Regional groupings[edit]

Member states of the ITU are organized into six regional groups:

Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT)

Arab Spectrum Management Group (ASMG)

African Telecommunications Union (ATU)

European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)

Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL)

Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC - representing former

Soviet republics)

Membership
Membership of ITU is open to governments, which may join the Union as Member States, as well
as to private organizations like carriers, equipment manufacturers, funding bodies, research and
development organizations and international and regional telecommunication organizations,
which may join ITU as non-voting Sector Members.[11]
There are 193 Member States of the ITU, which are all UN member states, plus Vatican City.
[12]
The most recent member state to join the ITU is South Sudan, which became a member on 14
July 2011.[13]
The Republic of China (Taiwan) was blocked from membership[citation needed] by the People's Republic
of China, but nevertheless received a country code, being listed as "Taiwan, China".
[14]
Palestine was admitted as an observer in 2010.[15

standardization (ITU-T)
Standardization was the original purpose of ITU since its inception. Established in 1956 as the
International Telephone and Telegraph Consultative Committee or CCITT (from its French
name "Comit consultatif international tlphonique et tlgraphique"), this sector
standardizes global telecommunications (except for radio). [7] In 1993, the CCITT became the
ITU-T.
Development (ITU-D)
Established in 1992, this sector helps spread equitable, sustainable and affordable access to
information and communication technologies (ICT).
ITU Telecom
ITU Telecom organizes major events for the world's ICT community.
A permanent General Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General, manages the day-to-day
work of the Union and its sectors.

World Summit on the Information Society[edit]

Main article: World Summit on the Information Society
The ITU was one of the UN agencies responsible for convening the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS), along with UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP.[16] The Summit was held as two
conferences in 2003 and 2005 in Geneva and Tunis, respectively, with the aim of bridging the digital
divide.
World Conference on International Telecommunications 2012 (WCIT-12)[edit]
In December 2012, the ITU facilitated The World Conference on International Telecommunications
2012 (WCIT-12) in Dubai. WCIT-12 was a treaty-level conference to address International
Telecommunications Regulations, the international rules for telecommunications, including
international tariffs.[17] The previous conference to update the Regulations (ITRs) was held
in Melbourne in 1988.[18]
In August 2012, ITU called for a public consultation on a draft document ahead of the conference.
[19]
It is claimed the proposal would allow government restriction or blocking of information
disseminated via the internet and create a global regime of monitoring internet communications,
including the demand that those who send and receive information identify themselves. It would also
allow governments to shut down the internet if there is the belief that it may interfere in the internal
affairs of other states or that information of a sensitive nature might be shared. [20]
Telecommunications ministers from 193 countries attended the conference in Dubai. [20]

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland

The ITU has 191 Member States and more than 700 Sector Members and Associates (private
companies, non-governmental organizations and other entities)

The organization acts as a forum for governments and the private sector to coordinate
technical and policy matters related to global telecommunications networks and services.

ITU

The ITU is comprised of three sectors:

Standardization,

Radiocommunication and

Development

Each sector specializes in both technical and policy-related matters in their subject areas and
is led by a Director who reports to the ITU Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General.
2

These officials are elected by the Member States once every four years

Standardization Sector (ITU-T)

The ITU Standardization Sector is responsible for the production of high-quality,

internationally accepted, mainly technical, telecommunication standards and related
documents that do not fall under the specific domain of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector

Both Member States and Sector Members can actively participate in the standards
development work of ITU-T's

They meet in Geneva and elsewhere on a regular basis, at least once a year.

The purpose of the study groups is to develop non-binding technical Recommendations

(i.e., voluntary technical standards) and other technical documents, based on
contributions submitted by the members.

Standardization Sector (ITU-T)

Some of the topics for which they have been developed include

tariff and accounting principles,

data networks and open system communications,

integrated broadband cable networks and television and sound transmission,

signaling requirements and protocols,

end-to-end transmission performance of networks and terminals,

multi-protocol and IP-based networks,

optical and other transport networks, and

multimedia services, systems and terminals

Standardization Sector (ITU-T)

Once every four years, the sector hosts a World Telecommunication Standardization
Assembly (WTSA),

which defines general sector policy,

establishes study groups,

appoints study group chairmen and vice chairmen and

approves (review of the working) four-year study group work programs.

Radio communication Sector (ITU-R)

The Radiocommunication Sector plays an important role in radio frequency, spectrum

management and satellite orbit management.

The ITU-R hosts several study groups, which meet regularly in Geneva or elsewhere to
discuss technical and policy-related issues such as

spectrum management,

radiowave propagation,

fixed-satellite service,

broadcasting services and

other satellite services.

Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R)

Both Member States and ITU-R Sector Members are allowed to participate in these meetings.

Once every two to three years, the sector hosts a World Radiocommunication Conference
(WRC), where Member States meet to revise and reach consensus on the Radio
Regulations.

