Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - The World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03)
Date: 2003-04-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: CEPT, communications policy, international conference, regulation of telecommunications, telecommunications, transmission network

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 14.04.2003
COM(2003) 183 final

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL, THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

The World Radiocommunication Conference 2003
(WRC-03)

Table of Content

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

5.1.

5.2.

5.3.

5.4.

6.

7.

Introduction...................................................................................................................3

The WRC in the Context of Spectrum Policy in the European Community ................4

Upholding European Interests in WRC-03...................................................................6

Relevant Community policies for WRC-03 .................................................................8

Priorities for the Community at WRC-03...................................................................11

Third generation mobile communications ..................................................................12

Satellite radio navigation ............................................................................................13

Public Protection (emergency situations and disaster relief)......................................14

Alternative Infrastructure Platforms, including RLAN ..............................................15

Agenda for the next conference (WRC-07)................................................................20

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................21

ANNEX I:Simplified Agenda for WRC-03..............................................................................22

ANNEX II:Analysis of Technical issues ..................................................................................25

ANNEX III:Other WRC-03 Issues of Community Interest......................................................31

ANNEX IV:Glossary ................................................................................................................35

2

1.

INTRODUCTION

The International Telecommunications Union, a United Nations agency, holds every
three  years  a  World  Radiocommunication  Conference,  which  is  the  mechanism  to
update the ITU Radio Regulations, the global agreement on how the airwaves are to
be  used  without  harmful  interference  between  the  many  wireless  services  of  all  the
different countries of the world. The next WRC-03 will take place in Geneva between
June  9th  and  July  4th,  2003.  For  the  thousands  of  delegates  from  over  150  countries
attending it will be the end event of a process of preparation which began immediately
following the last WRC, in Istanbul in 2000.

The  Commission  will  participate  in  the  forthcoming  WRC-03  as  a  non-voting
delegation1.  In  this  quality,  the  Commission  takes  a  particular  interest  in  supporting
decisions  which  are  compliant  with  relevant  Community  policies  and  which
adequately  reflect  commercial  and  general  interests  in  the  European  Union.  The
Commission  also  endeavours  to  support  before  and  during  the  conference  agreed
European  common  positions  which  are  related 
to  Community  policies.  In
participating  in  WRC-03,  the  Commission  fulfils  its  role  as  expressed  in  the  Radio
Spectrum Decision2 which entered into force since the last WRC exercise.

Negotiations  at  the  WRC  are  mainly  of  a  technical/regulatory  nature,  with  political
and industrial policy implications which are at times somewhat hidden or understated.
Many  issues  are  discussed  at  the  conference  in  great  technical  detail  without  any
explicit connections with underlying policies. “Simple explanations” of WRC agenda
items are therefore often difficult.

This Communication aims to assist in clarifying the WRC-03 process by addressing in
the  context  of  the  Community  various  agenda  items  open  for  negotiation,  with  the
intention  to  reinforce  European  technical  negotiating  positions  at  the  conference  by
linking  them  to  Community  policy  objectives.  The  Commission  calls  upon  Member
States as negotiating parties to support these positions during the negotiations.

WRC-03  is  considered  to  be  less  immediately  “crucial”  than  some  previous  world
radio  conferences,  where  projected  new  commercial  satellite  and  terrestrial  mobile
systems  urgently  requested  sufficient  globally  harmonised  spectrum  to  be  able  to
operate  successfully.  However,  while  some  systems  are  still  trying  to  obtain  more
spectrum for expected future requirements, the focus at this WRC has mainly shifted
to most radio services “protecting” their acquired rights. It is indicative of this trend
that  the  five  “priority  issues”  highlighted  by  the  Commission  for  WRC-003  (IMT-
2000,  RNSS4,  sharing  between  different  satellite  systems,  fixed  wireless  access  and
satellite broadcasting) were essentially considered “solved” by the 2000 negotiations,
but  are  all  back  on  the  agenda  for  WRC-03  for  a  “verification”  of  the  previous

1

2

3

4

Formally as an ITU “sector member” (category: Regional and Other International Organisations)
Decision No 676/2002/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 7 March 2002 on the
regulatory framework for the radio spectrum policy of the European Community.
COM(2000)  86,  8  March  2000,  The  European  Positions  for  the  World  Radiocommunications
Conference 2000 (WRC-2000).
Explanations about acronyms are in Annex IV (Glossary)

3

                                                
agreements.  Therefore,  the  overall  positive  results  of  WRC-00  need  to  be
consolidated  at  this  conference.  In  addition,  WRC-03  will  consider  a  few  new
initiatives with some relationship with Community policy objectives.

