands both at Headquarters and in the of the overall budget. At each pleni- at CHF 328 872 000, with the field. potentiary conference, every mem- contributory unit valued at ber (States and Sector Members CHF 315 000 for Member States and Expert Service alike) selects its class of contribu- CHF 63 000 for Sector Members. In To improve access to telecom- tion. The amount of the contributory addition, the contributory unit for munications in the developing unit is determined when the budget Associates has been fixed world, BDT manages an expert is approved and the current value of at CHF 10 500 for the ITU Radio- service which recruits, from the one contributory unit for a Sector communication Sector (ITU-R) public and private sectors, spe- Member is set at 1/5 of that of a and ITU Telecommunication Stand- cialists with high-level expertise. 42 Member State. Sector Members con- ardization Sector (ITU-T), CHF According to needs, missions tribute 13.3% of the overall budget. 3 937.50 for the ITU Telecommuni- may involve advisory services in The scale of unit classes ranges from cation Development Sector (ITU-D) the areas of legislation, restruc- 1/16 of a unit to 40 units but any and CHF 1 968.75 for Associates turing, management and all other member may choose a number of from developing countries partici- aspects of telecommunications, contributory units over 40. Only pating in the ITU-D sector. including new services such as Member States listed by the United In addition to 48 activities, the distance learning, telemedicine, Nations as least developed countries 2004-2005 budget covers the fund- e-commerce and the Internet. and those determined by the Coun- ing of centralized administrative Around 300 expert missions cil may select the 1/8 and 1/16 unit and support services and is struc- are carried out each year. classes of contribution. tured by Sector, activity and type of The other sources of financing expenditure. Internship Programme include: The Union also runs a non-

G income from cost recovery for STAFFING remunerated internship pro- services like the sale of publica- While not applying a quota system, gramme aimed at giving young tions, project execution, satellite ITU draws its staff from as wide a undergraduate and graduate stu- notifications (17% of total funding) range of nationalities as possible, dents an opportunity to improve

G other income, such as withdraw- ensuring a broad representation their skills and gain experience als from the Reserve Account and and bringing together the different in an international environment. income from interest (3.6% of total national perspectives and linguis- Candidates are selected on an funding). tic skills which are essential to a ad hoc basis determined by the The Union operates on a bien- truly international organization. needs of various ITU depart- nial budget, that is, a budget ap- ITU’s specialist and managerial ments. proved by the Council every two posts are advertised internationally Internships are possible years. The budget must remain to attract highly qualified staff in all throughout the year, and may last within expenditure limits set by disciplines. from one to six months.
developments reshaping the world around us. Direct involvement in the work of ITU gives all members a chance to influence, learn and play a part in forging a new world for a new millennium. Private companies and other or- ganizations may elect to join one or more of the Union’s three Sec- tors, according to their particular sphere of interest. Whether through their participation in conferences, assemblies and technical meetings 43 or in day-to-day work, members benefit from unique networking op- portunities and a universal meet- ing ground where they can debate issues and forge deals and partner- ships. ITU Sector Members also develop the technical standards which will underpin future tele- communication systems and shape tomorrow’s networks and services. Finally, Sector Members gain privileged access to restricted first- hand information which can prove Membership of ITU is open to to play an active role in the organi- highly valuable in their business governments, which may join the zation, which can boast more than planning. Union as Member States, as well 130 years’ experience in building Because of its unique role and as to private organizations like car- the world’s communications net- track record in worldwide telecom- riers, equipment manufacturers, works. munications, ITU provides the funding bodies, research and For more information on membership, visit our development organizations and international and re- website at itu.int/members or write to us gional telecommunication at [email protected] organizations, which can join ITU as Sector Members. Through membership of the ideal forum for governments and With telecommunications tak- world’s largest, most respected and the private sector to come together ing on an ever-greater importance most influential global telecommu- to set agendas and policy frame- as the universal facilitator of glo- nication organization, government works that will have tremendous bal economic activity, membership and industry alike can ensure their impact on the future of global busi- of ITU gives governments and pri- voice is heard, and make an impor- ness.
