Analysis of responses to the questionnaire on Bridging the Standardization Gap (TSB Circular No. 213)
20 responses received as of: 27 June 2008 from
13 Governments
6 Private sector
1 Civil society
of which:
5 Africa Region
2 Asia Pacific Region
5 Arab Region
4 Europe Region
4 Latin America Region
Gap (TSB Circular No. 213)
1.1 How familiar are you with the Recommendations (standards) published by the
Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU-T)? Please indicate your rating on a scale from 1 (no knowledge) to 5
(very familiar)
Answer Number %
1 0 0.0%
2 3 15.0%
3 3 15.0%
4 11 55.0%
5 3 15.0%
NA 0 0.0%
Sum 20 100.0%
1.1 Familiarity with ITU-T Recommendations
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1 2 3 4 5 NA
Not familiar Familiar
1.2 In your experience, to what extent are existing ITU-T Recommendations relevant and
useful in developing countries. Please indicate your rating on a scale from 1(not
relevant or useful) to 5 (very relevant and useful)
Answer Number %
1 0 0.0%
2 2 10.0%
3 2 10.0%
4 10 50.0%
5 6 30.0%
NA 0 0.0%
Sum 20 100.0%
1.2 Relevance and usefulness of ITU-T
Recommendations in Developing Countries
12
10
Number of entities
8
6
4
2
0
1 2 3 4 5 NA
Not relevant/useful Very relevant/useful
1.3 Please list a few of the specific ITU-T Recommendations or Recommendation series which you consider
to be the most relevant and useful for developing countries (Note: The full list of ITU-T
Recommendations is available at: http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/publications/recs.html) :
Series A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T
Number of entitiy who
answerd useful/ relevant 1 2 2 # # 3 # 6 4 5 7 6 6 2 3 7 # 2 2 3
1.3 Relevant/ Useful ITU-T Recommendations
Z
Y
X
V
T
S
R
Q
P
Rec. series
O
N
M
L
K
J
I
H
G
F
E
D
C
B
A
Series D (General tariff2
0 principles),4 network operation, telephone service, service operation and human
6 8 10 12
factors), G (Transmission systems and media, digital systems and networks), Q (Switching and signalling) and X
Number of entities
(Data networks and open system communications) are considered to be the most useful and relevant.
ation series which you consider
ull list of ITU-T
ecs.html) :
V X Y Z
8 # 8 2
rvice operation and human
Q (Switching and signalling) and X
most useful and relevant.
1.4 Please list any difficulties that may have been encountered when implementing ITU-T
Recommendations in developing countries or reasons that may be discouraging the
participation of developing countries in ITU-T work or preventing the use of ITU
Recommendations, for instance in procurement processes:
Answers Number
Domestic industrial or economic demands or equipment is different from ITU-T 7
Recommendations
Financial difficulties 6
Lack of human resources( experience and qualification) 6
Difficulty in finding, searching and understanding updated or necessary
Recommendations 3
Difficulty in applying ITU-T Recommendations in because of domestic regulation or
other reasons 2
Lack of introductory materials to understand technical topics, that help developing
countries to understand and get easily engaged into ITU-T work. 2
Policy-makers consider standardization is a low priority 2
Dominant status of the developed countries in ITU-T work 1
Lack of participation from operators, who should use recommendation 1
Lack of training 1
Language difficulties 1
Limitation of free access to ITU recommendations 1
No direct communication between SGs and other units in ITU-T. 1
1.5 Please suggest any ways and means that you think would lead to increased usage or
awareness of ITU-T Recommendations in developing countries, or increased participation
and inputs (contributions) by developing countries in ITU-T activities:
Answers Number
Support for participation in meetings and other ITU-T activities so that developing 7
countries can easily follow up and participate in discussions
Organize events, workshops and other meetings in developing countries 6
Showcase new practices/ technologies in developing countries 4
Provide full and detail (written and tutorial ) materials related to standardization and
provide them to developing countries free of charge 4
Provide updated information more often 3
Provide more internships/ training opportunities for developing countries 3
Provide funds 3
Provide summaries of ITU-T Recommendations 2
Strengthen the implementation of the existing programs 1
Make more efforts in ITU-D to relate standardization aspects and regulatory aspects 1
Maintain communication between specialists 1
Identify subject and topics that attracts developing countries 1
Employ more staff from developing countries in ITU-T 1
1.6 In order to facilitate the participation of the Membership from the regions in ITU's
standardization work, one possibility is to organize periodical regional ITU-T
standardization "block" meetings.
