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**WRC 23 Telemetry Watch**

The ICTS strives to keep it members and associates informed on international threats and challenges to RF telemetry spectrum. The 2023 World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC 2023, Dubai, UAE 20Nov to 15Dec) will address agenda items that could affect the international telemetering community. ICTS members are encouraged to pass-on information they may have on impacts from these agenda items to ICTS@telemetryspectrum.org and we will post that information here and in our annual Newsletter. Our goal is to keep the telemetering community aware of these threats so they keep their own national administrations informed of national impacts. As a result, we hope their national ITU representatives can make informed decisions and presentations in ITU working party and regional discussions.

Agenda Item 1.1

to consider, based on the results of the ITU R studies, possible measures to address, in the frequency band 4 800-4 990 MHz, protection of stations of the aeronautical and maritime mobile services located in international airspace and waters from other stations located within national territories, and to review the pfd criteria in No. 5.441B in accordance with Resolution 223 (Rev.WRC-19); RESOLUTION 223 (Rev.WRC 19). Additional frequency bands identified for International Mobile Telecommunications.

Current Telemetry use/potential impact: The upper portion of the 4 GHz band, namely 4800-4990 MHz, is identified for IMT in numerous countries (including China, South Africa, Russia, Nigeria, Gambia, Uruguay, and Iran). In a number of administrations in ITU Region 2 (North/South America) and in Australia a large portion of this band is also used for aeronautical mobile telemetry (“AMT”).

WRC-23 agenda item 1.1 calls for studies to consider measures to protect stations of the aeronautical and maritime mobile services located in international airspace and waters from IMT operations in the 4800-4990 MHz band. France, the U.S., Canada and other administrations have sought to protect Aeronautical Mobile Service systems (AMS, AMT being included in AMS) and Maritime Mobile Service systems. Russia, supported by China, Iran, and others have sought changes that would weaken existing protection for AMS/MMS in international airspace and waters. This is a hotly debated issue that will not be resolved until the WRC. The issue has been worked in ITU-R Working Parties 5D and 5B.

Recommendation ITU-R M 2116-0 (01/2018) Technical characteristics and protection criteria for the aeronautical mobile service systems operating within the 4 400-4 990 MHz frequency range, is a significant part of this discussion. M.2116 is referenced in sharing and compatibility studies by the Working Parties

Work done in the U.S. (by John Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab) has determined that existing criteria specified in ITU-R M.2116 can protect AMT signals adequately, and the United States has proposed that AMT (currently excluded from the scope of the Recommendation) be included, or at least that certain of the technical parameters in the Recommendation be identified as also applicable to AMT. The intent is to put AMT in a stronger position to respond to encroachment threats from IMT (mobile broadband such as 5G) in this band, or portions thereof such as 4800-4940 MHz

Current Status: Working Parties 5B and 5D have concluded their work for this study cycle. The Conference Preparatory Meeting Report is completed, and administrations are now preparing for the WRC which will be held in Dubai from November 20 to December 15, 2023.

Agenda Item 1.4

to consider, in accordance with Resolution 247 (WRC-19), the use of high-altitude platform stations as IMT base stations (HIBS) in the mobile service in certain frequency bands below 2.7 GHz already identified for IMT, on a global or regional level; RESOLUTION 247 (WRC 19); Facilitating mobile connectivity in certain frequency bands below 2.7 GHz using high-altitude platform stations as International Mobile Telecommunications base stations

Current Telemetry use/potential impact: This item discusses the use of high-altitude platform stations as IMT base stations (HIBS) in the mobile service in frequency bands below 2.7 GHz. The band 1780-1850 MHz, allocated for AMT in some administrations, has been suggested for HIBS use in current WP5D discussions. Discussions on this issue are on-going in ITU-R Working Party 5D.

Agenda Item 10

ESA is proposing to the Region 1 CEPT a WRC-23 agenda item 10 proposal for a WRC-31 preliminary agenda item on possible new primary allocations to the RNSS (space-to-Earth) within the frequency bands 5030–5150 MHz and 5150-5250 MHz.

Specifically, the proposal looks to consider , based on the results of studies, a new global primary allocation to the RNSS (space-to-Earth) in the frequency bands 5030-5150 and 5150-5 250 MHz or parts thereof, in accordance with Resolution [RNSS-5GHz] (WRC-23);

At this point, ESA is seeking CEPT support for its proposal. In that regard, ESA has developed the required elements for the update of the Draft ECP and the draft CEPT Brief on WRC-23 agenda item 10 to support this proposal.

Current Telemetry use/potential impact: The proposal would affect the global harmonized AMT band (5091-5150 MHz) and ITU Region 1 AMT band (5150-5250 MHz). ICTS recommends members advise their administrations of this proposal and the potential impact to telemetry in the 5 GHz bands.