1Paolo Rosa: ITU Standardization SectorRiccardo Passerini: ITU Development Sector

Development of the ITU Conformance and Interoperability

Programme for the ICTs in the Arab Region

Arab Regional Development Forum onBroadband in the Arab Region: Challenges and Opportunities

Hammamet-Tunisia, 17 September 2012

Interoperability for a true Access to Broadband

  ITU’s responsibility to

secure interoperable transport platforms Address growing concerns & rising frustration about

non-compliance, lack of legacy and interoperability reduce delay in the global digital economy to

improve social development opportunities Consider counterfeit imported products

ITU committed in facilitating quality market penetration, MRAs / MLAs considering regulatory and customer reactions and

private sector needs reduce the risks of non-compliance

2

Lack of Interoperability: Network Integrator

Equipment Problem Reasons Effects

Analog Voice Gateway

Can’t forward dialed digits to next devise.

Feature not supported and not mentioned on Data Sheet although it is basic requirements for operation.

Use another device

Voice interface Card

Caller ID feature is not working on certain mode of operation although it is globally mentioned on Spec. Sheet that it is supported.

New hardware interface card should be used.

The customer changed vendor

Data Switch

Per Packet load sharing on multi-trunk lines is not working although it is mentioned in the Spec. Sheet

Function not available in current software release.

Buy and use additional devices

WiMAX Base-station

Antenna diversity should be supported... It is available on the configuration menu but not working.

The diversity is actually not working when it was enabled on the software

support Team stated that the diversity is not working in the current software and may be active in next version

3Source: ITU consultation mtg - Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010

Authority for Action from all the ITU’s highest decision making bodies Resolution 76 ITU World Telecommunication

Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08)

Resolution 47 ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-10)

Resolution 177 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-10)

Resolution 62 Radiocommunication Assembly 2012

ITU Council Decisions (2009, 2010, 2012)

The ITU 4 “Pillars”

The Standardization Sector side Conformity Assessment

Interoperability Events

The Development Sector side Capacity building

Establishment of test centres in developing countries.

C&I testing and ITU Recommendations

Guidelines to Study Groups: test suites, recommendations’ clauses

What to test? eligible Recommendations/technologies “set of interoperability-related parameters”

Missing test suites Minimize external resources and expenses

6

Four routes to populate conformity DB

 

ITU Conformity Database

Con

form

ity A

sses

smen

t &

Cer

tific

atio

nIT

U C

&I

serv

ices

Supplier’s Declaration of

Conformity (SDoC)(ISO/IEC 17050)

Tests performed in a lab agreed by an

Accredited Certification Body

(ISO/IEC 17065)(Rec. ITU-T X.290)

Route 2

Conformity Certificate issued by the

Certification Body

Route 1

Tests performed by an accredited lab(ISO/IEC 17025)

(Rec. ITU-T X.290)

Recommendation(s) compliant test

results

ISO/IEC Assessment Procedures

Route 3

Tests performed in a lab selected by

an ITU-T A.5 agreed

SDO/Forum/MoUs (Rec. ITU-T X.290)

Recommendation(s) compliant test

results

Route 4

ITU Members Only

Tests performed in any lab

Self-Declaration of

Compliance issued by the

Supplier

Self-assessment Procedures

ITU Interop events

Two or more systems to fruitfully exchange information and mutually to make use of it.

Various manufacturers cross-connect

Interoperability: evaluation of all the stakeholders on a case by case basis

In case of different vendors common “interfaces”, interoperability testing may result in end to end performance both for commercial services that for network monitoring and maintenance from the points of view of QoS and QoE

8

InternationalTelecommunicationUnion

Basic C&I Concepts The ITU C&I Governing Rules Terminology and definitions (Accreditation, certification,

inspection, calibration) National Accreditation Bodies, MRAs and MLAs concepts Test only what is needed for interoperability with any recognized

test procedures

The ITU C&I Programme The ITU approach to C&I and to ITU Conformity Database The ITU Interop activities ITU Study Groups test suites development Worldwide Testing Labs & database Capacity Building and opportunities for Regional Test Centres

Cooperation with ITU-T A.5 SDOs, International Institutions and Organizations

ISO, IEC, (CASCO), ILAC/IAF, BIPM, UNIDO, WTO, Accreditation Bodies, Regulators, ITU Laboratories repository, best practices for conformity testing schemes and market surveillance

The ITU Global C&I Portal(one-stop shop)

The Telecommunication Development Bureau Side

Meetings with in-deep consideration for test centres and Capacity Building in the Regions

Held: Africa (Ghana) CIS (Moscow) Americas (Brasilia)

Next: Arab States ASP-CIS

Capacity building

Test centres in developing countries.