The communication is structured into three main areas:

(cid:1)  a  description  of  the  WRC  context  (section  2)  and  of  the  European  involvement

(section 3) in the WRC-03 process;

(cid:1)  an explanation of relevant Community policies for WRC-03 (section 4);

(cid:1)  an analysis of the main WRC-03 negotiating items which may  affect Community
policies,  and  of  the  European  objectives  in  the  light  of  positions  developed  by
CEPT (section 5).

2.

THE  WRC  IN  THE  CONTEXT  OF  SPECTRUM  POLICY  IN  THE  EUROPEAN
COMMUNITY

There is a growing awareness of radio spectrum issues in the Community, with efforts
to look at issues at this level gaining momentum. This trend requires to position the
WRC conference in the Community context.

The increasing importance of spectrum: the economic contribution of radio-based
industries  to  the  EU’s  economy  has  grown  strongly  in  recent  years,  notably  via  the
development  of  commercial  mobile  communications,  such  as  GSM,  and  of
broadcasting  networks5.  Radio  spectrum  is  also  an  essential  infrastructure  in  the
provision  of  services  in  the  public  interest  (defence  and  other  security  functions,
transport,  public  service  broadcasting),  for  scientific  research  (Earth  observation,
radio astronomy) and  for establishing international networks, such  as Galileo. Radio
spectrum  harmonisation  in  Europe  is  a  key  enabler  to  the  completion  of  the  Single
Market in goods and services, and can foster international commercial exchanges by
removing  technical  barriers  to  trade.  Furthermore,  spectrum  allocation  and  licence
assignment  can  have  clear  repercussions  on  the  degree  of  competition  allowed
between different technical platforms and operators.

The spectrum “bottleneck”: given that ideally access to radio spectrum ought not to
be a constraint on the operation of any wireless service, the “natural” approach in this
era of regulatory liberalisation would be to support every request for spectrum, and let
different applications or services compete on the basis of price, consumer satisfaction,
innovation  potential,  public  needs  or  other  criteria.  However,  the  limits  of  today’s
radio  spectrum  management  practices  are  exemplified  at  a  spectrum  management
conference like WRC. Since useful spectrum is essentially “full”, any new proposed
allocation  entails  prolonged  negotiations  with  other  new  or  existing  interests.
Spectrum management both internationally and at the national level is therefore about
choices,  notably  about  the  difficult  balance  to  be  struck  between  encouraging  new

5

For  example,  the  economic  value  of  the  radio  industry  (excluding  civil  aviation,  defence  and
other public sector use of radio) is some £20 billion per annum in the UK alone (source: Radio
Agency, Feb. 2001).

4

                                                
innovative  applications  and  protecting  existing  services.  Furthermore,  while
harmonisation of spectrum use can lead to cost benefits for many technologies and to
radio  services  co-existing  together  more  easily,  at  the  same  time  all  these  layers  of
regulation  can  lead  to  a  certain  loss  in  flexibility  of  use  and  thus  in  commercial
dynamism.

Policy  coordination  in  the  Community:  in  order  to  make  the  necessary  spectrum
choices  as  “meaningful”  as  possible,  the  Community  holds  that  close  coordination
between  the  radio  spectrum  management  process  and  underlying  policies  is
essential. Therefore the Decision on Radio Spectrum Policy was adopted in 2002, to
provide the Community with a framework to develop this coordination, and to set up
institutional arrangements within the Community where radio spectrum requirements
for  all  Community  policies  could  be  addressed  and  their  interests  appropriately
balanced6.  In  this  new  framework  the  impact  of  policy  on  spectrum  management
decisions,  including  licence  assignment  methods,  can  now  be  discussed  in  a
Community context via the Radio Spectrum Policy Group7, (RSPG). Furthermore,
to support specific Community policies, relevant  technical  implementation  measures
to  harmonise  the  use  of  spectrum  across  the  European  Union  can  now  also  be
undertaken  by  the  Commission  together  with  the  Member  States  in  the  Radio
Spectrum Committee (RSC).

