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Report on the activities of the Telecommunication Standardisation
Advisory Group (TSAG) 2000-2004 by Aboubakar Zourmba, Vice
Chairman of TSAG On the eve of WTSA which will be held from
5-14 October 2004 in Florianopolis, Brazil, it seems on the whole
that TSAG has satisfactorily fulfilled its main mission of
counselling ITU-T in the area of finance methods and programmes of
work, strategies and external cooperation. After having put in place
its own internal structures and methods of work, which are
undergoing continuous improvement, TSAG among other things endorses
questions, deals with ITU-T recommendations of the A Series,
organizes its physical and electronic correspondence meetings, gives
useful advises, makes required suggestions and carries out sound
WTSA-2004 preparation.
TSAG could even be more efficient if it is involved in ITU-T
macro-environment matters. It could affirm ITU-T’s independence with
regard to the industry by remaining equitable, by formulating global
standards, by dealing with market requirements currently in
developing countries (China, India, South America, Africa, Arab
countries, etc.). It could promote ITU-T by making available ITU-T
recommendations to the general public through ITU Regional offices,
and enabling the general public to use them to their advantage
through skill development awareness and training.
To prevent Africa being the dumping ground of obsolete and
outdated technologies, it behoves Africa to appreciate and use ITU-T
products especially ITU-T Recommendations which give the State of
the Art in Telecommunications. This could be effected through
participation in the activities of ITU-T in general and of TSAG in
particular.
The use of ITU-T standards allow better presentation of tenders
for provision of telecommunication services and better formulation
of relevant contracts and specifications for licensing
telecommunication operators.
The development of telecommunications in Africa shall be realized
through ITU-T technical, operational and tariffs standards and not
without them. The focal point at the General Secretariat
is the standardisation research and programme coordinator, Mr.
Andrew Kawamara (E-mail:
a.kawamara@atu-uat.org) |
