Information Technologies and Communications Authority hosted the Electronic Communications Standards Summit. The importance of standards was discussed at the program.
The Electronic Communications Summit, which brought together important speakers from key national and international organizations of electronic communications standards, was held at the BTK Central Campus. BTK President Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, who delivered the opening speech, stated that in today's world where developments in information and production technologies and rapid globalization are occurring, the competitive environment highlights the importance of standardization.
Emphasizing that standardization comes before the regulatory process and brings together all relevant parties in the market, Sayan said, “Today, major developments in technology worldwide are changing the structure of the communications world. On one hand, market borders are disappearing, while on the other, all communication systems are integrating into the digital world, the product range in the sector is expanding, and communication services are becoming an indispensable part of life. In the face of this rapid development and changes, society life is taking on an increasingly complex appearance. Standardization, which aims to reduce this complexity, establishes a set of principles; it is as much an economic as a social endeavor, carried out with the contributions and cooperation of all stakeholders, and gains general acceptance. The standard, which is a product of standardization efforts, is published and finds application areas. Standards aim to meet societal needs, market needs, and regulatory needs, connecting people and the world. By targeting production in accordance with standards, the features of the products or services to be produced are known in advance, directing the national industry accordingly. Thus, it provides the opportunity for the national industry to become competitive with foreign products.”
International Standards Facilitate Trade Worldwide
Sayan, stating that with the globalization process, all countries are striving to align their economies with the global system, said, “Alongside regulations, international, regional, and bilateral agreements, and activities such as knowledge and technology transfer, the most important aspect they consider is standardization. Due to the importance of standardization efforts, various organizations worldwide conduct national and international standardization activities. International standards form a common language that facilitates trade worldwide, enables access to new markets, establishes quality and safety infrastructure for products and services, improves production processes, spreads technology use, and protects the environment and health. It is a fact that producing products and services in accordance with international standards is a prerequisite for existence in international trade and being a competitive entity.”
Emphasizing that many countries in the world use official telecommunications standards to be physically connected to each other, Sayan stated in his speech, “While standards hold an important place as powerful tools that will stimulate innovation and increase efficiency, they ensure that institutions are more successful, and individuals' daily lives are easier, safer, and healthier. Turkey, which continues development efforts parallel to global developments and increases its competitiveness, has become one of the important economic actors in its region. For our country, which is determined to integrate with the modern world, it should never be overlooked that no criteria other than scientific methods can be accepted in determining standards. The use of scientific methods in determining standards, along with the increasing importance of international and European standards, strengthens the role of institutional European standards organizations such as ITU and ETSI, as well as national standards organizations.”
President Sayan also touched upon internationally developed standards such as ISO, IEC, and ITU, adding: “They exist to meet societal needs, market needs, and regulatory needs. These standards prevent the emergence of new trade barriers that may arise from national security and safety regulations while also helping the widespread adoption of new technologies. ITU, which operates at an international level in the telecommunications field, is the oldest institution specializing in bringing countries together in a common organization. Thanks to its comprehensive conference and meeting program at the international level, ITU assumes the role of a multilateral forum that brings together public institutions and private sector representatives. ITU members determine international telecommunications standards and policies that will shape the world of the future in a collaborative and constructive discussion environment. CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI standards developed at the European level are necessary for the single market. Additionally, CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI standards support EU policies on technical integration, consumer protection, and promoting sustainable development.”
Reminding that ETSI is a non-profit organization, President Sayan concluded his speech by saying, “At the national level, there are National Standards Organizations with the mission of providing standardization activities impartially, independently, effectively, and reliably to increase each country's competitiveness, facilitate trade at national and international levels, and raise the society's standard of living. Our country's National Standards Organization is the Turkish Standards Institution, which is a public institution with legal personality and managed according to private law provisions. In this context, considering the importance of the standardization system in areas such as health, safety, environmental protection, overcoming technical barriers in trade, consumer protection, international and regional integration, ensuring competition, developing production and exports, improving quality, and technology transfer, it will be beneficial to discuss national standardization efforts and national and international electronic communications standardization, share knowledge, and determine joint efforts deemed useful in this field.”
Following the opening speech, presentations were also made on topics such as “Standards in Turkey, Electronic Communications Standardization.”