From the telegraph to the wireless telephone:

137 years of progress at ITU

An interview with Mr. Roberto Blois, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

UNS: What is the link between the International Telegraph Organization created in 1865 and the International Telecommunication Union of 2002 ? 
Mr. Roberto Blois: ITU is the oldest of the United Nation agencies. We were established in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union and we have worked hard ever since to ensure that the latest advances in communication technology are integrated rapidly and seamlessly into what has become a vast interconnected web of networks.

But aren’t the problems associated with the telegraph of yesterday and those of today’s mobile phones very different ? 
From a technical perspective they are very different. But while much has changed since the invention of the telegraph, much remains the same. Communication still doesn’t stop at the border and the need remains for an international body to ensure that all of humanity can benefit from advances in information and communication technology. Since the creation of ITU breakthroughs in technology such as radio, television, satellite and the Internet have all produced a need for international agreements, standards, tariffs or practices.

How have you adapted to these technological changes during the 137 years of its existence ? 
It has always been important for ITU to be at the forefront of telecommunication technology. For a long time we were essentially a scientific and technical organization whose role was to manage the frequency tables and to promote technical standardization. And these activities are still very much a part of our work. For example, the electro-magnetic frequency spectrum is just as important for a community radio station as it is to a satellite operator in order to keep interference to a minimum. But we are now also very involved in development activities to ensure that all nations have equitable access to the power of information and communication technologies. As well, we are also very active in regulatory matters.

What do you mean by regulatory matters ?
During the past decade the world has witnessed a dramatic change in the ownership of telecommunication system. By 2002 more than 80 of our 189 member states had privatised their telecommunication sector and established regulatory bodies. We have tried as much as we can to help countries, especially developing ones who wish to privatise, to establish a regulatory framework that creates a fair competitive environment. This is needed to achieve the maximum benefit for their citizens and their states.

We’ve heard a lot recently about the “digital divide.” What is it ? 
It is a relatively new expression for something that has existed for a long time. The divide exists between those who have the ability to communicate using modern technologies and those that don’t. It exists between developed and developing countries, but it can also exist within countries between urban and rural areas and between different groups in a society. The ‘digital divide’creates a knowledge gap between information rich and information poor countries and in fact may produce a new form of ‘illiteracy’. The ‘digital divide’ also limits the opportunities for economic growth and wealth distribution by developing countries.

And what exactly are you doing to bridge this gap ? 
We work closely with our member states and other UN agencies to promote policies that will improve telecommunication infrastructure. We also provide education for telecommunication operators and regulators and specific programmes to provide access to telecommunications for those on the wrong side of the digital divide. For example, we have created a system of more than 25 multipurpose telecentres in Africa and Asia that provide basic telecommunication services but may also provide business support services as well as tele-education and tele-medicine programs.

   Photo: ITU, A. de Ferron

From an economic perspective why should these information and communication technologies or ICTs as you call them, be so important to countries that may be struggling just to feed their populations ? 
First of all ICTs create economic ‘networks’of individuals and communities which allow them to access and exchange information and knowledge that is crucial for their socio-economic development. For example, traders, entrepreneurs and even small groups of artisans can benefit from information and opportunities to promote their businesses nationally, regionally and globally. As well, ICTs offer the possibility of delivering basic health and education services more efficiently because people can have access to them from their own homes and communities.

I understand ITU is responsible for the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) that is going to take place next December here in Geneva and again in Tunisia in
2005. What is it exactly ?
This will be the first World Summit designed to shape the future of the information society and bridge the digital divide. It will include representation and participation at the highest levels from world leaders, government, industry and civil society representatives, as well as the media.

The Summit will produce a clear statement of political will and a concrete action plan to address the inequities created by the digital divide. The challenge for us is to ensure that the issues are broad enough to ensure a comprehensive approach but specific enough to allow for focused discussion and planning. 
So far the core issues to be considered include ICT infrastructure and cost, equitable access in a digital global economy, telecommunication services and applications as well as their implications for economic, social and cultural development, consumer protection, privacy, security and ethics. We will also look at issues such as Internet content, cultural diversity and the right to communicate.

There seems to be many different government and intergovernmental initiatives around the ‘digital divide’. Why is it necessary to have a summit organized by ITU ? 
First of all, the United Nations recognized there was a need for better cooperation among the various national and global initiatives on information and communication technologies for development and it adopted a resolution instructing ITU to take the lead role in preparing the summit.

I believe ITU, given its scientific, technical, economic and policy expertise in the area of communications is a logical choice. Not to mention that it was an ITU initiative in 1998 that first brought forth the idea of a World Summit on the Information Society.

Photo: Nokia

What is the difference between the forthcoming World Summit and the well-known ITU Telecomm gatherings ? 
ITU Telecomms are geared toward specific telecommunication technologies. They are important telecommunication tradeshows for the industry in different regions of the world to launch, promote and showcase the latest technologies. The World Summit on the Information Society will not be a technological exhibition per se but a forum for dialogue amongst stakeholders with an interest in the Information Society and a desire to bridge the ‘digital divide’.

What can the various UN regions offer to the Summit ?
There will be a number of regional preparatory meetings in the coming months that will shape the work of the Summit. One of these will take place in Mali in May and there will be another in Bucharest in late fall for the European region. We expect one in Chile for the Americas and one in Japan for Asia, late this year or early next year. These preparatory meetings will provide a good overview of the state of the information societies in their regions and will identify a vision of what’s needed to address the digital divide in their regions.

What exactly is the nature of the shared vision you are striving for in the World Summit ? 
What we want is not just a declaration but also a concrete action plan based on a shared vision. It is one reason this Summit is being held in two parts. The first in Geneva in 2003 and then in Tunis in 2005. This will allow us to not only create an action plan but also monitor its success over time and modify it if necessary.

You’ve mentioned the private sector quite a bit. What exactly is the status of the private sector in ITU ?
We have more than 900 companies from around the world who are critical to the work of ITU. We call them sector member. They actively participate in meetings, prepare papers and telecommunication standardization recommendations and contribute to research projects and development initiatives. The only thing they don’t have, unlike the member states, is the right to vote at ITU meetings.

How do you think the telecommunication world will look in ten years ? 
That is very difficult to say. Things are evolving very quickly ! However, we expect a tremendous development of wireless telecommunication that will benefit all. At least that is what we hope for. We’ve spent 138 years trying to improve access, affordability and ease of use of telecommunication technologies and I don’t expect that will change much regardless of what the future brings.

How do you explain the fact that there are 3 billion cell phones currently in the world and that in some parts of the world there are now almost more cell phones than people ?

I think it provides evidence of how important the people of the world consider information and communication technologies to be. We have seen an explosive growth in cell phones in the developing world where they provide a less expensive alternative to fixed line infrastructures. I need to mention here that while we have seen the gap between the developed and the developing nations shrink in terms of access to telephone lines, the ‘digital divide’ in terms of internet access continues to grow so a lot remains to be done.

Do you have a cell phone ?
Yes, but I use it only when I am out of the office. The rest of the time I remain traditional and use a line phone.

Interview by Jean Michel Jakobowicz.