The data communication standards are the documents that contain authentic information for the implementation of new technology. The purpose of the standards is to provide one method for integrating different technologies so that they can interoperate without any error. By implementation of standards, the different or same technology products can work together.
ITU
ITU is a United Nations agency for information and communication standards. “ITU’s mission is to enable the growth and sustained development of telecommunications and information networks, and to facilitate universal access so that people everywhere can participate in, and benefit from, the emerging information society and global economy.”
In ITU-T study Questions are formed and worked upon in meetings that are led by Rapporteurs. Working Parties led by WP Chairman form the Questions and present the report to parent Study Group that is led by SG Chairman.
ITU is headed by a Secretary-General elected for a four-year term. Countries can become members and are referred to as Member State and companies or other organizations are referred to as Sector Members or Associates. ITU has members from 700 private entities and 191 governments that participate in the creation of standards and influence the technology decisions to ensure that the environmental needs for different geographical regions are addressed. ITU’s Technology Watch function is to survey the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) environment to find the new market trend and emerging technologies that must be standardized and incorporates the concerns and implications of these technologies for developing nations.
IETF
IETF is an open international community for the development of internet standards. IETF’s role is to identify and solve internet problems, provide a solution, perform the technology transfer and assist the internet community in the implementation and deployment of internet technology by solving the technical problems. IETF recommends protocol standards to the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG). IETF does not control or patrol the internet.
In IETF working groups are formed for technology core areas and most discussions are held on the public mailing list. Working Groups has a one/two chair and are organized into Areas and the Area is managed by 2 co-Area Directors. All work is first published as an internet draft and must be approved by the Working Group mailing list before it can become a standard. The Area Directors are responsible to take RFC to the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG) for approval.
Collaboration between ITU-T and IETF
IETF members are allowed to participate in ITU-T meetings as Internet Society (ISOC) delegates and Sector Members. ITU-T official delegates can be nominated by the Study Group Chairman to participate in IETF meetings. Despite being different organizations, the two standard agencies work together to resolve the interoperability issues that may arise between the standards developed by these agencies. Example: A joint working group has been set up to resolve the interoperability issues between the ITU-developed T-MPLS and IETF-developed MPLS.