Global Standardization Activities

Activities of ITU-T TSAG
Yukio Hiramatsu†
Abstract
This article reports on the activities of TSAG (Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group)in the last study period (2001–2004). TSAG is responsible for administrative and operational matters thatare common to all Study Groups of ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication
Standardization Sector).

1. Position, roles, and structure of TSAGThe Telecommunication Standardization Advisory
Group (TSAG) [1] is responsible for administrativeand operational matters that are common to all StudyGroups (SGs) of ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication StandardizationSector). It is positioned in parallel with SGs under theWorld Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), which is held once every four years(Fig. 1) and is responsible for giving the Director of† NTT Intellectual Property Center
Musashino-shi, 180-8585 Japan
E-mail: hiramatsu.yukio@lab.ntt.co.jp

ITU-T and other SGs various advice on administrative and operational matters related to standardization
activities. TSAG meets with the same frequency asother SGs: once every nine months. It is developing
Recommendations and advice related to:• Enhancement of working methods for SGs(enhancement of WTSA Resolutions and Aseries Recommendations)• Work program for standardization in SGs and relevant coordination across SGs• Electronic document handling (EDH) methods
and ITU-T promotional activities• Development and implementation of ITU-Tstrategies• Cooperation and coordination between ITU-TWTSA(Structure and work program for standardization)

SG3

•••

Preparation for resolutions

TSAG(Administrativeand operational
aspects)

SG2(Service and operation) (Tariff and accounting)

SG17

SSG

(Data networks andtelecommunicationsoftware)(IMT-2000 and beyond)

Advice to SGs

Fig. 1. Position of TSAG.

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Global Standardization Activities

TSAG

WP1 (Working Party 1)• Advice for standardization in ITU-T
C: Mr. Gary Fishman (Lucent Technology,U.S.A.)
VC: Mr. Stewart Alexander (BT, UK)
VC: Mr. Nabil Kisrawi (Syria)
VC: Mr. Andrea Macchioni (Italy)
VC: Mr. Oleg Mironnikov (Russia)
VC: Dr. Ki-Shik Park (Korea)
VC: Mr. Aboubakar Zourmba (Cameroon)• Working methods
C: Mr. Stewart Alexander (BT, UK)
WP2• Work Program
C: Mr. Jacques Boulvin (France)
WP3• EDH and promotion
C: Dr. Ki-Shik Park (Korea)
WP4• Strategy
C: Mr. Nabil Kisrawi (Syria)
VC: Mr. Oleg Mironnikov (Russia)
C&C (Cooperation and Coordination)• Cooperation and coordination with other organizations
C: Mr. Andrea Macchioni (Italy)
Finance

C: chairman
VC: vice-chairman• Finance
C: Mr. Eckart Lieser (Germany)

Fig. 2. Structure of TSAG (2001–2004).

and other organizations• Improvement of ITU-T’s financial status
The structure of TSAG is shown in Fig. 2. In addition, there is the Director’s ad hoc group on IPR(intellectual property rights); this meets just before
TSAG and its results are reported to TSAG. The following sections introduce the major achievements ofTSAG for each item during the last study period(2001–2004), focusing on discussions up to the mostrecent TSAG meeting in July 2004 and briefly mentioning WTSA-04 held in October 2004.
2. Enhancement of working methods
ITU-T has been asked to make its work even more
effective by aligning with emerging outside forums
and consortia that are becoming more active. At thebeginning of this study period, AAP (alternativeapproval process) was implemented, which allowed
accelerated approval of Recommendations that are
purely technical and do not contain policy and regulatory matters, by posting them to the ITU-T Web
site. This has made it possible to shorten the approval
period for Recommendations from nine months to an
average of two months. Up to June 2004, over 750
Recommendations had been approved by AAP. Furthermore, the following matters were considered44

based on proposals from Japan and Australia.
• Possible introduction of “Technical Specification” as another normative deliverable besides
Recommendations and its approval processincluding voting• Possible introduction of a “Proposal For Standardization (PFS)” to replace a “Question” as theframework for project-oriented work programs• Accelerated process for approval and deletion ofQuestions• Proposal of a “Project Group” or “Coordination
Group” to facilitate coordination across SGs in a
project-oriented manner• Avoidance of one Member State veto that may
emerge in the approval process for Recommendations based on consensus (approval of Recommendations with a few Member States objecting)
These proposals are based on the working methods
being carried out in forums and consortia outside
ITU-T, and they aim to achieve more effective cooperation and coordination between ITU-T and otherforums and consortia by aligning ITU-T’s working
methods with theirs. However, the first two proposals
were rejected due to a lack of consensus about theirnecessity. The last two proposals did not reach fullagreement at TSAG and were submitted to WTSA-04
held in October 2004 as APT (Asia-Pacific TelecomNTT Technical Review

