A framework for fostering telecommunications standardization in a Mexican research center

1. Joint ITU-GISFI-DS-CTIF Standards Education Workshop (Aalborg, Denmark, 8-9 October 2012) A framework for fostering telecommunications standardization in a Mexican research center Arturo Serrano-Santoyo CICESE Research Center, Ensenada, Mexico serrano@cicese.edu.mx

2. Introduction • It is particularly relevant the role of standardization in a complex and highly globalized and converging context. • National ICT regulatory administrations of emerging economies are committed to consolidate and strengthen their standardization processes and policies.

3. According with the ITU’s Strategic Plan for 2008-2011, two elements are crucial to accomplish participation of developing countries in standardization matters: • Bridging the Digital Divide • Training and capacity building

4. Challenges • One of the challenges of regulatory authorities to develop a comprehensive national standardization working frame is to understand the convergence and complexity issues involved, not only the technical elements, but also the • Cultural, Contextual, Developmental and Transdisciplinarity factors involved.

5. The case of Mexico • This is particularly important for emerging economies, like Mexico, in search of strategically positioning the country in a globalized economy. • The case of telecommunications provides an opportunity to generate and stimulate participation of developing countries in standardization matters. • One key element is to tap the knowledge and research capacities of the national research centers with string telecommunications programs.

6. The case of Mexico • Two elements are key: • The deployment of an ambitious e-mexico program • The publication in 2010 of two national standards involving the adoption of Electronic Health Records and the Federal Law for data personal protection.

7. The case of CICESE Research Center • For the development of a comprehensive standardization framework for Mexico, we have taken the following steps: • Establishment of an agreement for cooperation in research and development with the Mexican Federal Telecommunications Commission (COFETEL). • Application of membership as academic member before ITU

8. The case of CICESE Research Center • We are in the process of evaluating the country’s national standards capability through the application of the ITU’s Tool for Assessing the Standards Capability (TASC). • As well as developing a transdisciplinary educational program to generate, in the short term, the human resources required to accelerate the participation of the country, and in particular of CICESE, in standardization initiatives.

9. Conclusions and Recommendations • The experiences of developing countries in the provision of, for instance, Health IT services in rural and under-served areas is very important, the development of a national standards framework supported by all the regulatory agencies involved is seen by CICESE as a fundamental step in our transit and insertion as a global and serious player in the knowledge society.

10. Conclusions and Recommendations • Without a comprehensive framework for telecommunications standardization in emerging economies, the role of ICT as a vehicle for human development will be elusive and an important opportunity to participate in the definition and creation of standards of global impact will be lost.