4.4. ITU

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is organised in three sectors, the Radiocommunications (ITU-R), Development (ITU-D) and Standardisation (ITU-T) Sectors. 

The ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector has developed the ITU-T X.series Recommendations: data networks, open system communications, and security.  These standards/recommendations are developed by Study Groups in the ITU Telecommunications standardization sector.   

4.4.1. How to engage in standards development at the ITU

Membership to the three sectors of the ITU is open to governments, industry, and academia. The ITU encourages increased participation of developing countries in standardisation activities including attendance to meetings, submission of contributions, taking leadership positions and hosting of meetings/workshops pursuant to provisions of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (Hammamet, 2016), Resolution 54 on Creation of, and assistance to, regional groups. 

There are currently 8 Africa Regional Groups in the ITU Standardisation Sector:

• ITU-T Study Group 2: Operational aspects of service provision and telecommunications management 
• ITU-T Study Group 3: Tariff and accounting principles, and international telecommunication/ICT economic and policy issues 
• ITU-T Study Group 5: Environment, climate change and circular economy
• ITU-T Study Group 11: Signalling requirements, protocols, test specifications, and combating counterfeit products 
• ITU-T Study Group 12: Performance, quality of service (QoS), and quality of experience (QoE) 
• ITU-T Study Group 13: Future networks, with focus on IMT-2020, cloud computing, and trusted network infrastructures 
• ITU-T Study Group 17: Security
• ITU-T Study Group 20: Internet of things (IoT) and smart cities and communities (SC&C)

These groups are pursuant to provisions of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (Hammamet, 2016), Resolution 44 on Bridging the Standardization Gap between developing and developed countries.

The Bridging the Standardization Gap (BSG) programme aims to facilitate the efficient participation of developing countries in the ITU’s standards-making process, to disseminate information about the existing standards, and to assist developing countries in the implementation of standards.

Figure 3: Five strategic pillars of the BSG Source ITU

• Awareness: The BSG programme aims to create awareness and know-how of the standards-making process 
• Know-how: acquiring the right skills and capabilities for international standards-making
• Community: Regional groups of the ITU-T Study Groups providing assistance in establishing National Standardization Programs, coordination plans with national SDOs and relevant regional organisations and academia.
• Engagement and Participation: Participation in study group meetings and the BSG alumni network

Partnering: Opportunities to host, sponsor, and fund the BSG activities ​