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 10 (Topics for WRC31)

The 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. This contribution includes a proposal for a possible new WRC-31 agenda item, aiming at considering a new global primary allocation to the RNSS (space-to-Earth) in the 5030-5250 MHz range: 2.X 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); This contribution provides 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. The CPG PTA is kindly invited to update the Draft ECP and the draft CEPT Brief on WRC-23 AI 10 with the elements provided in this contribution.

Current Impact

This would affect the global harmonized AMT band (5091-5150) and region 1 AMT band (5150-5250).

Noting that the U.S. succeeded in securing a global allocation for AMT in a portion of this band, namely 5091-5150 MHz, and region 1 also has an AMT in 5150 – 5250 MHz, the ICTS recommends members work closely with their administrations and WRC delegations to assist them in dealing with this issue at the Conference.

Agenda Item 1.1

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 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 is 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 currently a hotly debated issue that will probably 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 parts 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;

WP5B(Maritime/Mobile/Radioloc) Report on the twenty-ninth meeting of Working Party 5B (Geneva, 11-22 July 2022) Annex 13: Preliminary draft revision to Recommendation ITU-R M.2116-0 - Technical and operational characteristics and protection criteria for systems operating in the aeronautical mobile service and maritime mobile service within the 4 400-4 990 MHz frequency range.

Next Meeting; 7/10/23

WP5D (IMT) Report on the 42nd meeting of Working Party 5D (Geneva, 10-21 October 2022) Chapter 4 - Annex 4.8: Supporting material for WRC-23 agenda item 1.1 - Technical and regulatory conditions for the protection of stations of the aeronautical mobile service (AMS) and maritime mobile service (MMS) located in international airspace or waters (i.e. outside national territories) and operating in the frequency band 4 800-4 990 MHz

Next Meeting: tbd

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.

Current Status;

Report on the 42nd meeting of Working Party 5D (Geneva, 10-21 October 2022) Chapter 4 - Annex 4.28.2: Reference list of ITU-R Resolutions, Recommendations and Reports, as well as other ITU and non-ITU publications, used in the draft CPM text for WRC-23 agenda item 1.4 Chapter 4 - Annex 4.28: Draft CPM Text on WRC-23 agenda item 1.4 Next meeting 31 Jan. 2023.