Budapest hosted last 20-23 January the seventh meeting of project team C (PT-C) of the Conference Preparatory Group (CPG 15), attended by nearly 69 participants, among them observers from regional organisations (the European Space Agency (ESA), European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Meteorological Network (EUMETNET) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)), as well as representatives of industry and/or operators from various nations: France (DEFENCE, Civil Aviation, CEREMA, Thales Alenia Space), Germany (CRAF, Airbus DS GmbH, DARC, Robert Bosch GmbH, Airbus, Audens Telecommunication GmbH, AUDENS TC GmbH, NARFA GE, Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie), Hungary (Hungarian Defence Forces, National Transport Authority – Aviation Authority), Ireland (Irish Aviation Authority), Italy (ENAV S.p.A.), the Netherlands (IARU Region 1, RCA), Russia (GEYSER-TELECOM LTD), United Kingdom (Ministry of Defence, Boeing UK Ltd, NATS, Inmarsat, Civil Aviation Authority, Aireon, Radio Society of Gt. Britain), CITEL, EUROCONTROL, the Radiocommunication Bureau (BR) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and NATO HQ.
Regarding agenda item 1.4 (secondary allocation to amateur in 5 MHz), the positions are still controversial. Some administrations support allocation based on results of spectrum occupation measurements, while Russia and the Czech Republic focus on results from theoretical studies, which show incompatibility with fixed service and oceanographic radars. The brief was thus modified to take into account the various positions expressed and the European common proposal (ECP) was not changed.
Regarding agenda item 1.5 (additional fixed satellite service (FSS) spectrum for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)), the group was again unable to reach consensus regarding the following points: the mandate of this item is not clear, i.e. its relationship with point 1.3 of the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12); the allocation mode was debated (whether by footnote or resolution); the proposals’ eventual ambiguity was debated at length. Finally, the lack of information from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was noted.
In conclusion, the brief was slightly altered with respect to CEPT’s position and now indicates that “continuation of the studies is supported, given the absence of data from the ICAO.”
Regarding agenda item 1.15 (additional spectrum for maritime mobile service), there was little debate, whereby the brief was modified taking into account the contributions received (with a few changes to the brief). CEPT’s position was maintained. The ECP was amended where it is proposed that allocation of channels to maritime on-board communication stations should be limited, and ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) Recommendation M.1174-3 was included by reference.
Regarding agenda item 1.16 (additional spectrum for the automatic identification system (AIS)), the brief was not modified, except for the need for the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) to protect radio-astronomy and the need for the AIS satellite component to use the appendix 18 bands, close to AIS1 and AIS2. The ECP was maintained, with a few editorial corrections.
Agenda item 1.17 (spectrum requirements for wireless avionics intra-communications (WAIC)) was debated at length, especially regarding different resolution options and positions. The group was nevertheless able to reach consensus: the allocation to aeronautic mobile service is exclusively reserved for WAIC and should not cause interference in altimeters.
As for the ECP, and given the various resolution proposals, the group agreed to maintain only one option, bringing together various resolution proposals that were received and debated at the meeting.
Regarding agenda item 1.18 (automotive applications in the 77.5-78 GHz band), the group was unable to reach consensus due to different positions about the allocation method. The question continues to concern the kind of applications meant to be authorised: automotive or with a more expanded scope. The positions were still in total disagreement at the end of the discussions, so CEPT’s position in the brief indicates that it is studying whether use of the 77.5-78 GHz band will be limited to the applications specified in Recommendation ITU-R REC. M 2057-0.
Regarding the new task of Plenipotentiary Conference Resolution 185 on global flight tracking (GFT), the group received several contributions. But the discussions were unable to reach an understanding about the GFT concept (whether it is a new concept or an update of existing technologies). Eurocontrol explained that GFT is a set of technologies for communications or location-finding, which can be new or updates of existing ones, the aim being to improve vigilance and tracking of aircraft.
The brief is thus very generic for the time being. It is hoped that the issue will be discussed at WRC-15 and that the necessary studies can then begin.
The next meeting of CPG PT-C will take place this coming 21-24 April in Cluj Napoca, Romania.