vate organizations the opportunity tant and valued contribution to the AFGHANISTAN AFGHAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION COMPANY ALBANIA ALGERIA ALGÉRIE TÉLÉCOM ANDORRA ANGOLA ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA ListARGENTINA COMPAÑIA DE RADIOCOMUNICACIONES of MÓVILES • COOPERATIVAMembers TELEFÓNICA LÓPEZ CAMELO (COTELCAM) • IMPSAT • TELEFÓNICA DE ARGENTINA ARMENIA ARMENTEL AUSTRALIA BANDSPEED • BOEING AUSTRALIA • SINGTEL OPTUS • TELSTRA AUSTRIA OESTERREICHISCHER RUNDFUNK (ORF) • TELEKOM AUSTRIA • UTA TELEKOM AZERBAIJAN AZEUROTEL BAHAMAS PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (PUC) BAHRAIN BATELCO • MTC VODAFONE BAHRAIN • TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AUTHORITY (TRA) BANGLADESH BARBADOS BELARUS BELGIUM ALCATEL BELL • BELGACOM • SIEMENS • SPARNEX • TELINDUS BELIZE BELIZE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED (BTL) BENIN BHUTAN BHUTAN TELECOM BOLIVIA BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA BH TELECOM • TELEKOM SRPSKE BOTSWANA MASCOM WIRELESS BOTSWANA BRAZIL D&D INTERNATIONAL • EMBRATEL • INSTITUTO DE FORMAÇÃO EM TECNOLOGIA (IFT) • TELEMAR NORTE LESTE BRUNEI DARUSSALAM BULGARIA BULGARIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY (BTC) • COMMUNICATIONS REGULATION COMMISSION (CRC) BURKINA FASO BURUNDI CAMBODIA CAMEROON CAMEROON TELECOMMUNICATIONS (CAMTEL) CANADA ALCATEL CANADA • ALLSTREAM • BELL CANADA • CAP GEMINI ERNST & YOUNG • CATENA NETWORKS • INSTITUT INTERNATIONAL DES TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS (IIT) • NORTEL NETWORKS • ROGERS WIRELESS • SPECTROCAN • SR TELECOM • TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE OF CANADA (TEMIC) • TELEGLOBE CANADA • TELESAT CANADA • ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR CAPE VERDE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CHAD SOCIÉTÉ DES TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS DU TCHAD (SOTEL TCHAD) • TCHAD MOBILE CHILE EMPRESA NACIONAL DE TELECOMUNICACIONES (ENTEL) • TELEFÓNICA CTC CHILE CHINA ALCATEL SHANGHAI BELL • ASIA SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS (ASIASAT) • CHINA MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION • CHINA NETWORK COMMUNICATION GROUP CORPORATION • CHINA TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION • CHINA UNITED TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION (CHINA UNICOM) • HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES • HUTCHISON GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS • MANDARIN COMMUNICATIONS • NEW WORLD TELECOM • PCCW • REACH NETWORKS HONG-KONG • WHARF T&T • ZTE CORPORATION COLOMBIA BELLSOUTH COLOMBIA • EMPRESA DE TELECOMUNICACIONES DE BOGOTÁ • EMPRESA NACIONAL DE TELECOMUNICACIONES (TELECOM) COMOROS CONGO COSTA RICA RADIOGRÁFICA COSTARRICENSE (RACSA) CÔTE D’IVOIRE CONSEIL DES TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS DE CÔTE D’IVOIRE (CTCI) • CÔTE D’IVOIRE TÉLÉCOM • LOTENY TELECOM CROATIA CUBA EMPRESA DE TELECOMUNICACIONES DE CUBA (ETECSA) • EMPRESA TELÉFONOS CELULARES DE CUBA (CUBACEL) CYPRUS CZECH REPUBLIC CESKÉ RADIOKOMUNIKACE • CESKY TELECOM DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA DENMARK GN GREAT NORTHERN TELEGRAPH COMPANY • ITEK • TDC DJIBOUTI DOMINICA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC VERIZON DOMINICANA ECUADOR EGYPT ALKAN COMMUNICATION • ARAB ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME TRANSPORT • BARKOTEL COMMUNICATIONS • EGYPTIAN COMPANY FOR NETWORKS (EGYNET) • EGYPTIAN GERMAN TELECOMMUNICATION INDUSTRIES (EGTI) • LINKDÖTNET • NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION INSTITUTE (NTI) • SYSTEL • TE DATA • TELECOM EGYPT • TELECON CONSULTANTS • THE EGYPTIAN COMPANY FOR MOBILE SERVICES (MOBINIL) • THE EGYPTIAN SATELLITE COMPANY (NILESAT) • TRADE FAIRS INTERNATIONAL • VODAFONE EGYPT TELECOMMUNICATIONS EL SALVADOR EQUATORIAL GUINEA ERITREA ESTONIA ETHIOPIA FIJI FINLAND ELISA CORPORATION • FINNET ASSOCIATION • NOKIA CORPORATION • TELLABS OY • YLEISRADIO OY (YLE) FRANCE 9 TÉLÉCOM RÉSEAU• ALCATEL • BOUYGUES TELECOM • CEGETEL GROUPE • CORVIS FRANCE R&D • CRIL TELECOM SOFTWARE (CTS) • EADS ASTRIUM • EUTELSAT • FRANCE TÉLÉCOM • GROUPE CIRCET • HP CENTRE DE COMPÉTENCES • MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC • MOTOROLA • NETTEST • NORTEL NETWORKS EUROPE • OFFICE DES POSTES ET TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS DE NOUVELLE-CALÉDONIE (OPT) • OFFICE DES POSTES ET TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS DE POLYNÉSIE FRANÇAISE (OPT) • SAGEM • TÉLÉCOM DÉVELOPPEMENT • THALES COMMUNICATIONS • THOMSON MULTIMEDIA GABON GAMBIA GEORGIA GERMANY ACTERNA • ALCATEL SEL • ARCOR • DETECON CONSULTING • DEUTSCHE TELEKOM • DEUTSCHE WELLE • E-PLUS MOBILFUNK • EPCOS • FREENET CITYLINE • INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES • LS TELCOM • LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES • MARCONI COMMUNICATIONS • MOBILCOM MULTIMEDIA • NORDDEUTSCHER RUNDFUNK (NDR) • O2 GERMANY • PHILIPS RESEARCH LABORATORIES • ROBERT BOSCH • ROHDE & SCHWARZ • SCI-WORX • SIEMENS • TENOVIS • VODAFONE D2 • ZWEITES DEUTSCHES FERNSEHEN GHANA GHANA TELECOM • WESTERN TELESYSTEMS (WESTEL) GREECE EUNICE TELECOMMUNICATIONS • FEDERATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATIONS ENTERPRISES (SEPE) • HELLENIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION (OTE) GRENADA GUATEMALA GUINEA GUINEA-BISSAU GUYANA GUYANA TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH HAITI HAITEL HONDURAS HUNGARY ANTENNA HUNGARIA- HUNGARIAN RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS • MATÁV-HUNGARIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS ICELAND INDIA BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM • CELLULAR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (COAI) • DATA ACCESS (INDIA) • MAHANAGAR TELEPHONE NIGAM • RELIANCE INFOCOMM • SASKEN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES • TELECOM DISPUTES SETTLEMENT & APPELLATE TRIBUNAL (TDSAT) • TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA (TRAI) • TELECOMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANTS INDIA LIMITED (TCIL) INDONESIA PT ASIA CELLULAR 44 SATELLITE (ACES) • PT INDOSAT • PT SATELIT PALAPA INDONESIA (SATELINDO) • PT TELEKOMUNIKASI INDONESIA (TELKOM) IRAN (ISLAMIC REP. OF) TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANY OF IRAN (TCI) IRAQ IRELAND ISRAEL ACTELIS NETWORKS • AUDIOCODES • BARAK ITC • BEZEQ • ECI TELECOM • INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES SAVAN • METALINK • RAD DATA COMMUNICATIONS • SPEDIANT SYSTEMS • TADIRAN ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS • TELRAD NETWORKS • TIOGA TECHNOLOGIES ITALY AETHRA • AEXIS TELECOM • ALCATEL ITALIA • EDISONTEL • ELSACOM • H3G • ITALTEL • MARCONI SELENIA COMMUNICATIONS • PIRELLI CAVI E SISTEMI TELECOM • POLO TECNOLOGICO DI STATO CARLO CATTANEO • RAI WAY • SIEMENS MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS • SIRTI • STMICROELECTRONICS • TELECOM ITALIA MOBILE (TIM) • TELECOM ITALIA • TELESPAZIO • VODAFONE OMNITEL • WIND TELECOMUNICAZIONI JAMAICA CABLE & WIRELESS JAMAICA • MOSSEL (JAMAICA) JAPAN BROADCASTING SATELLITE SYSTEM CORPORATION (B-SAT) • CABLE & WIRELESS IDC• CANON • COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION NETWORK ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN (CIAJ) • COMMUNICATION LINE PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN • COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH LABORATORY (CRL) • CORNING INTERNATIONAL • FUJITSU • HITACHI • JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY • JAPAN ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION (JEITA) • JAPAN RADIO AIR NAVIGATION SYSTEMS ASSOCIATION • JAPAN RADIO • JAPAN TELECOM • JAPAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING SERVICE • JSAT CORPORATION • KDDI CORPORATION • MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL • MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION • MOBILE BROADCASTING CORPORATION • NEC CORPORATION • NIPPON HOSO KYOKAI (NHK) • NIPPON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING (NTC) • NIPPON MINKAN HOSO RENMEI • NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION (NTT) • NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE EAST CORPORATION (NTT EAST) • NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE WEST CORPORATION (NTT WEST) • NOMURA RESEARCH INSTITUTE • NTT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION • NTT COMWARE CORPORATION • NTT DOCOMO • OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY • PANASONIC MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS • POWEREDCOM • RICOH • SHARP CORPORATION • SOFTBANK BB • SOFTFRONT • SONY • SPACE COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION • SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES • SUPPORT CENTER FOR ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, FOUNDATION • THE ITU ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN • TOKAI UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES • TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY • TOSHIBA • VODAFONE K.K. JORDAN ARAB ADVISORS GROUP • ARAB KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SOCIETY (AKMS) • JORDAN MOBILE TELEPHONE SERVICES (JMTS/Fastlink) • JORDAN TELECOM • MIDDLE EAST COMMUNICATIONS (MEC) • TALAL ABU-GHAZALEH & CO. INTERNATIONAL (TAGI) • VISION FOR TELECOM & CONSULTATION KAZAKHSTAN KAZAKHTELECOM (OJSC) KENYA KENCELL COMMUNICATIONS • SAFARICOM • TELKOM KENYA KIRIBATI KOREA (REPUBLIC OF) DATA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION OF KOREA (DACOM) • ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE (ETRI) • KOREA NETWORK INFORMATION CENTER (KRNIC) • KT CORPORATION • LG ELECTRONICS • LG TELECOM • SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS • SK TELECOM KUWAIT MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS (K.S.C.) KYRGYZSTAN LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC LATVIA LEBANON AL-IKTISSAD WAL-AAMAL GROUP • ARABCOM-TXG • INVESTCOM HOLDING • PRE-PAID INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS SAL (OFF-SHORE) • TELECOMMUNICATION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (TIT) LESOTHO TELE-COM LESOTHO LIBERIA LIBYA GENERAL POST AND TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANY • LIBYAN SATELLITE PROJECT (LIBSAT) LIECHTENSTEIN LITHUANIA LUXEMBOURG ENTREPRISE DES POSTES ET TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS (EPT) • SES ASTRA MADAGASCAR MALAWI MALAYSIA CAPE RANGE WIRELESS MALAYSIA • CELCOM (MALAYSIA) BERHAD • DIGI TELECOMMUNICATIONS • MAXIS INTERNATIONAL • TELEKOM MALAYSIA BERHAD • TIME DOTCOM BERHAD MALDIVES MALI MALTA MALTACOM MARSHALL ISLANDS MAURITANIA AGENCE DE PROMOTION DE L’ACCÈS UNIVERSEL AUX SERVICES (APAUS) • MATTEL MAURITIUS MEXICO MVS COMUNICACIONES • SATÉLITES MEXICANOS (SATMEX) • TELECOMUNICACIONES DE MÉXICO (TELECOMM) • TELÉFONOS DE MÉXICO (TELMEX) MICRONESIA MOLDOVA JSC ‘MOLDTELECOM’ MONACO MONGOLIA MOBICOM CORPORATION MOROCCO CKM HOLDING • ITISSALAT AL MAGHRIB (IAM) – MAROC TÉLÉCOM • UPLINE SECURITIES MOZAMBIQUE MYANMAR NAMIBIA NAURU NEPAL NETHERLANDS AGERE SYSTEMS NEDERLAND • DRAKA FIBRE TECHNOLOGY • NEW SKIES SATELLITES • PHILIPS CONSUMER ELECTRONICS • ROYAL KPN • SMITCOMS • UNITED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES (UTS)• VODAFONE-LIBERTEL NEW ZEALAND BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS • TELECOM NEW ZEALAND NICARAGUA NIGER NIGERIA NIGERIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS (NITEL) NORWAY NERA NETWORK • NORKRING • TANDBERG TELECOM • TELENOR OMAN OMAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY (SAOC) • OMAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AUTHORITY (TRA) PAKISTAN PAKISTAN TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANY LIMITED (PTCL) • SYSNET PAKISTAN PANAMA CABLE & WIRELESS PANAMÁ PAPUA NEW GUINEA PARAGUAY COMPAÑÍA PARAGUAYA DE COMUNICACIONES (COPACO) PERU INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACIÓN Y CAPACITACIÓN DE TELECOMUNICACIONES (INICTEL) • ORGANISMO SUPERVISOR DE INVERSIÓN PRIVADA EN TELECOMUNICACIONES (OSIPTEL) • TELEFÓNICA DEL PERÚ PHILIPPINES GLOBE TELECOM • PHILIPPINE GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS (PHILCOM) • PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE • SMART COMMUNICATIONS POLAND POLKOMTEL • TELEKOMUNIKACJA POLSKA PORTUGAL PT COMUNICAÇÕES QATAR ROMANIA LOGIC TELECOM • S.C. ROMTELECOM • TELEMOBIL • THE NATIONAL RADIOCOMMUNICATION COMPANY • TOPEX PUBLIC SWITCHING RUSSIA OJSC ROSTELECOM RWANDA SAINT LUCIA SAMOA SAN MARINO SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE SAUDI ARABIA ADVANCED TELECOM • SAUDI LOGISTICS AND ELECTRONICS COMPANY (SALEC) • SAUDI TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANY (S.T.C.) • ZAJOUL FOR ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SENEGAL SOCIÉTÉ NATIONALE DES TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS DU SÉNÉGAL (SONATEL) SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO COMMUNITY OF YUGOSLAV PTT • YUGOSLAV RADIOTELEVISION SEYCHELLES SIERRA LEONE SINGAPORE SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS (SINGTEL) • STARHUB SLOVAKIA SLOVAK TELECOM SLOVENIA SOLOMON ISLANDS SOMALIA SOUTH AFRICA CELL-C • MOBILE TELEPHONE NETWORKS • ORBICOM • SENTECH • TELKOM • TRANSTEL • VODACOM SPAIN ALCATEL ESPAÑA • HISPASAT • RADIOTELEVISIÓN ESPAÑOLA (RTVE) • RETEVISIÓN • SOCIEDAD ESTATAL ‘CORREOS Y TELÉGRAFOS’ • TELEFÓNICA • VODAFONE ESPAÑA SRI LANKA MTN NETWORKS • SRI LANKA TELECOM ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES SUDAN SUDAN TELECOM (SUDATEL) SURINAME SWAZILAND SWEDEN INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES WIRELESS SOLUTIONS SWEDEN • SONG NETWORKS HOLDING • SWEDISH SPACE CORPORATION • TELEFON AB – LM ERICSSON • TELELOGIC • TELIASONERA • TERACOM SWITZERLAND SWISSCOM • TDC SWITZERLAND• WISEKEY • YELLOW ACCESS SYRIA SPACETEL SYRIA TAJIKISTAN TANZANIA VODACOM TANZANIA THAILAND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AD ‘MAKEDONSKI TELEKOMUNIKACII’ TOGO CENTRE RÉGIONAL DE MAINTENANCE DES TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS DE LOMÉ (CMTL) • TOGO TELECOM TONGA TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TUNISIA AGENCE NATIONALE DES FRÉQUENCES • AGENCE TUNISIENNE D’INTERNET (ATI) • CENTRE D’ÉTUDES ET DE RECHERCHES DES TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS (CERT) • TUNISIE TÉLÉCOM TURKEY KOC.NET TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES • TELSIM MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES • TÜRK TELEKOMÜNIKASYON TURKMENISTAN TUVALU UGANDA UKRAINE JSC ‘URKTELECOM’ UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNITED KINGDOM 3 • ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING • AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES UK • BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION (BBC) • BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC (BT PLC) • CABLE & WIRELESS • CADENCE DESIGN FOUNDRY UK • FLAG TELECOM • HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS • ICO GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS • INMARSAT • INTEC TELECOM SYSTEMS • LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES UK • MANSAT • MARCONI • MM02 • MOBILE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL • MOTOROLA • NOKIA UK • NORTEL NETWORKS (EUROPE) • ORANGE • PANAMSAT EUROPE • PANASONIC • PSYTECHNICS • SES SATELLITES (GIBRALTAR) • THALES RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY • THE BOEING COMPANY • VECTONE • VODAFONE GROUP SERVICES • VODAFONE • VT MERLIN COMMUNICATIONS UNITED STATES 3COM CORPORATION • 3M TELECOMMUNICATIONS • 8X8 • ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS • ADTRAN • ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES (AMD) • AERONAUTICAL RADIO INC. (ARINC) • AGERE SYSTEMS • AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES • ALCATEL USA • ANALOG DEVICES CORPORATION • APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION (AMCC) • ARRAYCOMM • ARRIS INTERNATIONAL • ASIA TELEMEDIA • ASTROLINK INTERNATIONAL • AT&T • AT&T WIRELESS SERVICES • AVAYA • AWARE • BECHTEL TELECOMMUNICATIONS • BELL SOUTH TELECOMMUNICATIONS • BROADCOM CORPORATION • BROOKTROUT TECHNOLOGY • BURR-BROWN CORPORATION • CABLE & WIRELESS USA • CABLE TELEVISION LABORATORIES • CALIENT NETWORKS • C.B.S. • CENTILLIUM COMMUNICATIONS • CEYBA • CIENA CORPORATION • CINGULAR WIRELESS • CISCO SYSTEMS • COMPASSROSE INTERNATIONAL • CONEXANT SYSTEMS • CONTINUOUS COMPUTING CORPORATION • COPPER MOUNTAIN NETWORKS • CORNING INCORPORATED • CORVIS CORPORATION • DITECH COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION • ELECTRIPHY CORPORATION • ELLIPSO • ESS TECHNOLOGY • EZENIA! • FACILICOM INTERNATIONAL • FINAL ANALYSIS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES • FUJITSU NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS • GENUITY • GLOBALSTAR • GLOBESPAN VIRATA • GTECH HOLDINGS CORPORATION • HEWLETT-PACKARD • HUGHES ELECTRONICS CORPORATION • IBM • ICODING TECHNOLOGY • IKANOS COMMUNICATIONS • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (ITRI) • INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA • INTEL CORPORATION • INTELSAT • INTERDIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION • IRIDIUM SATELLITE • IRIS LABS • 45 ITT INDUSTRIES • ITXC CORPORATION • KASSTECH • LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION • LORAL SKYNET • LORAL SPACE & COMMUNICATIONS • LSI LOGIC CORPORATION • LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES • MICROSOFT CORPORATION • MINDSPEED TECHNOLOGIES • MOTOROLA • MULTILINK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION • NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION (NTCA) • NAYNA NETWORKS • NEUSTAR • NEXT LEVEL COMMUNICATIONS • NMS COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION • NOKIA • NORTEL NETWORKS (USA) • ORATION TECHNOLOGIES • PANAMSAT • PARADYNE CORPORATION • PAXONET COMMUNICATIONS • PCTEL • POLYCOM • PRIMETEC INTERNATIONAL • PULSECOM • QUALCOMM • QUINTUM TECHNOLOGIES • QWEST COMMUNICATIONS • RAYCHEM • RAYTHEON COMPANY • RFC HOLDINGS • SAMSUNG TELECOMMUNICATIONS • SBC COMMUNICATIONS • SKYBRIDGE • SONUS NETWORK • SOSINC COMMUNICATIONS • SPRINT CORPORATION • SPRINT PCS • STARTEC GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS • SUN MICROSYSTEMS • SUNRISE TELECOM • SYMMETRICOM • SYSTEMWARE • TEKELEC • TEKTRONIX • TELCORDIA TECHNOLOGIES • TELECOMMUNICATION INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (TIA) • TELECOMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT GROUP • TELEDESIC • TELLIUM • TERAYON • TEXAS INSTRUMENTS • THE AMERICAN GRADUATE SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT (THUNDERBIRD) • THE BOEING COMPANY • TRANSWITCH CORPORATION • TYCO TELECOMMUNICATIONS • UTSTARCOM • VERISIGN • VERIZON COMMUNICATION CORPORATION • VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION • VTEL CORPORATION • WARNER BROTHERS • WARSUN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS • WORLDCOM • WORLDSPACE CORPORATION • ZENITH ELECTRONICS URUGUAY UZBEKISTAN VANUATU VATICAN VENEZUELA COMPAÑÍA ANÓNIMA NACIONAL TELÉFONOS DE VENEZUELA (CANTV) • TELCEL VIET NAM YEMEN ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY OF ZIMBABWE (BAZ) • NETONE CELLULAR (PRIVATE) • POWERTEL COMMUNICATIONS (PVT) • TELEACCESS (ZIMBABWE) (PRIVATE) ORGANIZATIONS AFRICAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION • AHCIET • ARAB BUSINESS FORUM FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ABFICT) • ARAB SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION (ARABSAT)• ARAB STATES BROADCASTING UNION • ASIA-PACIFIC BROADCASTING UNION (ABU) • ASIA-PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR BROADCASTING DEVELOPMENT (AIBD) • ASIA-PACIFIC NETWORK INFORMATION CENTRE (APNIC) • ASIA-PACIFIC SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL (APSCC) • ASIA-PACIFIC TELECOMMUNITY (APT) • ASSOCIATION OF ANDEAN COMMUNITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTERPRISES (ASETA) • CARIBBEAN ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION ORGANIZATIONS (CANTO) • CARIBBEAN TELECOMMUNICATION UNION • COMMITTEE ON RADIO ASTRONOMY FREQUENCIES • COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR) • COMMONWEALTH TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORGANISATION (CTO) • COMMUNAUTÉ ÉCONOMIQUE ET