Global Standardization Activitiesmunity) common proposals and approved with somemodifications. An accelerated process for theapproval of Questions was approved at WTSA-04,
while that for the deletion was not.
3. Work programs
At the beginning of this study period, there was anissue as to how the work on ASN.1 (abstract syntax
notation one) should be shared between SG 7 (datanetworks and open system communications) and SG
10 (languages and general software aspects fortelecommunication systems). As a result of the discussion in TSAG, it was decided to merge these two
SGs as SG17 (data networks and telecommunication
software). Also, the terrorism in the U.S.A. triggered
the initiation of studies across SGs on security andTDR (telecommunications for disaster relief and mitigation). Towards the end of this study period, asWTSA-04 was approaching, discussion on study
group restructuring became active. The hottest discussion point was to study the structure of the NGN(next-generation network) and how to share out roles
among relevant SGs. Table 1 shows the SG structure
and possible changes discussed for the present study
period (2005–2008).
4. EDH and promotion activities
These activities were conducted in close cooperation between TSAG and other SGs.
4.1 EDHIn the last study period, a wireless local area network (LAN) was installed in the meeting rooms ofITU headquarters, in addition to the wired LAN,
which made it even easier for delegates to immediately download meeting documents from the net-Table 1. Existing SG structure and possible restructuring for the next study period.
Existing SGMission

Options for restructuring

SG2

Operational aspects of service provision, networksand performance#1: Continue as now, but move Operation Questions to SG4#2: Continue as it is now#3: Merge with SG4

SG3

Tariff and accounting principles including related
telecommunications economic and policy issues

Continue as it is now

SG4

Telecommunication management, including TMN(telecommunication management network)#1: Continue (acquire operation Questions of SG2)
#2: Continue as it is now#3: Merge with SG2

SG5

Protection against electromagnetic environment effects

Continue as it is now

SG6

Outside plantContinue as it is now

SG9Integrated broadband cable networks and televisionand sound transmission

Continue as it is now

SG11

Signaling requirements and protocols#1: Continue as it is now#2: Merge with NGN Questions of SG13 (establish NGN-SG)

SG12

End-to-end transmission performance of networks andterminals

Continue as it is now (acquire quality-of-service (QoS)
Questions of SG13)

SG13

Multi-protocol and IP-based networks and theirinternetworking#1: Continue (acquire Data Network Questions of SG17 andmove QoS Questions and Ethernet Questions to other SGs)
#2: Merge NGN Questions with SG11 (establish NGN-SG)

SG15

Optical and other transport networks

Continue as it is now (acquire Ethernet Questions of SG13 andData network Questions of SG17)

SG16Multimedia services, systems and terminals

Continue as it is now (acquire network signal processing
Questions of SG15)

SG17

Data networks and telecommunication software

Continue as it is now (move some data network Questions toSG13 and SG15)

SSG*

IMT-2000 and beyond#1: Continue as it is now#2: Merge with NGN Questions of SG11 and SG13 (establishNGN-SG)

TSAG

Telecommunication standardization advisory groupContinue as it is now*) Special Study Group on IMT-2000 and beyond

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work. With this enhancement, all SGs have movedtoward paperless meetings and have reduced theamount of paper being copied. Moreover, electronicinterim Rapporteur meetings were held as trials using
Web-based discussion tools in the Special Study
Group (SSG) and other SGs. Based on these experiences, Recommendation A.9 (Working proceduresfor SSG) was revised and EDH guidelines weredeveloped in various SGs. Furthermore, there wasdiscussion about whether or not we should allow
Recommendations and other SG documents to be
downloaded free of charge. A trial allowing freedownloading of three Recommendations per e-mailaddress had already been started. A trial for freedownloading of SG documents is now pending
because copyright problems are foreseen.
4.2 Promotion
Progress was made on issuing news releases whenimportant Recommendations are adopted and on publishing brochures that explain key technologies being
standardized by ITU-T (e.g., on xDSL (various typesof digital subscriber line services) and security) withthe purpose of promoting ITU-T’s standardization
activities and attracting more experts to participate inSGs. In addition, a total of 48 workshops (on NGN,security, IMT-2000, etc.) were held to clarify future
study items through the exchange of views with nonITU-T members.
5. Strategy
The strategy group (WP4) of TSAG evaluates ITUT activities based on the standardization strategy
adopted at the 2002 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference
and gives advice to the Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) and relevant ITU-T organizations and groups as appropriate
regarding necessary modifications to the strategy. In
particular, it pointed out the importance of assuringlinkage among the strategic, operational, and financial plans and of focusing ITU-T’s future activities onareas where it can maintain competence against outside forums and consortia. Also, it promotes information sharing regarding the results of senior-level
ITU meetings such as the Council and Plenipotentiary Conference and is encouraging contributions
from members. At the end of the study period, it discussed resolutions to help participation from developing countries and proposals on new groups to identify future standardization areas.

