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ITU Telecommunications (ITU-T) |
The ITU-T fulfills the purposes of the ITU relating to telecommunications standardisation by studying technical, operating and tariff questions and adopting Recommendations on them with a view to standardising telecommunications on a world-wide basis.
Standardisation work is carried out by 12 Study Groups, and 1 Special Study Group, in which representatives of the ITU-T membership develop Recommendations for the various fields of international telecommunications on the basis of the study of questions.
Click here to view a list of UK Registered Companies that are ITU-T Sector Members
Although ITU-T Recommendatio ns are non-binding, they are generally complied with due to their high quality and because they guarantee the interconnectivity of networks and enable telecommunication services to be provided on a world-wide basis: At present there are more than 2600 recommendations (standards) on some 60,000 pages in force.
The Sector comprises the World Telecommunication Standards Assembly (WTSA), the Telecommunications Standardisation Advisory Group (TSAG), the Telecommunications Standardisation Bureau (TSB), and the Standardisation Study Groups (SGs).
The following provides a brief description of these elements of the ITU-T Sector: descriptions of each of the 13 ITU-T Study Groups and the SSG can be found by clicking here.
World Telecomms Standardisation Assemblies are convened every 4 years, however an additional assembly may be held.
The assembly is presided over by a person designated by the government of the country in which the meeting is held, or in the case of a meeting held at the seat of the Union, by a person elected by the assembly itself. The Chairman is assisted by Vice-Chairman elected by the assembly. Decisions of WTSAs must in all circumstances be in conformity with the Constitution, the Convention and the Administrative Regulations. When adopting resolutions and decisions, the assembly takes into account the foreseeable financial implications and aims to avoid adopting resolutions and decisions which might give rise to expenditure in excess of the financial limits laid down by the Plenipotentiary Conference. In accordance with Article 18 of the Constitution and Article 13 of the Convention, the WTSA:
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defines general policy for the Sector |
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establishes the Study Groups and approves their work programme for each study period of 4 years |
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appoints the study group Chairmen and Vice Chairmen |
The WTSA had 7 Standing Committees as follows;
Com 1 Steering Committee
Com 2 Budget Control
Com 3 Working Methods of the ITU-T
Com 4 The ITU -T Work Programme and Organisation
Com 5 Telecomm Network Infrastructure - Reports by Study Groups concerned; 4,
5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15 and ICG-SAT
Com 6 Telecomm Services and Tariff issues - Reports by Study Groups concerned;
2, 3, 7 and 16
Com 7 Editorial Committee
The
last WTSA was held in Montreal, Canada, 27 September - 6 October 2000 
The Director is Mr Zhao
The Telecomms Standardisation Bureau,
| provides support for the work of the ITU-T Sector and diffuses information on international telecomms world-wide | |
| provides secretariat services for ITU-T conferences and study group meetings | |
| provides logistical services such as meeting rooms, registration, document distribution and meeting facilities | |
| organises and co-ordinates the approval process of recommendations | |
| ensures editing of recommendations, co-ordinates translation/printing/publishing | |
| TSB Councillors and Engineers co-ordinate the work of their study group meeting | |
| provides Electronic Document Handling (EDH) service | |
| provides administrative and operational information through the Operational Bulletin published fortnightly with information exchanged between Administrations, ROAs and other entities wrt international telecomms services | |
| acts as registrar for Universal International Freephone Numbers (UIFN) | |
| provides and updates Databases, eg ITU-T Patent Statements, Terms and Definitions |
The TSB has three Departments,
Department A
General Affairs and Planning, EDH, ARTS
Department B Study Groups
Technical Services Technical revision, terminology and data processing
The Chairman is Mr Fishman
The Telecomms Standardisation Advisory Group,
| reviews priorities, programmes, operations, financial matters and strategies | |
| follows up on the accomplishment of the work programme | |
| provides guidelines to the study groups and advises the TSB Director | |
| recommends measures to foster co-operation and co-ordination with other relevant bodies, ITU-R, ITU-D and General Secretariat |
TSAG has 3 Working Parties and three other groups:
WP1 - Working
Methods
WP2 - Work Programme
WP3 - EDH, Documentation and Publication
Co-operation and Co-ordination
Group
Reform Group
Strategic policy Group
Click here to view the UK report on the last TSAG meeting
UK contact for ITU-T work is Keith Whittingham: Keith.Whittingham@ra.gsi.gov.uk
RA1/IPU/ITS/KW 25 June 2001
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