The  Radio  Spectrum  Decision  and  WRC:  the  Radio  Spectrum  Decision  has
allowed for the first time to clarify in EU legislation the general relationship between
the Commission and the current set-up in voluntary spectrum coordination undertaken
in Europe by the Member States in the CEPT8 context. A clear methodology is now
defined  in  the  legislation,  where  the  Commission,  working  with  the  RSC  and  often
following  the  specific  advice  of  the  RSPG,  may  provide  CEPT  with  formal
mandates 
to  fulfil  Community  policy
requirements.

to  develop  spectrum  harmonisation 

The Radio Spectrum Decision provides a mechanism for coordination of Community
positions  and  for  the  establishment  of  common  policy  objectives  in  WRC.  It  also
allows  for  coordination  of  Community  positions  to  benefit  from  the  preparation  of
coordinated technical European positions carried out within CEPT. According to the
Decision,  Member  States  and  the  Community  must  develop  common  action  and
closely cooperate during the whole negotiation process in order to safeguard the unity
of the international representation of the Community.

In  line  with  its  commitments,  the  Commission  has  to  ensure  coordination  of  policy
approaches  based  on  the  adoption  of  Community  policy  objectives  in  advance  of
WRC.  With  this  Communication,  the  Commission  aims  to  inform  the  European
Parliament and the Council about affected Community policies, with a view to obtain
endorsement by the Council on the Community policy objectives to be achieved and
on the position to be taken by Member States at the WRC.

6

7

8

This is even more important now, with the imminent enlargement of the European Union, where
there is a need for high-level discussion on how best to harmonise different spectrum practices
and uses.
Decision 2002/622/EC of 26 July 2002 establishing a Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG)
European Conference of Post and Telecommunication administrations, with 45 members across
Europe.

5

                                                
The Commission  has accompanied the WRC-03  preparatory process  in  Europe  over
the  last  three  years.  While  the  adoption  of  the  new  radio  spectrum  regulatory
framework  has  come  too  late  to  have  a  specific  impact  on  the  current  WRC  cycle,
Community  activities  in  spectrum  harmonisation  and  policy  development  are
expected  to  provide  a  significant  input  to  the  European  preparations  for  future
conferences.

3.

UPHOLDING EUROPEAN INTERESTS IN WRC-03

European activities within CEPT: European administrations negotiate in ITU on  a
national basis, unlike for other international negotiations9. However, since in practice
on  many  issues  the  national  interests  are  convergent,  European  States  choose  to
develop their technical positions together within CEPT, where mechanisms to develop
common  technical  approaches  are  already  well  established,  before  negotiating  with
the  rest  of  the  world  on  the  basis  of  consolidated  European  positions10  defended  by
each individual European member of ITU.

The  Commission’s  participation:  the  Commission  will  take  part  in  WRC-03  on
behalf of the Community with the modalities, functions and objectives first laid down
in  199211,  as  now  provided  in  the  Radio  Spectrum  Decision.  Together  with  the
Presidency,  the  Commission  will  endeavour  to  assist  Member  States  in  maintaining
common  negotiating  positions  during  the  conference.  To  this  effect,  Member  States
should support and sign all European Common Proposals fulfilling Community policy
objectives and positions endorsed by the Council.

Monitoring  Europe’s  performance:  the  Community  coordination  approach  is
predicated on CEPT being able to develop coherent technical positions for Europe,
and on its ability to get results by a sufficient degree of negotiating solidarity between
all  its  members  at  pan-European  level.  All  accession  and  candidate  countries  are
Members of the CEPT, and the successfully concluded enlargement negotiations are
likely  to  be  conducive  to  the  necessary  coherence  between  delegations.  CEPT,
however,  also  comprises  a  number  of  administrations  which  are  not  part  of  the
enlarged EU, where underlying policies are not necessarily aligned with EU ones. In
line  with  Article  6  of  the  Radio  Spectrum  Decision,  the  Commission  will  monitor
Europe’s involvement in WRC-03 according to the above-mentioned goals.

