National policies and legislation that guide the work of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) and relevant partners, stakeholders and service providers adhere to a set of international standards for the communication and aviation sectors. These standards, referred to as Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), come in the form of technical specifications of international Conventions that are adopted by signatories to the Conventions, as policies and by-laws or simply as recommendations adhered to by members of international bodies and agencies. These standards and recommended practices are generally non-binding in nature.
Communication Standards
ITU-T Standards
The ITU Telecommunication Standardisation Sector (ITU-T) is one of the three sectors of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) responsible for coordinating standards for telecommunication.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is the UN specialised agency for communication technologies – ICT.
ITU-T standards are called Recommendations and are non-binding, however member nations generally comply with them because they guarantee the interconnectivity of networks and enable telecommunication services to be provided on a worldwide scale.
At the country level, the resolutions of the ITU and its standards are integrated into national policies and legislation through the authority of the Minister responsible for Communication and implemented by relevant Regulators such as the Telecommunications Commission Solomon Islands (TCSI) and the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) as well as local and international ICT service providers, partners and stakeholders.
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ICANN Policies and By Laws
ICANN Policies and By Laws form the corporation’s basic principles of expected standards of behavior among its participant members.
ICANN is a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with participants from all over the world dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and develops policy on the Internet's unique identifiers. Through its coordination role of the Internet's naming system, it does have an important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet.
ICANN plays a unique role in the infrastructure of the internet. Through its contracts with registries (such as dot-com or dot-info) and registrars (companies that sell domain names to individuals and organisations), ICANN helps define how the domain name system functions and expands.
At the country level, Telecommunication Commission Solomon Islands (TCSI) is responsible for regulating the work of internet service providers and registrars and for regulating the allocation and use of local domain names in line with ICANN policies, by-laws and expected standards of behavior.
However, although it is the regulator for the telecommunications market in Solomon Islands, the authority to make new regulations and to amend the Telecommunications Act, which gives mandate to the TCSI’s work, is held by the Minister responsible for Communication.
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Mail Exchange Standards
The UPU Technical Standards publication gives an overview of all technical standards in the area of telematics that have been adopted through the UPU's standards approval process. It is produced and maintained by the Standards Board of the Postal Operations Council, and is constantly updated with the latest detailed specifications of all technical UPU standards.
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players.
With over 190 member countries including the Solomon Islands, the organisation fulfils an advisory role, mediating and liaison role and technical assistance where needed. It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail, parcel and financial services volumes and improve quality of service for customers.
At the country level, the state owned Solomon Islands Postal Corporation is responsible for delivering postal services and for implementing the mail exchange and other standards set by the UPU. However, its Board of Directors and the Act that governs it are subject to the appointment and recommendations of the Minister responsible for Communication.
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The Solomon Islands Postal Corporation (SIPC)
The Solomon Islands Postal Corporation Board
Learn more about UPU Technical Standards
Visit the SI Postal Corporation website
Aviation Standards
ICAO Standards
Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) are technical specifications adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council in order to achieve the highest degree of uniformity in standards, regulations and procedures in international civil aviation.
SARPs are published by ICAO as Annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention). ICAO is a UN specialised agency established to manage the administration and governance of the Convention.
According to the ICAO, the agency works with the Convention’s 192 Member States and industry groups to reach consensus on international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible civil aviation sector. These SARPs and policies are used by ICAO Member States to ensure that their local civil aviation operations and regulations conform to global norms.
At the country level, the resolutions of the Chicago Convention and ICAO standards are integrated into national policy and legislation through the authority of the Minister responsible for Aviation and implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) together with relevant aviation regulators, operators, partners and stakeholders.
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Learn more about ICAO Standards
Learn more about the Solomon Islands Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands