Beyond WRC-23: Addressing regulatory concerns for CIS countries

By Sergey Pastukh, chair of the regional working group on preparations for the 2023 Radiocommunication Assembly and World Radiocommunication Conference

For delegates from the counties of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, last December will be remembered not for the winter snows and frost that are usual for our countries, but for warm debates on some of the most complex questions about the use of the radio spectrum and satellite orbits.

We will also fondly remember the unforgettable hospitality of the United Arab Emirates, which hosted the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23).

Conference preparations and proposals

Preparations for WRC‑23 were unexpectedly complicated by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which struck just after our region’s first preparatory session in Minsk in February 2020. Nonetheless, by the time WRC‑23 commenced in Dubai, the CIS countries had developed joint proposals and positions for each agenda topic.

As in the past, we focused on three principles:

• Creating the conditions for the development of innovative radio technologies while ensuring equitable access to spectrum and orbital resources for all ITU Member States.
• Fostering more efficient use of spectrum and orbital resources with modern methods of international regulation.
• Eliminating unintentional radio interference for existing and planned radio systems, providing the stability needed for investment in sectors associated with spectrum and orbital resource use.

Members of ITU attach increasing importance to Radio Regulations procedures that make spectrum and orbital resources available for digital technologies.

Crucial decisions for CIS countries

WRC-23 and its outcomes are viewed favourably in CIS countries, with decisions on key items of concerns reflecting joint regional positions and proposals.

Identification of frequency bands for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) in the 6425-7125 megahertz (MHz) range will support the development of IMT-2020 networks, better known as “5G,” in the region. This frequency range provides the optimum balance between coverage and bandwidth availability, opening the possibility of developing IMT-2030 (or 6G) systems. Furthermore, it can mitigate a current IMT spectrum shortage due to restrictions on using the 3300-3800 MHz band in some CIS countries.

This decision is consistent with the strategy adopted by countries in our region regarding use of the 5925-7125 MHz band – to reserve the lower part of the band for wireless access systems (WAS), including radio local area networks (RLAN), and keep the upper part for IMT development.

CIS countries welcome the identification of frequency bands for the use of high-altitude platform stations as IMT base stations (HIBS), along with regulatory provisions to govern HIBS operation, as this technology can facilitate the provision of broadband services in rural and isolated areas.

WRC‑23 also adopted safeguards against interference for earth stations in motion (ESIM) on aircraft and maritime vessels, allowing CIS countries to use existing resources of the fixed-satellite service. This ensures uninterrupted connection along aircraft and vessel routes, even where the terrestrial infrastructure is underdeveloped, as is often the case in areas of low population density.

Preserving the television band

Countries of the CIS region further welcome the decision on the ‘television’ band, 470-694 MHz, which remains reserved for terrestrial television at least until 2031 in most countries. The WRC-23 decision – applicable to signatories to the earlier Geneva Agreement of 2006, with only a few exceptions – will allow CIS countries to benefit from their investments in digital terrestrial broadcasting to replace analogue broadcasting.

It also offers the chance to re-evaluate the trend of phasing out terrestrial television broadcasting, with over-the-air television giving way to alternative broadcasting platforms.

This was perhaps the most complex WRC‑23 agenda item from the standpoint of CIS countries. Our joint proposal on this item required fine-tuning to take account of the interests of countries that had already taken significant steps to phase out over-the-air television broadcasting.

The ultimate conference decision, nonetheless, matches the regional position regarding protection of the broadcasting service in the 470-694 MHz range.

Cultivating space and science services

Continued development of science services was another regional priority.

Modern scientific research programmes need new broadband communication channels for the collection and transmission of scientific data regarding the physical characteristics of the Earth and its atmosphere. The proposal by CIS countries – to upgrade the status of the allocation to the space research service in the 14.8-15.35 gigahertz (GHz) frequency band – was approved, with the result that this service will be better protected against interference in the future.

The current boom in non-geostationary satellite networks has brought to the fore another issue for many countries: how to effectively regulate the use of those orbits and the associated spectrum internationally.

CIS countries made several proposals to WRC‑23 in this regard. One consideration was how to ensure equitable access and prevent the monopolization of non-geostationary orbit and spectrum resources. Another was on the introduction of orbital tolerances for non-geostationary satellites.

The conference set tolerances for certain orbital characteristics of space stations deployed as part of non-geostationary-satellite orbit systems in the fixed-satellite, broadcasting-satellite and mobile-satellite service. This decision corresponds to the regional position regarding the need to balance efficient utilization of satellite orbits and flexibility in the construction and operation of non-geostationary satellite systems.

Looking ahead

CIS countries also came away satisfied with the examination of proposals for WRC-31.

Protracted and animated discussions ultimately led to acceptance of our proposal for an item on developing a regulatory procedure to require explicit agreement by countries to be included in the coverage area of a non-geostationary network.

Such a procedure could help to prevent monopolization of spectrum and orbital resources and ensure equitable access to the non-geostationary orbits and the associated spectrum for all.

The CIS countries, as represented in the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC), attach great importance to the WRC process, both for the continual improvement of regulatory procedures and to ensure adequate availability of spectrum and orbital resources for new technologies.

As the recent conference showed, finding compromise solutions and reaching a global consensus requires rigorous technical examination of numerous agenda items. It also requires cooperation within and between regional organizations ahead of the global conference.

Discover more about WRC-23’s outcomes in ITU News Magazine