Industry involvement: in preparation for WRC-03, as for previous conferences, the
Commission  co-hosted  with  CEPT  two  open  consultation  meetings,  first  to  give
spectrum  user  constituencies  at  large  the  opportunity  to  give  timely  input  to  the

9

10

11

Notably trade issues in the WTO context.
The ITU has encouraged the formation of “regional blocks” in the WRC to simplify and clarify
as  much  as  possible  specific  issues  before  the  conference  itself.  Therefore,  other  regional
organisations  besides  CEPT  have  also  been  increasingly  developing  their  positions  together:
CITEL  for  the  Americas,  APT  for  Asia-Pacific,  the  Arab  League  and  ATU  for  Africa.  While
collaboration within these other organisations is improving, it is both more recent than in CEPT
and also made more difficult by greater national policy divergences than in Europe.
Council Conclusions for WARC 1992 of February 3, 1992, reiterated by Council Conclusions in
1997 and 2000.

6

                                                
process,  and  then  to  provide  feedback  on  the  agreed  European  common  negotiating
positions.  Industry  has  also  been  more  actively  involved  in  the  CEPT  preparations,
providing  for  instance  some  12  out  40  CEPT  agenda  item  coordinators.  While
improvements  are  always  possible,  the  perception  sometimes  given  at  previous
conferences  that  they  were  negotiated  by  “closed  clubs”  of  regulators  is  rather  less
evident  for  WRC-03.  The  Commission  will  continue 
to  encourage  a  full
participation by industry and by all other spectrum users in the process.

Negotiations  at  WRC  tend  to  be  constrained  at  times  by  the  lack  of  information
about technical systems and actual or prospected spectrum usage. One of the practical
ways the new Community framework intends to support industry and other users, is to
ensure  that  sufficient  information  is  available,  at  least  at  European  level,  to  assist
policy-makers to match spectrum supply with demand.

Maintaining  coherence  with  Community  objectives:  while  common  positions  for
most  relevant  agenda  items  are  available  before  WRC-03,  negotiations  during  the
conference  are  of  a  dynamic  nature.  Any  modifications  of  positions  during  the
negotiations  should 
interest
considerations.

take  due  account  of  Community  and  public 

Community objectives should be particularly borne in mind, notably:

(cid:1)  the promotion of competition between alternative infrastructure platforms

(cid:1)  the consolidation of the Single Market (support for harmonisation);

(cid:1)  the removal of technical barriers to international trade;

(cid:1)  the basic principles of EC electronic communications regulation (see section 4).

In  order  to  fulfil  the  objectives  established  in  the  Radio  Spectrum  Decision,
coordination  of  EU  Member  States’  positions  may  need  to  be  organised  during  the
negotiations by the Commission in close collaboration with the Presidency to uphold
Community interests.

Acceptance  of 
international  agreements:  Member  States,  while  acting
independently  in  the  CEPT  context,  will  continue  to  be  guided  in  their  decisions  at
WRC  by  the  European  Union’s  acquis  communautaire,  where  applicable.  For  this
purpose, the Presidency of the European Community shall submit a joint declaration
for  inclusion  in  the  Final  Acts  of  WRC-03,  where  the  delegations  of  the  Member
States  of  the  EU  will  state  that  they  will  apply  the  revision  of  the  ITU  Radio
Regulations adopted at the conference in accordance with their obligations under the
EC Treaty.

7

4.

RELEVANT COMMUNITY POLICIES FOR WRC-03

The overall objective of the European Commission in the WRC process is to ensure
that  decisions  are  taken  that  positively  support,  or  at  least  do  not  significantly
hinder,  specific  Community  policies  and  initiatives.  The  European  technical
positions developed within CEPT for WRC-03 are the result of internal negotiations
and  summation  of  national  policies,  and  tend  to  be  generally  in  line  with  relevant
Community  policies,  which,  with  some  exception,  are  broad  statements  of  vision,
rather that specific action plans easily mapped on the radio regulatory process.

WRC negotiations are also a lot about “tactics”, i.e. the negotiating means to position
optimally  different  viewpoints  in  the  Radio  Regulations  or  in  future  ITU  activities.
The  Commission  will  not  usually  take  a  position  on  these  procedural/regulatory
discussions, unless there is the likelihood of a clear impact on Community policies. In
the main, such policies will be affected by topics addressed at the conference in two
ways:

(cid:1)  either relating to the spectrum needs of long-term future evolutions (e.g. transition

from analogue to digital) of systems supporting these policies; or

(cid:1)  concerning  the  protection  of  existing  frequency  allocations  with  respect  to

possible new entrants in the new spectrum.

