The Changing World of Telecommunications - Standardization in a Rapidly Changing Environment as a Challenge for CCITT

At no other time in its 125 years' history has the ITU been more challenged than is presently the case. Its two standardization bodies, CCITT and CCIR, are in the forefront of developing global standards, tieing together the more and more complicated, ever-increasing world-wide web of telecommunications. Standardization of ISDN is just one example of how ITU has successfully managed its task as a global standardization authority - but much more remains to be done. Standardization in the competitive environment, as it exists today, is certainly not a foolproof job; different interests of competing organizations and companies, which should be brought to a consensus, should be kept in mind - an undertaking that might sometimes even fail. Fortunately, all the parties concerned are now increasingly aware of the fact that, by the end of the day, a standard is beneficial to all of them, whereas no standard at all would be detrimental.