ISS '97 tackles standards issue: Forum Congress calls for cooperation among bodies

In many ways, the recent telecommunications industry boom closely resembles the personal computer boom that began in the early 1980s and continues today.

Among those similarities is the growing interest in standardization. Just as computer users can meld a variety of components from different manufacturers into working systems, so would telecom service providers like to incorporate equipment from various vendors into their networks without inordinate difficulty in making competing brands work together.

The issue of standards development was a hot topic at the recent ISS '97 conference in Toronto. In the opening session and in a panel discussion later in the week, telecommunications industry leaders shared their views on the state of standards.

The opening session revealed differences of opinion regarding the importance of standards. Some panelists strongly encouraged standards development while others called for minimal standardization.

Vinton Cerf, senior vice president for data architecture at MCI Communications, said standards are essential in creating the network of the future. "By practical requirements, we are forced to create standards for common infrastructure on which to build competing products," he said.

However, Pekka Tarjanne, secretary general of the International Telecommunications Union, and Raymond Steele, managing director of U.K. wireless operator Multiple Access Communications Ltd., disagreed.

"Companies tend to work in the same general direction," Tarjanne said. As long as a technology or product works and there are no global problems, standards are basically unnecessary, she said.

Steele voiced a similar but stronger opinion. "I like the idea of keeping standardization to a minimum," Steele said. "We should resist standards whenever possible, except in certain critical areas."

However, the industry seems to be moving toward greater standardization with its proliferation of ad hoc forums put together by companies seeking to ensure that new technological developments don't become too proprietary and, therefore, useless for broad distribution.

The panel for the ISS '97 Forum Congress consisted of representatives from six organizations: Fred Baker, chairman of the Internet Engineering Task Force; Marlis Humphrey, chairwoman of the ATM Forum board; Theo Irmer, director of the ITU; Jerry Petersen, chairman of T-1; Karl Heinz Rosenbrock, director-general of the European Technical Standards Union; and Tom Rowbotham, chairman of Full Service Access Networks.

The Forum Congress discussion centered on the need for such bodies to work in unison to eliminate duplicate and conflicting standards. In summing up the issue, moderator Stephen Walters, principal and fellow at Bellcore, referred to the oft-repeated quote, "The great thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from."

The greatest challenge may be incorporating the standards adopted by the ad hoc forums to meet the criteria of official standards bodies such as the ITU.

"Fora bring together people from different disciplines-engineering, marketing [and others]," Irmer said. "They bring in customer viewpoints. Also, they can go much faster [than standards bodies]."

Some forums have addressed the issue by aligning with standards bodies. Peterson said T-1 works hand-in-hand with the American National Standards Institute, submitting its conclusions for approval as official standards.

Humphrey pointed out that the ad hoc forums serve as representative bodies for segments of the industry. "Traditional standards bodies bring in different aspects," she said. "They cover multiple technologies, regions and services. Many forums represent specific regions, services and technologies."

The panelists generally agreed that standards are becoming more market-driven, based on customers needs rather than manufacturers preferences. That should ensure that standards are practically applicable, but the challenge of getting all bodies on the same standards page-encouraging manufacturers to build products to meet standards rather than developing standards to fit products-still remains.

"We have to avoid 'fora shopping,'" Rosenbrock said. "Cooperation among the bodies can help prevent problems."