Non-Conformity and Interoperability
Conformity assessment: activity that provides demonstration that specified requirements relating to a product, process, system, person or body are fulfilled (NIST Information Technology Laboratory, no date).
For the purposes of this standard, interoperability allows any government facility or information system, regardless of the personal Identity verification (PIV) Issuer, to verify a cardholder’s identity using the credentials on the PIV Card (NIST, no date).
Primary reference(s)
NIST, no date. Misconfiguration. Glossary: Computer Security Resource Center. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Information Technology Laboratory. Accessed 9 November 2020.
Additional scientific description
Conformity assessment guarantees that ICT equipment implements a technical specification or standards. Compliance helps vendors and users of the equipment to evaluate how the equipment will perform in the network where it will integrate with other network devices to provide an offered network service. Interoperability testing measures if two or more products correctly implement the technical specifications necessary to ensure successful integration supporting particular communication protocols (ITU, 2020).
Conformance and interoperability testing is important to identify the possible non-compliance aspects of equipment to be part of an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) network, as defined by accepted standards in the industry, that may interfere in the quality of the network service being provided. High quality performing products available for commercial use contribute to the widespread deployment of the network technologies and their associated network services (ITU, 2020).
International Telecommunication Union relevant information and activities:
- ITU - C&I Portal (ITU, 2021a).
- Resolution 177, Dubai, PP-18 (ITU, 2021b).
- Resolution 47, Buenos Aires, WTDC-17 (ITU, 2017).
- Resolution 76, Hammamet, WTSA-16 (ITU, 2016).
- Resolution 62-2, Geneva, RA-19 (ITU, 2021b).
- ITU Council C&I related documents (ITU, 2021a).
- ITU-D Study Group Question 4/2: Terms of Reference - Final Report (ITU, 2018).
- Project - International Telecommunication Testing Center (ITU, 2009).
- Virtual Testing Pilot Project (ITU, 2021a).
- Training Activities on Conformance and Interoperability (ITU, 2021b).
- Conformity and Interoperability Assessment Studies on Regional Basis: Collaboration with Regional and Subregional Organizations for establishing a common C&I Regime and Mutual Recognition Agreements (ITU, 2015a).
- Collaboration agreements (ITU, 2021a).
Metrics and numeric limits
Not identified.
Key relevant UN convention / multilateral treaty
Not identified.
Examples of drivers, outcomes and risk management
Assistance in the establishment of Commercial and Industrial (C&I) programmes in developing countries: This activity is intended to facilitate the establishment of regional or sub-regional conformity and interoperability C&I Programmes, including regional or national test centres, and to encourage/assist with Mutual Recognition Agreements. Guidelines (see below) have been prepared by the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) in this aim and will provide basic elements to establish a strategy to establish test centres, including technical, human and instrumental resources, international standards and financial issues (ITU, 2020).
International Telecommunication Union Deliverables and Guidelines:
- ITU-D Study Group Q4/2 Report (2017) : Assistance to developing countries for implementing conformance and interoperability programmes (ITU, 2018).
- Guidelines for Developing Countries on establishing conformity assessment test labs in different regions (ITU, 2021a).
- Guidelines for the development, implementation and management of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs): (ITU, no date).
- Feasibility Study for a Conformance Testing Center: - Table B2 Rev. 1: Detailed cost estimation (ITU, 2013).
- Establishing Conformity and Interoperability Regimes: Basic Guidelines: (ITU, 2014).
- Establishing Conformity and Interop erability Regimes: Complete Guidelines : (ITU, 2015b).
- EUIPO-ITU Report: The Economic Cost of IPR Infringement in the Smartphones Sector (ITU, 2021c).
References
ITU, no date. Guidelines for the Development, Implementation and Management of Mutual Recognition Arrangements/Agreements (MRAs) on Conformity Assessment. Accessed 20 May 2021.
ITU, 2009. International Telecommunication Testing Center Project (ITTC). Accessed 20 May 2021.
ITU, 2013. Feasibility Study for a Conformance Testing Centre. Accessed 20 May 2021.
ITU, 2014. Establishing Conformity and Interoperability Regimes Basic Guidelines. Accessed 20 May 2021.
ITU, 2015a. Conformity and Interoperability Assessment on a Regional Basis. Accessed 20 May 2021.
ITU, 2015b. Establishing Conformity and Interoperability Regimes: Complete Guidelines. Accessed 20 May 2021.
ITU, 2016. World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly. Accessed 20 May 2021.
ITU, 2017. Resolution 47 (Rev. Buenos Aires, 2017). Accessed 20 May 2021.
ITU, 2018. ITU-D Study Groups 1 and 2. Accessed 20 May 2021.
ITU, 2020. Conformity and Interoperability. International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Accessed 9 November 2020.
ITU, 2021a. ITU Conformity and Interoperability Portal. Accessed 20 May 2021.
ITU, 2021b. Conformity and Interoperability. Accessed 20 May 2021.
ITU, 2021c. EUIPO-ITU Report: The Economic Cost of IPR Infringement in the Smartphones Sector. Accessed 20 May 2021.