International Telecommunication Union, ITU of the UN
The International Telecommunication Union, ITU of the United Nations
The International Telecommunication Union is an important
specialized agency of the United Nations and the longest-running international
organization among United Nations agencies. It is also Referable as ITU.
ITU is the United Nations agency in charge of information and
communication technology affairs.
It is responsible for allocating and managing
global radio spectrum and satellite orbit resources, formulating global
telecommunications standards, providing telecommunications assistance to
developing countries, and promoting the development of global
telecommunications.
As the link between governments and the private sector
worldwide, ITU, through its radio communications, standardization and
development of telecommunications exhibition activities, is also the host
organization of the World Summit on the Information Society.
ITU is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and its members
include 193 member states and more than 700 sector members and associate
members and academic members. Every May 17th is World Telecommunication Day.
On October 23, 2014, Houlin Zhao was elected as the new
Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union, becoming the
first Chinese national secretary in the International Telecommunication Union's
150-year history.
He officially took office on January 1, 2015 for a four-year
term.
International Organization Name: International
Telecommunication Union
Category: International
organizations
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Established: May 17, 1865
Number of member states: 193
Abbreviated as: ITU
Introduction of International Telecommunication Union, ITU
The history of ITU (International Telecommunication Union)
can be traced back to 1865.
In order to successfully realize international
telegraph communication, on May 17, 1865, representatives of 20 European
countries including France, Germany, Russia, Italy and Austria signed the
"International Telegraph Convention" in Paris, and the International
Telegraph Union (ITU) also announced Established.
With the application and
development of telephone and radio, ITU's authority has been continuously expanded.
In 1906, representatives of 27 countries including Germany, Britain, France,
the United States, and Japan signed the International Radio Telegraph
Convention in Berlin.
In 1932, representatives of more than 70 countries
convened a meeting in Madrid, Spain, to merge the International Telegraph
Convention and the International Radio Telegraph Convention, to formulate the
International Telecommunication Convention, and decided to officially rename it
as of January 1, 1934.
"International Telecommunication Union"
(International Telecommunication Union).
With the consent of the United
Nations, the International Telecommunication Union became a specialized agency
of the United Nations on October 15, 1947, and its headquarters was moved to
Geneva from Bern, Switzerland.
ITU is one of the 15 specialized agencies of the United
Nations, but it is not legally a subsidiary agency of the United Nations.
Its
resolutions and activities do not require approval by the United Nations, but a
work report is submitted to the United Nations every year.
What are the divisions of International Telecommunication Union?
The organization structure of ITU is mainly divided into
telecommunication standardization department (ITU-T), radio communication
department (ITU-R) and telecommunication development department (ITU-D).
The
ITU convenes the Council once a year, the Plenipotentiary Conference, the World
Telecommunication Standards Conference and the World Telecommunication
Development Conference every 4 years, and the World Radiocommunication
Conference every 2 years.
Brief introduction of the research groups and main research
directions of ITU-T, ITU-R and ITU-D
(1) Telecommunication Standardization Department (ITU-T)
There are currently 10 research groups in the main activities
of the telecommunications standardization sector.
SG2: Operational issues of service provision and
telecommunications management
SG3: Tariff and settlement principles including related
telecommunication economic and policy issues
SG5: Environment and climate change
SG9: TV and sound transmission and integrated broadband cable
network
SG11: signaling requirements, protocols and test
specifications;
SG12: performance, quality of service (QoS) and quality of
experience (QoE)
SG13: Future networks including mobile and next-generation
networks (NGN)
SG15: Optical transmission network and access network
infrastructure
SG16: Multimedia coding, systems and applications
SG17: Security
(2) Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R)
There are currently six research groups in the main
activities of the radiocommunication sector.
SG1: Spectrum management
SG3: radio wave propagation
SG4: Satellite business
SG5: ground service
SG6: Broadcast service
SG7: Science business
(3) Telecommunication Development Department (ITU-D)
The Telecommunication Development Department is formed by the
merger of the original Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) and the
Telecommunication Development Center (CDT).
Its responsibility is to encourage
developing countries to:
- Participate in the research work of the Union
- Organize technical seminars to make developing countries Understand the work of the Union and apply the research results of the Union as soon as possible
- encourage international cooperation and provide technical assistance to developing countries
- Build and improve communication networks in developing countries.
At present, ITU-D has established two study groups.