As  in  the  past,  a  number  of  Community  polices  will  be  potentially  affected  by
regulatory decisions taken at WRC-03. Here is a brief overview of the main ones:

Information Society

One  of  the  EU’s  objectives  is  to  ensure  that  Europe's  citizens,  business  and
governments  will  continue  to  be  provided  with  rich,  advanced  and  diversified
information  services,  to  ensure  that  Europe  can  play  a  leading  role  in  shaping  and
participating  in  the  global  knowledge  and  information  based  economy.  The  shift  to
the information society and the knowledge-based economy are essential for Europe to
draw the full benefits of digital technologies and the Internet in terms of sustainable
growth, increased productivity and competitiveness, creation of new jobs and social
progress.

Therefore,  the  Community  has  been  working  (notably  via  eEurope  initiatives)  on
stimulating  the  development  of  applications  and  content  enabling  all  European
citizens to participate in the information society and on supporting research into the
development and deployment of new information and communication technologies.

8

Furthermore,  by  establishing  a  new  regulatory  framework  for  electronic
communications12 designed to generate competition, the European Union has moved a
step  further  on  the  road  towards  supporting  a  world-class  communications  and
broadcasting  infrastructure, basing itself on clear  principles,  namely  that  regulation
in electronic communications ought to:

(cid:1)  evolve towards technology neutrality, taking into account convergence.

(cid:1)  be based on clearly defined policy objectives, notably the public interest;

(cid:1)  provide appropriate legal certainty to ensure investment and sufficient flexibility

to respond to fast-moving markets and technology;

(cid:1)  be enforced closely to the market; and

(cid:1)  be kept to the minimum necessary to achieve its objectives.

The  development  of  the  Information  Society  policy  is  also  dependent  on  spectrum
regulation  and  on  the  results  obtained  at  WRC.  While  radio  spectrum  regulation
covers  other  sectors  besides  a  narrow  definition  of  “electronic  communications”,  it
will  also  benefit  from  the  principles  enunciated  above,  within  a  spectrum  policy
context of avoiding harmful interference and using this resource efficiently.

Audiovisual Policy

In addition to its economic importance, the audiovisual sector also plays a key social
and  cultural  role  in  the  European  Union:  television  is  the  most  important  source  of
information  and  entertainment  in  European  Societies,  (98%  of  homes  with  a
television, the average European watching more than 200 minutes television per day).

The  Commission  stresses  that  the  audiovisual  media  play  a  major  role  in  the
transmission  of  social  and  cultural  values  and  that  there  are  therefore  fundamental
public  interests  at  stake13.  As  a  consequence,  it  must  be  ensured  that  broadcast
services  continue  to  have  available  the  necessary  resources,  notably  access  to  the
radio  spectrum.  This  should  be  done  taking  into  account  technological  and
commercial  developments  and  the  specific  structure  of  the  dual  system  of
broadcasting in Europe, comprising public and private broadcasters.

Transport

In order to further the common transport policy in the European Community provided
for by the EC Treaty, the Commission has proposed14 some 60 measures to develop
an integrated transport system, including notably maritime safety, and air transport.
In this context, the creation of a Single European Sky has the objective to optimise

12

13

14

Directive  2002/21/EC  on  a  common  regulatory  framework  for  electronic  communications
networks and services (Framework Directive)
Communication  on  Principles  and  Guidelines  for  the  Community’s  audiovisual  policy  in  the
digital age, COM(1999)657 final
Second White Paper on the future development of the common transport policy, COM(201) 370

9

                                                
air  traffic  management  and  aviation  safety,  in  order  to  satisfy  all  airspace  users,
whether civil or military, airspace being a common asset to be managed collectively
regardless  of  national  borders.  All  these  objectives  are  critically  dependent  on  the
availability of radio spectrum.

