​​Statement of the situation or prob​​lem

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) brought new challenges and opportunities to conformance and interoperability (C&I) structures that merit study by the ITU-D membership and the provision of guidance to the ICT community.
Question 4/2's extended terms of reference will include the following three items:

​i) Conformance and interoperability (C&I)

Inclusion of an ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU D) study group Question on this matter provides an effective way to further the aims of Resolutions 177 (Rev. Dubai, 2018) and 188 (Rev. Dubai, 2018) of the Plenipotentiary Conference, Resolution 47 (Rev. Kigali, 2022) of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC), and Resolutions 76, 96 and 97 (Rev. Geneva, 2022) of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA).
According to the Buenos Aires Declaration, widespread C&I of telecommunication/ICT equipment and systems allow increased market opportunities as well as the reliability and integration of world trade, which can be achieved through programmes, policies and decisions.
Member States and ITU D Sector Members can assist and guide each other by conducting studies, building tools to bridge the standardization gap, and navigating issues related to matters raised in the above-mentioned resolutions. ITU D can harness the energy of its membership to examine these important issues. In this regard, to facilitate safe usage of products and services anywhere in the world, regardless of who is the manufacturer or service provider, it is crucial that products and services be developed in accordance with relevant international standards, regulations and other specifications, and that their compliance be tested.
The Question will ultimately contribute to international community's effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the targets on infrastructure1 (namely 9.1, 9.a, 9.b, and 9.c), by adopting an eco friendly set of harmonized standards, since C&I regime instruments enable countries to better control and authenticate products. Conformity assessment increases the probability of interoperability, i.e. equipment built by different manufacturers being capable of communicating successfully. In addition, it helps to ensure that products and services are delivered according to expectations. Conformity assessment builds consumer trust and confidence in tested products and consequently strengthens the business environment and, thanks to interoperability, the economy benefits from business stability, scalability and cost reduction of systems, equipment and tariffs.
To increase the benefits of C&I, many countries have adopted harmonized C&I regimes at both national and bilateral/multilateral level. However, some developing countries2 have not yet done so because of a number of major challenges, such as the lack of appropriate/adequate infrastructure and technology development to be in a position to test or to recognize tested ICT equipment (e.g. accredited laboratories).
The availability of high-quality, high-performing products will accelerate widespread deployment of infrastructure, technologies and associated services, allowing people to access the information society regardless of their location or chosen device, and contributing to implementing the SDGs.
Also, simplifying the conformity assessment process will facilitate the homologation of products destined for telecommunications, will give legal certainty to users on compliance in the products they acquire, and will promote adoption of the best technological standards and measures to protect intellectual property. Considering the role of C&I in a hyperconnected world where billions of people and objects connect with each other, Question 4/2 will give additional focus on:
• ​New technologies and their impact in national C&I frameworks;
• Efforts to manage the increasing number of devices sharing the same limited resources;
• Measures to cover cost related to conformity procedures and controls of ICT products to allow only approved products to access markets;
• Reassessment of how harmonization of procedures and collaboration can be achieved under this scenario, considering: • Robust C&I frameworks: Making sure every country has or is part of a robust C&I framework with minimal costs (e.g. agreements on the shared use of national C&I infrastructure, such as testing facilities and certificates of conformity); • Collaboration: Effective tools/aspects of MRAs that need to be adapted to improve existing collaboration agreements or develop new ones. In addition, this will contribute to raising the quality standards of services, making them more efficient, for the benefit of the population.

ii​) Counterfeit telecommunication/ICT equipment

Counterfeit telecommunication/ICT equipment is a growing issue and socio-economic problem. It causes significant negative impact on innovation, levels of foreign direct investment, growth in the economy and levels of employment, and may also redirect resources into organized criminal networks.

​​​​​iii) Mobile device theft

​Preventing and combating the use of stolen mobile devices is another issue. The theft of user-owned mobile devices may lead to the criminal use of telecommunication/ICT services and applications, resulting in economic losses for the lawful owner and user. Implementing measures to combat counterfeit telecommunication/ICT devices and mobile device theft is a matter of urgency and high interest for developing countries.

