Doc. Com-ITU(13) 038
ComITU
Date issued:
8 July 2013
Sources:
Portugal
Subject:
Areas of risk for a overlapping of work between ITU-D and ITU-T
Password protection required? (Y/N)
N
Summary:
Portugal has identified several areas of risk for a duplication of efforts between ITU-D and ITU-T.
We consider that further work needs to be done by WTDC-14 in order to minimize the duplication
of work between ITU-D and ITU-T.
Proposal:
For consideration.
CEPT could present a proposal to WTDC-14 with the aim to review/suppress the ITU-D work that
is overlapping with ITU-T activities.
Background:
Background
In document (13) 025, concerning the Preparations for WTDC-14, COM-ITU identified
as a general principle that ITU-D should avoid duplicating the work done in the other
ITU sectors”.
While it is acknowledged that this assertion is in line with a general goal of reinforcing
ITU efficiency, as stated in Resolution 59 “Strengthening coordination and cooperation
among ITU R, ITU T and ITU D on matters of mutual interest” (Hyderabad, 2010) – in
Annex, it is considered that there is room for COM-ITU to develop concrete steps to
achieve this desirable outcome and make a proposal to WTDC-14.
Overlaps between ITU-D and other sectors
Given the specific role of ITU-R, the overlapping of work between ITU-D and other
sectors is more likely to occur vis-à-vis ITU-T.
Therefore, COM-ITU could identify potential areas where a duplication of work may
take place.
In a first attempt to develop such task, this paper results from comparing the questions
which are being studied in both ITU-D and ITU-T Study Groups1.
From such comparison, some areas of work seem to present a higher risk of
duplication of work. These areas are depicted in the table below.
1
Currently ITU-D has two SGs which are studying 19 questions. ITU-T has nine SGs which are
responsible for nearly 150 questions.
Topics where
potential
duplication of
efforts are
more likely
Sector
ITU-D
Tariff models,
cost
assessment,
including in
NGN
UIT-T
Question
Question 12-3/1: Tariff policies, tariff models and
methods of determining the costs of services on national
telecommunication networks, including next-generation
networks
Q1/3 Development of charging and accounting/settlement
mechanisms for international telecommunications
services using the Next Generation Networks (NGNs) and
any possible future development, including adaptation of
existing D-series Recommendations to the evolving user
needs
Q4/3: Regional studies for the development of cost
models together with related economic and policy issues
ITU-D
Question 24/2: ICT and climate change
SG5, in particular,
Climate
change /
environment
ITU-T
Q12/5 Guides and terminology on environment and
climate change
Q15/5 ICTs and adaptation to the effects of climate
change
Q16/13
ITU-T
ITU-D
Question 24/1: Strategies and policies for the proper
disposal or reuse of telecommunications/ICT waste
material
ITU-T
Q13/5 Environmental impact reduction including e-waste
ITU-D
Question 23/1: Strategies and policies concerning human
exposure to electromagnetic fields
ITU-T
Q7/5 Human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs)
due to radio systems and mobile equipment
ITU-D
Question 22-1/1: Securing information and
communication networks: best practices for developing a
culture of cybersecurity
ITU-T
SG17 - Security
E-waste
Human
exposure to
magnetic fields
Environmental and socio-economic sustainability in future
networks and early realization of FN
Security
Conclusion
Taking in consideration the Questions that are currently being studied in both ITU-D
and ITU-T SGs, the areas of work where the risk of duplication seems to be higher are
the following: (i) Tariff models, cost assessment, including in NGN; (ii) Climate change /
environment; (iii) E-Waste; (iv) Human exposure to magnetic fields; (v) and security.
Future steps
Portugal puts forward this document for consideration of CEPT and welcomes
comments from delegations in order to enrich this paper with further elements that
could confirm the conclusions laid down in this contribution and / or identify other areas
of risk.
Based on such elements, CEPT could propose a revision to WTDC Resolution 59 in
order to avoid that similar questions are addressed in different sectors, by means of
instructing the suppression of areas of work in the Development Sector which are being
dealt with in the Standardization Sector or at least that further assessment is done so
that duplication of efforts is eliminated.
