From 7 – 9 September, IARU participated in the first online meeting of Project Team A (PTA) of the WRC-23 CEPT Conference Preparatory Group. PTA has a mandate to prepare the CEPT brief on scientific and regulatory WRC-23 agenda items. IARU was represented during the meeting on a full time basis and was additionally supported by representatives from IARU Member Societies.

A good start was made on items of interest to the amateur and amateur-satellite services. For WRC Agenda Item (AI) 1.12 (Orbital Radar Sounders) in the range 40 – 50 MHz modifications to the draft CEPT position were secured to include details of the ITU Table of Frequency Allocations at 50 MHz, which were agreed last year at WRC-19, where access to spectrum in Region 1 within 50 – 52 MHz was agreed for the amateur service. 

WRC AI 1.14 addresses the Earth Exploration Satellite service (passive) in the range 231.5−250 GHz. Subsequent to several questions posed by IARU the draft CEPT position confirms that in principle administrations support the spectrum requirements for passive microwave sensor measurements within the frequency range 231.5−252 GHz, provided that other primary services currently allocated in this frequency range are not unduly constrained. The amateur and amateur-satellite services have a primary allocation at 248 – 250 GHz and a secondary allocation at 241 – 248 GHz.

WRC-23 Topic AI 9.1A concerns Space Weather Sensors which need to be protected by regulation without placing constraints on incumbent services. Current views in PTA were that AI 9.1 topics should not lead to major changes in treaty documentation e.g. the Radio Regulations (RR). However the issue could be addressed in ITU‑R Recommendations or ITU‑R Handbooks. The scope of this topic is wide and could cover HF to EHF spectrum. Until studies are progressed it is not certain how the amateur and amateur-satellite services might be impacted.

WRC-23 AI 9.1Topic C is an item proposed by a small number of countries interested in the possible use of IMT or 5G mobile technologies in frequency bands allocated to the fixed service. In practise amateur service allocations in the range 430 MHz to 250 GHz could be affected where there is a primary allocation to the fixed service and a secondary allocation to the amateur service e.g. 2.3 GHz, 3.4 GHz (R2), 10 GHz and 122.25 GHz. This topic is similar to AI 9.1A as CEPT is currently opposed to any changes to the RR resulting from AI 9.1 deliberations.

IARU as always is committed to play a full part in Regional Telecommunication Organisations’ preparations for ITU WRCs.

For a number of years preparations for ITU World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs) have been conducted in recognised Regional Telecommunication Organisations (RTOs). These organisations permit participation in each others’ WRC preparatory committees. ITU Region 1 comprises Arab States (ASMG), Africa (ATU), Europe (CEPT) and Commonwealth of Independent States (RCC). ITU Region 2 comprises North and South America (CITEL) and ITU Region 3 comprises the Asia Pacific region (APT).

Some RTOs have a single WRC preparatory committee whilst others convene specialised project teams addressing a number of similar agenda items. This is particularly the case in Europe where CEPT’s Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) has a Conference Preparatory Group (CPG) which for the next WRC in 2023 has established a number of Project Teams – PT1, PTA, PTB, PTC and PTD. 

IARU has decided that regular attendance is necessary in PT1 (IMT-5G issues), PTA (Science and Regulatory) and PTC (aeronautical, maritime and radio-determination). IARU’s overall objective at WRC-23 is wherever possible the defence of existing amateur frequency allocations from an availability and quality standpoint.

Most RTO’s have had their initial meetings to start preparing for WRC-23. IARU-R1 has recently reported on ATU-APM, CEPT CPG and CPG-PTC. Last week IARU participated in a virtual meeting of RCC countries. Its goal was to endorse the decisions of the RCC working Group on the radio frequency spectrum. Information from individual RCC countries with their view on WRC-23 agenda items is currently being collected. The next RCC meeting is scheduled for March-April 2021.

This week CEPT CPG-PTA has its first meeting to study regulatory and scientific WRC agenda items. The items which may impact the amateur service are 1.12 (radar sounders near 50 MHz), 1.14 (passive Earth exploration-satellite in 231 – 252 GHz) and 9.1 issue A (space weather sensors). The outcome from this meeting as it may affect the amateur service will be published on this web-site later this week.

IARU will continue to represent the amateur and amateur-satellite services throughout the electromagnetic spectrum whether virtual or face-to-face meetings are being utilised by regulatory bodies during the coming months. If you are able to do so, please support your IARU Member Society in any national preparatory WRC-23 events.