The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organized an International Forum on Future Networks and Training on Conformity and Interoperability in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from May 23-25, 2023. The forum was hosted by the Ministry of Digital Technology of the Republic of Uzbekistan and supported by Uzbektelecom. Over 60 specialists from communication administrations, regulatory authorities, telecommunication operators, and other industry organizations attended the event, representing Austria, Armenia, Belarus, China, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.
The forum aimed to explore new and promising information and communication technologies, including mobile 5G/IMT-2020 and 6G/IMT-2030 networks, autonomous communication networks, artificial intelligence, quantum information technologies, metaverse, and IP transport technologies (IPv6, SRv6, APN6). Additionally, representatives from Armenia, Uzbekistan, and South Korea shared their experiences in applying modern technologies to digitize their economies and discussed the main technological trends in their respective countries. Notably, they mentioned the role of green ICT technologies in developing sustainable communication networks with low energy consumption.
Following the forum, training sessions on conformity and interoperability were conducted. The representatives of Uzbektelecom, the Belarusian State Academy of Communications, the Saint-Petersburg University of Telecommunications, the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) spoke at the training. Uzbektelecom representative had valuable experience in deploying 5G/IMT-2020 networks, and colleagues from the Belarusian State Academy of Communications shared their experience in quantum communications, IoT and Li-Fi. The experts shared their experience in deploying and testing promising technologies and discussed possibilities to establish a federation of technology testing laboratories.
Significant attention was given to the ITU's role in developing API requirements that would enable different laboratories to harmonize and share information during remote testing. Giulio Maggiore, Chair of the ETSI Technical Committee for Interoperability Testing (ETSI TC INT), emphasized the importance of a laboratory architecture that would foster collaboration among countries and facilitate future technology testing. He also highlighted the collaboration between ITU and ETSI in establishing laboratory federations.
Finally, an open discussion took place, allowing participants to address the most relevant and practical challenges faced by regulators and operators when introducing new promising technologies in the region. This interactive session served as a platform for exchanging views, ideas, and finding solutions collaboratively. The full Forum report and recommendations can be found
here, and a recording of the event is available
here.
We express our gratitude to all the forum and training participants for their valuable input and active engagement, as well as our partners for their organization and support. We look forward to meeting again soon!
