PHILIPSBURG–Standardization is achieved by setting generally accepted guidelines to ensure that a products or services are fully functioning, and compatible with other products, services and systems, without any restrictions.
This is part of the message from Bureau Telecommunications and Post (BTP) St. Maarten Director Anthony Carty on the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), which is being observed today Friday, May 17, under the theme “Bridging the Standardization Gap.”
The day also commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1865. ITU is the specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that is responsible for information and communication technologies. They facilitate international connectivity, allocate global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develop the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide. ITU is the oldest among all the 15 specialized agencies of UN.
World Telecommunication Day has been celebrated annually since 1969 to raise awareness for important Information and Communication Technologies, and the use of the Internet. The theme of this 50th anniversary of WTISD is “Bridging the Standardization Gap.”
“Every time a person makes a phone call, accesses the Internet, listens to the radio, watches TV, sends an email, or makes use of smartphone applications, they are benefitting from standardization processes of the ITU,” Carty said in a press release issued on Thursday. Setting standards is a fundamental pillar of ITU, especially with the roll out of 5G networks in the nearby future. ITU Secretary General Houlin Zhao urges all member states and key players in the Telecom industry to support the ITU’s “Bridging the Standardization Gap” programme.
“Millions and millions of persons around the globe are connecting to the internet daily by making use of wireless devices. They utilize their devices for communication, education, e-commerce, e-health and many other things,” Carty said. “This would not be possible without global standardization. We must recognise that our local economy relies on the availability of ICT, and the functioning of electronic devices across the globe, on different platforms and networks is not a luxury but an absolute necessity. In order for Sint Maarten to stay connected with the outside world, we must continue to contribute to the ITU’s mission in setting global ICT standards.”
Carty said BTP will remain committed to work together with the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) to develop and update policies, implement service standards, and provide guidance to the industry to ensure that Sint Maarten will also reap the benefits of the global digital economy.
BTP wishes all the workers in the Telecommunications industry a happy World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2019.
In the meantime, in a separate press release TEATT Minister Stuart Johnson congratulated telecommunication-sector workers in the country on WTISD. “According to the ITU, more than half of the global population is online. For country Sint Maarten, we need to continue to improve our telecommunication and information technology sectors in order to keep pace with global trends and developments,” Johnson said. “Emerging technologies such as 5G will play a transforming role as the global digital economy continues to grow. We have to make sure that we are at the forefront where local broadband development is concerned or suffer the consequence of being left behind,” the minister added.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/87573-btp-standardization-can-be-achieved-by-setting-guidelines
View comments
Hide comments