Project team PT4 of the Conference Preparatory Group (CPG) met for the ninth time on 20-22 June in Paris. The meeting basically served to examine the first versions of the European common proposals (ECPs) for a number of items.
Regarding revision of the allocations to all radiocommunication services operating in the frequency bands between 4 MHz and 10 MHz (item 1.13), France submitted for CPG PT4 consideration the preliminary version of a CPG draft, under which broadcasting service would obtain 350 kHz of additional spectrum distributed among the following frequency bands, currently allocated to fixed service and/or mobile services:
- 4500 kHz-4650 kHz (on a primary basis shared with fixed service and mobile services);
- 5790 kHz?5900 kHz (on an exclusive basis);
- 9350 kHz?9400 kHz (on an exclusive basis);
- 9900 kHz?9940 kHz (on an exclusive basis).
As compensation, the draft indicates the need to create "generic" bands, which would be shared by fixed service and the mobile services, except aeronautic mobile service, by reallocating the following frequency bands from Appendix 17 (maritime mobile service):
- 4271 kHz?4351 kHz (80 kHz);
- 6401 kHz?6501 kHz (100 kHz);
- 8537 kHz?8707 kHz (170 kHz).
In this regard, a decision was made to hold an extraordinary meeting in October 2006, with a view to consolidating a CPG draft concerning this 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) agenda item.
The Russian Federation in turn submitted a number of proposals to modify the CEPT Brief, based on studies. The idea was to show that in a situation of spectrum sharing between fixed service and maritime mobile service, the use of adjustable frequency systems is not enough to prevent mutual harmful interference between radiocommunication stations of both services. But CPG PT4 only agreed to one of the proposals, which as such is included in the new version of the CEPT Brief.
In this regard, the Russian Federation presented a statement along the following lines:
- It opposes the reduction of spectrum resources for fixed service and mobile services in the bands between 4 and 10 MHz to benefit broadcasting service and amateur service; those frequency bands are widely used by those services in Russia to establish communications;
- It is against revision of the Appendix 17 frequency tables under item 1.13; according to Resolution 351, the revision of Appendix 17 does not contemplate the reallocation of maritime mobile service bands to other radiocommunication services;
- It favours the idea of studies on the use of adjustable frequency systems in the MF (hectometric bands) and HF (decametric bands) bands as a way to encourage spectrum efficiency. In any case, the Russian Federation considers that greater spectrum efficiency is not achieved by reducing resources.
CPG PT4 also decided not to include any reference to the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) request to allocate additional spectrum to amateur service in the 5 MHz band. At the time, the proposal was only backed by the Netherlands and Norway.
As for the monitoring campaigns, as previously agreed the Netherlands submitted for CPG PT4 consideration a document on results of the four campaigns carried out. The document, signed by France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom, will be submitted for examination to the various working groups of the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R).
With respect to item 1.14 (revision of the operational procedures and requirements of the global maritime distress and safety system - GMDSS), CPG PT4 updated the CPG draft on this system, namely regarding the following subjects:
- Appendix 13 - CPG PT4 agreed on the relevant provisions of this appendix 13 (distress and safety communications - non-GMDSS system) to include in Chapter VII of the Radio Regulation;
- Radio Regulation - CPG PT4 agreed on the changes to include in Article 30 (distress and safety communications - general provisions) and in Article 31 (distress and safety communications - GMDSS) of the Radio Regulation; but the group has yet to reach agreement on the changes to include in Article 32 (GMDSS system - operational procedures) and Article 33 (GMDSS system - operational procedures for emergency and safety), namely with regard to provisions 32.9.2, 33.28 and 33.29;
- Resolution 331 - revised this resolution, concerning the GMDSS system transition procedures, with a view to updating the procedures applicable during the period of transition to the GMDSS system;
- Appendix 16 - the group decided to go ahead with a proposal to modify this appendix, concerning documents from stations on ships and on aircraft, with a view to reducing the number of documents that must compulsorily be present in stations on ships;
- Appendix 18 - CPG PT4 drew up a proposal to modify Appendix 18 (maritime mobile service - VHF frequency plan); the aim of this proposal is not only to introduce new technologies but also to prevent spectrum congestion situations, enabling the use of intercalary frequency planning with a 12.5 kHz interval between channels. This proposal also means to enable the additional allocation of two channels for the Automatic Identification System (AIS).
Regarding item 1.16 allocation of maritime mobile service identities (MMSI) to other equipment besides mobile equipment installed on board vessels, the CEPT Brief was updated in line with the new structure proposed by the CPG.
CPG PT4 approved slight changes to the CPG draft with a view to revising Article 19 (station identification) to accommodate new MMSI formats to allocate to aircraft involved in search and rescue (SAR) operations or used to identify navigational radio-aids, including buoys, whether located on land, islands or at sea.
The next CPG PT4 meeting will take place on 7-9 November in Dorsey, in the United Kingdom.
