TC DATA

Standards and related deliverables to support the deployment and operation of distributed solutions for data collection, integration, sharing and management, including security and testing aspects.

ETSI’s Technical Committee on Data Solutions (TC DATA) develops standards that enable trustworthy, interoperable and scalable data solutions across the ICT ecosystem.

Our work covers the full spectrum of distributed data processing—data in transit, at rest and in process—supporting organisations in deploying robust infrastructures, data products, access services and APIs. We address key challenges in data governance, semantic interoperability, ontologies and regulatory alignment, ensuring that data can be shared and reused reliably across sectors and borders.

By working closely with industry, policymakers and open‑source communities, TC DATA provides the technical foundations that drive Europe’s digital transformation and the development of trusted data ecosystems.

Key areas of work

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Distributed data processing across connectivity, storage & compute

TC DATA standardises distributed data architectures that support data in transit, at rest and in process, ensuring interoperability across diverse platforms and infrastructures. Our work enables organisations to collect, store, transform and exchange data seamlessly in distributed and hybrid environments. These foundations make data systems scalable, resilient and suitable for both machine‑to‑machine and human‑centred use cases.

Interoperable data infrastructures, APIs & semantic models (NGSI‑LD, SAREF)

We develop standards for data infrastructures, data access services and APIs that enable data to be discoverable, portable, and reusable across domains. This includes the maintenance and evolution of semantic and data models such as NGSI‑LD (Next Generation Service Interface for Linked Data) and SAREF (the Smart Applications REFerence ontology). By providing harmonised data structures and semantics, we enable consistent interpretation and integration of data across ecosystems.

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Data governance, semantic interoperability & EU regulatory alignment

TC DATA contributes the technical underpinnings needed to support European policy initiatives, including the Data Act and the data‑related provisions of the AI Act. We address semantic interoperability, ontologies, data governance rules and compliance requirements to ensure trustworthy, transparent and lawful data exchanges. Our work strengthens digital sovereignty and ensures that standards reflect both operational needs and regulatory expectations.

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Distributed Ledger Technologies, blockchain & smart contracts for trusted data exchange

We explore how Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs), blockchain and smart contracts can provide integrity, auditability and verifiable trust in distributed data environments. TC DATA assesses how these technologies can support trustworthy data sharing, automated compliance, identity management and multi‑party coordination across sectors. By aligning DLT innovations with standardised data models and governance frameworks, we help ensure safe, interoperable adoption at scale.

 

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Sector‑specific data solutions & vertical industry harmonisation

TC DATA develops semantic frameworks, data models and APIs tailored to vertical domains such as the maritime sector and other specialised industries. This ensures that domain‑specific datasets can be shared across organisational and national boundaries while remaining interoperable with broader horizontal data infrastructures. Through this work, we enable cross‑domain data reuse, support operational efficiency and accelerate the digital transformation of vertical ecosystems.

  • What we do

    TC DATA develops the standards that enable seamless, trustworthy and interoperable data solutions across the ICT landscape.

    Our work supports the full lifecycle of distributed data systems ensuring data can move smoothly between organisations, platforms, applications and devices. By addressing both machine‑to‑machine and human‑centric requirements, we help build data infrastructures that are scalable, efficient and future‑ready.

    We focus on the three fundamental dimensions of distributed data processing: Connectivity (data in transit), Storage (data at rest), and Compute (data in process). This includes standardisation of data products, data access services, APIs, and semantic models, as well as the security, validation, and testing frameworks required to operate these systems at scale. Our work empowers organisations to deploy interoperable data services that are robust, privacy‑preserving and aligned with industry best practices.

    TC DATA also plays a key role in supporting European and international policy objectives. We provide technical input to ETSI responses on the EU Data Act, the data‑related provisions of the AI Act, and other regulatory initiatives that require strong foundations in data governance and semantic interoperability. By engaging with regulatory bodies, industry groups and open‑source communities, we ensure that our standards remain aligned with real‑world needs and emerging legal frameworks.

    We maintain and evolve recognised semantic and data models such as SAREF and NGSI‑LD, and support the incorporation of oneM2M outputs into ETSI standards, reinforcing cross‑ecosystem interoperability.

    Explore our Work Programme

Standards & documents

See all standards


  1. Data Solutions (DATA); Extension to SAREF; Part 15: Device Management Domain

  2. Data Solutions (DATA); Development and identification of Data Quality Metrics

  3. Data Solutions (DATA); Data Act (art. 33) standardization suggestions

  • Cover flyer ETSI TC DATA Data Solutions

    ETSI TC DATA Data Solutions

Get involved

For participation inquiries or further information, please contact: [email protected]

Learn more about our membership benefits

 

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Related news

Press Release

17 February 2025

ETSI launches a Technical Committee on Data Solutions (TC DATA) to encourage the adoption of new standards in line with the European Data Governance Act

ETSI is pleased to announce the establishment of a new Technical Committee on Data Solutions (TC DATA) aimed at advancing data-driven technologies and supporting the...

Read more
ETSI launches a Technical Committee on Data Solutions (TC DATA) to encourage the adoption of new standards in line with the European Data Governance Act