Preparations for WRC-07

Merlin Communications

Preparations for WRC-07Geoff Spells

MerlinCommunications

WRC-07 Agenda Item 1.13

taking into account Resolutions 729 (WRC‑97), 351 (WRC‑03) and 544 (WRC‑03), to review the allocations to all services in the HF bands between 4 MHz and 10 MHz, excluding those allocations to services in the frequency range 7 000-7 200 kHz and those bands whose allotment plans are in Appendices 25, 26 and 27 and whose channelling arrangements are in Appendix 17, taking account of the impact of new modulation techniques, adaptive control techniques and the spectrum requirements for HF broadcasting;


WRC-07 Agenda Item 1.13Resolutions

• Resolution 729– Use of frequency adaptive systems in the MF and HF bands

• Resolution 351 (COM 4/2 WRC-03)– Review of the frequency and channel arrangements in the

MF and HF bands allocated to the maritime mobile service with a view to improving efficiency by considering the use of new digital technology by the maritime mobile service

• Resolution 544 (COM 4/11 WRC-03)– Identification of additional spectrum for the broadcasting

service in the HF bands


WRC-07 Agenda Item 1.13Appendices & frequency bands 4-10 MHz

• Appendix 25 – Maritime Mobile– 4000-4438, 6200-6525, 8100-8815 kHz

• Appendix 26 – Aeronautical Mobile (OR)– 4700-4750, 5680-5730, 6685-6765, 8965-9040 kHz

• Appendix 27 – Aeronautical Mobile (R)– 4650-4700, 5480-5680, 6525-6685, 8815-8965 kHz

• Appendix 17 – Frequencies and channelling arrangements for the Maritime Mobile Services


WRC-07 Agenda Item 1.13Actual scope

• Review frequencies and channelling arrangements for the Maritime Mobile Services in Appendices 25 and 17

• Consider additional spectrum for broadcasting in the bands between 4-10 MHz


WRC-07 Agenda Item 1.13Spectrum to be Reviewed

• Taking account exclusions listed, the scope of the review is limited to: -– 4438-4650 kHz– 4750-4995 kHz– 5060-5250 kHz– 5730-5900 kHz– 6765-7000 kHz– 7450-8100 kHz– 9040-9400 kHz– 9900-9995 kHz


WRC-07 Agenda Item 1.13Resolution 544

• Noted that ITU‑R studies identified preferred bands, from which sufficient allocations could be made to the broadcasting service were:– 4 500-4 650 kHz– 5 060-5 250 kHz– 5 840-5 900 kHz– 7 450-7 650 kHz– 9 290-9 400 kHz– 9 900-9 940 kHz,


Spectrum Allocations around 4-10 MHz after WRC-03

Amateur3%

Broadcasting (Art 12)16%

National Broadcasting3%

Maritime Mobile AP2522%

Aeronatical Mobile (R) AP278%

Fixed or othe Mobile44%

Aeronatical Mobile (OR) AP264%


Issues• Broadcasting

– Congestion particularly in 4 – 10 MHz– Introduction of Digital Modulation– Perception that HF broadcasting is “dying”

• Fixed Service– Loss of more spectrum to other services– Generic Mobile allocations to permit better flexibility– Difficult to justify need as usage is not constant so appears

unused

• Mobile Service– Introduce modern technology– Change in services

• Amateur Service– Additional 100 kHz 7200-7300 kHz


0

5000

10000

15000

20000

Z95 Z96 Z97 Z98 A99 A00 A01 A02 A03

Transmission hours coordinated in HFCC/ASBU/ABU-HFC


Previous reviews of HF bands

• WARC-79 – allocated additional 780kHz (net) HF spectrum to the broadcasting service at 9MHz and above – 125kHz being below 10MHz

• WARC-92 – allocated additional 790kHz HF spectrum to broadcasting service - 200kHz being below 10MHz

• WRC-03 - prepared Resolution 544 noting preferred bands from which to allocate additional HF spectrum in the bands 4-10MHz to the broadcasting service


Possible Solutions

• More sharing between services ?– Can any service share with Broadcasting ?– Time sharing ?– Geographic sharing ?

• Are there options above 10 MHz which would compensate for changes in the 4-10 MHz band ?

• Should occupancy of ALL bands 4-10MHz be reviewed as there have been major changes in some services currently excluded from consideration ?


Scope of work required

• How much additional spectrum required for broadcasting service ?

• Which bands preferred for additional spectrum

• What compensation possible for “victim” services to offset reduction in spectrum ?

• Timescale for implementation of changes


Groups Involved

• Broadcasting organisations– EBU, ABU, ASBU, WBU, URTNA

• Regional Groups– CEPT, APT, CITEL, ARAB

• ITU - R– WP6E, WP8A, WP9C– CPM


Conclusions• Experience of WRC-03 shows regional groupings

more important than individual administrations • Little change from previous attempts to provide

more spectrum to broadcasting services around 4-10MHz

• Little prospect of successful outcome unless all parties involved benefit in some way

• Scope of Agenda Item 1.13 too limited and should be widened to permit more creative solution

Documents

Preparations for WRC-07