Questionnaire on the Status of Conformance and Interoperability in the

regions: Three main groups

Variety of Equipment, services and providers

Group 1 Limited

Group 2 Medium

Group 3 Wide

Questionnaire: Overall results

Highlighted lack of interoperability ITU to provide assistance and relief capacity building and access to expertise is

an essential ingredient initiatives to promote the use of global

testable standards test events for compliance and

interoperability welcome

14

Status in the regions and needs Funding and Training Sources Criteria to establish Accreditation and

Conformity Assessment Bodies -International Telecommunications Testing Centres (ITTCs)

Economics and Cost Implications for ITTCs Roadmap for ITTC rollout

Guidelines for Developing Countries for Establishing Test Labs

in Different Regions

Conclusions from Guidelines

Members to: advise the ITU of interoperability problems Regulators to establish market access requirements assess legislation and regulations prioritize areas of concern for products and systems

Establishment of Accreditation Bodies and approach to MRAs and MLAs

Establishment of Test Centres on a regional basis, wide areas and possibly common infrastructures

15

Brasil/Dhaka results of the interactive session

Questions/Pillar Pillar 1 Pillar 2

What are the main obstacles that need to be overcome?

Weak regulatory framework /Lack of Regulatory Framework with Lack of clear and unambiguous national standards

Poor availability of test suites (e.g. new tech)

Costs and complexity of testing in presence of very different network scenarios/configurations

Dealing with multiplicity of standards – no clearly defined set of parameters to be tested

What strategies/actions are needed LOCALLY and/or REGIONALLY?

Create discussion forums for Vendors/Regulators/labs/

operators/conformity assessment & accreditation bodies/standards bodies/end-users

Clear identification of needs

Identify operators’ offerings Identify test labs capable of

promoting/hosting interoperability events

costs

What strategies/actions/assistance are needed from international organizations?

Promote and provide expertise / capacity building opportunities

Production of harmonized protocol specifications and test specifications

define a mandatory set of requirements for ensuring requested quality interoperable services

Support to spread interoperability culture/awareness

TSB Activity on C&I

Brasil/Dhaka results of the interactive session

Questions/Pillar Pillar 3 Pillar 4

What are the main obstacles that need to be overcome?

Poor availability of local experts Weakness of local Conformity

Assessment “culture” infrastructures (CABs, NABs, Metrology / Calibration institutions

Reluctance to accept test results from other countries/labs

Financial viability

What strategies/actions are needed LOCALLY and/or REGIONALLY?

Participation in national / international technical committees

Supply Contracts should include requirements for courses to be organized by vendors

Develop clear regional and national Business Plans / Promotion / Marketing / choice of technologies

Encouraging the signature of MRAs with other countries to avoid unnecessary duplication of testing services

What strategies/actions/assistance are needed from international organizations?

Assess the type of training needed including “hands-on” activities

negotiate partnerships with regional laboratories and other institutions in a position to deliver training for specialists from the region

ITU and other partners (in cooperation with membership) need to identify policy and regulatory imperatives to accelerate the creation of C&I test centers and/or facilitate the establishment of MRAs in order to put in place the most appropriate C&I regime for each country

BDT Activity on C&I

Action Plan (Council-12)

ITU-T works in collaboration with SDOs for specifications and test suites to achieve interoperability

Conformity and Interoperability section (main body/ annex/ appendix/supplement) as part of all those Recommendations for which the SG decides test specifications are needed

ITU-T to consider about dropping of route 4 (self-assessment) to populate the ITU Conformity database

ITU-T to run a pilot of the conformity assessment programme for key technologies

ITU-T study groups to identify further technologies for which there is a market demand for a conformity assessment programme (availability or preparation of test specifications)

Pillar 1 – Conformity Assessment (1/2)

Action Plan (Council-12)

Test specifications to be possibly developed in a no-cost approach (already available, developed by SGs or in partnership with SDOs)

TSB to produce a report on measures against counterfeiting

Cooperation with resources available worldwide that can be harnessed to assist in developing a suite of tools to promote conformity assessment aimed at achieving interoperability

Strengthen relationship with ILAC/IAF/IECEE to develop guidelines/best practices to assess test labs technical competence on ICTs

ITU Mark: postponed until Pillar 1 has reached a more mature stage of development. ITU to assess the potential impact on the market, the possible legal and regulatory implications and to evaluate if the ITU Mark programme may be supported

Pillar 1 – Conformity Assessment (2/2)

Action Plan (Council-12)

