It's that time again, where large numbers of telecoms and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) companies are faced with the un-nerving prospect of a United Nations agency regulating fundamentally important aspects of the internet, as well as significantly increasing its jurisdiction over the ICT and telecoms industries.
The UN agency in question this time is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a highly specialised agency created to focus solely on telecommunications and ICT over 100 years ago. The ITU has previously disclaimed any authority to regulate domestic communications, stating specifically in their constitution the: 'sovereign right of each state to regulate its telecommunication'.
Over 100 years ago the International Telecommunication Union was formed by the 'league of nations' (the predecessor to the united nations) with the sole purpose of focusing on the ever expanding ICT and telecommunications industries, ensuring that the regulations were kept in line with the advancement of associated technologies.
It seems, however, that over the years the balance has shifted considerably in favour of the latest technologies, with updates to regulations being made only very intermittently. Although the ITU has a vast range of responsibilities and tasks to perform, their regulations do not carry the weight of the law, even though many of their guidelines are adopted by most national level authorities.
At the forthcoming conference - which will take place in Dubai later this year - a significant treaty made in 1988 known as the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) will be renegotiated.
As well as the ITRs playing a pivotal part in arranging and setting in place the necessary framework detailing international telecommunication transport and services, it also established the guidelines which have provided the foundation for mutual and private agreements between both countries and no-governmental organisations.
An overhaul of the ITRs has long been on the cards, and although any alterations made will not become law, it is widely acknowledged that any decisions made at the conference will play a big part in the way internet and telecommunications are regulated internationally over the coming years.
Whatever changes are deemed fit to be introduced, and however much opposition there may be towards them, the telecoms industry can count itself lucky that it has been able to avoid a re-assessment of its' guidelines for so long. And maybe there can be some comfort taken from the fact that whatever guidelines are introduced, the future of Voip is incredibly bright and will only continue to grow for the foreseeable future, meaning there will be no lack of new customers any time soon.
The UN agency in question this time is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a highly specialised agency created to focus solely on telecommunications and ICT over 100 years ago. The ITU has previously disclaimed any authority to regulate domestic communications, stating specifically in their constitution the: 'sovereign right of each state to regulate its telecommunication'.
Over 100 years ago the International Telecommunication Union was formed by the 'league of nations' (the predecessor to the united nations) with the sole purpose of focusing on the ever expanding ICT and telecommunications industries, ensuring that the regulations were kept in line with the advancement of associated technologies.
It seems, however, that over the years the balance has shifted considerably in favour of the latest technologies, with updates to regulations being made only very intermittently. Although the ITU has a vast range of responsibilities and tasks to perform, their regulations do not carry the weight of the law, even though many of their guidelines are adopted by most national level authorities.
At the forthcoming conference - which will take place in Dubai later this year - a significant treaty made in 1988 known as the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) will be renegotiated.
As well as the ITRs playing a pivotal part in arranging and setting in place the necessary framework detailing international telecommunication transport and services, it also established the guidelines which have provided the foundation for mutual and private agreements between both countries and no-governmental organisations.
An overhaul of the ITRs has long been on the cards, and although any alterations made will not become law, it is widely acknowledged that any decisions made at the conference will play a big part in the way internet and telecommunications are regulated internationally over the coming years.
Whatever changes are deemed fit to be introduced, and however much opposition there may be towards them, the telecoms industry can count itself lucky that it has been able to avoid a re-assessment of its' guidelines for so long. And maybe there can be some comfort taken from the fact that whatever guidelines are introduced, the future of Voip is incredibly bright and will only continue to grow for the foreseeable future, meaning there will be no lack of new customers any time soon.
About the Author:
Saul Saresi writes regularly about Voip communications and technologies for his site which can be found here business voip previous examples of his work can be found here voip system
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