International Telecommunication Union

International Telecommunication Union

International Telecommunication Union Union internationale des tlcommunications Unin Internacional de Telecomunicaciones

Flag of the ITU Org type Acronyms Head Status Established Headquarters Website UN agency ITU UIT Hamadoun Tour Active 17 May 1865 Geneva, Switzerland
http:/ / www. itu. int/

International Telecommunication Union

The International Telecommunication Union (Union internationale des tlcommunications, in French) is the specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for information and communication technologies. ITU coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world and establishes worldwide standards. ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums, such as ITU TELECOM WORLD, bringing together representatives of government and the telecommunications and ICT industry to exchange ideas, knowledge and technology. The ITU is active in areas including broadband Internet, latest-generation wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, satellite-based meteorology, convergence in fixed-mobile phone, Internet access, data, voice, TV broadcasting, and next-generation networks.

Monument in Bern, Switzerland. The text reads: "Union Tlgraphique Internationale fonde Paris en 1865 sur l'initiative du gouvernement franais. rig par dcision de l'Union Tlgraphique prise la confrence internationale de Lisbonne en 1908." (In English: "International Telegraph Union founded at Paris in 1865 on the initiative of the French government. [This monument] erected by a decision of the Telegraph Union made at the international conference at Lisbon in 1908.")

ITU is based in Geneva, Switzerland, is a member of the United Nations Development Group[1] and its membership includes 192 Member States and around 700 Sector Members and Associates.

ITU sectors
The ITU comprises three sectors, each managing a different aspect of the matters handled by the Union, as well as ITU Telecom: Radiocommunication (ITU-R) Managing the international radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbit resources is at the heart of the work of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R). Standardization (ITU-T) ITU's standards-making efforts are its best-known and oldest activity; known prior to 1992 as the International Telephone and Telegraph Consultative Committee or CCITT (from its French name "Comit consultatif international tlphonique et tlgraphique") Development (ITU-D) Established to help spread equitable, sustainable and affordable access to information and communication technologies (ICT). ITU TELECOM ITU Telecom organizes major events for the world's ICT community. ITU Telecom World 2011 Telecom's 40th Anniversary with the first event in 1971.
[2]

is ITU

A permanent General Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General, manages the day-to-day work of the Union and its sectors.

International Telecommunication Union

The ITU's mission

The ITU's mission is to enable the growth and sustained development of telecommunications and information networks, and to facilitate universal access so that people everywhere can participate in, and benefit from, the emerging information society and global economy. The ITU assists in mobilizing the technical, financial, and human resources required to make this vision real. For the last 20 years, ITU has been coordinating efforts of government and industry and private sector in the development of a global broadband multimedia international mobile telecommunication system, known as IMT. Since 2000, the world has seen the introduction of the first family of standards derived from the IMT concept. Since May 2007, there are more than 1 billion IMT-2000 subscribers in the world. IMT-Advanced provides a global platform on which to build the next generations of mobile services - fast data access, unified messaging and broadband multimedia - in the form of exciting new interactive services. A major priority of the ITU is bridging the so-called "digital divide" by building adequate and safe information and communication infrastructure and developing confidence in the use of cyberspace through enhanced online security. The ITU also concentrates on strengthening emergency communications for disaster prevention and mitigation, especially in less developed regions.

Legal framework of ITU

The basic texts of the ITU are adopted by the Plenipotentiary Conference. In addition to the Constitution and Convention, the consolidated basic texts include the Optional Protocol on the settlement of disputes, the Decisions, Resolutions and Recommendations in force, as well as the General Rules of Conferences, Assemblies and Meetings of the Union.

Leadership
The ITU is headed by a Secretary-General, who is elected to a four-year term by the member states at the plenipotentiary conference. At the 17th Plenipotentiary Conference (2006) in Antalya, Turkey, the ITU's member states elected Dr Hamadoun Tour of Mali as Secretary-General of the Union.[3] He was re-elected for a second four-year term at the 18th Plenipotentiary Conference (2010) in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Directors and Secretaries-General of ITU

Directors of ITU Name Louis Curchod Karl Lendi Louis Curchod August Frey Timotheus Rothen Emil Frey Henri tienne Joseph Rder Franz von Ernst Beginning of Term 1 January 1869 24 May 1872 23 February 1873 25 February 1890 25 November 1890 11 March 1897 2 August 1921 1 February 1928 1 January 1935 End of Term 24 May 1872 12 January 1873 18 October 1889 28 June 1890 11 February 1897 1 August 1921 16 December 1927 30 October 1934 1 January 1949 Country

International Telecommunication Union

4
Secretaries general

Lon Mulatier Marco Aurelio Andrada Gerald C. Cross

1 January 1950 1 January 1954 1 January 1964

1 January 1953 18 June 1958 29 October 1965 19 February 1967 31 December 1982 31 October 1989 31 January 1999 31 December 2006 present

Manohar Balaji Sarwate 30 October 1965 Mohamed Ezzedine Mili 20 October 1967 Richard E. Butler Pekka Tarjanne Yoshio Utsumi Hamadoun Tour 1 January 1983 1 November 1989 1 February 1999 1 January 2007

Membership
Members states of the ITU are 192 of the 193 UN members states and the Vatican City. Observers are: Palestinian territories[4] Non-members are: Palau (the only UN member state not to be a member), Cook Islands, Niue, and the states with limited recognition. The most recent member to join is South Sudan, which became a member on 14 July 2011.[5]
International Telecommunication Union member states

Membership of ITU is open to governments, which may join the Union as Member States, as well as to private organizations like carriers, equipment manufacturers, funding bodies, research and development organizations and international and regional telecommunication organizations, which can join ITU as Sector Members. Private companies and other organizations may elect to join one or more of the Unions three Sectors, according to their particular sphere of interest. ITU Sector Members also develop the technical standards which will underpin future telecommunication systems and shape tomorrows networks and services. Finally, Sector Members gain privileged access to restricted first-hand information which can prove highly valuable in their business planning.

