Promoting coordinated telecommunications

Rapid technological advances in computers, electronics, optoelectronics and telecommunication systems are profoundly influencing growth and structural change in the world-wide telecommunication industry. Industrial and national developments can be uncoordinated, particularly in the areas of standards, digitalization of networks, ISDN and cellular radio telephony.

Convergence between different telecommunication and broadcasting infrastructures and services is increasingly raising challenges for regulatory frameworks and may require adjustment in view of emerging services. A leading example of this phenomenon, born of convergence in the communication sector, is the group of emerging services known as webcasting. Webcasting services use the Internet to deliver content to users in ways that sometimes closely resemble other traditional communication services such as broadcasting.