MONÉTAIRE DE L’AFRIQUE CENTRALE (CEMAC) • CONFERENCE OF POSTAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA (COPTAC) • COOPERATION COUNCIL FOR THE ARAB STATES OF THE GULF (GCC) • DAISY CONSORTIUM • DIGITAL RADIO MONDIALE • EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY (EAC) • EASTERN CARIBBEAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY (ECTEL) • EUROPEAN BROADCASTING UNION (EBU) • EUROPEAN COMMISSION • EUROPEAN COMPETITIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (ECTA) • EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF POSTAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATIONS • EUROPEAN ORGANISATION FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITES (EUMETSAT) • EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR THE SAFETY OF AIR NAVIGATION (EUROCONTROL) •EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE (EPO) • EUROPEAN RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS OFFICE (ERO) • EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY • EUROPEAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK OPERATORS’ ASSOCIATION (ETNO)• EUROPEAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE ORGANISATION (EUTELSAT IGO) • EUROPEAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS INSTITUTE (ETSI) • GLOBAL VSAT FORUM • GSM ASSOCIATION • GULFVISION • INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS (IEEE) • INTER-AMERICAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CITEL) • INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA) • INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR RADIO UNION (IARU) • INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTING • INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MARINE AIDS TO NAVIGATION AND LIGHTHOUSE AUTHORITIES • INTERNATIONAL ASTRONAUTICAL FEDERATION • INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION • INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES • INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS • INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON LARGE ELECTRIC SYSTEMS • INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE • INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION • INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR INFORMATION PROCESSING (IFIP) • INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNICATION AND DEVELOPMENT (IICD) • INTERNATIONAL MOBILE SATELLITE ORGANIZATION (IMSO) • INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION (ISO) • INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF SPACE COMMUNICATIONS (INTERSPUTNIK) • INTERNATIONAL MARITIME RADIO ASSOCIATION (CIRM) • INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE SYSTEM FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE • INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON RADIO INTERFERENCE • INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE ORGANIZATION (ITSO) • INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS USERS GROUP (INTUG) • INTERNATIONAL TELETRAFFIC CONGRESS (ITC) • INTERNATIONAL UNION OF RADIO SCIENCE (URSI) • INTERNATIONAL UNION OF RAILWAYS • INTERNATIONAL WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (IWTA) • INTERNET SOCIETY (ISOC) • LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGULATORY UTILITY COMMISSIONERS (NARUC) • NORTH AMERICAN BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION (NABA) • ORGANIZACIÓN DE TELECOMUNICACIONES IBEROAMERICANAS (OTI) • PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT • PACIFIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL (PTC) • REGIONAL AFRICAN SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION (RASCOM) • REGIONAL COMMONWEALTH IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS (RCC) • TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGIONAL TECHNICAL COMMISSION (COMTELCA) • SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS FOR RADIO ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCE (IUCAF) • SITA • SOCIETY OF MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION ENGINEERS (SMPTE) • SOUTHERN