World Radiocommunication Conference 2000
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Extracts from the Statements made after the approval of
the IMT-2000 radio interface specifications
Radiocommunication Assembly, 5 May

United States
Mr John Gilsenan, International Communications and Information Policy, Department of State

The approval of this Recommendation moves us into the new millenium of wireless communications. It has demonstrated the ability of the institution of the ITU and its members to adapt to change in an evolutionary way. This represents a milestone in a new level of cooperation among the members, sector members, standards development organizations, technology proponents, and others that are involved in global standards development.

The process used to develop the detailed specifications of radio interfaces for IMT-2000 is an example of the strengths of the ITU consensus based, open, transparent and sometimes painful but practical process.

This process and the resulting Recommendation have accommodated the different standards development bodies and regulatory structures in all parts of the world. It further recognizes that the ITU can develop Recommendations before the market requires them.

The entire IMT-2000 team deserves a lot of credit for bring the visionary and initial specification phases of IMT-2000 to a successful and timely conclusion. Credit must also be extended to the external organizations who have worked with the ITU-R to develop the technology details.

China
Mrs Cao Shumin, Senior Engineer, Ministry of Information Industry

Everyone in this room should be proud of the outcome of 15 years of hard work. ITU played a leading role in the IMT-2000 radio interface development process in collaborating with external organizations. I am proud that China, as a developing country, was able to contribute to this process. We submitted one technology and were deeply involved in the development and harmonization process. The successful outcome of the work on IMT-2000 will provide China and all countries around the world with a path to follow when moving to third generation systems. Finally, I encourage all members in this room to continue their efforts in the ongoing IMT-2000 work.

Republic of Korea
Mr Myung Sun Choi, Director Research Officer, Radio Research Laboratory

Republic of Korea is very pleased that the RA has approved the IMT-2000 recommendation. We believe that this will pave the way for all of us to enter new era of telecommunications and give us great opportunity to enter the rich life of global mobile telecommunications in a near future. Our country submitted two candidate technologies for the terrestrial interface and one technology for the satellite component. We are pleased that the harmonization process led to the IMT-2000 standard. As you may know we have 23 delegates here in Istanbul which demonstrates our commitment to working with ITU now and in the future.

Syria
Mr Nabil Kisrawi, Permanent Representative to ITU, Syrian Telecommunications Establishment

After the approval of this important and long awaited recommendation, and given the value of mobile technologies for developing countries, we want to acknowledge the excellent cooperative work carried out between the ITU and all Standards-Development Organizations that led to this landmark decision.

Brazil
Mr Jo�o Carlos Albernaz, Head, Technical Advising Office, ANATEL

In today�s complex world, it is no longer possible for a single organization to produce global standards such as the one we just approve. One of the strengths of ITU has been to position itself as a focal point to coordinate the work of all organizations involved and arrive at such splendid results.

We have been very honoured to host one of the meetings that led to this successful outcome and we hope that in future we can continue working as we have done so far.

Nigeria
Mr G.O. Ajayi, Director, Ministry of Science and Technology

It is a landmark and a unique and wonderful achievement and underscores the role of ITU in propelling the global community into this new knowledge-driven millennium where information and communication technology will be a driving force.

Japan
H.E. Mr Seiji Tanaka, Deputy Vice-Minister, Technology Policy Coordination

The innovative approach used to arrive at this landmark decision marks a new era for global standards development. With limited resources and an expanding work programme, the ITU must be able to pool the expertise and resources of external organizations and work in a cooperative way so as to be able to develop standards meeting market requirements in the shortest possible timescales. While the technical expertise rests with corporations and research institutions around the world, ITU�s role in developing a vision and leveling the playing field remains at the centre of successes such as the one we have now achieved with IMT-2000. The pioneering work of ITU in this respect paves the way for the future of standards development work worldwide. Japan is particularly pleased of the agreement reached here today as it is endeavouring to deploy IMT-2000 services sometime next year.

France
Mr Eric Fournier, Head of the Spectrum Engineering Department, National Frequency Agency

France would like to express its satisfaction on the approval of the IMT-2000 recommendation. This recommendation represents a major milestone in the history of ITU and a decisive step in the definition of IMT-2000 �the truly global cellular mobile systems that ensure convergence between the Internet and mobile worlds. We are grateful to the ITU for a job well done and in particular for their work in putting together the cooperation mechanisms with external organizations. We are convinced that efforts will continue to enable the future evolution of IMT-2000 to keep matching technological progress with a view to further fostering harmonization.

Chairman of the Radiocommunication Assembly, Mr Eberhard George (Germany)

The results achieved with IMT-2000 is evidence that such a cooperative effort leads to success and gives evidence that the ITU is at the forefront of the development and an indispensable actor in harmonizing regional standards. While this achievement would not have been possible without the close collaboration of the regional standards developers, the global nature of the ITU, acting as an umbrella organization remains indispensable to harmonize positions. Let�s now hope that the implementation of third generation networks will progress in such a way as to bring seamless communications for everyone anywhere, one of the key objectives of IMT-2000.

Chairman of the Working Party 8 F on IMT-2000, Stephen Blust (United States)

This is a major milestone in the new millennium of wireless communications. It is only fitting that the ITU has diligently pursued a cooperative partnering arrangement for future wireless standards with key organizations around the world. In my opinion, the innovative and bold approach utilized by the ITU has revolutionized the methods of global standards development of wireless systems. Especially when these systems are being required to participate in a truly global market framework with increasing technical complexity.

The span of services to be offered to the end user while facing the reality of a shortened time to market brought on by the pressures of �Internet time� only serves to heighten the continued need for innovative ways to develop relevant global standards. The solutions developed by the ITU meet this global perspective while preserving the uniqueness of the �local� marketplace. It can serve as a model for many standards endeavors beyond just IMT-2000.

The excellent foundation of IMT-2000 encompassed by this Recommendation and its companions and now ratified in the legal and business realm firmly establishes a foundation of technology and process for ITU-R Working Party 8F. The task of WP 8F to shepherd IMT-2000 in its early deployment phase while developing the future vision and evolution of IMT is greatly facilitated by this excellent start.