Thank you, Chairperson. The International Telecommunications Union, ITU, is the leading United Nations agency for the information and communications technology sector. The ITU comprises 191 member states and more than 700 sector members and members from private companies and other institutions and associations.
The ITU has three core sectors, namely radio communications, telecommunications standardisation and telecommunications development. Currently, the ITU council consists of 46 member states. The seats are divided into different regions to ensure that they are distributed according to the number of countries in each region.
South Africa was re-elected as a member of the council. The plenipotentiary conference passed a number of important resolutions relating to the future development of the information and communications, IC, sector internationally.
International telecommunications regulations have not been updated since 1988. They are now outdated since information technology, IT, such as cellular telephones, Internet broadband and digital communications have developed at a dramatic pace since that time. The massive increase in the level of use and the volume of information flow since 1988 reflects huge social and economic changes that have reshaped the world we live in and altered our lives.
The International Communications Regulations, ITRs, deal with the definition of international telecommunication services; co-operation between countries and national administrations; safety of life and priority of telecommunications; and charging and accounting principles.
Reviewing the international telecommunication regulations could hold significant benefit for South Africa and developing countries in general by creating a more equal playing field for developing country operators and service providers.
The conference adopted new resolutions of Internet protocol-based networks; the role of administration of member states in the management of internationalised domain names; and the ITU's role with regard to international public policy issues pertaining to the Internet and the management of Internet resources, including domain names and addresses. These resolutions put into practice some of the decisions taken at the World Summit on the Information Society.
These resolutions represent progress towards providing member states with a platform to address public policy issues with respect to the Internet, which still remains under the control of particular interest groups, with little influence from developing countries. Since this resolution, a special working group was established in the ITU for governments to consider public policies arising from the Internet.
This resolution called on the ITU to access and address existing and future threats in order to build confidence and security in the use of information and communications technologies, ICTs, by countries, institutions and people. The ITU is also instructed to facilitate access to tools to assist all member states in enhancing confidence and security in the use of ICTs.
The work done by the ITU in this area is critical in assisting member states to protect themselves from cyber threats and to allow the development of an information society that is safe for everyone. This area of work is challenging and requires ongoing attention and co-operation. It is an area to which the Department of Communications and other critical stakeholders are currently paying considerable attention. It was agreed that an evaluation be conducted to consider strengthening the ITU regional presence and that a review be undertaken to meet the evolving requirements and priorities of each region.
The regional offices of the ITU play an important role in supporting the outcomes of the regional development programmes and priorities that are agreed to by member states at the world summit. These decisions are reflected in the development programme of the African Union. South Africa is part of the community of 191 members. There is a democratic decision- making structure and developing countries are therefore able to exert some influence within a rules-based, multilateral structure.
Through the decision-making structures of the ITU, member states are able to guide the priorities and work of the ITU in this critically important sector, which is becoming an increasingly important part of modern human life in every area.
In conclusion, the ITU is able to provide technical support and capacity- building to support regional development priorities, such as the regional development plan for Africa. The ITU also facilitates international best practice, information-sharing expertise and international peer review. The ITU also co-ordinates and provides emergency assistance in case of telecommunications disasters, in accordance with agreed norms and procedures. I ask the House to adopt the report. Thank you.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted. IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.