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 The ITU Radiocommunication Bureau 'Workshop
on the efficient use of the spectrum/ orbit resource' was held in Geneva on
6 May 2009. This event, the first such one ever organized by the Bureau, showed
that it might now be time to openly discuss issues often qualified as
'sensitive' and hopefully make progress in adapting and improving the
international satellite registration regulatory framework at the next World
Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12)
to be held in Geneva in 2012.
Indeed, the use of space radiocommunication services has
progressed considerably over the years and, as a consequence, in recent years it
has become increasingly difficult for administrations to obtain suitable new GSO
positions and frequencies in both the planned and non-planned satellite services
and fully coordinate them in application of the relevant provisions of the
Radio Regulations. In this
regard, orbit scarcity is not a “paper” satellite issue only, and real overload
of GSO locations does occur today in some parts of the orbit for some coverage
in some frequency bands. Efficient use of the spectrum/orbit resource is one of
the most crucial challenges facing the international community in efforts to
promote worldwide telecommunication development and achieve the connectivity
access targets set by the World Summit on the Information Society.
The challenge for ITU, and thus for administrations and the
satellite community, is to be able to continue carrying out the vital work of
recording frequency assignments in the Master International Frequency Register (MIFR),
thereby ensuring that frequencies and orbital positions associated with those
assignments are compatible and do not result in interference.
The questions behind this challenge and put forward for the BR Workshop were:
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Do ITU
and the Radio Regulations,
through the existing procedures for the registration of frequency
assignments for space services, bring added value to administrations and the
satellite community?
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What mechanisms and practical strategies can be employed
to ensure efficient use of the spectrum/orbit resource and improve the
existing international satellite spectrum management systems?
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To help respond to the above questions, sixteen presentations
were made and discussed thoroughly in the course of four sessions. All
discussions focused on the trade-offs between technical, operational, regulatory
and economic efficiency for the effective use of the spectrum/orbit resource.
A suggestion-oriented summary of the main issues debated during the sessions may
be found
here.
In this regard, it is worth noting the converging positions put forward for
consideration in the presentations, as well as the full support expressed for
the ideas formulated during the discussions.
During the final roundtable, participants recognized that to rise to the above
challenges will require the combined efforts of all members of ITU. Thus far,
there have been few forums in which all those with an interest in the effective
and efficient use of the spectrum/orbit resource can get together to discuss the
issue. Participants praised the Radiocommunication Bureau for the example set by the workshop, and
concluded that exchanges of views of this kind should be pursued and enlarged,
in order to promote and encourage the development of proposals for enhancing
access to and the efficient and effective use of the spectrum/orbit resource. In
this regard, it was recommended that WRC-12 Agenda items 7 and 8.1 dealing with
Resolution 86 (Rev.WRC-07) and the Report of the Director of the
Radiocommunication Bureau, in particular on actions in response to Resolution 80
(Rev.WRC-07) be maintained as standing items on future conference agendas.
There
was consensus that the international regulatory framework for registering
satellite networks must be improved, and that the improved framework be
operative or ready to be operative by the next WRC-12
if ITU
is to maintain its
authority, bring added value and thus remain fully relevant to administrations
and the satellite community.
For more information:
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BR promotion contact
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