The World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) – a 12-day conference that began on December 3 and run till December 14, 2012 in Dubai, UAE – brought together Internet policy makers (government regulators from 193 countries) and the broader Internet community to reviewing the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs), adopted in Melbourne in 1988.
Since the regulation was adopted, developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and Asia have seen dramatic changes in technology and the manner in which countries and individuals utilize the Internet and telecommunications in general.
Question: Should we worry that the World Conference on International Telecommunications is taking over the Internet?
Everyone’s answer will be a big YES but the Secretary General of the ITU in his speech at the WCIT 2012 rebuff claims been made by the media of the Internet take-over.
According to Dr. Hamadoun Touré – Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the WCIT is about, “the free flow of information†and “continuing to promote a harmonious and conducive international environment that drives innovation†and “accelerating the rapid deployment of broadband to ensure that many more of the unconnected are given a voice online.â€
Instead of focusing on the negative always, Dr. Toure asked the media and all parties concerned on Internet issues to focus on what the ITU really is about which is:
“It is about accelerating the rapid deployment of broadband to ensure that many more of the unconnected are given a voice online and that the transformative power of broadband is accessible to all the world’s people.
Standards for end-user access equipment such as modems, including xDSL and cable modems;
Compression standards;
Security standards, including standards to combat spam;
Standards for backbone networks, including fibre optics;
And, of course, the radio frequencies used to implement WiFi – which you are no doubt using as I speak.”
What was at stake the WCIT 2012?
At every conference or gathering involving government officials, there is always something at stake. In the case of the WCIT 2012, it’s a simple case which looks to connect the International Telecommunications Regulations which was written in 1988 and today’s Internet.
Read Full Speech of Hamadoun Tour̩ РSecretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in September 2012 on WCIT-12 РMyths and Reality.
Photo-credit: itupictures
Related articles
- WCIT Treaty Talks End iin Dubai With Walkout of U.S., Allies (eweek.com)
- The highlights and low points of WCIT (news.dot-nxt.com)
