This step means that the concepts and characteristics of data spaces are no longer just proposals or early drafts. They are stable enough to be reviewed, cited, and even purchased from ISO. In other words, the standard is moving from theory to formal recognition.
What the draft covers
ISO/IEC DIS 20151 sets out the foundation for what makes a data space a data space. It describes the essential characteristics that distinguish it from other IT paradigms:
- Control: organizations retain autonomy over their data.
- Trust: agreements, rules, and verifiable evidence create confidence.
- Discovery: data can be found through agreed descriptions and policies.
- Contracts: terms for data use are negotiated and formalized.
- Orchestration: sharing and use are coordinated, even if the data itself remains at the source.
- Observation: activities can be monitored or audited when needed.
- Interoperability: participants can work together across technical and organizational boundaries.
Optional services, such as marketplaces or auditing tools, can extend these basics. Together, these characteristics form a high-level blueprint for any data space, regardless of sector or geography.
Scaling data spaces
Standards may appear abstract, but they are what makes collaboration possible at scale. Think of how container sizes transformed global trade, or how GSM made mobile networks interoperable across borders. Data spaces need the same kind of common understanding if they are to grow beyond isolated pilots.
With ISO/IEC DIS 20151, governments, companies, and research institutions gain a shared vocabulary. They can describe what a data space is, what it must provide, and how participants interact. That clarity reduces confusion, prevents fragmentation, and strengthens trust.
The timeline ahead
Moving into the DIS stage sets a clear process in motion. First, the updated draft is prepared with all comments addressed. Then follow preparation and translation phases, each of which can take several weeks. After that, the DIS ballot opens, giving national standards bodies around the world the opportunity to vote and comment.
In the best case, discussions on the ballot comments could begin before Christmas 2025. If no country votes against and no major technical objections are raised, publication could follow quickly. That scenario is unlikely, but even with comments to resolve, the pathway to an official international standard is now open.
From hidden framework to visible reference
For most practitioners, ISO/IEC DIS 20151 will remain in the background. Yet its influence will be felt. It provides the reference point for policymakers drafting regulations, for companies aligning their strategies, and for consortia building new data spaces.
The draft also signals maturity. It shows that data spaces are no longer just a concept explored in research projects or sector-specific pilots. They are recognized as a formal category of digital infrastructure, worthy of international agreement.
A step toward the future data economy
As data spaces expand, questions of trust, governance, and interoperability only grow sharper. ISO/IEC 20151 offers a common frame for answering them. It does not prescribe technology, nor does it dictate business models. Instead, it ensures that when organizations speak of data spaces, they mean the same thing.
Reaching the DIS stage is not the end of the journey. But it is a decisive moment. It marks the transition from idea to international consensus. And with that, data spaces move closer to becoming a trusted, recognized part of the global data economy.