The meetings could cover topics of particular interest to the specific region from the
pool of issues studied by ITU-T Study Groups. They would create an opportunity for
the regions to increase their participation in the development of global ITU-T
Recommendations and create the conditions for the exchange of views between
experts from different Study Groups. The events could be held following/before
Regional Forums that are planned one per region per year.
The meetings could be organized with TSB secretarial support and hosted by and in
cooperation with regional organizations.
Do you think that such block meetings could help in facing the issues mentioned in
items 1.4, and 1.5 above?
Please indicate your rating on a scale from 1 (not helpful) to 5 (definitely helpful)
Answer Number %
1 1 5.0%
2 1 5.0%
3 2 10.0%
4 8 40.0%
5 8 40.0%
NA 0 0.0%
Sum 20 100.0%
1.6 Usefulness of block meetings
9
8
Number of entities
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1.7 In the event of a positive response to 1.6 above, would your organization/country be
willing to host a regional standardization "block" meeting?
YES / NO / MAYBE:
Answer Number %
Yes 8 40.0%
No 0 0.0%
Maybe 11 55.0%
NA 1 5.0%
Sum 20 100.0%
1.7 Willingness to host block meetings
NA; 1; 5%
Yes
Yes; 8;
No 40%
Maybe Maybe;
11; 55%
NA
No; 0; 0%
2.1a) Are you familiar with the objectives of Resolution 17 "Telecommunication
Standardization in relation to the interest of developing countries" (Rev.
Florianopolis, 2004)?
Yes No
If you replied "Yes", do you propose any modification to the text of this
Resolution? Please attach your proposed changes:
____________________________________________________________
Answer Number %
Yes 14 70.0%
No 6 30.0%
NA 0 0.0%
Sum 20 100.0%
Proposals
No need to change (5)
2.1b) Are you familiar with the objectives of the Resolution 44 "Bridging the
standardization gap between developing and developed countries" (Florianopolis
2004)?
Yes No
If you replied "Yes", please provide your appraisal of the five programmes
mentioned in this Resolution as: Relevant (R) or Not Relevant (NR)
Programme 1: Strengthening standard-making capabilities
Programme 2: Assisting BDT in enhancing efforts in respect of standards
application
Programme 3: Human resource building
Programme 4: Flagship groups for bridging the standardization gap
Programme 5: Fundraising for bridging the standardization gap
Answer Number %
Yes 14 70.0%
No 6 30.0%
NA 0 0.0%
Sum 20 100.0%
Not
Relevant Relevant NA
Programme1 12 0 2
Programme2 11 0 3
Programme3 12 0 2
Programme4 12 0 2
Programme5 11 0 3
2.1.b) Relevance of the programmes
Number of answers
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Programme1 12 0 2
Programme2 11 0 3
Relevant
Programme3 12 0 2 Not Relevant
2.1c) Are you familiar with the coordination activities regarding Seminars and
Workshops of Resolution 53 "Establishment of a seminar and workshop
coordination committee" (Florianopolis, 2004)?
Yes No
If you replied "Yes", do you have any proposal to improve the dissemination
of their results?
Answer Number %
Yes 9 45.0%
No 11 55.0%
NA 0 0.0%
Sum 20 100.0%
Answers Number
Encourage developing countries to take part in the workshops and 2
Publish the results of the work on the site of ITU-T 1
Add more detailed material to promote understanding of the
presentations. 1
Allocate more resources to workshops and seminars on ITU-T
Recommendations 1
Provide updated information frequently (use RSS feed or put in
TIES FTP zone 1
2.1d) Are you familiar with the objectives of Resolution 54 "Creation of regional
groups" (Florianopolis 2004)?
Yes No
If you replied "Yes", please identify any such regional group of which your
administration is a member.
