Week Two Started Early

Delegates to the World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) began their second week of work almost immediately following the closing of the Plenary session last Friday. The Geneva Conference Centre stayed open throughout the weekend, with break-out sessions held both days in order to keep up an accelerated pace of work. This was necessary to deal with an unprecedented work schedule that consists of a record 48 agenda items and 2 500 individual proposals. 

Dr Veena Rawat, Chairman of WRC-03, says there has been ''reasonable progress" on a wide range of issues. However, it is no surprise that some issues pose challenges, "as they did throughout the preparatory process." Dr Rawat adds, stating: "I'm cautiously optimistic that compromises will be reached following more discussion." 

Committee 4

Sharing Challenges

One challenge facing Committee 4 has been the request by Japan and the Republic of Korea to seek spectrum allocations and regulatory provisions for BSS (sound) services in frequencies around 2.6 and 2.3 GHz. This request has resulted in great deal of debate inside and mainly outside the Committee meeting.   

The issue causing the concern is an increasingly familiar one for World Radiocommunication Conferences, that is to find room for new services in a crowded frequency spectrum, especially within certain bands. While progress has been made, stay 'tuned' for an update. 

Highly Elliptical Orbit Questions Remain

Committee 4 continues to deal with the regulatory and technical provisions for satellite networks using Highly Elliptical Orbits (HEO). HEO systems/networks are non-GSO systems and as such, under the current Radio Regulations, they are treated like any other non-GSO satellite system in the same band and service. However, because of the nature of the orbit, these systems have a broad impact on non-GSO systems, GSO networks and with terrestrial systems. The Committee has resolved challenges posed by HEO below 3 GHz, but some technical issues dealing with power-flux density (pfd) and equivalent power-flux density (epfd) remain. 

Equitable Access to Satellite Orbit and Frequency

The need to ensure equitable access to satellite orbits and frequency resources touches the heart of the ITU mandate, and Committee 4 is set to begin its work on this critical issue. 

At WRC-2000, the principle of first come first served was called into question by some countries. The issue at WRC-03 will revolve around providing a clearer description of the situation and the regulatory environment governing the use of the spectrum/orbit, which was put in place in the 1970's and 1980's. The challenge will be to find the balance between orbit use when needed and guaranteed access to all countries for use at some point in the future.  

Committee 5

Keeping Aeronautical Radar Systems Static Free

The band 960 - 1 215 MHz is primarily allocated to the aeronautical-radionavigation service (ARNS) in all regions. One task of Committee 5 was to ensure protection of ARNS systems operating in the 1 164 - 1 215 MHz range from interference produced by all space stations within the Radionavigation Satellite Service. 

One Working Group has completed its work on some of the issues and the results will be brought forth to subsequent Committee and Plenary meetings.

New Aeronautical Services Means New WRC Challenges

The need for compatibility between aeronautical and broadcasting services, in an increasingly digital world, has posed some challenges for Committee 5. 

Aeronautical systems are converging towards a communication data link environment to support aeronautical navigation and surveillance functions, which need to be accommodated in existing radio spectrum. However, digital sound broadcasting systems in adjacent frequency bands are being introduced and at this time no compatibility criteria exist between those systems and the ones planned for aeronautical services. These compatibility issues need to be studied, and any resolution adopted by ITU will need to be brought to the attention of the International Civil Aviation Organization.  

One issue that has become increasingly apparent at WRC-03, is that it may be necessary for ITU to redefine its definition of radiocommunication applications and services. This is the result of the development of digital technologies and the blurring of the boundaries between new services and various traditional services.

Public Protection and Disaster Relief Communications 

A number of administrations want to promote interoperability and interworking between systems used for public protection and disaster relief, both nationally and for cross-border operations in emergency situations and disaster relief. This may be increasingly possible, given the potential of new technologies such as IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000. However, it is recognized that some administrations may have different operational needs and spectrum requirements for public protection and disaster relief depending upon the scenario. The Committee reported that this issue is moving towards a conclusion.

Protecting Space Science Research

A number of proposals have been made concerning the allocation and associated regulatory issues for space science services to support deep space exploration and research. The challenge is to not only protect passive services such as radioastronomy, but to also manage the increased demand for spectrum for space research in congested frequency bands. Committee 5 is making good progress in dealing with all these issues.   

High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS)

HAPS isn't new to WRC, but follow-up on the decisions taken at WRC-2000 may prove more difficult than expected. While HAPS has peaked the interest of new service providers, the question remains of how to protect existing services in an already heavily used part of the spectrum.

Committee 6

Protect 45 or 60 Centimetre size Antennas?

The issue of bringing a new broadcast network into operation without first completing the coordination procedure created significant debate this week in Committee 6, although reasonable progress has been made in reviewing provisions for the BSS service links (Appendices 30, 30A, 30B). At issue are certain regulatory procedures that WRC-2000 introduced in the Radio Regulations (paragraphs 4.1.10 to 4.1.20 of Appendices 30, 30A). Of great concern to some administrations is how to maintain the integrity of the BSS assignments upon their being entered into the International Frequency List. 

It is proving to be a challenge on deciding on the appropriateness of 45 cm or 60 cm as the minimum size of antenna to be taken into account in the technical criteria used in Appendices 30 and 30A for BSS assignments. While the corresponding pfd masks only differ in the range 2.0 - 5.0 degrees of orbital separation, with a maximum difference of 7.2dB for an orbital separation of 3.6 degrees between the interfering and wanted space stations, there remain strongly divergent views between some regions. Some regions support the protection of 45 cm antennas provided that BSS is limited to national service only.

Committee 7

Next Agenda Under way

Committee 7 has begun discussion on the principles and criteria for development of agenda items for future conferences. Work is nearing completion on the issue of incorporation of ITU-R recommendations by reference.  

CITEL and ATU sign agreement 

The American and African regional organizations, known as the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) of the Organization of American States and the African Telecommunication Union (ATU), signed a cooperation agreement at WRC-03. 

The countries of the Americas and Africa have agreed to work together to build closer cooperative ties between themselves and ITU. Both parties will coordinate, as far as possible, their positions on matters of common interest and in particular will cooperate as far as possible in matters relating to the development of telecommunications in both regions exchanging experience and relevant documentation.