Originally posted on the IARU global web site by Joel Harrison. 

After four hectic weeks of World Radio Conference and a preceding week of Radio Assembly meetings, WRC-23 concluded on Friday 15^th December where overall amateur radio fared very well, despite the enormous pressures across the radio spectrum from LF- to Terahertz. This is a tribute to the IARU team effort, that at times had to work throughout this period from 8:00 am to as late as beyond 2:00 am and on weekends.

Top of the amateur radio priority list was Agenda Item 9.1b on the coexistence of the secondary amateur and amateur-satellite allocation with the primary radio navigation satellite service in 1240 – 1300 MHz. This had seen four years of strenuous effort in the run-up to WRC and resulted in a recommendation being agreed at the Radio Assembly, followed by WRC23 agreeing to mention the recommendation in a new footnote for the allocation. Both the recommendation and the footnote are an excellent outcome for the amateur services.

A number of other items were relevant to the amateur service and had been prioritised beforehand:

• AI‑1.12: 40 – 50MHz radar sounders. These have now been largely limited to the polar area.

• AI‑1.14: 231.5−252 GHz re-allocations for Earth Sensing. Fortunately, our secondary 241 – 248 GHz allocation is unchanged and the primary allocation of 248 – 250 GHz is unaffected.

• AI‑9.1a: on Space weather sensors was an item of major interest. Aa clear definition for such sensors was arrived at, with frequency protection being agreed as an agenda item for WRC-27.

• AI‑1.2: More broadband in the 3.3 GHz and 10GHz (in Region 2). A difficult challenge on this as the amateur services are secondary – with numerous (mainly South American) countries allocating mobile broadband by way of footnotes. Instead of a region-wide designation for IMT at 10.0−10.5 GHz in Region 2 there is a footnote limited to a dozen countries.

Every WRC agrees to an agenda for the next conference under Agenda Item-10. This AI had an unprecedented number of proposals for both WRC-27 and preliminary ones for WRC-31. Following the relatively quick agreement reached on AI‑9.1b, the IARU team switched most of its effort to these future proposals in order to reduce the impact on the amateur services as numerous amateur bands were under consideration.

WRC-27

The WRC-27 agenda will have nineteen items of which the following are most relevant to the amateur services:

• 1300 – 1350 MHz — A previous proposal for this band, adjacent to 23cm was suppressed, providing certainty for our secondary allocation.

• Space Weather – this potential AI was initially very concerning as both the 0.1−20 MHz and 28 and 50 MHz bands were initially under consideration, until concerns were raised and a team effort resulted in these allocations being removed from the topic.

• Lunar Communications – the future agenda item initially included 70cm and other bands where EME could be restricted. Fortunately, the UHF aspect of this AI was modified to exclude 430 – 440MHz.

• 10GHz – we were fortunate that the band was withdrawn from another round of consideration for mobile broadband, especially in Region 1.

WRC-31

Preliminary resolutions were agreed on a record number of items of which these two are especially relevant:

• WPT Wireless Power Transmission – both near-field and beamed being considered as part of the ITU radio regulations, whilst minimising its impact from interference.

• 275 – 325 GHz Allocations – which will include an opportunity for the amateur and amateur-satellite service.

The end result is the IARU team worked effectively to minimize the amateur bands from future studies. This is again a great result for amateur radio.

At the conclusion of WRC23 IARU is very pleased with the overall result. The IARU team has already started to discuss and consider how to engage and resource for the next cycle leading up to WRC27. IARU WRC-coordinator and Vice-President Ole Garpestad LA2RR expressed his pleasure with the results and complimented the extraordinary effort of the dedicated team of IARU volunteers who worked long hours to achieve the results that will benefit all amateurs.

The WRC-23 concluded work on the agenda item 9.1 Topic b) relating to the 23cm amateur services and the radionavigation satellite service (RNSS) in the same band. A summary report of this activity at WRC and additional detail on the outcome is available here.

The following was posted today on the global IARU web site:

The International Telecommunication Union’s World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) began November 20 and continues through December 15, 2023 in Dubai, U.A.E, for the purpose of reviewing spectrum matters related to the International Radio Regulations. WRC’s are held every three to four years and includes the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Service allocations.

The agenda of items to be reviewed for this WRC was established at the completion of the last conference in 2019. Of primary importance to the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Services is Agenda Item 9.1 topic b to address the amateur services use of the 23cm band and the co-frequency use by several radio navigation satellite service (RNSS) systems in the 1240 – 1300 MHz band.

IARU’s work began four years ago with preparatory study in ITU‑R to address this agenda item and has finally drawn to a close. Our concerted engagement in the ITU‑R working parties, study groups and WRC preparatory meetings ensured that the amateur services were properly represented during the development of two published ITU‑R reports, M.2513 and M.2532. These were followed by an ITU‑R Recommendation, M.2164, that formed the basis for the discussions at WRC-23.

During the WRC-23 deliberations, strong positions were expressed by all the parties involved. The result is a well-supported compromise for a footnote in the Radio Regulations regarding amateur and amateur satellite service operation in the 1240 – 1300 MHz range. The footnote reminds administrations and amateurs of the need to protect the primary RNSS from interference and provides guidance to administrations to allow both services to continue to operate in this portion of the spectrum. The compromise was formally adopted by the Conference Plenary on December 8 and is not subject to further consideration during the final week of the WRC. The IARU team continues its work on other WRC issues including the development of agendas for future conferences.

IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, noted “This is a very good result for the amateur services. The decision reached at WRC-23 on this agenda item makes no change to the table of allocations nor incorporates by reference M.2164 into the Radio Regulations. The addition of a footnote that provides guidance to administrations in the event of interference to the RNSS is a good regulatory outcome for amateurs and the primary users of this band.”

The WRC also agreed to suppress the Resolution 774 which closes the issue and satisfies the agenda item.

IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, thanks Barry Lewis, G4SJH, for his success is leading IARU’s work on AI 9.1b. Looking on is (l‑r) Working Party 5A Chair Dale Hughes, VK1DSH, IARU Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, Tim Ellam, VE6SH, Barry Lewis, G4SJH, and IARU Secretary Joel Harrison, W5ZN

As reported on November 20^th, the ITU‑R Radio Assembly (RA) met during the week before the World Radio Conference in Dubai. The IARU participated in the meeting and contributed to the development of the draft ITU‑R Recommendation for 23cm band amateur operations alongside the co-frequency radio navigation satellite service (RNSS). The published ITU‑R Recommendation M.2164 is now available and can be found here along with a summary of the technical conditions here. The recommendation will form a component of the WRC-23 discussions which are ongoing until December 15^th relating to WRC-23 agenda item 9.1b.

The final recommendation represents the culmination of more than 4 years of work by the IARU team within the ITU‑R study groups to ensure the best outcome for amateur radio in the face of intense regulatory, political and commercial pressure. 

The ITU‑R Radio Assembly (RA) met during the week before the World Radio Conference in Dubai. The IARU participated in the meeting and contributed to the development of the draft ITU‑R Recommendation for 23cm band amateur operations alongside the co-frequency radio navigation satellite service (RNSS). This has followed a difficult development process in the ITU‑R study groups but the RA achieved a positive outcome with finalisation of ITU‑R Recommendation M.2164. A summary report detailing the meeting activity and some of the tensions dealt with during the meeting is available here.