The World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12) opened in Geneva, Switzerland on 23 January 2012.
During the meetings of the various technical working committees and sub–committees which took place over the course of the second week of the conference, solutions were agreed on a number of points on the agenda:
- Non-amendment of the Radio Regulations (RR) in respect of electronic news gathering (ENG), in light of the approval of a Resolution by the Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-12) which invites studies on possible solutions for the worldwide/regional harmonization of ENG frequency bands/ tuning ranges. The footnote to the RR, designating the 470-790 MHz band for use by applications ancillary to broadcasting (5.296) was updated (agenda item 1.5);
- Limiting the use of "MOBILE" on the 37-38 GHz band to "MOBILE except aeronautical mobile", given that this service has been shown as a cause of interference to mobile and fixed as primary services in the band (agenda item 1.12);
- Extension of the lower limit of the RR to 8.3 kHz for the meteorological aids service, with recognition given to lightning detection systems and promoting the use of spectrum by scientific services (meteorology) (agenda item 1.16);
- Non-amendment of the Radio Regulations (RR) in respect of software defined radio (SDR), by consensus among all regions of the international telecommunication Union (ITU). It is considered that the reconfigured stations need only continue to satisfy the regulatory requirements set out in the RR and applicable to the corresponding radiocommunciation service (agenda item 1.19);
- Non- pursuit of actions at WRC-12 level in respect of short-range devices (SRD), given the approval of a Resolution by RA-12 to conduct studies on the harmonisation of the use of these devices (agenda item 1.22);
The important issues still under discussion include:
- Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS): almost all the proposals presented identify the need to assign 34 MHz to the terrestrial component and 56 MHz to the satellite component. However, the objective at WRC-12 is to reach consensus on the frequency bands in which this spectrum might be allocated. Consideration is being given to the 15.4-15.5 GHz band for the terrestrial component, whereas, with regard to the satellite component (AMS(R)S), discussions are centred on possible use of frequencies currently allocated to the fixed satellite service (FSS), in addition to the 5 GHz band (agenda item 1.3);
- 790-862 MHz band: there was analysis of the results of the studies conducted on the 790-862 MHz band between the mobile service and other services with assignment in this band prior to WRC-07; there was extensive debate on the methodology to be followed by administrations involved in bilateral/multilateral coordination [Resolution 224 (WRC-07), with respect to frequencies for the terrestrial component of international mobile telecommunications (IMT) below 1 GHz, in determent of the recommendation of the Joint Task Groups 5-6 (JTG 5-6), centred on the use of the 790-862 MHz band in regions 1 and 3]; discussions were held on changing the dates of entry into effect of footnote 5.316A and 5.316B; it was affirmed which of the methods proposed in the report of the Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM11-2) should be followed to protect broadcasting in areas covered by the GE-06 plan (option 1 or option 3 of method A1); there was analysis of the proposal put forward by certain countries regarding the possibility of expanding the assignment to the mobile service below 790 MHz (agenda item 1.17);
- Cognitive radio systems (CRS): RA-12 adopted a resolution to study the implementation and use of CRS systems. All regional organizations, with the exception of the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC), considered the result of the RA-12 as sufficient and, as such, did not support an amendment to the RR. Opposing this view, the RCC supports the inclusion of a new Resolution in the RR, and discussions continue without likelihood of consensus within the next sessions (agenda item 1.19);
WRC-12 proceedings continue until 17 February 2012.
Consult:
- World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12) https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1041099
- Preparation of WRC-12 - National Preparation https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=337598
