On the occasion of a meeting today, the ITU Secretary General, Hamadoun Touré, and the ETNO Executive Board Chair, Luigi Gambardella, reiterated the importance of the WCIT to lay the framework that will facilitate the further growth of an innovative, and sustainable future for the telecom and information and communication technology sector (including the Internet).

Dr Hamadoun Touré, ITU Secretary General, says: “The 1988 ITRs opened the door for the telecommunications revolution of the 1990s – and notably privatization, liberalization, and new technologies such as mobile and the Internet. Now it’s time to take the next step and open the door for the broadband revolution of the next decade – so that all the world’s people can gain access – affordable, equitable, high-speed fixed or mobile access – to voice, video and data.”

Luigi Gambardella, ETNO Executive Board Chair, says: “The WCIT is an opportunity to address the need for a new eco-system for the Internet enabling operators and service providers to meet the huge challenges driven by rapid data increase and allowing users to continue enjoying the benefits and opportunities brought about by the Internet”.

The ITRs, which will be revised at WCIT, set the basic principles for interconnection ensuring that networks can connect smoothly. However, the environment has changed dramatically since the latest revision of the ITRs. The growth in traffic puts a strain on network resources and risks to worsen the user experience. ITRs need to reflect changes in markets and technologies, while allowing Internet innovation to continue developing.

The ITU membership, which includes ETNO, believes that the WCIT is an opportunity to improve the current basis that has, to date, facilitated the growth of telecommunications (including the Internet) and the information society. There are opportunities to agree on a new sustainable economic model favouring innovation, openness and consumer choice.

In this context, ETNO has submitted an innovative proposal for the revision of the ITRs ensuring the futureproofness of the current model.

By allowing commercial agreements between undertakings on end to end quality of service delivery ETNO believes that innovation and improved user experience would be encouraged.

For more information, please contact: Thierry Dieu, ETNO Director for Communications and Public Policy Tel: (32-2) 219 32 42 Fax: (32-2) 219 64 12 E-mail: dieu@etno.be 

ETNO’s 40 member companies and 10 observers from Europe and beyond represent a significant part of total ICT activity in Europe. They account for an aggregate annual turnover of more than €600 billion and employ over 1.6 million people. ETNO companies are the main drivers of broadband and are committed to its continual growth in Europe.