Challenges Facing Developing Countries
Information document
B
Interoperability problems in the developing countries
1. Introduction 1
2. Developing countries 2
3. CIS and Europe 4
4. Asia-Pacific 5
5. Americas 8
6. Africa 10
Introduction
The ITU has made significant commitments to developing countries in a series of instruments:
• Article 17 of the ITU Constitution that the functions of ITU-T are to be performed “bearing in mind the particular concerns of the developing countries”;
• Resolution 123 (Rev. Antalya, 2006) on bridging the standardization gap; and
• Resolution 139 (Antalya, 2006) which invites Member States to implement rapidly Resolution 37 (Rev. Doha, 2006) of the World Telecommunication Development Conference on bridging the digital divide.
Between the developing and developed countries there is a general digital divide of which one part is the standardization gap. This is recognised in Resolution 44 (Johannesburg, 2008) as having three dimensions:
• The disparity of voluntary standardization;
• The disparity of mandatory technical regulations; and
• The disparity of conformity assessment.
Resolution 76 (Johannesburg, 2008) on conformance and interoperability testing considered:
• that some countries, especially the developing countries, have not yet acquired the capacity to test equipment and provide assurance to consumers in their countries; and
• that increased confidence in the conformance of information and communication technologies (ICT) equipment with ITU-T Recommendations would increase the chances of end-to-end interoperability of equipment from different manufacturers, and would assist developing countries in the choice of solutions.
Noted:
• the need to assist developing countries in facilitating solutions which will exhibit interoperability and reduce the cost of systems and equipment procurement by operators, particularly in the developing
B
Interoperability problems in the developing countries
1. Introduction 1
2. Developing countries 2
3. CIS and Europe 4
4. Asia-Pacific 5
5. Americas 8
6. Africa 10
Introduction
The ITU has made significant commitments to developing countries in a series of instruments:
• Article 17 of the ITU Constitution that the functions of ITU-T are to be performed “bearing in mind the particular concerns of the developing countries”;
• Resolution 123 (Rev. Antalya, 2006) on bridging the standardization gap; and
• Resolution 139 (Antalya, 2006) which invites Member States to implement rapidly Resolution 37 (Rev. Doha, 2006) of the World Telecommunication Development Conference on bridging the digital divide.
Between the developing and developed countries there is a general digital divide of which one part is the standardization gap. This is recognised in Resolution 44 (Johannesburg, 2008) as having three dimensions:
• The disparity of voluntary standardization;
• The disparity of mandatory technical regulations; and
• The disparity of conformity assessment.
Resolution 76 (Johannesburg, 2008) on conformance and interoperability testing considered:
• that some countries, especially the developing countries, have not yet acquired the capacity to test equipment and provide assurance to consumers in their countries; and
• that increased confidence in the conformance of information and communication technologies (ICT) equipment with ITU-T Recommendations would increase the chances of end-to-end interoperability of equipment from different manufacturers, and would assist developing countries in the choice of solutions.
Noted:
• the need to assist developing countries in facilitating solutions which will exhibit interoperability and reduce the cost of systems and equipment procurement by operators, particularly in the developing