By Emeka Aginam

PARTICIPANTS at the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2016, WTSA, have called on the standardization arm of the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, to expand its study of the wireline networking innovations required to achieve the ambitious performance targets of smart 5G systems.

This call, which was made by the Assembly in Tunisia, follows ITU members’ reaffirmation of the importance of ITU’s standardization work to drive the coordinated development of ultra-high-speed transport networks, the Internet of Things, future video technologies, and smart cities and communities.

ITU members have also encouraged ITU standardization to increase digital financial inclusion; promote affordable mobile roaming tariffs; and strengthen consumer protection and ICT service quality. In addition they called for ITU standardization to support the use of cloud computing to record event data from aircraft, vehicles and other connected machinery.

These directives of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2016 (WTSA-16) held in Hammamet, Tunisia, last month have given further impetus to ITU standardization work aimed at supporting government, industry and academia in achieving their priorities for year 2020 and beyond.

The conference, which takes place every four years, gathered up to 1000 delegates from 92 countries to deliberate on a wide range of standardization topics critical to the next phase of innovation in ICT. According to Chairman of WTSA-16, Moktar Mnakri  “WTSA-16 has achieved a range of victories for international collaboration,”

He added that, “The diverse membership of ITU-T has reached a series of agreements to assist all regions of the world in their efforts to share in the social and economic benefits that will be accelerated by ICTs in coming years.”

According to ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao, the discussions of WTSA have provided ample evidence of the importance of ITU standardization work in driving global connectivity and innovation.”

Also speaking, Chaesub Lee, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, said: “Our members have worked tirelessly to reach agreement on the future shape of ITU-T, ensuring that it is fit for purpose to deliver standards capable of providing an equitable basis for ICT innovation worldwide.”