New WRC Allocations Backed for Aeronautical, Earth Exploration Satellites

Spectrum at 112 to 118 MHz, 960 to 1,164 MHz and 5,091 to 5,150 MHz was allocated to aeronautical mobile communications, mainly air-ground data in future communications systems, said Robert Witzen, technical officer at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Work will begin to develop new, mainly air-ground data systems in the bands, Witzen said. Changes aren’t expected before countries officially sign off on the decisions Friday.

A primary allocation was made for earth exploration satellite service at 9,300 to 9,500 MHz, with regulatory provisions to protect aeronautical radionavigation, Witzen said. The band is for weather radars and radiolocation, he said. Radiolocation was upgraded from a secondary to primary allocation between 9,000 and 9,200 MHz, Witzen said. It now shares the band with aeronautical radionavigation. The radiolocation service has to give protection to aeronautical radionavigation.

A recommendation to speed authorization of aeronautical VSAT terminals was given a preliminary nod Tuesday, Witzen said. It invites countries to give special regulatory consideration to VSAT terminals that are used as a ground- ground link through a satellite, he said. The recommendation will likely be most useful to developing countries.

Preliminary approval also was signaled to 4.4 to 4.94 GHz and 5.925 to 6.7 GHz for mobile telemetry for flight- testing in the Americas, a WRC participant said. A global allocation for aeronautical telemetry for flight-testing between 5.091 and 5.150 GHz is expected to get win preliminary approval Wednesday. A European and African push to use 5.150 to 5.250 GHz for flight-testing in their region is expected to get a preliminary nod Wednesday. Brazil may opt in to use the European frequencies, a WRC participant said.

Outstanding issues will go to the next conference, Witzen said. One is the use of mobile satellite frequencies, particularly between 1,525 and 1,559 MHz and 1,626.5 to 1,660.5 MHz, Witzen said: “We don’t have good access to those bands.” Access for aviation has been “troubled” since 1997, he said. “Some systems that are offering aeronautical communications can not get frequencies,” he said. Mechanisms will be studied to improve aviation access in the run-up to the WRC in 2011, he said.

Frequencies for unmanned aerial systems will be considered during the next WRC. A newly merged ITU-R study group on terrestrial services will look at spectrum that can be used and sharing conditions, Witzen said. The group will prepare technical material for a decision. Proposals will have to come from the unmanned aerial system community, he said. “They're not that far yet.”

ICAO wasn’t happy that WRC didn’t allocate 5,000 to 5,030 MHz to aeronautical mobile, Witzen said. The WRC will review the allocation in 2011. Also, protection of microwave landing system was removed from 5,091 to 5,150 MHz, he said. The frequencies may be needed in the future in Europe, he said. -- Scott Billquist

WRC Notebook…

The U.S. and Cuba broadcasting dispute erupted at the WRC Tuesday. Cuba said U.S. actions such as sponsoring Radio and TV Marti verge on terrorist broadcasting and are a form of propaganda, a WRC participant said. The U.S. was alone at the WRC in disagreeing with a conclusion reached by one of the WRC committees working on the long-standing dispute, which said “a broadcasting station operating on board an aircraft and transmitting solely to the territory of another administration without its agreement, cannot be considered in conformity with the Radio Regulations.” The Congress and the Executive Branch have supported U.S. policy on Cuba for decades, a copy of a U.S. statement said. “Our policy has been and will continue to be to broadcast information to the Cuban people out of concern for their welfare and in recognition of the threat that the current Cuban government has represented to the region.” Some of the committee’s conclusion “does not accurately represent the Radio Regulations,” the U.S. statement said. Except for the U.S., the countries in the WRC plenary “endorsed” the committee’s finding, a WRC participant said.

----

Talks to identify new frequencies for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) have moved from committee to ad-hoc groups, but no agreement has yet been reached, a WRC participant said. “The situation in C band and UHF has not stabilized,” a European Broadcasting Union official said. Three options are still being considered for UHF and C-band: no change to the allocations; no formal change in allocations but countries could opt-in to use the frequencies for IMT; and a change in the allocations with countries having the chance to opt-out. Proposals differ by region. The WRC closing ceremony has been moved to Friday evening, which may not be a good sign, a WRC participant said.

----

A secondary allocation for the amateur service between 135.7 and 137.8 kHz was given a preliminary nod Nov. 9, a WRC participant said. The allocation already exists in the European Conference on Postal and Telecommunications Administrations table of allocations, he said. About nine Arab states exempted themselves from the allocation, he said.