KEY ICT POLICY PRINCIPLES: ITI View on Global ICT Standards

ITI View on Global ICT Standards[1]

Global ICT standards are developed in many venues and share certain characteristics. They are created through collaborative efforts that have a global reach, are voluntary and widely adopted by the marketplace across national borders. These standards are developed not only by national-member based international standards bodies, but also by consortia groups and other standards-setting organizations (SSOs).

Global ICT standards share three important characteristics:

  • They respond broadly to the needs of global markets.
  • They demonstrate relevance through voluntary worldwide adoption and implementation.
  • They are products of standardization processes that are consensus-based, transparent, and industry-led with participation open to any interested party.

One method for establishing global standards is through ISO, IEC, and ITU[2] where participation is via Member States or national bodies. Representatives from industry and other stakeholders can participate through the national members and sometimes directly. These organizations are important parts of the global standardization ecosystem. However, they are not sufficient to meet the current and increasing demands of a connected world with rapidly changing needs. Accordingly, the ICT sector relies on a diversity of voluntary, market-led, standards setting organizations with global reach. These standards setting environments have diverse structures to accommodate specific needs. The standards-setting processes in these fora often are as detailed and effective as those utilized by formal international standard setting organizations.

Global ICT standards facilitate global supply chains that enable companies in many parts of the world to collaborate on building complex and competitive products. For customers, global standards enhance choice and ease of use, and encourage competition that provides customers with lower costs. As markets expand, voluntary global ICT standards play a key role in facilitating international trade. Global standards can be regionally adopted to meet local environmental, cultural, health and safety requirements.

ICT facilitates an innovative and flexible global infrastructure of integrated networks and related practices. Enterprises of all sizes are accessing global markets with ICT offerings and managing critical operations in ways that previously were geographically constrained. From communication links in health care to supply chains and transportation systems, these ICT offerings must be inter-connected. Because these businesses operate globally, their preference is for ICT offerings that utilize global standards over national or regional standards.

Global ICT standards provide greater value to industry, customers and society.

 

 

美国信息技术产业理事会(ITI)关于全球信息与通信技术(ICT)标准的观点

全球ICT标准产生于不同地方，但有某些共同特点。他们是通过全球性的合作制定出的标准， 为世界各国市场自愿、广泛地采纳。这些标准不仅由国家级成员组成的国际标准机构制定，同时也通过企业联合团体和其他标准机构制定。

全球ICT标准具备以下三个重要特点：

  • 广泛地反应全球市场的需要。
  • 通过世界范围内的采纳和应用展现出关联性。
  • 他们是基于共识的、透明的、以行业为主导并对任何利益方开放的标准制定过程的产物。

建立全球标准的一个方法就是会员国或国家机构通过国际标准化组织(ISO)、国际电工委员会(IEC)和国际电信联盟(ITU)来参与。来自行业和其他利益方的代表可以通过成员国参加，有时也可直接参加。这些机构是全球标准化系统的重要组成部分。然而，世界联系越来越密切，需求也正发生着迅速的变化，单单这些机构无法满足当前增长的需求。同样，ICT领域也需要各种基于自愿、以市场为导向、全球性的标准制定机构。这些标准制定组织采用多样化的结构，以满足特定需求。这些组织的标准制定过程跟官方的国际标准机构一样细致有效。

全球性ICT标准的制定无疑会促进全球供应链的发展，使世界各地的企业合作共建复杂的有竞争力的产品成为可能。对于消费者来说，全球性标准增加了他们的选择和易用性，激励了竞争，降低了消费者成本。随着市场的扩大，自愿性的全球性ICT标准在促进国际贸易方面发挥的作用越来越关键 。全球性标准可以被区域采用，以满足当地环境、文化、健康和安全要求。

ICT的发展形成一个创新、灵活、互联、互动的世界新环境。各种规模的企业借助ICT的帮助摆脱地域限制，进入全球市场，在全球范围管理重要业务。从医疗保健领域的通信联络，到供应链和运输系统，ICT产品都是不可或缺的 。因为这些业务是全球性的，所以他们更青睐那些采用全球性标准，而非国家或地区标准的ICT产品和服务。

全球ICT 标准为产业、消费者和社会提供更大的价值。

 

[1] As compiled by ITI Standards Policy Committee in April 2011.

[2] ISO = International Organization for Standardization, IEC = International Electrotechnical Commission, ITU = International Telecommunication Union.