They contain procedural regulations for

notification,

coordination and

registration of radio frequencies so that harmful interference between radio stations of

different countries is avoided

Development Sector (ITU-D)

Its mission is to -

a) raise the level of awareness of decision-making concerning the role of telecom in national
economic and social development;
b) Provide telecom policy advice;
c) Promote the development, expansion and operation of telecom networks and services,
particularly in developing countries
d) Cooperate closely with regional and global financing institutions, telecom organizations to
promote telecom development
e) To encourage industry participation in telecom development through technology transfer and
technical assistance
Development Sector (ITU-D)

It has two groups where Member States & sector members are working together on topics
such as -

1. Internet infrastructure roll out,

4

2. Broadband arrangement,
3. Network migration & interconnection,
4. New technologies for rural people,
5. digital broadcasting technologies etc
Development Sector (ITU-D)

Once in every four years ITU-D hosts a World Telecom Development Conference
(WTDC)

It establishes work programs and guidelines for defining telecom development study
questions and sector priorities

It is designed to serve as a forum for the study of

policy,

organizational,

operational,

regulatory,

technical and

financial questions related to telecom development

Recent meeting of WTDC held in 2014

Development Sector (ITU-D)

Issues discussed

1) Issue recommendations on radio communication issues;

2) Allocation of bands of radio-frequency spectrum in order to avoid harmful interference
between radio stations of different countries
3) Coordinate efforts to improve the use of radio-frequencies and satellite orbits for radiocomm services
ITU

ITU is responsible for issues that concern information and communication technologies

It coordinates the shared global use of

a) radio spectrum

b) promotes int cooperation in assigning satellite orbits

c) works to improve telecomm infrastructure in developing world

5

d) assists in the dev and coordination of worldwide technical standards

ITU

ITU is active in areas

1) broadband internet

2) latest generation wireless technologies

3) aeronautical and maritime navigation

4) radio

5) satellite based meteorology

6) fixed mobile phone

7) internet access, data and voice

8) TV broadcasting

9) next-generation networks one network transports all info and services by using IPs

ITU History

Formed at 1865 at the Int Telegraph Convention

One of the oldest inter-governmental org in the world

Legal framework of ITU

ITU

Basic texts of ITU adopted by ITU Plenipotentiary (person who has full powers/a
diplomat fully authorized to represent a govt as a prerogative, eg, Ambassador)
Conference

Its founding document was the 1865 Int Telegraph Convention, which is amended several
times

now called Constitution and Convention of the International Telecomm Union

Optional Protocol on the settlement of disputes

Decisions, Resolutions and Recommendations in force

General rules of the Conference, Assemblies and Meetings of the Union

ITU has dev technical standards for security and more recently engaged in cyber-security
activities

Eg ITU-T has est a study group for telecomm security to focus on developing
standards and recommendations associated with network and information security,
identity management
6

It is concerned mainly with maintenance and extension of cooperation with regard to the
use of telecomm on the int panel

Basic Structure of ITU A.7

1. Plenipotentiary Conference supreme organ of the ITU
2. The Council acts on behalf of the Conference
3. Telecom Standardization Sector includes Standardization Assembly
4. Radiocommunication Sector includes radiocomm conference, radiocomm assemblies and
Radio Regulation Board
5. Telecom Development Sector including dev conferences and General Secretariat
Basic Structure of ITU A.7
1. General Secretariat directed by a Secretary-General is the ITUs legal representative
2. Plenipotentiary Conference supreme organ of ITU - composed of delegates of all
members of ITU

It determines general policies needed to fulfil the purposes of ITU

It elects member states which are to serve on the Council, the Secretary-General and Deputy
Secretary-General and Directors of the Sectors as well as members of the Radio Regulations
Board

Basic Structure of ITU A.7

Council serves as the governing body of ITU between the Pl. Conferences

Members elected on the Council shall be qualified in the field of telecomm services

It is Councils responsibility to take all steps to facilitate the implementation by ITU

member states of the provisions of its Constitution, of the Convention, of the Administrative
Regulations, of decisions of Pl. Conf

Basic Structure of ITU: A.6 (1) member states are bound to abide by the provisions of the
Constitution, the Convention and the Administrative Regulations in all telecom offices and stations
which engage in int services or are capable of causing harmful interference to radio services of
other countries

harmful interference interference which endangers the functioning of a radionavigation service or other safety services or seriously degrades, obstructs or repeatedly
interrupts a radio-communication service operating in accordance with Radio Regulations

Basic Structure of ITU

Voting in ITU one state one vote

Amendments to ITU Constitution require 2/3th majority

Amendments to ITU Convention require majority of at least half of the delegates at a

Plenipotentiary Conference.

Basic Structure of ITU

ITU almost entirely lacks a powerful procedure or mechanism for policing and enforcing
its decisions

A.56- settlement of disputes to be settled by Negotiation, through diplomatic channels

or

according to the procedure established by bilateral or multilateral treaties concluded

between them for the settlement of international disputes

If no settlement is achieved ITU Convention provides for an arbitration procedure

available to members that are party to the dispute