WRS-22: How ITU-R study groups work

By ITU News

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is unique among United Nations agencies in allowing private companies to participate in its three areas of work —the radiocommunication, standardization and development sectors. Companies and organizations join ITU as Sector Members and Associates, while another membership category exists for Academia.

The main vehicles for corporate and non-governmental participation are ITU’s study groups, in which over 5 000 technology experts and specialists from companies, governments and other organizations around the world jointly undertake technical studies to establish international voluntary standards, — referred to as ITU Recommendations. In addition, the study groups produce various technical, operational, and procedural publications that support the advancement of telecommunications globally.

In the case of ITU’s Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), study groups address a wide range of topics, from how satellites communicate with each other to ensuring that ships in distress can alert rescue services efficiently.

Their work underpins international and national regulatory decisions, as well as technical standards which enable technologies that practically everyone depends on to operate smoothly.

ITU-R study groups assess the compatibility of different radio systems and services, providing the technical basis for decisions made at ITU’s World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC). Held every four years, the conference updates the Radio Regulations – the treaty that governs the use of radio-frequency spectrum by all radiocommunication services, including those using satellite orbits.

The study groups in ITU-R also produce recommendations, reports, and handbooks to assist the world at large in radiocommunication matters.

Examining key topics

At the World Radiocommunication Seminar (WRS-22) last month, ITU-R Study Group Department Chief Sergio Buonomo explained how this critical work is carried out between quadrennial WRCs.

“Studies are driven by ITU-R member contributions,” he said, adding how those studies can be technical, operational, or procedural. “They serve as the basis for decisions that need to be taken by a future WRC or as a consequence of previous WRC decisions.”

During the four-year study cycle, each study group adopts ITU-R recommendations and questions, and approves reports, opinions, and handbooks on the radiocommunication matters under its mandate.

“This documentation is publicly available to deliver what has been developed within study group activities,” Buonomo explained.

ITU-R currently has six study groups in operation:

• Spectrum management (SG 1) deals with international and national spectrum management principles, long-term strategies for spectrum use, spectrum monitoring, and spectrum sharing, as well as engineering techniques and related economic aspects, in cooperation with the ITU Development Sector.
• Radio wave propagation (SG 3) considers radio-wave propagation prediction models to improve the performance of satellite and terrestrial radiocommunication systems and addresses the impact of radio noise on such systems.
• Satellite services (SG 4) deals with the efficient orbit/spectrum utilization, air interfaces, performance and availability objectives of systems and networks in the fixed-satellite service, mobile-satellite service, broadcasting-satellite service, and radiodetermination-satellite service.
• Terrestrial services (SG 5) looks at fixed, mobile, and amateur radiocommunication services, both on land and at sea (maritime mobile service).
• Broadcasting service (SG 6) studies vision, sound, multimedia, and data services intended for delivery to the public.
• Science services (SG 7) looks at spectrum use in time signals, space radiocommunications, radio astronomy, remote sensing, and Earth observation.

In addition, ITU-R’s Coordination Committee for Vocabulary (CCV) coordinates technical terms and definitions, enabling all groups to “speak the same language, and use the same understanding in their work,” Buonomo said.

Study group governance

ITU-R study groups are governed by ITU-R Resolutions adopted by the Radiocommunication Assembly (RA), another normally quadrennial meeting held just ahead of each WRC.

“The Radiocommunication Assembly assigns work to study groups,” explained Buonomo.

The RA’s key output is published as a list of ITU-R Resolutions, of which 40 are currently in force. The most important is Resolution 1, outlining how studies are prepared, reviewed, and approved.

Buonomo added: “RAs also provide the technical basis for the work of WRC, suggest topics for future WRCs, approve and issue ITU-R Recommendations and Questions, and can even disband or establish new study groups.”

Study groups submit their work to the RA, but ITU-R members can also submit contributions to the Assembly directly.

While adherence to ITU-R Recommendations is mainly voluntary, the WRC may decide to incorporate specific ITU-R Recommendations into the Radio Regulations wholly or partially, making their application mandatory.

ITU-wide collaboration

For many activities, the study groups in ITU-R collaborate closely with those in ITU’s other two sectors.

Some topics of common interest across the agency include:

• Information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility for persons with disabilities
• Analogue switch-off and transition to digital terrestrial television
• Broadband deployment, especially in developing countries
• Human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF)
• Spectrum-management principles, techniques, monitoring and strategies for long-term use, and economic approaches
• Telecom/ICTs for e-health and digital health services
• Enhancing telecom service deployment in remote, underserved, and rural areas
• Disaster mitigation and emergency telecommunications
• Climate change issues – especially reducing the energy consumption of ICT/radiocommunication technologies and systems
• Smart grids and improving Internet of Things (IoT) applications for smart cities

Private-sector participation is crucial for the success of ITU study groups, since companies are among the main implementers and users of the standards agreed through the study and conference process.

In a world where virtually everyone uses spectrum resources, ITU-R study group outputs provide the basis for harmonized, effective, and compatible functioning of radiocommunication services  worldwide.

Learn more about becoming a member of ITU.

This special ITU News blog series features content from the 30th World Radiocommunication Seminar, including a closer look at the latest trends in broadcasting, international mobile technologies, maritime communications, space and terrestrial services, and more.

The series will conclude with a preview of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23), set to take place in Dubai from 20 November to 15 December 2023.See backgrounders on ITU-R and ITU study groups.

Image credit: ITU/D. Woldu