2015 World Radiocommunication Conference opens
Treaty-making Conference to allocate spectrum for rapidly evolving ICTs
Geneva, 2 November 2015 – The World Radiocommunication
Conference, the international treaty-making Conference, opened in Geneva today.
In session from 2 to 27 November, the Conference will review the international
regulatory framework for radiocommunications – the Radio Regulations – and
revise them as needed. This process will take into account the rapid evolution
of information and communication technologies (ICT), ensuring the global
management of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits, and enabling
people to live and travel safely while enjoying high performance
radiocommunications.
Mr Festus Yusufu Narai Daudu of Nigeria was appointed Chairman of the World
Radiocommunication Conference along with six Vice Chairmen: Mr A. Jamieson (New
Zealand), Mr Y. Al-Bulushi (Oman), Mr D. Obam (Kenya), Ms D. Tomimura (Brazil),
Mr A. Kühn (Germany), and Mr N. Nikiforov (Russian Federation).
Over 3000 participants, representing more than 160 out of ITU’s 193 Member
States are expected to attend the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference
(WRC-15). About 100 observers from among ITU’s 700 private sector members along
with international organizations will also attend the conference.
“The 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference will define new and better ways
to regulate radio services and applications,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin
Zhao. “In a world where radiocommunications play an increasingly important role
in connecting people, I am convinced that the outcome of the conference will
contribute towards making the world a better place for all.”
“With the relentless expansion of wireless services worldwide, all services
relying on radio waves are competing for a share of the radio-frequency spectrum
to support new applications, growing user numbers and exploding traffic,” said
François Rancy, Director of ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau. “The deliberations
at WRC-15 and its outcomes will ensure that we can maintain a stable,
predictable and universally applied regulatory environment that secures
long-term investments for a multi-trillion dollar industry.”
WRC-15 will address a number of key issues, in particular:
- Mobile broadband communications: Provision
of additional frequencies to meet the rapidly growing demand for
mobile broadband communications.
- Emergency communications and disaster relief:
Allocation of frequencies for advanced public protection and
disaster relief.
- Monitoring the environment and climate change:
New allocations for earth-exploration satellite services with
higher resolution radar imagery for improved global
environmental monitoring.
- Unmanned aircraft and wireless avionics systems:
Spectrum for the aeronautical sector, related to the use of
unmanned aircraft systems, and wireless avionics
intra-communications to allow for the heavy and expensive wiring
used in aircraft to be replaced by wireless systems.
- Global flight tracking for civil aviation:
WRC-15 will consider allocating spectrum for global flight
tracking for improved safety.
- Enhanced maritime communications systems:
Maritime communications, facilitating the use of on-board
digital transmissions and automatic identification system on
vessels for improved navigation safety.
- Road Safety: Allocation of frequencies for
short range, high-resolution radars for collision avoidance
systems in vehicles for increased road safety.
- Operation of satellite systems: Allocation
of spectrum for broadband satellite systems; providing for earth
stations on-board moving platforms, such as ships and aircraft;
and improving coordination procedures to make more efficient use
of spectrum and satellite orbits.
- Universal Time: examining the feasibility
of achieving a continuous reference time-scale, by modifying
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Media Information:
- The World Radiocommunication Conference will be held 2-27 November at the
International Convention Centre Geneva (CICG).
-
Accreditation information is available in the
WRC-15
Newsroom.
- UN Press accreditation is valid.
- Photo badges will be provided at Registration desks at the ITU Montbrillant
Building on rue Varembé.
- Access to the meeting rooms will be restricted, subject to decisions of
WRC-15.
- Media accreditation enquiries:
pressreg@itu.int
For more information, please see
www.itu.int/en/newsroom/wrc15/Pages/default.aspx or
contact: