Landmark qualification enables the ITU-T to normatively reference OSIA specifications

Secure Identity Alliance (SIA), the global non-profit association representing actors and organisations active across the digital identity ecosystem, today announced that it has been qualified under Procedure A.5 by the International Telecommunication Union’s Standardisation Division (ITU-T).

The qualification enables the ITU-T to normatively reference OSIA specifications. A digital public good, OSIA is an open standard set of interfaces (APIs) that enables seamless connectivity between building blocks of the identity management ecosystem – independent of technology, solution
architecture or vendor.

Following a rigorous assessment process conducted by ITU-T Study Group 17, the ITU’s standardisation expert group for security, SIA successfully qualified under Recommendation ITU-T A.5 having fulfilled several key criteria. These included an open membership/participation model and IPR Policy, a comprehensive change management process and the maturity of the OSIA specifications.

Matt Cole, Chairman of the SIA, said: “Our mission is to unlock the full power of identity so that people, economy, and society thrive. In 2019 we launched the OSIA initiative to develop a framework of open standards for the interoperability of identity systems. The ITU-T qualification is a testament of the good work we have done over the last few years and represents a stepping stone in the continued collaboration with ITU-T SG-17 .”

Prof. Heung Youl Youm, Chairman of ITU-T Study Group 17, said: “ITU SG17 is happy to have approved the qualification of SIA under ITU-T A.5 in its SG17 Closing Plenary on Friday 2nd September 2022. We look forward to the next steps of this collaboration.”