Standards groups combine forces for the good of industry.

Sheffield, UK and Geneva, August 16 2003 /Wi-Fi Technology News/? Over 30 of the world?s most important standards making organizations and Forums in information and communication technologies (ICT) have agreed to foster better communication and closer cooperation among themselves.

Delegates at the second ITU 2003 Informal Forum Summit, held in San Francisco 24-25 July, drafted a mission statement that aims to improve interoperability across the multiple communication technologies and industries they represent. Participating forums and Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) will collaborate in an effort to leverage economies to meet the needs of industry ? and consumers ? better.

The document outlines a roadmap for better coordination and lists areas of potential synergy among the various bodies. Broad aims of the delegates outlined in full in the outcome document include the need to drive the collective value of the forums and other standards development organizations by sharing best practices and increasing cooperation.

It?s the first time that so many forum leaders have met. 57 chiefs from 37 SDOs and forums representing all facets of ICTs attended the event that was hailed by all as being of benefit to industry at large.

This 2003 Informal Forum Summit is an initiative of the Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (the secretariat for ITU-T), Houlin Zhao, who said ?I am very pleased with the result of this meeting which shows very clearly the spirit of cooperation among forums and SDOs. It is important to come together like this to show that we are keen to avoid duplication of work and can make better use of our limited resources. The end result will be good for both industry and the consumer.?

?The fruits of our new collaboration will be felt far and wide in the communications industry? said Ron Young, Chairman and Co-Founder of the Metro Ethernet Forum which hosted the event in San Francisco. ?It will reduce overlapping efforts, streamline work on new standards and interoperability and speed market adoption of beneficial new technologies?.

The Informal Forum Summit concept provides a place for the heads of standards makers to get together to discuss proposals for better collaboration. Following a fruitful first summit in 2001, the second summit proved an excellent meeting-ground for improving awareness of the activities of the various different forums and establishing common-ground as a basis for improved collaboration.

Attendees agreed that before another ? yet to be confirmed ? summit, they will pursue the different actions outlined in the summit output document.
For the output document, as well as a full list of attendees and of involved organizations click here http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/tsb-director/forum/index.html

About ITU:
ITU is a world-wide organization which brings governments and industry together to coordinate the establishment and operation of global telecommunication networks and services; it is responsible for standardization, coordination and development of international telecommunications including radiocommunications, as well as the harmonization of national policies.

To fulfil its mission, ITU adopts international regulations and treaties governing all terrestrial and space uses of the frequency spectrum as well as the use of all satellite orbits which serve as a framework for national legislations; it develops standards to foster the interconnection of telecommunication systems on a worldwide scale regardless of the type of technology used; it also fosters the development of telecommunications in developing countries.

ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums bringing together the most influential representatives of government and the telecommunications industry to exchange ideas, knowledge and technology for the benefit of the global community, and in particular the developing world.

Source: ITU