It's that time again, where large numbers of telecoms and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) companies are faced with the un-nerving prospect of a United Nations agency regulating fundamentally important aspects of the internet, as well as significantly increasing its jurisdiction over the ICT and telecoms industries.
And it seems that they now have their eyes set on the ICT and telecommunications sector, with the intent of introducing much more stringent guidelines in order to keep pace with the ever changing face of internet and computer based technology and communications.
The remit of tasks performed by the ITU includes; allocating global satellite orbits and radio spectrum, developing interconnection by promoting technical standards, and working to improve telecommunications accessibility for underprivileged and underserved communities.
Although ITU regulations do not carry the weight of the law, per se, they set out detailed regulation suggestions and requirements for all national level regulatory authorities, and address a wide range of topics including standardisation and economic and technical issues.
The conference is scheduled to take place later this year in Dubai, where one of the highlights will be the renegotiation of a treaty called the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs), made over 20 years ago in 1988.
The ITRs was instrumental in providing a framework of governing principles concerned with international telecommunication transport and services along with the interconnection of telecommunications facilities. The ITRs also provided the guidelines for mutual and private agreements between countries and non-governmental organisations respectively.
Owing to the ITU's high international visibility, any decisions made at the world conference will send strong signals to domestic and international regulators alike that the most appropriate course of action will be a move to more intrusive economic regulation. It seems most likely that the decisions made by governments at the conference will significantly define the regulatory environment for the internet and telecoms sectors for the 21st century.
So as to whether or not the changes (which seem inevitable) will have any long lasting or far reaching implications it remains to be seen. But one thing that is for sure is that a review of the regulations is long overdue, and whatever changes are made, it is certain that the ICT and telecommunications industries will continue to grow at an alarming rate for many years to come, guaranteeing that another review will never be far away.
And it seems that they now have their eyes set on the ICT and telecommunications sector, with the intent of introducing much more stringent guidelines in order to keep pace with the ever changing face of internet and computer based technology and communications.
The remit of tasks performed by the ITU includes; allocating global satellite orbits and radio spectrum, developing interconnection by promoting technical standards, and working to improve telecommunications accessibility for underprivileged and underserved communities.
Although ITU regulations do not carry the weight of the law, per se, they set out detailed regulation suggestions and requirements for all national level regulatory authorities, and address a wide range of topics including standardisation and economic and technical issues.
The conference is scheduled to take place later this year in Dubai, where one of the highlights will be the renegotiation of a treaty called the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs), made over 20 years ago in 1988.
The ITRs was instrumental in providing a framework of governing principles concerned with international telecommunication transport and services along with the interconnection of telecommunications facilities. The ITRs also provided the guidelines for mutual and private agreements between countries and non-governmental organisations respectively.
Owing to the ITU's high international visibility, any decisions made at the world conference will send strong signals to domestic and international regulators alike that the most appropriate course of action will be a move to more intrusive economic regulation. It seems most likely that the decisions made by governments at the conference will significantly define the regulatory environment for the internet and telecoms sectors for the 21st century.
So as to whether or not the changes (which seem inevitable) will have any long lasting or far reaching implications it remains to be seen. But one thing that is for sure is that a review of the regulations is long overdue, and whatever changes are made, it is certain that the ICT and telecommunications industries will continue to grow at an alarming rate for many years to come, guaranteeing that another review will never be far away.
About the Author:
Saul Saresi writes regularly about Voip communications and technologies for his site which can be found here business voip previous examples of his work can be found here business phone line
The Communication Blog
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