The 2016 World Radiocommunication Seminar (WRS-16), which met in Geneva from 12 to 16 December, concluded today with the attendance of some 500 participants from 109 countries. WRS-16 focused on the regulatory aspects of the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits, in particular the application of the provisions of the ITU Radio Regulations.
The opening plenary was dedicated to celebration of the 110th anniversary of the ITU Radio Regulations, the international treaty on wireless communications and the related use of the satellite orbits.
"With the growing complexity of our interconnected world and the ubiquity of wireless systems, the ITU Radio Regulations are now more important than ever before," said Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General. "WRS-16, jointly with Regional Radio Seminars, provides an opportunity to gain deeper insight into the revised regulations following the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015. These seminars also aim to provide participants with essential technical and regulatory background information to assist them to prepare for the next ITU World Radiocommunication Conference in October 2019."
ITU World Radiocommunication Seminars are organized every two years alongside Regional Radiocommunication Seminars, which are regularly convened throughout the year to assist ITU Members to prepare for World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs). WRCs meet every three or four years to update the ITU Radio Regulations and ensure interference-free operations of radiocommunication systems and provide all countries with equitable access to the radio spectrum - a scarce natural resource that does not distinguish national borders and needs to be harmonized globally to ensure ubiquitous wireless communications.
"Decision made by consensus is the guarantee that this regularly updated international treaty will continue to be reflected in national legislations, and enforced by national governments, as a consequence of their signing of the Final Acts of WRCs," said François Rancy, Director of ITU's Radiocommunication Bureau. "Building this consensus is a key requirement of the four-year preparation cycle of WRCs and for the continued success of the Radio Regulations."
Two and a half days of the Seminar were dedicated to discussing international frequency management and radiocommunication standardization of the terrestrial and space services. The last two and half days were organized as workshops to enable participants to get hands-on experience with ITU notification procedures as well as with the software and electronic publications available to ITU membership.
The Space Workshops introduced a restructured 'Space Network System database version 8.0' (SNS 8.0) and an accompanying software package BRsoftV8 fully reflecting all the modifications and additions made by WRC-15 to Appendix 4, applicable from 1 January 2017. In addition training of the equivalent power flux-density (EPFD) validation software (EPFD) was also introduced. The Terrestrial Workshops introduced the updated online portal for broadcasting services eBCD2.0 and notification of IMT stations.
During WRS-16, the 'Network Of Women for WRC-19' (NOW) initiative was launched by François Rancy, Director of ITU's Radiocommunication Bureau, to promote greater gender inclusion in decision-making bodies, panels, statutory committees and radiocommunication study groups. NOW will also act to support efforts to building capacity early on in the WRC-19 process to generate a larger participation of women in key roles during WRC-19.
