New developments within the ITU designed to ensure greater efficiency in the production and distribution of standards were reviewed. Another central issue was the role of forums and consortia. Reports were heard from the ATM and the Multimedia Communications forums including a comprehensive survey on forums and consortia prepared by TTC of Japan. Sharing of information between these entities and the standards organizations will be essential to support identification of user needs and, in some cases, to contribute to the development of standards. Participants finally examined a new road map for the third generation of international mobile communications.
Standards are the key to open markets.
The Ottawa meeting clearly reflects a change in how standards organizations now operate. They are no longer technology-driven but operate increasingly according to market needs on a global scale. It won't matter to the user how these services are delivered, as long as the user has seamless communication. In the interim, members will exchange information on the GII, conformance assessment, quality of standards and on the existing and possible new high interest areas.