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Guide to ITU-R radio-wave propagation prediction methods

​Method
TitleApplicationTypeOutputFrequencyDistance% time% locationTerminal heightInput data
Rec. ITU-R P.368Ground-wave propagation method for frequencies between 10 kHz and 30 MHz All servicesPoint-to-point
Field strength10 kHz to 30 MHz1 to 10 000 kmNot applicableNot applicableGround-based
Frequency,
Antenna heights,
Transmit power,
Surface refractivity,
Path distance,
Ground relative permittivity and conductivity,
Polarization
Rec. ITU-R P.452
Prediction procedure for the evaluation of interference between stations on the surface of the Earth at frequencies above about 100 MHzServices employing stations on the surface of the Earth; interference Point-to-point
Basic transmission loss100 MHz to 50 GHzNot specified but up to and beyond the radio horizon0.001 to 50
Average year and worst month
Not applicableNo limits specified, within the surface layer of the atmosphere.
(Not suitable for aeronautical applications)

Path profile data (bare terrain heights, clutter heights and radio-climatic zone types),
Frequency,
Percentage time,
Tx and Rx antenna heights,
Tx and Rx latitudes and longitudes,
Meteorological data,
Polarization

Rec. ITU-R P.528A propagation prediction method for aeronautical mobile and radionavigation services using the VHF, UHF and SHF bands Aeronautical
mobile
Point-to-areaBasic transmission loss
100 MHz to 30 GHzNot specified but up to and beyond the radio horizon
For aeronautical applications 0 km great circle distance does not mean 0 km path length.
1 to 99Not applicableTerminal heights: 1.5 - 20 000 mDistance,
Frequency,
Tx and Rx heights,
Percentage time,
Polarization
Rec. ITU-R P.530


Propagation data and prediction methods required for the design of terrestrial line-of-sight systemsLine-of-sight fixed linksPoint-to-point line-of-sightPropagation loss
Diversity improvement (clear air conditions)
XPD(2)
Outage
Error performance
Approximately
150 MHz to
175 GHz
Up to 200 km if line-of-sight

All percentages of time in clear‑air conditions;
1 to 0.001 in
precipitation conditions(1)

And worst month for attenuation

Not applicableHigh enough to ensure specified path clearanceDistance,
Frequency,
Tx and Rx heights,
Percentage time,
Path obstruction data,
Climate data,
Terrain information
Rec. ITU-R P.533

Method for the prediction of the performance of HF circuits
Broadcasting Fixed Mobile
Point-to-point
Basic MUF Sky wave  field strength Available receiver  power Signal-to-noise ratio LUF Circuit reliability
2 to 30 MHz
0 to 40 000 km
All percentages
Not applicable
Not applicable
Tx and Rx latitudes and longitudes,
Sunspot number, Month,
Time(s) of day Frequencies.
Tx power,
Tx and Rx antenna types
Rec. ITU-R P.534

Method for calculating sporadic-E field strength
Fixed Mobile Broadcasting
Point-to-point via sporadic E
Field strength
30 to 100 MHz
0 to 4 000 km
0.1 to 50
Not applicable
Not applicable
Distance, Frequency
Rec. ITU-R P.617
Propagation prediction techniques and data required for the design of trans-horizon radio-relay systems
Trans-horizon fixed links
Point-to-point
Basic transmission loss
> 30 MHz
100 to 1 000 km
0.001 to 99.999
Not applicable
No limits specified within the surface layer of the 
atmosphere. (Not suitable for aeronautical applications)
Frequency,
Tx and Rx antenna gains,
Path geometry
Rec. ITU-R P.618
Propagation data and prediction methods required for the design of Earth-space telecommunication systems
Satellite
Point-to-point
Propagation loss Diversity gain and (for precipitation condition) XPD(2)
1 to 55 GHz
Any practical orbit height
0.001-5 for rain attenuation; 0.001-50 for total attenuation, 0.001-1 for  XPD(2) Also  worst month for  attenuation
Not applicable
No limit
Meteorological data,
Frequency Elevation angle, Height of earth station, Separation and angle between earth station sites (for diversity gain),
Antenna diameter and efficiency (for scintillation), Polarization angle (for XPD(2)
Rec. ITU-R P.619
Propagation data required for the evaluation of interference between stations in space and those on the surface of the Earth
Satellite
Point-to-point
Basic transmission loss for single-entry interference Clear-air basic transmission loss for multiple-entry interference
0.1 to 100 GHz
Any practical orbit height
0.001 to 50
Not applicable
No limit
Frequency,
Earth-station elevation angle, Angular path separation,
Path length Gaseous attenuation, Scintillation “gain”,
Maximum allowed attenuation of the wanted signal
Rec. ITU-R P.620
Propagation data required for the evaluation of coordination distances in the frequency range 100 MHz to 105 GHz
Earth station frequency coordination
Coordination distance
Distance of which the required propagation loss is achieved
100 MHz to 105 GHz
Up to 1 200 km
0.001 to 50
Not applicable
No limits specified within the surface layer of the atmosphere. (Not suitable for aeronautical applications)
Minimum basic transmission loss, Frequency, Percentage of time,
Earth-station elevation angle

