Skip to content
News Releases
November 5, 2024
"Here we delve into the insights from this pivotal exchange, including IDSA’s vision for data autonomy and trust, China Telecom’s innovations in digital transformation, and the role of the World Broadband Association (WBBA) in driving collaborative data initiatives. Together, these organizations are not only addressing the technical challenges of cross-border data sharing but are also laying the groundwork for an interconnected, standards-driven global data ecosystem that will shape the digital landscape of tomorrow."
Debra Carty
Community Manager

China Telecom and IDSA Collaborate on Data Cross-Border Flow: Advancing Global Data Exchange

IDSA
In today’s digital economy, data is not just an asset—it’s the backbone of innovation, growth, and collaboration. As businesses and governments worldwide recognize the value of data, the focus has increasingly shifted toward secure, cross-border data sharing. In this context, China Telecom and the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA) made headlines by holding a key meeting on October 31, 2024, to explore potential avenues for enhancing global data flow cooperation. Led by IDSA Chairman Reinhold Achatz, the meeting included discussions on establishing secure, cross-border data spaces to support a globally integrated data market.

In a significant move toward enhancing global data sharing, China Telecom and the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA) held an in-depth exchange on October 31st, 2024, exploring potential avenues for cross-border data flow cooperation. Reinhold Achatz, Chairman of the IDSA, led a delegation to China Telecom's headquarters to engage in discussions on establishing secure, cross-border data spaces that could drive the development of an interconnected, global data market. This meeting, attended by notable figures from both organizations, underscored the importance of developing standardized frameworks for safe and secure data sharing across borders.

Representing China Telecom, Shao Guanglu, Director of the Science and Technology Committee, and Liu Zhiyong, Deputy Chief Engineer,  alongside senior leaders from various business units, participated in the exchange. Both parties explored how data spaces—frameworks enabling secure and trusted data exchanges—could facilitate international cooperation in handling data as a key economic asset. By establishing such spaces, China Telecom and IDSA aim to contribute to a worldwide data ecosystem that operates with clear standards for trustworthiness, security, and data autonomy.

 IDSA’s Vision for Secure and Trustworthy Data Spaces

During the exchange, Reinhold Achatz highlighted the significance of a global, secure, and collaborative approach to data sharing. As a non-profit organization with over 100 members across 20 countries, IDSA emphasizes creating secure data spaces that ensure full data autonomy for each participating entity. The association champions the idea that data spaces foster trust by allowing organizations to share data transparently, helping fuel the data economy's growth and innovation.

IDSA representatives also discussed their existing practices in developing data ecosystems designed to meet global standards. They emphasized that a trustworthy and open data ecosystem relies on joint efforts from various stakeholders to develop comprehensive policies and standards. Such frameworks could serve as a reference point, allowing different nations and industries to establish interoperable, cross-border data exchanges that support safe and responsible data flows.

 WBBA's Call for Collaboration in Data Flow Initiatives

Liu Zhiyong, who is a prominent member of the World Broadband Association (WBBA), stressed the organization’s commitment to reducing the digital divide and fostering collaboration within the broadband and cloud computing sectors. Liu emphasized that as data becomes an increasingly critical economic asset, the demand for secure, cross-border data flow solutions grows stronger. The WBBA advocates for deepened international collaboration to create a reliable, resilient data environment that will benefit the global economy and support the rapid expansion of the data elements industry.

China Telecom’s Role in Digital Transformation and Innovation

China Telecom shared its progress in digital transformation, highlighting its contribution to Digital China through seven key areas of innovation: cloud-network integration, data services, AI, cybersecurity, quantum technology, platform development, and next-generation communication. Through these advancements, China Telecom has established the “Lingze” data element platform and the “Galaxy” integrated cross-border data flow solution, which form the backbone of its strategy to drive the safe and efficient circulation of data.

These innovations position China Telecom as a central player in promoting data marketization and enhancing the international flow of data. By implementing these solutions, China Telecom is setting a benchmark for the construction of a multilateral, collaborative cross-border data space that aligns with global data security standards.

Looking Ahead: Building a Globally Integrated Data Market

The discussions concluded with a preliminary consensus to pursue ongoing international cooperation, focusing on establishing universal standards and policies for cross-border data flows. Both China Telecom and IDSA have committed to furthering the development of international data spaces that unlock data's economic value by enabling secure, reliable global circulation.

With data now recognized as a core driver of economic growth, its cross-border flow is essential for the development of a dynamic, interconnected global economy. China Telecom is pushing the frontier of data technology, accelerating innovation in cross-border data transfer as part of its broader mission to support Digital China's digital infrastructure and economic influence.

Conclusion: A Future Built on Data Collaboration

The partnership between China Telecom and IDSA signifies a critical step toward creating a unified global data market that operates with shared standards for security and trustworthiness. As both organizations advance their collaborative efforts, their work will serve as a foundation for secure and efficient data exchange—an essential resource for fostering global economic development in the digital age.

