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Commonwealth Countries Seek to Enhance Global Telecom Standards

26 August 2004

 Satellite Dish
The Commonwealth can help bridge the digital divide 
Delegates from Commonwealth countries have agreed on proposals to enhance global telecommunications standards. They aim to present their recommendations at the forthcoming 2004 World Telecommunications Standardisation Assembly (WTSA-04) in Brazil.

The consensus was reached at a 'Commonwealth Seminar for WTSA-04', a preparatory meeting held from 16 to 20 August 2004 in Melbourne, Australia. It was organised by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) and the Australian Communications Authority. The event brought together ministers of information and communications technology, regulators, fixed and mobile telephone operators, internet service providers and manufacturers. The 80 participants were from countries that will be sending delegations to the WTSA-04 in October, organised by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Chief Executive Officer of CTO, said: "Participants acknowledged the important role international cooperation and agreement can play in ensuring better standards. This can assist developing countries to bridge the digital divide through the use of information and communications technology."

He said consumers will benefit from common standards. Compatibility of electrical, audio-visual and telecommunications products, Dr Spio-Garbrah noted, will enable this equipment to be used worldwide. He emphasised that the global explosion in new ICT products has made it even more necessary for telecom standards to be quickly developed, adopted and enforced.

Delegates agreed that the ITU must strengthen its role as the leading global standards-setting telecom body and address more firmly such issues as cyber security and spam. At the Brazil conference, they will also urge the ITU to undertake further research on Next Generation Networks. This involves the development of standards for a wide range of services, including data networks and multimedia transmissions.

WTSA is held every four years. It defines general policy and adopts working methods and procedures for the ITU -- an organisation within the United Nations system where governments and the private sector co-ordinate global telecom networks and services.

The CTO is an intergovernmental organisation of the 53 Commonwealth member countries. It supports the UN Millennium Development Goals by seeking to bridge the digital divide between developed and developing nations.

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