SG1: Research on telecommunication development policies and
strategies
SG2: Development and management of telecommunication
services, networks and ICT applications
Mission
What is the Purpose of International Telecommunication Union?
The purpose of ITU, according to its "Basic Law",
can be defined as follows:
1. Maintain and develop international cooperation to
promote the research and development and rational use of various
telecommunications services.
2. Promote the update and the most effective use
of telecommunications facilities to improve the telecommunications Efficiency,
increase utilization rate and achieve popularization and universalization as
much as possible.
3. Coordinate the work of various countries to achieve a
common purpose.
These tasks can be divided into three parts:
- Telecommunications standardization
- Radio communication specifications
- Telecommunications development
The permanent functional departments of each part are
"Bureau", which includes the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau
(TSB), Wireless Communications Bureau (RB) and Telecommunication Development
Bureau (BDT).
What is the mission of ITU?
Objectives of International Telecommunication Union: ITU’s mission is to enable the growth and sustainable
development of telecommunications and information networks, and to promote
universal access so that people around the world can participate in and benefit
from the global information economy and society.
The ability to communicate
freely is an indispensable prerequisite for building a fairer, prosperous and
peaceful world.
To make this vision a reality, ITU helps mobilize the necessary
technical, financial and human resources.
Major Task of ITU
One of the major tasks facing us is to build the information
and communication infrastructure, vigorously promote capacity building and
strengthen cybersecurity to increase people’s confidence in using cyberspace
and bridge the so-called digital divide.
Achieving cyber security and cyber
peace are the issues that people are most concerned about in the information
age, and ITU is taking practical measures through its landmark global cyber
security agenda.
ITU also strives to strengthen emergency communications for
disaster prevention and mitigation.
Although both developing and developed
countries are threatened by natural disasters, poorer countries are often the
hardest hit because of their weak economic capabilities and lack of resources.
Whether through the establishment of standards for creating
infrastructure to provide telecommunications services on a global scale, or
through fair management of the radio spectrum and satellite orbits to promote
wireless services to every corner of the world, or through efforts to develop
telecommunications countries with development strategies provide support. Also,
all the work carried out by ITU revolves around the goal of providing all
people with easy access to information and communication services at affordable
prices, thus contributing to the economic and social development of all mankind
Significant contribution.
ITU will, as always, strive to connect the world.
Membership of The International Telecommunication Union
ITU not only recruits governments as member states, but also
private operators such as operators, equipment manufacturers, financing
institutions, R & D institutions, and international and regional
telecommunication organizations.
With the increasing role of telecommunications in the overall
promotion of global economic activities, joining ITU enables governments and
private institutions to play an active role in this institution with more than
140 years of experience in the construction of world telecommunications networks.
Joining ITU
By joining the world's largest, most respected and
influential global telecommunications organization, the government and industry
can ensure that their opinions are expressed, and effectively and effectively
advance the development of the world around us.
Private companies and other organizations can choose to join
one or more of the three ITU departments according to their areas of concern.
Whether attending conferences, plenary meetings and technical meetings, or
engaging in daily work, members can enjoy unique communication opportunities
and a wide range of networking environments. They can discuss issues and form business
and cooperative relationships.
ITU sector members also carry out standard
setting work to support future telecommunications systems and the networks and
services that will create tomorrow.
Finally, members of the department have the right to have
access to non-public first-hand information that may be extremely valuable for
their business plans.
The main work of International Telecommunication Union
Managing the international radio frequency spectrum and
satellite orbit resources is the core work of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector
(ITU-R).
According to the ITU Constitution, ITU is responsible for
allocating and registering spectrum and frequency assignments, as well as
satellite orbital positions and other parameters, "to avoid harmful
interference from radio stations between different countries." Therefore,
the frequency notification, coordination and registration rules and procedures
are the basis of the international spectrum management system.
The main tasks
of ITU-R also include the development of radio communication system standards,
ensuring the effective use of the radio frequency spectrum, and conducting
relevant radio communications
Radio communication
Research on system development. In addition, ITU-R is engaged
in research on the development of radio communication systems required for
disaster reduction and relief work. The specific content is covered by the work
plan of the Radio Communication Study Group.
The radio communication services
related to disasters include disaster prediction, discovery, early warning and
disaster relief. In the case of severe or complete damage to the
"wired" communication infrastructure, radio communication services
are the most effective means of disaster relief.