To join our  thriving community click here 

Sign Up to Receive News Updates

Key Messages
Key Messages
Recommendations
Recommendations
The Importance of Greater Broadband Investment​
Download White Paper

Key Messages

Advanced cloud technology together with superior end-to-end connectivity can enable a wider and more sophisticated range of applications that can in turn drive greater innovation, efficiency, and wealth.
Both enterprises and broader industry ecosystems are actively looking at broadband’s role in enabling their digital transformation. Most respondents to the WBBA’s Thought Leadership Enterprise Survey stated that they need faster and more reliable internet to run their business applications.
Certainly, in the short to medium term, xDSL, cable modem, fixed-wireless access (FWA), and satellite are all expected to have a role in the delivery of broadband services. However, full-fiber access will always deliver the optimum experience and remains the most sustainable and cost-efficient option.
There is a danger therefore for governments to base their cost-benefit analysis on a national economic view. However, such analysis will miss all the social benefits, as well as the more local economic benefits, that advanced broadband networks can bring. Governments must take all benefits into account, including more localized ones, when creating national broadband policies.
However, future applications will not only need ultra-high-speed services but also ultra-low latency and jitter, with high levels of reliability and consistency if they are to function properly. Countries with networks that are not capable of meeting such criteria will be left behind as the world moves to the next phase of internet applications such as the “metaverse.”
Fiber networks are significantly more environmentally friendly than equivalent copper-based networks, and can help support other green initiatives such as greater working from home, the use of advanced videoconferencing, etc. Fiber-based networks also require less maintenance due to there being less active equipment in the field, and can therefore reduce operators’ operational costs.
With rollout of new access technologies like 5G and Fiber, IPv6 reached more than 30% penetration worldwide (APNIC) and is rapidly growing. IPv6 Enhanced technologies, including segment routing over IPv6, per flow monitoring and AI, enable a multitude of objects and people to be flexibly connected to the proper services, granting end-to-end quality of experience.
Based on the responses from the WBBA Thought Leadership Survey, respondents believed, on average, this coverage could be expanded to approximately 70% through private investment. It is clear that government support will be needed to get to 100%.
However, a lack of data on the available infrastructure, access to key infrastructure such as ducts and in-building networks, and a lack of understanding both internally and externally are also key barriers to further investment.
Respondents to the WBBA survey stated that a reduction in regulatory barriers, greater flexibility in partnership arrangements, copper switch-off regulations, and setting out minimum service standards for network installations, would all take priority over financial support.

Recommendations

All countries must look to maximize the potential of broadband. This means creating long-term national broadband plans that evolve around three basic phases of broadband adoption:

  • Phase 1: Fast deployment of basic connectivity (most likely focusing on wireless technologies)
  • Phase 2: Continued rollout of fixed-broadband access to 100% of premises
  • Phase 3: Continued investment in advanced broadband technologies to move to gigabit societies and beyond.

In order to help facilitate this evolution to advanced broadband networks, government organizations and regulators must consider:

  • Implementing regulatory flexibility, including the removal of outdated or non-essential regulation
  • Introducing flexibility in partnership arrangements; for example, allowing agreements between players, such as co-financing, collaborative models, public-private partnerships, etc.
  • Facilitating deployment through municipality approvals, using existing resources (government buildings, streetlights, ducts, etc.) and sharing infrastructure and facilities, including in-building networks. This should also include other types of utility infrastructure where possible
  • Providing financial assistance through investment support, incentives, and subsidies; e.g., universal service funds
  • Improving access to telecom facilities and physical infrastructure; improving procedures for rights of way and accessing public infrastructure, as well as broadband mapping.
Making the Recommendations a Reality

Operators, enterprises, vendors, regulators, and policy-makers should seek to create a collective voice, to evangelize, advocate, co-create, and partner in the drive toward the provision of ultra-broadband networks and services for all. Organizations such as the WBBA can help by influencing key stakeholders through discussion, education, and promotion. Specifically, the WBBA should aim to:

  • Set out the importance of greater broadband investment, not just for the good of the service provider but for countries as a whole
  • Promote regulatory, legislative, public relations agendas that help advance the interests of members through WBBA publications and live events, highlighting best-practice business models from around the world to remove any “lack of understanding at boardroom level”
  • Influence through research, discussion, and promotion of new potential marketing or naming concepts for fixed broadband to ease mass-market understanding of the different generations of broadband access – hiding technical jargon such as “Mbps,” “latency,” and “jitter” from the customer
  • Through thought leadership, media activity, and live events, continue to make the case for what governments need to recognize and do to close the industry innovation, socioeconomic, and environmental benefit gaps through infrastructure investment
  • Explore through new research the challenges and opportunities arising from changes in the industry structure, addressing its impact on the business and the standardization landscape. This includes aspects of fiber wholesale, the move toward horizontal industry structure with separation of infrastructure and services, and the change of customer relationship to digital
  • Work with stakeholder partners to understand and promote the potential of future applications that will bring new benefits to broadband customers and wider society
  • Develop in-depth thought-leadership research on the new revenue opportunities advanced networks can provide to service providers in both the consumer and enterprise markets
  • Develop and highlight best-practice investment models that show the true return on investment of a full-fiber rollout to both private companies and government organizations
  • Champion the needs of its members to highlight barriers to future investment, creating a platform to enable open discussion between different types of stakeholder to encourage greater cooperation and new partnerships.

Membership Enquiries

[gravityform id="3" title="false"]

Testing New Form