INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION RADIOCOMMUNICATION ADVISORY GROUP GENEVA, 23-25 JANUARY 1995 Document RAG95/1-E 9 December 1994 Original: English Australia REVIEW OF THE ITU'S FREQUENCY COORDINATION AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK FOR SATELLITE NETWORKS. PP-94 RESOLUTION COM4/10 1 Introduction The Radio Regulations contain frequency allocations for all satellite services, plans for certain satellite services and bands, requirements and procedures for reaching agreement with other countries whose existing and planned terrestrial and satellite services may be affected, and for entries in the Master International Frequency Register. Efficient use of, and equitable access to, the geostationary orbit are basic requirements as well as protection from interference and accommodation of new systems including non- geostationary orbit systems. The VGE Report on the Simplification of the Radio Regulations, under Task 2, simplified the procedures and recommended new texts to replace the existing Articles 11 to 15 and 17, and certain Appendices. The adoption of the new texts is to be considered by WRC-95. The agenda for WRC-95, and the provisional agenda for WRC-97, also include consideration of the broadcasting-satellite Region 1 and 3 plans. The PP-94 Resolution COM4/10 "considering" indicates the need for a broader review, generally taking into account issues not fully covered by the Radio Regulations at present. The review is to be initiated by the Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau in consultation with the RAG and taking into account inputs from the Radio Regulations Board. In considering terms of reference for the review, and how it is to be conducted, the following matters should be taken into account. 2 Regional issues Many countries do not have extensive terrestrial telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructures. They may have only limited technical resources and experience in using satellite systems. Recent years have shown rapid growth in the notification and introduction of satellite systems which is causing problems for coordination. The complexity of the ITU procedures has added to the problem of understanding and applying them. In some regions, the application of the Radio Regulations is qualified by regional plans and procedures. In other regions, there are no such intermediary arrangements. A better understanding of present problems - and potential solutions - might be found by reviewing these regional patterns and establishing a clear understanding of them. Mechanisms for discussion and resolution of emerging problems within Region 3 have not developed to the same extent as in some other regions. Various regional organizations exist with an interest in satellite matters but their roles and inter- relationships are not well defined. Similar problems may be foreseen in Africa and parts of Central and South America. 3 Multiple coordination procedures The issue of multiple coordination procedures deserves attention to take account not only of parallel procedures existing within the Radio Regulations, but also procedures outside the Radio Regulations. The requirement to coordinate under the Intelsat Agreement as well as under ITU procedures is an extra requirement in some cases. Even though the Intelsat procedures are regarded by many experts as simpler and more effective, they apply only to coordination with Intelsat fixed-satellite services. They do not cover all the requirements of ITU Members and cannot be regarded as an alternative to the ITU procedures. However, the review should include consideration of the Intelsat approach in relation to the ITU framework. In many cases, ITU notification and coordination is required by the Radio Regulations under several separate procedures. AR11, Article 14, Resolution 46, Appendix 30A, Resolution 33, etc. 4 World and regional plans for the geostationary orbit The broadcasting-satellite and fixed-satellite service plans have served the purpose of reserving capacity for all ITU Member countries, but they have found limited application to the real world of multi-service satellites serving one or more countries, and trans-oceanic systems. WRC-95 and WRC-97 will address the review of the 1977 R1 and R3 BSS plan and ways of making it more flexible, but this exercise is limited in scope. The review should look at the issues more broadly. 5 Coordination with WRC-95 and WRC-97 WRC-95 will consider the implementation of the VGE recommendations, further development of the Resolution 46 procedure to facilitate the use of frequency bands allocated to the MSS, feeder-link allocations for MSS, and other matters related to sharing of bands and coordination of satellite services. The review needs to take this work into account and coordinate its activities with those of the WRCs. In this context the review should be based on the simplified procedure recommended by the VGE. It should also look beyond the present scope of the WRC-95 and WRC- 97 agendas, with a view to recommending actions that could be considered by WRC-97 for action then or at future WRCs. 6 Participation in the review To be fully effective the participation of ITU Members, international organizations and satellite operators will be essential, and means should be considered that will facilitate this. In particular, it is desirable for at least one meeting to be held in each of the three Regions, preferably in conjunction with some related event to facilitate participation and to reduce costs, both for the participants and for the ITU. 7 Initial tasks To facilitate the efficient conduct of the review, it would be useful to task the Secretariat with the compilation of relevant information. Such information should include: identification and assessment from the Bureau's perspective, of key areas of pressure on the current arrangements for planning and coordination of satellite services; the form and extent of assistance from the Bureau that is requested by Members using the procedures of the Radio Regulations; an assessment of the extent of compliance with those procedures and identification of any problem areas; identification of any equity issues that have arisen in applying the procedures or that may be foreseen; satellite service and technology developments that call for updating or adaptation of the Radio Regulations; research on regional arrangements that facilitate or qualify the implementation of the Radio Regulations affecting satellite networks; and expert advice on possible improvements to the procedural aspects of planning and coordination arrangements for satellite networks. ********