The ITU Radio Regulations and its "Frequency Allocation
Table" are regularly revised and updated to meet the huge demand for
spectrum. This revision and update work is very important to adapt to the rapid
development of existing systems and to meet the spectrum requirements of
advanced wireless technologies under development.
The ITU World
Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), held every three to four years, is at the
core of the international spectrum management process and is also the starting
point for countries to carry out practical work.
The World Radiocommunication
Conference reviews and revises the Radio Regulations - an international treaty
establishing the framework for the use of radio frequencies and satellite
orbits by ITU member states, and considers any worldwide issues that fall
within its scope of authority in accordance with the relevant agenda.
From the implementation of the Radio Regulations to the
development of Recommendations and Guidelines on the use of radio systems and
spectrum / orbit resources, ITU-R plays a key role in global radio spectrum and
satellite orbit management through a wide variety of activities.
A large
number, rapid growth, and various types of services that rely on radio
communications to guarantee the safety of life on land, sea, and air, such as
fixed, mobile, broadcast, amateur, space research, meteorology, global
positioning system, and environmental monitoring, etc. The demand for these
limited natural resources is increasing day by day.
The radio communications department studies wireless
communication technologies and operations, publishes proposals, and also
performs the functions of the World Radio Administrative Conference (WARC),
CCIR, and Frequency Registration Committee, including:
1. The application of
radio spectrum in land and space radio communications
2. Characteristics and
performance of radio communication systems
3. Operation of radio stations; 4.
Radio communications in distress and safety.
Telecom Standard of the International Telecommunication Union
ITU is renowned for its standards development work. Standard
setting is the earliest work that it began. In the most rapidly developing
industry in the world, the telecommunications standardization department
adheres to the path of continuous development, simplifies working methods, and
adopts more flexible collaboration methods to meet the increasingly complex
market demands.
Experts from industries, public sectors and R & D entities
from all over the world meet regularly to jointly develop intricate technical
specifications to ensure that various communication systems can seamlessly
interoperate with the various network elements that make up today's complex ICT
networks and services.
The cooperation enables the major competitors in the industry
to shake hands, focusing on reaching a global consensus on new technologies,
ITU
Telecommunications pertaining to ITU
T's standards (also known as proposals) are the foundation
of contemporary information and communication networks that are the lifeblood
of various economic activities.
For manufacturers, these standards are a
convenient door for them to enter the world market, which is conducive to
achieving economies of scale in production and distribution. As they are
well aware that systems that comply with ITU-T standards will be used globally,
whether it is for telecommunications or likewise.
The purchasers of giants and multinational
companies are also ordinary consumers.
These standards can ensure that the
equipment they purchase can be easily integrated with other existing systems.
Looking ahead, one of the main challenges facing the
telecommunications standardization sector is the integration of different
industry types.
As traditional telephone services, mobile networks,
televisions, and radio broadcasts begin to carry new services, a revolution in
communications and information processing has begun.
Standard procedure
In the International Organization for Standardization, the
project proposal method and project positioning of the proposed standard draft
are roughly divided into the following five situations:
1. The proposal is
adopted as part of the revision of an important standard, or several
paragraphs
2. The proposal is adopted and corrected for an important standard
3. The proposal is adopted as part of the revision of an important standard,
and together with several other parts form an important international standard
4. The proposal is adopted to supplement an important standard
5. The proposal
was adopted as an independent important standard, such as X.85 and X.86.
The
influence of international standards is very large.
Generally, it takes at
least two years for an international standard from submitting a manuscript to
being approved as a standard, and it needs continuous maintenance and
improvement for the next 3-5 years.
Approval as an international standard
requires the approval of 189 countries and more than 600 industrial
organizations and numerous manufacturers. Therefore, the formulation of
international standards is a manifestation of comprehensive capabilities
involving major innovations, intellectual property rights, markets, and
development.
Development Department of International Telecommunication Union
The purpose of the establishment of the ITU Telecommunication
Development Sector (ITU-D) is to help popularize access to information and
communication technologies (ICT) in a fair, sustainable and affordable manner
as a means of promoting and deepening social and economic development.
The
World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC), held every four years,
sets practical priorities to help achieve the above goals.
The
Telecommunication Development Department works with government and industry
partners to raise the necessary technology and manpower for the development of
ICT networks and services through a series of regional initiatives,
global-level activities and multi-target projects that complement the
comprehensive national plan.
It also exerts to arrange financial resources to connect the unconnected. To this
end, they are advancing the development of a global broadband connection that is
everywhere, convenient, simple, and affordable, and is promoting the transition
to the next generation network (NGN).