Answer Number %
Yes 12 60.0%
No 8 40.0%
NA 0 0.0%
Sum 20 100.0%
Regional Groups Number
Regional Tariff Group for Asia and Oceania 2
Regional Tariff Group for Africa 1
Regional Tariff Group for Latin America and the Caribbian 2
Arab Regional Group for ITU-T SG2 1
Asia Pacific Telecommunity 1
African Telecommunications Union 1
The Arabic Group 1
TAR 1
CEDEAO 1
CTOA 1
ARTAO 1
RASCOM 1
2.1 Charts
2.1.a) Familiarity of the objectives of Res. 17
NA; 0; 0%
Yes
No No; 6; 30%
NA Yes; 14;
70%
2.1.b) Familiarity of the objectives of Res. 44
NA; 0; 0%
Yes
No No; 6; 30%
NA
Yes; 14;
70%
2.1.c) Familiarity of Res. 53
NA; 0; 0%
Yes
No Yes; 9;
45%
NA No; 11;
55%
2.1.d) Familiarity of the objectives of Res. 54
NA; 0; 0%
2.2 Proposals to improve any or the Resolution mentioned above are
welcomed. We would be interested to receive any proposed modifications
of the text to be considered at WTSA-08? Y/N
Answer Number %
Yes 12 60.0%
No 8 40.0%
NA 0 0.0%
Sum 20 100.0%
2.2Submission of proposals to improve Resolutions
NA; 0; 0%
Yes
No; 8; 40%
No
Yes; 12; 60%
NA
Note: Analysis of proposed changes to text is available separately
2.3 In which, if any, ITU seminars and workshops held or to be held outside Geneva have
you participated, or do you plan to participate? Please list:
Meetings Number
PP06 2
WTSA-08 1
WTSA-04 1
WTDC-06 1
WTSA regional preparatory meetings 1
SG meetings 1
Seminars and Workshops on NGN 2
Seminars and Workshops on IPV6 1
Seminars and Workshops on WiMax 1
Seminars and Workshops on CDMA 1
Seminars and Workshops on tariffs 1
Seminars and Workshop on standardization 1
Seminars and Workshops organized by BDT during regional tariff group meeting 1
BSG regional forum 1
Global Symposium for Regulators 1
NATP II Regional Workshops on ICT indicators 1
Global Industry Leaders Forum 1
Not specified 2
2.4 Which are the most important topics that you would like be considered for the planning
of future development and-or standardization forums or workshops? Would you be
willing to host such event? Please provide up to five proposals
Topics Number Willing to
of host
entities
NGN 7 5
Cybersecurity 6 2
Broadband ( including mobile services) 3 3
ICT legistration and regulation 3 2
Tariffs 2 2
Regional standarzation event 2 1
IPTV 2 1
Multimedia 2 1
IP telephony 2 1
IPV6 2
IMT2000 1 1
SG2 1 1
Telemedicine 1 1
Electromagnetic Aspects 1 1
Non voice telecommunication services 1
Languages and software aspects for telecommunication sysytems 1
New standards, technology trends 1
WSIS Declaration and Action Plan followup 1
Economic and policy issues of interest of developing countries related to
international telecommunication services 1
Switching and signalling 1
Domain names 1
3.1a) Does your administration or company participate in the activities of ITU-
T and/or ITU-D Study Groups?
In ITU-D? YES / NO
In ITU-T? YES / NO
ITU-D ITU-T
Answer Number % Answer Number %
Yes 12 60.0% Yes 12 60.0%
No 7 35.0% No 7 35.0%
NA 1 5.0% NA 1 5.0%
Sum 20 100.0% Sum 20 100.0%
3.1.a) Participation in ITU-D Study Groups
NA; 1; 5%
Yes
No No; 7; 35%
NA Yes; 12;
60%
3.1.a) Participation in ITU-T Study Groups
NA; 1; 5%
Yes
No
No; 7; 35%
3.1b) If so, in which Study Groups?
ITU-D:
ITU-T:
ITU-D ITU-T
Number of Number of
Participants Participants
SG1 7 SG2 5
SG2 10 SG3 9
Other 2 SG4 1
SG5 1
SG6 0
SG9 0
SG11 3
SG12 0
SG13 4
SG15 1
SG16 0
SG17 0
SG19 1
3.1.b) Number of Participants in ITU-D SGs
12
10
Number of entities
8
6
4
2
0
SG1 SG2 Other
3.1.b) Number of Participants in ITU-T SGs
10
Number of entities
8
6
We would like to thank you for the time you spent in replying to the questionnaire. Your contribution is very much
appreciated and will help us to improve and optimize our work at the service of the membership.
Please add any additional comments or suggestions that you might have:
Conclusions
Support, including funding, is necessary for Developing Countries to organize and participate in ITU
standardization meetings
We will (plan to) participate meetings in the future.
Create more regional groups
Hope to provide updated information in order to promote participation from Developing Countries
Proposals in this questionnaire to change resolutions should be reflected in the process to WTSA-08.
Restructuring of SGs and questions is important to facilitate the participation from Developing Countries.
The results of this questionnaire should be published
ur contribution is very much
embership.
Number
4
2
1
1
1
1
1