Professor Ilija Stojanovic (1924–2007)

In January, the ITU family and the telecommunication world lost an eminent and well-loved figure: Professor Ilija Stojanovic. He marked many generations of telecommunication experts and participants in ITU activities.

The professional career of Professor Stojanovic was closely associated with ITU and he made significant contributions to the Union’s activities for more than 40 years, beginning in 1961 with the milestone European VHF/UHF Broadcasting Conference in Stockholm.

In 1984, Professor Stojanovic served as Chairman of the Planning Committee at the Regional Administrative Conference for planning the VHF sound broadcasting service. This conference established the GE84 Plan, which is still in force. In 1985 and 1988, he chaired the first and second sessions of the World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC ORB-85 and WARC ORB-88) on the use of the geostationary-satellite orbit and the planning of the space services using it. His personal involvement in the decision-making process at these conferences was highly appreciated, as it allowed solutions to be reached at critical moments. For example, WARC ORB-85 adopted the broadcasting-satellite service (BSS) Plan and the associated BSS feeder links Plan for Region 2 (the Americas). These plans are still in force.

WARC ORB-88 accomplished numerous tasks. It adopted the BSS feeder links Plan for Region 1 (Africa and Europe) and Region 3 (Asia and Australasia). These plans were modified by the World Radiocommunication Conferences of 2000 and 2003. It also adopted the allotment plan (still in force) for the fixed-satellite service (FSS) for all three regions in several frequency bands, and established the regulatory framework to govern the use of these bands. All of these subjects were so complex that, at times, it seemed unlikely the conference would come up with results. However, Professor Stojanovic’s tact made it possible to reach decisions on every issue to the full satisfaction of the ITU membership.

Professor Stojanovic cutting the jubilee cake to mark the 100th anniversary of the first ITU Radio Regulations (30 October 2006) ITU

As an outstanding scientist and expert in telecommunications, Professor Stojanovic played an active role in many study group meetings of the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR), the forerunner of ITU’s Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R). He chaired the CCIR’s 16th General Assembly in Dubrovnik in 1986. He also promoted the CCIR’s work in the former Yugoslavia and had its Recommendations incorporated into national standards. He co-founded the Yugoslav National Committee for CCIR and served as its president from 1976 to 1988.

A man of vision, Professor Stojanovic was involved in planning structural reforms of ITU. During 1986–1988, he was Chairman of the ITU Panel of Experts on the future of the International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB), which became the Radio Regulations Board (RRB). And in 1990–1991, he was a member of the High-Level Committee on the review of ITU’s structure and functioning. Some of the recommendations of these two bodies culminated in the adoption, by the Additional Plenipotentiary Conference held in Geneva in 1992, of structural changes to ITU.

Professor Stojanovic had a deep knowledge of radiocommunication services and their evolution, and from 1991 to 1994 took part in the Voluntary Group of Experts (VGE) on the simplification of the Radio Regulations. The VGE reviewed the overall concept of the international radio regulatory arrangements and proposed recommendations that were later implemented through the decisions of the World Radiocommunication Conferences of 1995 and 1997.

Beyond ITU, Professor Stojanovic was active in many national and international forums dealing with telecommunications. He founded the Department of Telecommunications at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, and lectured at four universities for almost 40 years. He also headed numerous telecommunication projects in Serbia and in the former Yugoslavia and was a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. The author of numerous books and scientific papers, Professor Stojanovic received several prestigious awards for his work. He remained professionally active to the end of his life, as an adviser to a telecommunication operator in the Republic of Serbia.

The final ITU event in which Professor Stojanovic took part was the celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of the first ITU Radio Regulations, in October 2006. Everyone at the event in Geneva was very moved when he cut the jubilee cake and wished a long life to ITU.