In order to meet the challenges brought
about by the rapid growth of ICT, through a series of tools for policy-making
institutions and regulatory agencies, to promote the establishment of a
favorable regulatory and business environment, thereby achieving innovation and
efficiency in the telecommunications market.
They support projects that utilize
rural community access to deploy new wireless and mobile technologies, and at
the same time provide emergency communications for disaster relief when
necessary.
In addition, they also help to cultivate a work force with ICT
knowledge through a number of technical and policy training initiatives carried
out globally, paying particular attention to the specific needs of youth, women
and persons with disabilities.
ITU-D plays a role in promoting and promoting ICT
development. Through contact with government leaders and international donor
agencies, an appropriate balance between public and private investment is
sought.
There is no “one size fits all” strategy for creating digital
opportunities. To this end, ITU-D helps member states to elaborate targeted
national information and communication strategies, including e-government and
distance education strategies.
In addition, we strive to help developing countries
strengthen cybersecurity and promote the formation of cybersecurity culture to
improve the security of cyberspace.
ITU-D has also provided reliable
statistical data on trends and developments in the ICT field through extensive
scripture references, while conducting research group activities on key issues
facing governments and industry.
Exhibition Department of International Telecommunication Union
The major exhibition events, high-level forums and various
other activities organized by the ITU Telecommunications Exhibition Department
provide a gathering place for leaders in the information and communication
technology (ICT) industry, government ministers and regulators of various
countries, and various parties Good opportunity.
These content-rich activities
provide an interconnected platform for the ICT industry in the world to meet,
meet, and know each other, showcase the latest technologies, explore the latest
trends, and implement relevant work.
When the first exhibition event was held in Geneva,
Switzerland in 1971, the ITU Telecom Exhibition Department came into being.
Since then, the ITU Telecom Exhibition Department has
accumulated rich experience in organizing large-scale exhibitions in the world.
The ITU Telecommunications Exhibition Department holds a telecommunications
exhibition in a different region of the world every year, and its signage
product ITU World Telecommunications Exhibition is held every three years.
The
exhibition is the main content of each exhibition event held by the ITU Telecom
Exhibition Department, which attracts the participation of major companies in
the ICT industry. Exhibitors showcase the latest products, services and
innovations at the exhibition.
The content coverage is extremely wide, from
broadband or IP-based services to mobile and wireless technologies,
next-generation networks, satellites, and even more.
The exhibiting companies
and the technologies displayed reflect the achievements of the entire industry.
The telecommunications village in the exhibition venue is a quiet place in the
noisy exhibition hall. The purpose of setting up the village is to demonstrate
the industry's production capacity, and the headquarters of each manufacturer
can camp here during the entire exhibition.
The ITU Telecommunications Exhibition Department also
provides other services, such as providing a full range of services such as
sponsorship and corporate image packaging in order to help companies better
participate in the exhibition.
At the same time, many social events are held,
providing online services and VIP schedules. All these services are to help all
participants in the exhibition to understand and connect with each other, and
to establish good partnerships during and after the exhibition.
The role of the
global communications industry ITU has maintained a leading position in the
field of information and communications technology.
The globally recognized
technical standards defined and adopted by it help the industry to achieve
seamless communication between people and equipment worldwide.
ITU has also
successfully managed the use of radio spectrum worldwide to ensure that all
international wireless communications do not interfere with each other, thereby
ensuring the transmission of important information and economic data throughout
the world.
ITU, while promoting the development of global
telecommunications, also provides special technical assistance in the areas of
development policies, regulatory frameworks and strategies to provide advice
and technology transfer, cyber security, management, financing, network
installation and maintenance, disaster reduction and capacity building, Promote
the deployment of telecommunications in developing countries.
There is no doubt that the greatest achievement of ITU lies
in the crucial role it plays in the creation of the international
telecommunications network.
This is by far the largest work created by mankind.
Today, due to the development of the Internet, mobile wireless phones,
convergence strategies and other aspects, we can stay in touch through the network
and learn about news and entertainment around the world.
The network allows
people to enjoy a huge global information inventory and support the development
of the global economy. Without the work carried out by ITU, there would be no
such thing.
Relations with China
China joined the Union in 1920. For the first time in 1932,
it sent representatives to participate in the plenipotentiary conference held
in Madrid and signed the Madrid International Telecommunication Convention. It
was first elected as a member of the Executive Council at the Plenipotentiary
Conference held in Atlantic City in 1947.
