Industry heavyweights demand fewer standards bodies

Stuart Corner
Monday, 12 October 2009 10:35

IT Industry - Strategy

The meeting called for some specific initiatives from ITU-T:
- that it develop an advanced web-based portal and/or handbook providing information on the interrelationship of standards and standards bodies which would facilitate the work of industry and standards makers while promoting cooperation and collaboration and avoiding duplication.

- that it review the working methods of ITU-T Study Groups and their subgroups to respond to industry needs and today's dynamic fast-moving technology landscape. "The scope for new standards must clearly identify the customer needs. This must be maintained throughout the development of the standards so as to ensure their market success."

- That ITU-T continue to anticipate future standards needs by regular surveys of the ICT industry, including through use of the Technology Watch Function of ITU-T.

- That ITU-T increase the use of ICT-based collaboration technologies/applications and real-time processes as top priorities to control the costs of standardisation and thus its contribution to the costs of new products and services.

The ITU issued its own press release on the meeting in which it confirmed that it would set up the web portal, as recommended, and with Johnson saying: "We have agreed on a number of concrete actions that will help us move towards this goal [to streamline and clarify the standardisation landscape ] and strengthen understanding of standards' critical role in combating climate change, while better reflecting the needs of developing countries."

Industry representatives attending the meeting included senior executives of BT', Cisco, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Huawei, KDDI, KT (Korean telco), Microsoft, Nokia Siemens Networks, NTT, Orange, Psytechnics, RIM< Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telstra, Togo Telecom, & ZTE. Cisco will host and chair the next meeting in 2010 in California.