MILLENNIUM BUG: TELECOMS OPERATORS DRAW UP BATTLE PLANS

Summary:

The Task Force set up by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to co-ordinate activities dealing with the Millennium Bug has adopted a number of measures designed to raise awareness among telecommunication operators and carriers of the problem. The Task Force will also provide advice and information on how best to overcome potential difficulties associated with the switch to the new millennium. A tight programme of action has been initiated to complete and test the changes by the end of 1998 and provide sufficient time to undertake the necessary adjustments before the end of 1999. Clearly, not every country will be able to follow such a tight time-scale, but many large organisations have already set a target of achieving compliance by the end of this year.

"Clearly, this global problem requires a global approach based on local implementation" said Tomas Nylund of Telia, Vice-Chairman of the Task Force. "Not dealing with the Year 2000 issue in one country could be as dangerous to that country's partners as computer viruses. Every telecommunication operator must ensure that its company is Year 2000 compliant and, to this end, must conduct an accurate assessment of what needs to be done, a...