After the founding of the People ’s
Republic of China, China’s legal seats in the Union were illegally deprived.
In May 1972, the 27th Session of the ITU Administrative Council passed a
resolution to restore the country’s legal seats. China has actively
participated in ITU meetings and activities.
As of July 1, 1997, representatives of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region Government may, as members of the Chinese delegation,
participate in the Plenipotentiary Conference and the Executive General
Assembly of the Union when they are involved in issues related to the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region.
Private telecommunications institutions in the
administrative region may participate in meetings of the telecommunications
standardization department, the radio communications department and the
telecommunications development department.
Since 1999, the relationship between China and the Union has
continued to develop:
The Chinese Ministry of Information Industry and ITU jointly held the
third-generation mobile communication task group meeting in Beijing. More than
200 representatives from 31 countries attended the meeting.
The meeting mainly
discussed the wireless transmission technology standard of the third generation
mobile communication.
On June 14-25, the ITU Council was held in Geneva in 1999,
and the Ministry of Information Industry of China sent a delegation to attend.
277 representatives from 46 member countries and 29 observers from 19
non-member countries attended the meeting.
This year's Council mainly reviewed
and approved the 2000-2001 financial budget of the Union. It discussed the
management, functions and institutional reform of the Union, studied and
adopted specific methods for cost recovery of satellite network declarations,
and reviewed the Union and World Trade Organize the content and solutions of
cooperation agreements and other issues.
Ambassador Qiao Zonghuai of the Chinese delegation in Geneva
signed the "ITU-Host Agreement" in Geneva on behalf of the Chinese
government and the Secretary-General of the Union.
According to the agreement,
Asia Telecom 2000 will be held in Hong Kong, China. This is the first regional
telecommunications exhibition held by ITU in China.
ITU Secretary-General Shinohei Neihai came to Beijing to
participate in the 22nd Universal Postal Union Conference. Minister of
Information Industry Wu Jichuan met with Neihai.
The two sides held friendly
talks on strengthening future cooperation and other issues. In addition to
Beijing's activities, Neihai also visited Xi'an.
In 2002, China continued to actively participate in the
activities of the International Telecommunication Union (hereinafter referred
to as "ITU").
ITU holds the World Telecommunication Development Conference
in Turkey. The theme of this conference is "Bridging the Digital
Divide".
The participating countries conducted extensive and in-depth
discussions on how to narrow the digital divide and exchanged their respective
experiences in telecommunications development. The Congress finally adopted the
Istanbul Declaration and Istanbul Action Plan.
Deputy Minister of Information
Industry Zhang Chunjiang led a Chinese delegation to attend. At the meeting,
Vice Minister Zhang gave a keynote speech entitled "Bridging the Digital
Divide is the eternal theme of telecommunications development",
introducing the development experience and achievements of China's information
industry in the past 20 years.
The first intergovernmental preparatory meeting of the World
Summit on the Information Society was held in Geneva. Ambassador Sha Zukang,
representative of China to the UN Office in Geneva, led a delegation to attend
the meeting.
The meeting discussed and finally passed the rules of procedure of
the intergovernmental preparatory meeting, the qualification verification
arrangements and participation methods for non-governmental organizations to
participate in the meeting, and discussed the summit topics.
In his speech, Ambassador
Sha pointed out that the current worldwide development of information and
communication technology is extremely uneven, and the “digital divide” between
developed and developing countries continues to widen.
This is an urgent
problem to be solved in the construction of an information society.
The Union holds a plenipotentiary conference in Marrakech,
Morocco. A total of 156 member countries, 27 international and regional
organizations participated in the meeting.
The Minister of Information Industry
Wu Jichuan led a Chinese delegation to the meeting. The conference reviewed the
strategic, financial and operational planning of the Union for the next four
years, revised the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Convention
of the Union, and discussed related issues of the World Summit on the
Information Society.
From December 1st to 4th, the ITU "Asia Telecom
2002" was held in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This
telecom exhibition is co-sponsored by ITU and the Chinese central government
and undertaken by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. It is
the second telecom exhibition of its kind in China after the "2000 Asian
Telecommunications Exhibition".
Minister Wu Jichuan of the Ministry of
Information Industry attended the opening ceremony on behalf of the central
government and delivered a keynote speech entitled "Taking the Road to a
Steady and Pragmatic Telecommunication Development".
In 2010, Houlin Zhao once again re-elected as the deputy
secretary general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which is
the highest position held by Chinese people in international telecommunications
organizations to date.
On October 23, 2014, the ITU 2014 Plenipotentiary Conference
held the election of the Secretary-General in Busan, South Korea. Chinas
recommended ITU Deputy Secretary-General Zhao Houlin Zhao Houlin as the only
candidate received 152 votes in the first round of voting.
The high vote was
elected as the new Secretary-General and became the first Chinese
Secretary-General in the International Telecommunication Union's 150-year
history. He will officially take office on January 1, 2015 for a four-year
term.
Academic members of International Telecommunication Union
On January 14, 2011, the 18th Plenipotentiary Conference of
the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) passed an important resolution:
Inviting universities and scientific research units to participate in ITU
activities as their academic members.
The first batch of five universities and
research institutes approved to become academic members of the International
Telecommunication Union are:
- Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications
- Tsinghua University
- Waseda University in Japan
- Two universities in Tunisia
Statistical data
By the end of 2010, the number of Internet users worldwide
had reached 2.08 billion, and the number of mobile phone users had reached 5.28
billion.
International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General
Hamadun Dour told the media on the 26th that in early 2000, the number of mobile
phone users worldwide was only 500 million, and the number of Internet users
was 250 million.
In just 10 years, the number of mobile phone users and
netizens has soared, breaking the 5 billion and 2 billion mark respectively.
The total population of the world exceeds 6.8 billion. This
means that almost 1 in 3 people are netizens, and 57% of global netizens come
from developing countries.
1 out of 3 people are netizens
From the perspective of network access, fixed broadband users
worldwide reached 555 million in 2010, while mobile broadband users soared to
940 million.
Susan Telche, the head of the market information and
statistics department of the International Telecommunication Union, said that
in terms of the increase in the number of Internet users, the Asia-Pacific
region has performed the most eye-catching, Billion.
Telce said that the high growth in the number of mobile phone
users is gradually slowing down, "the double-digit growth rate is nearing
completion."
While the number of mobile phone users continues to climb,
the number of fixed-line phones has been declining year after year. Statistics
from the International Telecommunication Union show that the number of fixed
telephones has decreased for four consecutive years and has fallen below 1.2 billion.
Internet IP address runs out
Similar to the road traffic network, the Internet will also
be congested, but unfortunately, the methods such as "sign-shaking"
and "number-limiting" to alleviate the pressure on road traffic
cannot be applied to Internet communications.
Since the Internet must allocate
exclusive IP addresses to any terminals connected to the network, with the
diversification of network terminals, Internet IP address allocation pressure
is increasing.
In modern society, many single netizens not only have desktop
computers, but also use mobile terminals such as laptops, tablets, and smart
phones to enter the Internet, causing digital congestion. And the end of this
congestion is what will happen in a few weeks: all Internet IP addresses are
used up.
"In the next few weeks, the IP address will be used up,"
American Google engineer Lorenzo Colletti told AFP reporter on the 22nd,
"Sometimes, we are like driving a car against the wall."
An IP address, or Internet address, is a logical address used
to identify an Internet terminal. It is unique and is equivalent to the house
number of a home address in life. The existing IP protocol used by the Internet
is a 32-bit address called IPv4, with a total capacity of about 4.3 billion.
The International Internet Name and Number Assignment Company
(ICANN), headquartered in the United States, is responsible for global Internet
IP address allocation, and functions similarly to the vehicle management office
in the highway traffic regulatory department.
Rod Beckstrom, president of the
"Network Management Office", said that just as the increase in
telephone users forced telecom operators to upgrade their phone numbers, the
increasing number of Internet terminals has made the expansion of IP addresses
an urgent need for Internet development.
However, IP address expansion involves
a whole system transformation, which is much more complicated than the phone
number upgrade.
The first Chinese national secretary
According to media reports such as Netease and Zhongsuo, the
19th Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) held the election of the next ITU Secretary-General on the 23rd.
The
current ITU Deputy Secretary-General Houlin Zhao was elected as the new
Secretary-General.
He was the first Chinese national secretary general in ITU
history and took office on January 1, 2015 for a four-year term.
Yonhap pointed
out that Houlin Zhao will be responsible for the operation and affairs
decision-making of ITU, the world's largest international organization in the
field of information and communication technology (ICT). It is expected that
China's influence in the ITU communication policy decision-making process will
increase significantly.
