UN agency agrees to new partnership to help standardize cyberspace

In an effort to bring about greater standardization in cyberspace, the United Nations telecommunications agency has agreed on a unique partnership deal with a non-profit global organization of over 340 companies that provides guidance on improving communications services.

The partnership with TeleManagement Forum (TM Forum) aims to leverage both organizations' resources and expertise to enhance international standards in Telemanagement and Operational Support Systems (OSS), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) said today in a news release in Geneva.

It allows TM Forum standards to be published by ITU as ITU-T recommendations. ITU-T is ITU's standards-setting body.

"We believe strongly that a policy of cooperation with other standards development bodies contributes significantly to the process and will ultimately help to create a fairer market for businesses and consumers," said Houlin Zhao, Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau the secretariat for ITU-T.

"This partnership means that we can avoid duplication of work and get standards to market in a far more efficient manner," he added.

The president and CEO of TM Forum, Jim Warner, said the partnership "provides us with an efficient way to take our standards to the international community for formal adoption, quickly and without duplication of efforts."

TM Forum's membership comprises incumbent and new-entrant service providers, computing and network equipment suppliers, software solution suppliers and customers of communications services. TM Forum has been contributing to the Information and Communications Services (ICS) Industry for over 15 years.