Rec. ITU-R P.678

Characterization of the variability of propagation phenomena and estimation of the risk associated with propagation margin
Rain rate models Satellite
Point-to-point
Variability of propagation phenomena
12 to 50 GHz
Any practical orbit height
0.01-2 for rainfall rate and rain attenuation along slant paths
Not applicable
No limit
Probability of exceedance
Rec. ITU-R P.679
Propagation data required for the design of broadcasting-satellite systems
Broadcast satellite
Point-to-area
Excess basic transmission loss Effect of local environment
0.5 to 5.1 GHz
Any practical orbit height
Not applicable
No limits specified
No limits specified
Frequency, Elevation angle, Features of local environment
Rec. ITU-R P.680

Propagation data required for the design of Earth-space maritime mobile telecommunication systems
Maritime mobile satellite
Point-to-point
Sea-surface fading Fade duration Interference (adjacent satellite)
0.8-8 GHz
Any practical orbit height
To 0.001% via Rice-Nakagami distribution Limit of 0.01% for interference(1)
Not applicable
No limit
Frequency, Elevation angle, Maximum antenna boresight gain
Rec. ITU-R P.681
Propagation data required for the design of systems in the land mobile-satellite serviceLand mobile satellite
Point-to-point
Path fading Fade duration Non-fade duration
0.8 to 20 GHz
Any practical orbit height
Not applicable Percentage of distance travelled 1 to 80%(1)
Not applicable
No limit
Frequency, Elevation angle, Percentage of distance travelled, Approximate level of optical shadowing

Rec. ITU-R P.682
Propagation data required for the design of Earth-space aeronautical mobile telecommunication systems
Aeronautical mobile satellite
Point-to-point
Sea surface fading Multipath from ground and aircraft during landing
1 to 2 GHz (sea-surface fading)
1 to 3 GHz (multipath from ground)
Any practical orbit height
To 0.001% via Rice-Nakagami distribution(1)
Not applicable
No limit for sea-surface fading Up to 1 km for ground reflection during landing
Frequency, Elevation angle, Polarization, Maximum antenna boresight gain, Antenna height
Rec. ITU-R P.684
Prediction of field strength at frequencies below about 150 kHz
Fixed Mobile
Point-to-point Point-to-area
Sky wave field strength
30 to 150 kHz
0 to 16 000 km
50
Not applicable
Not applicable
Tx and Rx latitudes and longitudes,
Distance,
Tx power, Frequency, Ground constants,  Season,
Sunspot number, Hour of day
Rec. ITU-R P.843

Communication by meteor-burst propagation
Fixed Mobile Broadcasting
Point-to-point via meteor burst
Received power Burst rate
30 to 100 MHz
100 to 1 000 km
0 to 5
Not applicable
Not applicable
Frequency, Distance,
Tx power, Antenna gains
Rec. ITU-R P.1147
Prediction of sky-wave field strength at frequencies between about 150 and 1 700 kHz
Broadcasting
Point-to-area
Sky-wave field strength
0.15 to 1.7 MHz
50 to 12 000 km
1, 10, 50
Not applicable
Not applicable
Tx and Rx latitudes and longitudes,
Distance, Sunspot number, Tx power, Frequency
Rec. ITU-R P.1238

Propagation data and prediction methods for the planning of indoor radiocommunication systems and radio local area networks in the frequency range from 300 MHz to 450 GHz
Mobile RLAN
In building propagation methods
Basic transmission loss
Delay spread
300 MHz to 450 GHz
Within buildings
Not applicable
Not applicable
Base: about 2-3 m Mobile: about 0.5-3 m
Frequency, Distance,
Floor and wall factors
Rec. ITU-R P.1410
Propagation data and prediction methods required​ for the design of terrestrial broadband radio access systems operating in a frequency range from 3 to 60 GHz
Broadband radio access
Point-to-area
Coverage Temporal coverage reduction due to rain
3 to 60 GHz
0-5 km
0.001 to 1 (for calculating reduction in coverage due to rain)
Up to 100
No limit; 
0-300 m  (typical)
Frequency,
Cell size,
Terminal heights,
Building height,
Statistical parameters
Rec. ITU-R P.1411​
Propagation data and prediction​ methods for the planning of short-range outdoor radiocommunication systems and radio local area networks in the frequency range 300 MHz to 300 GHz
Mobile
Short-path propagation methods
Basic transmission loss Delay spread
300 MHz to 300 GHz
< 1 km
Not applicable
1 to 99 (Section 4.3.1)Base: about 4-50 m Mobile: about 0.5-3 m
Frequency,
Distance,
Street dimensions, Structure heights,
Percentage locations (for Section 4.3.1) 
Rec. ITU-R P.1546

