Founded in 1865, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is arguably one of the exceptional global bodies based on partnerships between governments and the private sector. While other similar world bodies comprise politicians and other bureaucrats, ITU membership boasts of telecommunication policymakers and regulators, network operators, equipment manufacturers and hardware and software developers. CIPESA examines its origins, role in developing infrastructure and what Africa should look forward to.

The ITU is by far living up to expectations in its mission to coordinate global telecommunications and services. Working in collaboration with governments and private sector enterprises, the ITU has, through regular global and regional conferences facilitated the establishment of best business practices for the deployment of, and maintenance of ICT infrastructure.

For Africa, ITU has worked closely with the regional bodies to support programmes aimed to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals. Following the completion of the study on the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) in January 2005, the ITU convened a meeting of core partners active in ICT to explore ways of developing the use of ICT in the region. The Union was also a key player in the identification of core telecommunication ICT indicators during the Botswana regional workshop in October 2004 and participated in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) sponsored meeting on poverty reduction in Burkina Faso. This was in addition to the institutional support provided to the NEPAD Secretariat by providing experts to compile a list of all known terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure-development initiatives and projects and advocacy through seminars and workshops.

The role of the ITU-Development sector

The most notable undertakings in supporting infrastructural development have been through the Telecommunication Development (ITU-D), one of its three sectors that specialises in designing programmes to improve telecommunications infrastructure. Like the Radio communication (ITU-R) and Telecommunication Standardisation (ITU-T) sectors, which set the standards for telecommunications networks, systems and equipment, the Development sector is liaising with countries to create favourable environment and regulatory framework to spur telecommunication-infrastructure development, particularly through the private sector.

The most notable undertakings in supporting infrastructural development have been through the Telecommunication Development (ITU-D), one of its three sectors that specialises in designing programmes to improve telecommunications infrastructure. Like the Radio communication (ITU-R) and Telecommunication Standardisation (ITU-T) sectors, which set the standards for telecommunications networks, systems and equipment, the Development sector is liaising with countries to create favourable environment and regulatory framework to spur telecommunication-infrastructure development, particularly through the private sector.

The host of initiatives undertaken by the ITU-D includes the design of financing strategies to enable developing countries to bridge the digital divide. It facilitates access and connection, the formulation of policy and development of the human resource in the ICT sector through training programmes. In addition, it is a major actor in regulatory and network readiness for developing countries.

Information obtained from the ITU official website (www.itu.int) indicates that its membership has grown to 189 with over 700 private sector members. Gone are the days when the Union was about interpersonal communications. Today, the ITU is a key player in foreign trade, education, banking, tourism and health. Consequently, the Union has witnessed a surge in the number of governments and private sector enterprises seeking to work with it. This is mostly due to its role in the deregularisation and liberalisation of the telecommunication sector in most developing countries.

 

What the future holds:

Future development for ICT infrastructure in Africa is a matter of critical concern for the ITU. In its five-year Strategic Plan, endorsed during the Marrakech conference in October 2002, the Union undertook to further promote policy frameworks and financing strategies that seek to bridge the international digital divide by facilitating the development of fully interconnected networks and services. One of the key issues on which the ITU is focused now is the need for Internet Domain Names to reflect the geographical and functional nature of the Internet with an equitable balance of interests of all stakeholders. The Union is therefore undertaking to ensure that the management of Internet Domain Names and addresses involves both governments and the private sector. It is also involving Internet standardisation organisations, governments and the private sector in the development of IP standards and protocols for IP-based networks.

Future development for ICT infrastructure in Africa is a matter of critical concern for the ITU. In its five-year Strategic Plan, endorsed during the Marrakech conference in October 2002, the Union undertook to further promote policy frameworks and financing strategies that seek to bridge the international digital divide by facilitating the development of fully interconnected networks and services. One of the key issues on which the ITU is focused now is the need for Internet Domain Names to reflect the geographical and functional nature of the Internet with an equitable balance of interests of all stakeholders. The Union is therefore undertaking to ensure that the management of Internet Domain Names and addresses involves both governments and the private sector. It is also involving Internet standardisation organisations, governments and the private sector in the development of IP standards and protocols for IP-based networks.

With such efforts, the ITU is one of the leading global bodies at the forefront of infrastructural development in Africa. Its support of the telecommunications sector as manifested by the increase in Internet and cellular phone usage on the continent over the last decade is testimony that the Union is still thinking globally and thinking locally.

 

ITU at a glance:

Founded-1865

Current membership-189 member states and over 700 private sector members

ITU leadership:

Yoshio Utsumi Secretary General Japan

Roberto Blois Deputy Secretary-General Brazil

Valery Timofeev Director, Radiocommunication Bureau (BR) Russia

Houlin Zhao Director, Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau (TSB) China

Hamadoun I. Toure Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau (BTD), Mali

Sources of funding:

Contributions of member states---66.1%

Income from cost recovery for services---17%

Other income, such as withdrawals---3.6%

Staffing:

As at 31 December 2003, the number of ITU staff stood at 784, representing 81 nationalities both at headquarters and in the field.

Source: http://www.itu.int/home/index.html -- the official ITU website.