Pillar 2 – ITU Interop

Study groups should clearly define interoperability requirements as part of ITU-T standards development activities, in advance of initiating the standards development and implementation

Study groups to develop system roadmaps, identify and define the interfaces across which interoperability is needed

TSB to consult study groups to identify areas to organize future events, based on continuous surveillance of market and technological developments and on probing of members’ needs,

Action Plan (Council-12)

Pillar 3 – Capacity building

BDT, in collaboration with TSB, to continue to offer C&I training courses for testing key technologies

BDT in cooperation with TSB to train technical staff and policy makers

Action Plan (Council-12)

Pillar 4 – Creation of test labs in the regions

Establishment of an appropriate conformity and interoperability regime in developing countries

To Create a network-like test centres in the regions, building up on existing labs (to reduce costs), and to encourage agreements to assign to each centre a specific technology in order to cover most of them among all the participating labs

Establishment, when possible, of MRAs (Mutual Recognition Agreements) to be discussed at regional and sub-regional levels

You and ITU Cooperation Be part of the C&I Programme

Involvment of Conformity Assessment, Certification and Accreditation bodies within the scope of ICTs

Sharing of information about parameters and test suites aimed at achieving interoperability

Promotion & Population of the ITU Conformity Databases

Participation in Capacity Building activities, accreditation and certification

Participation in the creation of regional test laboratories

www.itu.int

Thank You !

25

Background slides

26

ITU provides standards for Broadband Access

Cable: IPCablecom

GPON interoperability pavilion Nxtcomm, Chicago, 2007

Copper: Hundreds of millions use ITU’S XDSLUp to 200Mbit/s aggregate with VDSL 2

Optical access: ITU’s GPON allows

up to 2.5Gbit/sNew types of optical

fibre for access networks

BP: Preparation Strategy

27

Need of Conformance to Standards

Conformity key to increase the probability of interoperability

Improve quality of standards to increase quality of services/experience

increase market opportunities

reduce costs for operators, service providers, end users

The ITU Conformity Database

Informative and voluntary database open both to members and non-members for conforming products

Adoption of international ISO/IEC standards and guidelines or self-assessment approach

On-line entries directly made by Companies

ITU Liability: ITU is not participating in any testing/certification activities

Conformance increases the probability of interoperability

Route 3: Laboratories recognized by ITU-T A.5 qualified organizations or MoUs signatories

Route 4: for ITU members only

ITU Approach: ISO/IEC assessment & self-assessment procedures.

Route 1: Accredited Testing Laboratories

Route 2: Accredited Certification Bodies

IPTV Interop event

31

InternationalTelecommunicationUnion

InternationalTelecommunicationUnion

Photos taken during the 1st event, Geneva July 2010 Kick-off meeting

Preparation Strategy (KPMG)

34

What To Test ? Only Parameters that may impact

interoperability requirements of functionalities as needed by the end users and the market:Reducing time to approvalReducing testing costsMutual recognition to widen protfolio and

market opportunities ITU Study Groups to establish a minimum

set of parameters as needed

ITU Customized Services for Interop Events

Event Management: Local arrangements (arranging sites with hosts,

shipment, hotels, networking opportunities, visa support, etc.), Logistical arrangements (registration/payment, legal aspects (NDAs), etc.)

Technical Management: IT support, test bed, test session scheduling, etc.

Communication Management: Promotion, media involvement, press releases, event

website, inviting prospective customers, etc. 36

The ECO System

Source: dr. Roman Kužnar, Sintesio, (Matej Žontar, SIQ) ITU CIS/EU CIT Forum

Regulator

Vendor

ConsumerOperator/Service Provider

Consumer Protection

Network Equipment

License & Monito

r

User T

erminal E

quip.

Service Delivery

Performance,Conformance,

Interoperability

Equipment Type Approval

SDOSDOs

Standards for Accreditation

ISO/IEC 17011 Accreditation Bodies for:

Manufacturer

Certification Bodies Laboratories Inspection bodies

for ProductsISO/IEC 17065

for quality management

systemsISO/IEC 17021

for PersonsISO / IEC 17024

ProductsQuality

Management Systems

Persons

Testing and Calibration

Laboratories

ISO / IEC 17025

ISO 15189

Testing

and Calibration

ISO/IEC 17020

Inspection

Supplier, manufacturer

for environmental management

systemsISO/IEC 17021

Environmental Management

Systems

EMAS VerifiersCouncil

regulation 761/2001

Eco-Management

and Audit Scheme

Labs Search

39

Search in the database

40

- All -- All -- All -

41

Needs in Developing Countries for Test Labs Conformity Assessment Bodies to contribute to

create an orderly telecom apparatus mktplace

Once standards and test suites are in place, test labs can check equipment for compliance