ANNEX
RESOLUTION 59 (Hyderabad, 2010)
Strengthening coordination and cooperation among ITU-R, ITU-T and
ITU-D on matters of mutual interest
The World Telecommunication Development Conference (Hyderabad, 2010),
recalling
a)
Resolution 123 (Rev. Antalya 2006) of the Plenipotentiary Conference, on
bridging the standardization gap between the developing1 and developed countries;
b)
Resolution 5 (Rev. Hyderabad, 2010) of the World Telecommunication
Development Conference, on enhanced participation by developing countries in the
work of ITU;
c)
Resolution ITU-R 6 (Rev. Geneva, 2007) of the Radiocommunication Assembly,
on cooperation with the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) and
the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D);
d)
Resolutions 17, 26, 44 and 45 (Rev. Johannesburg, 2008) of the World
Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), on mutual cooperation and
integration of activities between ITU-T and ITU-D;
e)
Resolution 57 (Johannesburg, 2008) of WTSA, on strengthening coordination
and cooperation among the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), ITU-T and ITU-D
on matters of mutual interest,
considering
a)
that a basic principle for cooperation and collaboration among the three ITU
Sectors is the need for avoiding duplication of activities of the Sectors, and ensuring
that the work is undertaken efficiently and effectively;
b)
that the mechanism for cooperation at secretariat level among the three Sectors
and the General Secretariat of the Union was established to ensure close cooperation
between the secretariats and with the secretariats of external entities and organizations
that deal with key priority issues, such as emergency telecommunications and climate
change;
c)
that consultations have begun between representatives of the three advisory
groups to discuss ways and means of enhancing cooperation among the advisory
groups;
d)
that interaction and coordination in the joint holding of seminars, workshops,
forums, symposia and so forth have yielded positive results in terms of financial and
human resource savings,
taking into account
a)
the expanding sphere of joint studies between the three Sectors and the need
for coordination and cooperation among them in this regard;
1
These include the least developed countries, small island developing states, landlocked
developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
b)
the growing number of issues of mutual interest and concern to the three
Sectors including, but not limited to: electromagnetic compatibility, international mobile
telecommunications,
middleware,
audiovisual
broadcasting,
access
to
telecommunications/information and communication technologies (ICTs) for persons
with disabilities, emergency telecommunications including preparedness, ICT and
climate change, cybersecurity, compliance of systems with the Recommendations
emanating from the ITU-R and ITU-T study groups and their joint activities, etc.;
c)
the need to avoid duplication and overlapping of work among the Sectors and to
support efficient and effective integration among them,
resolves
1
to invite the Telecommunication Development Advisory Group (TDAG), in
collaboration
with
the
Radiocommunication
Advisory
Group
and
the
Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group, to assist in identifying subjects
common to the three Sectors, or, bilaterally, subjects common to ITU-D and either ITUR or ITU-T, and in identifying the necessary mechanisms to strengthen cooperation
and joint activity among the three Sectors or with each Sector, on issues of joint
interest, paying particular attention to the interests of the developing countries;
2
to invite the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), in
collaboration with the Secretary-General, the Director of the Telecommunication
Standardization Bureau and the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau, to
continue to create cooperation mechanisms at secretariat level on matters of mutual
interest to the three Sectors, and also to invite the Director of BDT to create a
mechanism for bilateral cooperation with ITU-R and ITU-T, as required;
3
to request the Secretary-General to report annually to the ITU Council on the
implementation of this resolution, in particular the joint operational activities undertaken
by the three Bureaux, including funding arrangements, including voluntary contributions
if any;
4
to invite the ITU-D study groups to continue to develop mechanisms for
cooperation with the study groups of the other two Sectors, in order to avoid duplication
of study activity and to benefit from the results of the work of the study groups of the
two Sectors;
5
to invite the Director of BDT to inform TDAG annually on the implementation of
this resolution.