AFRICA TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (SATA) • SOUTHERN AFRICA TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION • UMTS FORUM • UNION DES RADIODIFFUSIONS ET TÉLÉVISIONS NATIONALES D’AFRIQUE (URTNA) • UNION OF THE ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY (EURELECTRIC) • WORLD ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY RADIO BROADCASTERS (ARMAC) • WORLD BROADCASTING UNION (WBU-TC) • WORLD FORUM FOR DIGITAL AUDIO BROADCASTING (WORLDDAB) • WORLDTEL as at 05.03.2004 LegalThe legal source Framework of ITU bodies Article 7 of the ITU Constitution sets forth the basic institutional struc- ture of the Union. The main legal bodies of the Union are: Plenipotentiary Conference Legal source: Article 8 of the ITU Constitution and Article 1 of the ITU Convention. Council Legal source: Article 10 of the ITU Constitution and Article 4 of the ITU Convention. General Secretariat Legal source: Article 11 of the ITU Constitution and Article 5 of the ITU Convention. World and Regional Radiocommunication Conferences Legal source: Article 13 of the ITU Constitution and Article 7 and Ar- ticle 9 of the ITU Convention. Radiocommunication Assemblies Legal source: Article 13 of the ITU Constitution and Article 8 of the The legal framework of ITU com- ITU Convention. prises, in particular, the following Radio Regulations Board legal instruments of the Union, Legal source: Article 14 of the ITU Constitution and Article 10 of the which have treaty status. These in- ITU Convention. struments are:

Radiocommunication Study Groups and Advisory Group G The Constitution and Conven- Legal source: Article 15 of the ITU Constitution and Articles 11 and tion of the International Tele- 46 11A of the ITU Convention. communication Union signed on Radiocommunication Bureau 22 December 1992 (Geneva) and Legal source: Article 16 of the ITU Constitution and Article 12 of the which entered into force on 1 July ITU Convention. 1994. Since their adoption in 1992, World Telecommunication Standardization Assemblies the ITU Constitution and Conven- Legal source: Article 18 of the ITU Constitution and Article 13 of the tion have been amended by Pleni- ITU Convention. potentiary Conferences (Kyoto, 1994; Minneapolis, 1998 and Mar- Telecommunication Standardization Study Groups and Advisory rakesh, 2002). Those amendments Group entered into force on 1 January Legal source: Article 19 of the ITU Constitution and Articles 14 and 1996, 1 January 2000 and 1 Janu- 14A of the ITU Convention. ary 2004. Telecommunication Standardization Bureau Legal source: Article 20 of the ITU Constitution and Article 15 of the G The Administrative Regula- ITU Convention. tions (Radio Regulations and In- World and Regional Telecommunication Development Confer- ternational Telecommunication ences Regulations), which complement Legal source: Article 22 of the ITU Constitution and Article 16 of the the Constitution and the Conven- ITU Convention. tion. Telecommunication Development Study Groups and Advisory The last revision of the Radio Group Regulations was signed on 4 July Legal source: Article 23 of the ITU Constitution and Article 17 and 2003 (Geneva), and the majority of 17A of the ITU Convention. the provisions will enter into force Telecommunication Development Bureau on 1 January 2005. The Interna- Legal source: Article 24 of the ITU Constitution and Article 18 of the tional Telecommunication Regula- ITU Convention. tions were signed on 9 December World Conferences on International Telecommunications 1988 (Melbourne), and entered into Legal source: Article 25 of the ITU Constitution. force on 1 July 1990.
47 48

Photo credits Pages 1, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43: © ITU/A. de Ferron Pages 2, 3, 4, 5: © From Semaphore to Satellite Pages 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31: © PhotoDisc Page 8: © Nokia Pages 18, 19: © ITU/J.-M. Micaud Page 27: © Motorola Page 32: © ESA Page 35: © Administration of Malaysia

January – March 2004

International Telecommunication Union

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