Abstract
This address attempts to relate the interests of CODATA members in facilitating the worldwide exchange of scientific information, with revolutionary new developments foreseen in the domain of telecommunications. Today's trends in telecommunications are projected into the future through two successive generations of technological evolution. The first generation of evolution starts in the relatively near future with initial implementation of functional capabilities for integrated service digital networks (ISDNS). The second generation mates the broadband transmission capability of fiber optic cables with new concepts of fast packet switching to afford unprecedented service flexibility. Standards development as a planning prerequisite of the future telecommunication network is discussed. Some aspects of standards development and other preliminary planning activity are suggested where possible CODATA involvement might prove advantageous in preparing to realize future objectives for information transfer.