International Radio Regulations Treaty Charts Future for Wireless Communications

November 27, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

The World Radiocommunication Conference is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to periodically review and update Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.

Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General of ITU, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the four-week conference, which ended Nov 16. "WRC-07 represents a major landmark for the future growth of the ICT industry, and everyone will benefit from the digital dividend that will emerge as a result of this conference," he said.

"There is a convergence of the needs of developing countries and developed countries to reduce the digital divide and this is the main success of this WRC-07 conference," said Mr François Rancy, chairman of WRC-07. "The regional groups fully collaborated to produce the spectrum identification for IMT - the concept that embraces advanced broadband mobile technology for use on a global basis."

WRC-07 addressed some 30 agenda items related to almost all terrestrial and space radio services and applications. These included future generations of mobile telephony, aeronautical telemetry and telecommand systems, plus satellite services, including meteorological applications, maritime distress and safety signals, digital broadcasting, and the use of radio in the prediction and detection of natural disasters.

Over 2,800 delegates representing 164 member states and 104 observers attended the conference, marked by intense negotiations on the future of wireless communications.

Key WRC-07 highlights are listed below.

International Mobile Telecommunications
Globally harmonized spectrum identified for use by International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) represents an important step in the worldwide development of IMT systems:

• 450-470 MHz band
• 698-862 MHz band in Region 2 and nine countries of Region 3
• 790-862 MHz band in Regions 1 and 3
• 2.3-2.4 GHz band
• 3.4-3.6 GHz band (no global allocation, but accepted by many countries)

Maritime procedures
WRC-07 successfully reviewed international regulations related to the maritime mobile service, bringing them in line with current maritime communications technology, including distress and safety transmissions within the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).

Aeronautical services
Actions aimed at aeronautical security and modernization of civil aviation telecommunication systems:

• Upgraded radiolocation service to primary allocation status in the bands of 9000-9200 MHz and 9300-9500 MHz.
• Allocated additional spectrum for aeronautical telecommand and high bit-rate aeronautical telemetry.
• Added new allocations for the aeronautical mobile (R) service.

Earth-exploration satellite service
WRC-07 extended existing primary frequency allocations for earth-exploration satellite service (EESS), facilitating research and exploration of Earth resources and environmental elements. This was linked to furthering the development of science services. EESS are global assets that provide key services to monitor the planet as well as to predict and monitor natural disasters, meteorology and climate change.

WRC-07 also approved proposals concerning the use and further development of satellite systems using highly inclined orbits, high altitude platforms, as well as the compatibility and sharing between different space and terrestrial services.

Worldwide plan for fixed-satellite service
WRC-07 revised the technical and regulatory provisions for fixed-satellite service (FSS) in the 800-MHz bandwidth used in different regions under varying climatic conditions for applications such as communications, TV and Internet. The revised plan, based on the latest technological achievements, improves the effectiveness of the plan and facilitates access to the spectrum for FSS systems.

Emergency and disaster relief
WRC-07 advocated the development of spectrum management guidelines for radiocommunication in emergency and disaster relief as well as the identification and maintenance of available frequencies for use in the very early stages of humanitarian assistance intervention in the aftermath of disaster. ITU will develop a database for frequency management in disaster situations.

Enhanced radio services
Other WRC-07 calls for enhancement of radio services included:

• Enhancement of the international spectrum regulatory framework.
• Spectrum harmonization for use by terrestrial electronic news gathering (ENG).
• Short-range radio devices, including devices using ultra-wideband (UWB) technologies, radio-frequency identification devices (RFID), and other similar applications that generate and use radio frequencies locally.

Source: International Telecommunication Union.