India Steps Up Efforts to Shape Global ICT Standards

In a significant step towards shaping India's role in global ICT standards, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the state-run National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF) conducted a two-day workshop in Geneva for Department of Telecom officials and telecom industry representatives.

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Building Capacity for Global Standards

The workshop, titled "Bridging the Standardization Gap (BSG) on Effectiveness in Standardization," aimed to enhance the capacity of Indian stakeholders to contribute effectively to global ICT standards. India, despite being a major data producer and consumer of ICT services, currently faces challenges in influencing standardization activities, which are largely dominated by China and the West.

Preparing for WTSA 2024

The workshop was organized in anticipation of the first-ever global meet of the World Telecom Standardization Assembly (WTSA), which will be hosted by India in Delhi from October 14-24, 2024. The workshop participants gained insights into the process of shaping India's proposals into global standards, ensuring that the country's interests and perspectives are well-represented on the international stage.

Key Workshop Topics

The workshop covered various aspects of the standardization process, including:

• Identifying objectives in the standards-making process
• Making interventions in Study Group meetings
• Role-play exercises and simulation sessions
• Strategies for becoming leaders in the standards development process
• Effective contributions writing and negotiation

Advancing India's Role in ICT Standards

The workshop concluded with a comprehensive overview of WTSA-24, providing participants with a clear understanding of the upcoming event and the opportunities it presents for India to play a more active role in shaping global ICT standards. By building the capacity of Indian stakeholders, the workshop contributes to the country's efforts to bridge the standardization gap and ensure that its interests are represented in the evolving global ICT landscape.