Method for point-to-area predictions for terrestrial services in the frequency range 30 MHz to 4 000 MHz
Terrestrial services
Point-to-area
Field strength
30 to 4 000 MHz
up to 1 000 km
1 to 50
1 to 99
Tx/base: effective  height from less than
0 m to
3 000 m
Rx/mobile:
³ 1 m
Terrain height and ground cover (optional),
Path type classification and distance traversed for each type, Distance,
Tx antenna height,
Tx effective antenna height,
Tx transmit power,
Area type around the Tx,
Tx and Rx terrain height,
Frequency,
Rx antenna height,
Representative clutter around Tx and Rx,
Rx terrain clearance angle,
Tx and Rx effective terrain clearance angles,
Percentage time,
Percentage locations,
Refractivity gradient
Rec. ITU-R P.1622
Prediction methods required for the design of Earth-space systems operating between 20 THz and 375 THz
Satellite optical links
Point-to-point
Absorption loss Scattering loss Background noise Amplitude scintillation Angle of arrival
Beam wander Beam spreading
20 to 375 THz
Far-field Earth-to-space optical links
Not applicable
Not applicable
No limit
Wavelength,
Terminal height,
Elevation angle,
Turbulence structure parameter
Rec. ITU-R P.1623

Prediction method of fade dynamics on Earth-space paths
Satellite
Point-to-point
Fade duration, fade slope
10 to 50 GHz
Any practical orbit height
Not applicable
Not applicable
No limit
Frequency, Elevation angle, Attenuation threshold,
Filter bandwidth
Rec. ITU-R P.1812
A path-specific propagation prediction method for point-to-area terrestrial services in the frequency range 30 MHz to 6 GHz
Terrestrial services
Point-to-area
Field strength
30 MHz to 6 GHz
Not specified but up to and beyond the radio horizon
1 to 50
1 to 99
No limits specified, within the surface layer of the atmosphere. (Not suitable for aeronautical applications)
Path profile data (bare terrain, clutter heights and radio-climatic zone types), Frequency, Percentage time, Tx and Rx antenna heights,
Tx and Rx latitudes and longitudes,
Meteorological data,
Polarization
Rec. ITU-R P.1814
Prediction methods required for the design of terrestrial free-space optical links
Terrestrial optical links
Point-to-point
Absorption loss Scattering loss Background noise Amplitude scintillation Beam spreading
20 to 375 THz
≤ 5 km
Not applicable
Not applicable
No limit
Wavelength, Visibility (in fog), Path length,
Turbulence structure parameter
Rec. ITU-R P.1853

Time series synthesis of tropospheric impairmentsTerrestrial satellite
Point-to-point
Rain attenuation for terrestrial paths Total attenuation and tropospheric scintillation for Earth-space paths
4 to 40 GHz for terrestrial paths 4 to 55 GHz for Earth-space paths
Between 2 and 60 km for terrestrial paths GEO satellite
Not applicable
Not applicable
No limit
Meteorological data,
Frequency, Elevation angle, Height of earth station,
Separation and angle between earth station sites (for diversity gain), Antenna diameter and efficiency (for scintillation)
Rec. ITU-R P.2001

A general purpose wide-range terrestrial propagation model in the frequency range 30 MHz to 50 GHz
Terrestrial services
Point-to-point
Basic transmission loss
30 MHz to 50 GHz
Up to at least 1 000 km
Between 0 and 100%Not applicable
< 8000 m above m.s.l. but near the ground, within the troposphere
Path profile data (bare terrain heights, radio-climatic zone types),
Frequency Percentage time,
Tx and Rx antenna height, gains and azimuthal directions,
Tx and Rx latitudes and longitudes,
Polarization
Rec. ITU-R P.2041​

Prediction of path attenuation on links between an airborne platform and Space and between an airborne platform and the surface of the Earth
AirbornePoint-to-point
Total attenuation
1 to 55 GHz
Any height
0.001 to 50
Not applicable
Between the surface of the Earth and space
Meteorological data,
Frequency,
Elevation angle,
Availability,
Height of airborne platform,
Antenna diameter and efficiency (for scintillation)
​Rec. ITU-R P.2170​
​Methods and models for predicting lunar radio-wave propagation characteristics​​
​All services operating on or near the lunar surface​
​Point-to-point and point-to-area​
​Attenuation relative to free space​
​20 MHz to 37 GHz​
​0.5 to 500 km (point-to-area) and 0.1 to 500 km (point-to-point) for terminals on the lunar surface​
​Not applicable​
​0 < p < 100
​0.5 m to 3 km where the elevation angle from the antenna to the horizon < 200 mrad​
​Input parameters for both modes: Frequency, Terminal heights, Fraction of locations of interest,
Surface transfer impedance of the lunar surface, Elevation angle from terminal-to-termina,l Polarization ​

Point-to-area mode:
Horizontal smooth surface distance between the terminals,
Terrain irregularity 

Point-to-point mode:
Vector of uniformly-spaced horizontal distances between terminals,
Lunar terrain elevations at uniformly-space horizontal distances between terminals ​
(1) Time percentage of outage; for service availability, subtract value from 100.
(2) XPD: Cross-polarization discrimination.