Question o​​r issue for study

Question 4/2 is expected to examine issues related to ICT equipment and systems, a key component for spreading ICT networks, access, services and applications. The work covers the below items:
• 2.1 In close collaboration with the relevant Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) programme(s), identifying and assessing the challenges, priorities and problems for countries, subregions or regions with respect to the application of ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU T) Recommendations and approaches to meeting the need for confidence in the conformity of equipment with ITU T Recommendations.
• 2.2 Identifying critical/priority issues related to C&I in countries, subregions or regions, and related best practices.
• 2.3 Examining how information transfer, know-how, training and institutional and human capacity development can strengthen the ability of developing countries to reduce risks associated with low-quality equipment and equipment interoperability issues. Examining effective information-sharing systems and best practices to assist in this work (in possible collaboration with Question 6/1 and Question 5/2).
• 2.4 Elaborating a methodology for the implementation of this Question, in particular gathering evidence and information regarding current best practices being adopted to create C&I programmes, taking into consideration progress achieved by all the ITU Sectors in this regard.
• 2.5 Techniques designed to promote harmonization of C&I regimes, to establish administrative procedures (e.g. market surveillance) to increase resilience on ICT devices, to improve local and regional integration and to contribute to bridging the standardization gap, thereby reducing the digital divide, considering the current scenario of hyperconnected societies.
• 2.6 Information regarding the establishment of mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) between countries. Guidance on concepts and procedures to establish and manage MRAs.
• 2.7 Assessing the impact of the increase of ICT devices to the radiocommunication environment, including the Internet of Things (IoT), and providing guidelines to the ITU-D membership for ICT readiness related to C&I (in possible collaboration with Question 6/2 and Question 7/2).
• 2.8 Techniques and national experiences on combating counterfeit, sub-standard, and tampered devices: – prepare and document examples of best practices on limiting counterfeit and tampered devices, for distribution; –​ prepare guidelines, methodologies and publications to assist Member States in identifying counterfeit and tampered devices and methods of increasing public awareness and restricting trade in these devices, as well as the best ways of limiting them; – study the impact of counterfeit and tampered telecommunication/ICT devices being transported to developing countries.
• 2.9 Future challenges for C&I, such as: – new technologies outpacing regulation/testing procedures; – regulatory aspects for open and interoperability adoption related to 5G (in possible collaboration with Question 1/1 on broadband infrastructure); – smart objects' communication paradigms (in possible collaboration with Question 1/2 on smart objects and IoT); – software modifications to ICT devices after homologation and their impacts to existing C&I frameworks (in possible collaboration with Question 3/2); – effective harmonization of procedures and technical collaboration, etc.
• 2.10 How to prioritize device/type-approval while achieving a good balance between providing confidence to the user (e.g. through homologation) and applicable regulatory measures by the responsible authorities.
• 2.11 C&I challenges and opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 2.12 Ways in which new technologies can help to improve the international C&I framework and trade in and use of ICT devices. ​

  Expected ​output​

  In the ITU D study period 2018-2021, studies of various issues related to C&I, combating counterfeit ICT equipment and theft of mobile devices are to be reported. Outputs are to be prepared in three separate components. Specifically, the following outputs are envisaged:

  C&I programmes

• a) Review of guidelines and best practices on technical, legal and regulatory aspects of a C&I regime.
• b) Feasibility studies regarding the establishment of laboratories in different C&I domains.
• c) Guidance on the framework and procedures for establishing technical collaboration on C&I and sharing of resources.
• d) Questionnaire to collect and update the database of current status of C&I regimes established at national, regional or global levels.
• e) Development of a methodology for assessing the status of C&I regimes in place in the regions (or subregions).
• f) Experience-sharing and case study reports on implementation of C&I programmes focusing on efficient and affordable methods to improve the level of conformity.
• g) Additional topics for the study period extension: – Future challenges to C&I facing new technologies, open and collaborative C&I frameworks; – C&I Challenges and opportunities from COVID-19; – Ways in which new technologies can help to improve the international C&I framework and trade in and use of ICT devices.

  Combating counterfeit ICT equipment

• h) Best practices and guidelines, including methodologies to combat counterfeit ICT equipment.

  Mobile device theft

• i) Experience-sharing and case-study reports on combating mobile device theft.