Sharing test labs resources amongst countries and regions may lowering overall costs while continuing addressing regional priorities

A robust framework (following international procedures – ISO/CASCO) needed for trust and confidence in test results and among test labs

Questionnaire: Fixed & Mobile networks

Group 1 Limited variety of equipment, services and providers

Internet/IP Gateway services

2G and 3G GSM network services

No equipment listed in response, referred/deferred to service provider for detailed information

Group 2 Medium variety of equipment, services and a few providers

TDM voice, fax, international voice, dataInternet/IP ADSL, Cybercafe, VoIPNGN Softswitch voice, data2G voice, SMS local and international, prepaid 3G international SMS, local SMS, data and Internet

Tended to have a dominant equipment supplier

Group 3 Wide variety of equipment, services and providers

TDM voice, data, ISDNInternet/IP VoIP, data, email, wimax, metro ethernetNGN Softswitch voice, fax, ISDNNGN IMS VoIP, digital fax2G GPRS/EDGE, circuit switched data, voice, SMS3G HPSA + mobile broadband, voice, AMR-WB voice, CS video call, SMS, R99 PS data

Tended to have a wide mix of suppliers

Questionnaire: C&I issuesGroup 1 Limited variety of equipment, services and providers

Reported no problems – likely single operatorType Approval regime reported in placeNo Type Approval responsible bodyMarking – recognized either a body recommended by service provider or well known Mark such as EC, FCCNo national accreditation, certification bodies or test labs, No MRAs, No market surveillance , No ICT labs

Group 2 Medium variety of equipment, services and a few providers

New equipment can affect legacy systems - Lists of interoperability problems such as: signalling in core networks, CDR equipment malfunctions, problems implementing new features on all platforms - Impact of interoperability problems high, affects QoS, customer satisfaction and loss of business - Pre installation activities carried out to mitigate interoperability problems - Half of this Group have Type Approval regimes - Half have Type Approval bodies -No national accreditation and certification bodies, No MRAs -No market surveillance

Group 3 Wide variety of equipment, services and providers

Longer lists of interoperability problems such as: MSAN-Softswitch conformity, ISDN support, IMS core, software features in generalLists of economic impacts such as: additional costs, company image, QoS, project delay, upgrade costs, extra testing costsPre installation work always done to mitigate interoperability problems - Type Approval regimes in place -Type Approval Bodies in place - Recognize EU, or FCC , or IC or all three Accreditation and certification bodies in place as well as test labsMRAs active - Market surveillance in place

44

Funding and Training Sources

UNIDO, major Banks in each region, specialized funding agencies for telecoms projects and others

Requirements to access funds vary from low interest loans, to grants, seed funding and cost underwriting

Repository of international telecom training organizations

Costs of training may vary from travel to government and supplier subsidized training, to private for-profit fully charged training.

Training and Capacity Building

Group 1 Limited variety of equipment, services and providers

Interested in follow-up training/capacity building related to WTDC 2010 Res 47, WTSA 2008 Res 76, PP-10 Res177

Would participate in development of regional program in capacity building and expert tutorials

Interested in opportunities to establish national, sub-regional and regional test centres

Availability of ICT Labs to host test events or ITU activities

Group 2 Medium variety of equipment, services and a few providers

Group 3 Wide variety of equipment, services and providers

InternationalTelecommunicationUnion

Interop Events and promotional events

IPTV Testing

1st Event: Geneva, ITU headquarters, 20-23 July 2010

2nd Event: Singapore, 23-24 and 27 September 2010

3rd Event: Pune, India, 14-17 December 2010

4th Event: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 18-22 July 2011

G.hn Testing: Geneva, Switzerland, 23-27 May 2011

Promotional Events:

Showcasings: Dubai, UAE, 20-22 September 2011 and Telecom

World-2011, Geneva, Switzerland, 24-27 October 2011

1st IPTV Application Challenge

47

The “ITU Conformity Mark” issue

• Mark and labels, as well as conformity databases, are helpful to give immediate visibility of the “goodness” of “certified” products available on the market, independently from the mandatory or voluntary aspects of requirements:

• The use of an ITU conformity mark may be granted when a product is demonstrated to have been successfully tested and certified against ITU Recommendations according to international conformity assessment procedures

• The ITU conformity mark could be a general one or “dedicated” to a specific technology or recommendation

• The ITU is not involved, and not liable, in any step of the accreditation, testing and/or certification process.