The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2016 (WTSA-16)

The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2016 (WTSA-16) took place in Hammamet, Tunisia, from 25 October to 3 November 2016. This forum, which is held every four years, gathered around 1000 delegates from 92 countries in order to discuss the key questions in the field of standardization crucial for ICT development.

The Assembly reviewed the structure and working methods of ITU’s standardization sector (ITU–T). It also elected chairmen and vice-chairmen of ITU-T study groups, the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG) and other working bodies. Another key focus of WTSA was to review ITU–T’s mechanisms for collaboration with other standards bodies in ICT field.

During the forum 15 new WTSA Resolutions were adopted and 31 were revised, the Assembly also revised two of the A series ITU–T Recommendations that guide ITU–T’s work. In addition there were approved five ITU-T Recommendations on international mobile roaming and Internet Exchange Points.

The participants of WTSA-16 called for ITU–T to expand its study of the wireline networking innovations required to achieve the performance targets of smart 5G systems. The call came in parallel with ITU members’ reaffirmation of the importance of ITU’s standardization work to drive the coordinated development of high-speed transport networks, the Internet of Things (IoT), future video technologies and smart cities.

It was also noted that ITU-T should increase digital financial inclusion, promote affordable mobile roaming tariffs and strengthen consumer protection and ICT service quality. ITU-T was encouraged to support the use of cloud computing to record event data from aircraft, vehicles and other connected machinery.

A series of informative side events was also held in conjunction with WTSA-16, including:

• The CCITT/ITU-T 60th Anniversary Talks, which were dedicated to the exploration of the role of standards in supporting innovation in the field of artificial intelligence and digital financial services;
• The first CxO Meeting in the Arab and Africa Regions, which assembled high-level executives from such companies as Tunisie Télécom, Alibaba, KT, Huawei, Sofetel, Ericsson, Orange, and Deutsche Telekom;
• The first meeting of the ITU Women in Standardization Expert Group (WISE), where leading women discussed the ways to close the ICT gender gap;
• A special event focused on the accessibility of ICT to people with disabilities, highlighting ITU’s latest initiatives to mainstream ICT accessibility in the development of technical standards.

The decisions of WTSA-16 have shaped ITU-T into a form optimized to provide government, industry and academia with common technical platforms to assist their achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.