The development of technical standards is, of course, a key part of the ITU mission and the focus of work in our T-Sector. The recent World Telecommunication Standards Assembly, held in Montreal, made progress in revising its procedures to speed the approval process for new standards and gave the private sector a greater voice in such decisions. New ITU-T Recommendations will improve the interoperability of IP and conventional networks. However, despite the new trends in telecommunications, some longstanding problems remain. Too many countries, including several in this region, still lack basic telecommunications infrastructure.
New technologies can help solve the problem.
Countries like Cambodia, where mobile subscribers outnumber fixed, may look to wireless telephony as a quick means for building national networks. At the ITU, our Development Bureau is assisting efforts to expand basic national networks. Many international organizations such as the World Bank and UNDP are focusing their activities to the issues of digital divide. But we cannot say enough. To meet the growing need for policy coordination in telecommunications, the ITU is acting to provide a place for global consideration of key issues.