CompassRose International Publications
The International Telecommunication Union -- Background
FORMATION The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was founded in 1865 in Paris as the International Telegraph Union. The world’s oldest intergovernmental organization, the ITU became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1947. It has been located in Geneva, Switzerland since 1948.
The ITU mission is to encourage the spread of efficient telecommunications services throughout the world. It is one of the few intergovernmental organizations founded on the principle of cooperation between the government and private sectors. Governments and private sector companies cooperate for the development of telecommunications through the adoption of intergovernmental treaties.
The ITU is comprised of 188 Member States and 560 Sector Members (public and private operators, broadcasters, regional/international organizations, and scientific and industrial organizations). Functionally, the ITU defines and adopts telecommunications standards; coordinates the use of the radiofrequency spectrum; and provides support for telecommunications in the developing world.
ITU administrative and external relations functions are carried out by the General Secretariat. However, its supreme decision-making body is the Plenipotentiary Conference, which includes all members and meets every four years to adopt a strategic plan, set the budget and formulate the fundamental principles that guide the ITU. The ITU Council, made up of 46 Member States, acts on behalf of the Plenipotentiary Conference to set the broad policy framework for the ITU’s operations and to coordinate the work of the ITU’s three functional arms, the Sectors. Each Sector operates through a bureau, which also are headquartered in Geneva. The Sectors are as follows:
The Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) coordinates the allocation of orbital slots for satellites and manages the use of the world’s radio frequency spectrum. This later work is accomplished through the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), held every two years. The ITU-R also develops and adopts the Radio Regulations, which form the basis of radio frequency usage regulations throughout the world. The Telecommunications Standards Bureau (TSB) is directed by Houlin Zhao (China).
The Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) develops standards, called "Recommendations," for all types of telecommunications equipment. The ITU-T accomplishes its work through study groups of more than 4,000 experts and sector members. World Telecommunication Standardization Assemblies (WTSAs) set the agenda for the study groups. The Radiocommunications Bureau is directed by Robert Jones (Canada).
The Development Sector (ITU-D) offers training and advice in order to foster the growth of telecommunications service in the developing world. Under the new leadership of Hamadoun Touré (Mali), the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) also sponsors specific telecommunications development projects.