46

6. Cooperation and coordination
The processes for cooperation and coordination
between SGs and outside forums and consortia arespecified in the following Recommendations with theaim of achieving an appropriate sharing of work:• Recommendation A.4 (Communication process
between ITU-T and forums and consortia)• Recommendation A.5 (Generic procedures forincluding references to documents of other organizations in ITU-T Recommendations)• Recommendation A.6 (Cooperation andexchange of information between ITU-T andnational and regional standards developmentorganizations)
Recommendations A.4 and A.6 specify proceduresfor initiating cooperation and coordination relationships with forums and consortia and with nationaland regional standards development organizations,respectively. Recommendation A.5 specifies procedures for normatively referencing specifications
developed by outside organizations, within ITU-TRecommendations. The number of organizations
with which ITU-T had established formal relationships according to Recommendations A.4–6 kept
continued growing in the study period, as shown inTable 2. Recommendations A.4 and A.6 specify
eight criteria for ITU-T to establish formal cooperation relationships. Among them the most importantones are the global nature of organizations, openness
and fairness of working methods, and alignment ofIPR policies. For example, cooperation with OMA(Open Mobile Alliance) may be reconsidered due todifferences in IPR policies.
7. FinanceThe budget of ITU-T was cut by 8% at the Plenipotentiary Conference held in October 2002, resulting
in ITU-T being requested to make its activities evenmore effective. An ad hoc group on financial matters
was established in the middle of the study period todiscuss and implement ways of effectively using thebudget. In particular, considering that the number ofofficial languages will increase from five to six (Arabic will be added to the existing English, French,Spanish, Russian, and Chinese) as of January 2005
according to the decision made at the 2002 Plenipotentiary Conference, the most important issue wasidentified as reducing translation and interpretation
costs.

NTT Technical Review

Global Standardization Activities

Table 2. Qualified organizations for Recommendations A.4–6.
Rec.

Organizations

A4

ASN.1 Consortium, ATM Forum, ATSC, DSL Forum, ETIS, IMTC, IPDR Organization, IPv6 Forum, MEF,
MPLS/Frame Relay Alliance, MSF, OASIS, OIF, OMA, OMG, SDL Forum Society, SDL-TFC, TM Forum, W3C

A5ARIB, ATIS, ATM Forum, ATSC, BSI, CCSA, DSL Forum, ECMA-SICS, ETSI, IEEE, ISOC/IETF, JCTEA, MEF,MPLS/Frame Relay Alliance, NIST, OASIS, OIF, OMA, OMG, SCTE, TIA, TM Forum, TTA, TTC, W3C

A6ARIB, ATIS, BSI, CCSA, CEA, ECMA-SICS, ETSI, IEEE, JCTEA, NIST, SCTE, SMPTE, TIA, TTA, TTC

ARIB: Association of Radio Industries and Businesses,
ASN.1 Consortium: Abstract Syntax Notation One Consortium,
ATIS: Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions,ATM Forum: Asynchronous Transfer Mode Forum,
ATSC: Advanced Television Systems Committee,
BSI: British Standards Institute,
CCSA: China Communications Standards Association,
CEA: Consumer Electronics Association,
DSL Forum: Digital Subscriber Line Forum,
ECMA-SICS: ECMA Standardizing Information andCommunication Systems,
ETIS: E- and Telecommunication Information Services,
ETSI: European Telecommunications Standards Institute,
IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,
IMTC: International Multimedia Telecommunications Consortium,
IPDR Organization: Internet Protocol Detail Record Organization,
IPv6 Forum: Internet Protocol version 6 Forum,
ISOC/IETF: Internet Society, Internet Engineering Task Force,
JCTEA: Japan Cable Television Engineering Association,
MEF: Metro Ethernet Forum,

8. WTSA-04
At WTSA-04, held in October 2004, it was decided
to keep the current structure of SGs and to designate
SG13 as NGN SG responsible for coordination
between all the relevant SGs. Also, the one Member
State (MS) veto was changed to two MS veto for thefirst time in the history of the ITU-T. Details about
WTSA-04 will be published later in a separate article.
9. Conclusion

MPLS/Frame Relay Alliance: Multiprotocol Label
Switching/Frame Relay Alliance,
MSF: Multiservice Switching Forum,
NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology,
OASIS: Organization for the Advancement of Structured
Information Standards,
OIF: Optical Internetworking Forum,
OMA: Open Mobile Alliance,
OMG: Object Management Group,
SCTE: Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers,
SDL Forum Society: Specification and Description Language
Forum Society,
SDL-TFC: SDL Task Force Consortium,
SMPTE: Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers,
TIA: Telecommunications Industry Association,
TM Forum: Tele Management Forum,
TTA: Telecommunications Technology Association,
TTC: Telecommunication Technology Committee,
W3C: World Wide Web Consortium

Yukio Hiramatsu
Senior Manager, NTT Intellectual Property
Center.
He received the B.E. and M.E. degrees fromYokohama National University, Yokohama,
Kanagawa in 1976 and 1978, respectively. Hejoined the Musashino Electrical Communication
Laboratories, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone
Public Corporation (now NTT), in 1978 and has
been engaged in the development and standardization of signaling and data communications
systems including ISDN packet, frame relay, andATM systems. He is a member of IEEE, theInstitute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers of Japan, and the Information Processing Society of Japan. In 1995 and2004, the ITU Association of Japan gave him anaward him for his contributions to standardization work in ITU-T.

This article described the status of TSAG discussions as of July 2004. During the last study period(2001–2004), regrettably little progress was made. It
is important for Japan to continue proposing
improvements for a more effective ITU-T in the present study period (2005–2008).
Reference[1]

http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/tsag/index.asp

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