World Summit on the Information Society

The ITU was the lead organizing agency of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS),[6] a United Nations summit aiming at bridging the digital divide and turning it into digital opportunity for all. WSIS provided a global forum on the theme of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) for development. WSIS was a pledge for building a people-centered development-oriented Information Society. Other big themes of the Summit were Internet governance and Financial mechanisms for meeting the challenges of ICTs for development. The idea of holding WSIS came from the Tunisian President Ben Ali on the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Minneapolis in 1998. The process was launched late in 2002 on the initiative of Kofi Annan. The first phase of the WSIS summit took place in December 2003 in Geneva and the second and final phase took place in Tunis in November 2005.

International Telecommunication Union WSIS Stocktaking Process [7] was initiated in 2004. The WSIS Stocktaking Process is a follow-up to WSIS. Its purpose is to provide a register of activities carried out by governments, international organizations, the business sector, civil society and other entities, in order to highlight the progress made since that landmark event. Following 120 of TAIS, ITU has been maintaining the WSIS Stocktaking database as a publicly accessible system providing information on ICT-related initiatives and projects with reference to the 11 WSIS Action Lines.

Notes
[1] http:/ / www. undg. org/ index. cfm?P=13 [2] http:/ / www. itu. int/ world2011 [3] Report on election of Toure (http:/ / www. cellular-news. com/ story/ 20373. php) [4] Palestine ITU status (http:/ / www. itu. int/ osg/ blog/ 2010/ 10/ 20/ UpdatedResolutionsStatusOfPalestineAndAssistanceSupportForRebuildingItsTelecomsNetworks. aspx) [5] New Country, New Number - Country code 211 officially assigned to South Sudan (http:/ / www. itu. int/ net/ pressoffice/ press_releases/ 2011/ 25. aspx) ITU Pressroom, 14 July 2011 [6] World Summit on the Information Society: Redirect (http:/ / www. itu. int/ wsis) [7] http:/ / groups. itu. int/ Default. aspx?tabid=740

External links
ITU official site (http://www.itu.int) History of ITU Portal (official site) (http://www.itu.int/en/ history/) ITU Telecom World 2011 (http://world2011.itu.int/) ITU defines the future of mobile communications (http://www.itu. int/newsroom/press_releases/2007/30.html)

ITU headquarters, Geneva

U.N. Summit to Focus on Internet (http://www.washingtonpost. com/ac2/wp-dyn/A36852-2003Dec4?language=printer) Washington Post article about ICANN and the United Nations' ITU relationship

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

International Telecommunication Union Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=456170790 Contributors: 213.253.39.xxx, ABlockedUser, Adam Grenberg, Addshore, Alinor, Altermike, Alvestrand, Andyabides, Anonym1ty, Antti29, Arcaist, Armando, Ashishbhatnagar72, Avicennasis, BandwidthSeek.Net, Bearcat, Ben-Zin, Benoni, BertK, Bevo, Bhawani Gautam, Bolo1729, Borgx, Bornae, Bwfrank, Byassine, Calton, Cat5nap, China Dialogue News, Coleemma, Conversion script, Cybercobra, Dataphile, DaveBurstein, David H, Davshul, Dcollard, Denelson83, DidiWeidmann, DinosaursLoveExistence, Dmountain, Donama, El C, Erianna, Eteru, Eyreland, Foxhound66, Galoubet, Gdr, Glenn, Good Olfactory, Graham87, Guy Harris, Gkhan, HappyApple, Harryzilber, Howcheng, ITU, Icairns, Ictlogist, Information Habitat, Instantnood, Isheden, Itai, J.delanoy, Jaho, Jfdwolff, Jiang, Joanjoc, John, Jon Harald Sby, Jordancpeterson, Josie62, Jusjih, Knuckles, Kozuch, Kristine.clara, Larroney, Lars Washington, Liftarn, Lightmouse, Madjar, Malepheasant, MarkPos, Mauls, Mean as custard, Mentmic, Mkehrt, Mormegil, Mulligatawny, MusicTree3, Ninly, Otisjimmy1, Ozhiker, Parutakupiu, PaulHanson, Peter Ellis, Piersletcher, Poccil, Postdlf, Quistnix, R9tgokunks, Radiojon, Rajwhite, Ren, RingtailedFox, Rjm656s, RockMFR, RockOfVictory, Rogper, Shii, SimoM, Slimey.limey, Ssd, Stephen Gilbert, Sukee3, Swid, Taximes, The Evil IP address, Thomas Blomberg, Tipiac, Topbanana, Tuxa, Tvol, Umni2, Usgnus, Vegaswikian, Violetriga, Wikignome0530, Xavier86, Xtifr, Yann, Yk Yk Yk, Youlia, Zarcadia, 111 , anonymous edits

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