An important element of the Community’s transport policy is also the Galileo satellite
navigation  programme,  which  aims  to  provide  the  European  Union  with  an
independent, highly-reliable, advanced global satellite navigation system for strategic
and  economic  reasons.  Satellite  navigation  offers  obvious  advantages  for  managing
transport.  It  allows  for  greater  safety,  better  traffic  flow,  reduced  congestion  and
environmental  damage,  and  the  support  of  multi-modal  development.  Like  for  any
radio  service,  to  operate  Galileo  sufficient  radio  spectrum  needs  to  be  available,
protected  from  harmful  interference  and  employable  without  too  many  operational
constraints.

Civil Protection Coordination

The  European  Union  suffers  regularly  from  major  natural  and  man-made  disasters,
such  as  earthquakes,  floods,  landslides,  storms,  forest  fires.  The  purpose  of
Community  cooperation  in  the  field  of  Civil  Protection  is  to  help  ensure  better
protection  for  people,  the  environment  and  property  in  the  event  of  such  disasters.
More specifically, it aims to support and supplement efforts at national, regional and
local  level  with  regard to disaster prevention;  to  establish  a  framework  for  effective
and  rapid  cooperation  between  national  civil  protection  services  when  mutual
assistance  is  needed;  and  to  enhance  the  coherence  of  actions  undertaken  at
international  level  in  the  field  of  civil  protection.  Council  has  adopted  a  Decision15
establishing  a  Community  mechanism  to  facilitate  reinforced  cooperation  in  civil
protection assistance interventions. Through this mechanism, it is possible in case of
natural and environmental disasters, to mobilise the necessary operational resources to
provide prompt support and assistance to countries (inside  and outside the European
Union)  in  need  of  help.  The  coordination  of  joint  European  interventions  would  be
improved  by 
interoperability  of  communications  equipment  fostered  by
harmonised spectrum.

the 

Single European Space

Instigated by a recent Green Paper16 jointly produced by the Commission and ESA, an
in-depth  debate  is  currently  under  way  in  the  European  Union  on  a  new  policy
integrating space into its competence. Space represents a strategic tool for the EU to
implement  some  of  its  broader  goals.  For  instance,  European  satellites  provide
businesses,  public  authorities  and  individuals  with  services  such  as  broadcasting,
communications, sustainable transport and mobility, weather forecasting, monitoring
of climate change, and responses to emergencies. The Galileo project and the GMES
(Global  Monitoring  for  the  Environment  and  Security)  initiative  are  practical
examples of cooperation on space-based initiatives at European level.

15

16

Council Decision of 23 November 2001, (2001/792/EC), establishing a Community Mechanism
to facilitate reinforced co-operation in Civil Protection assistance interventions
Green Paper on European Space Policy, COM(2003)17, 21 January 2003

10

                                                
The  relationship  of  a  vibrant  space  sector  for  Europe  with  an  adequate  supply  of
spectrum is self-evident All these applications are dependent on frequency allocations
and other regulatory procedures developed within the WRC process.

Research and Development

All  the  Community  policies  mentioned  until  now,  and  indeed  all  the  technologies
addressed in the WRC context are underpinned by research and development (RTD).
A  high  level  of  scientific  and  applied  RTD  is  crucial  for  a  country's  economic
growth and is thus publicly funded in all Member States.  Increasingly, RTD is  also
carried out at a European level, since pooling the complementary expertise provided
by scientists from different countries can prove beneficial to all and have a multiplier
effect  on  national  research.  The  objective  of  research  and  technology  policy  in  the
European  Union  is  therefore  to  coordinate  national  and  European  policies  and  to
encourage the networking of research teams.

Funding  of  European  research  via  the  Community’s  multi-annual  RTD  Framework
programmes  has  supported  and  continues  to  support  key  areas  using  wireless
technologies,  notably  3G  mobile  communications,  RLAN,  intelligent  transport
systems, Galileo and other satellite-based platforms. Timely access to radio spectrum
harmonised  at  European  and  global  level  will  continue  to  be  essential  for  these
applied research efforts and provide researchers with a focus to turn their visions into
real applications available to European society.  At the same time, research activities
are making a significant contribution to the efficient and fulsome use of spectrum by
developing new technologies such as software-defined radio and adaptive aerials.

5.

PRIORITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY AT WRC-03

With  regard  to  the  WRC-03  agenda  items  which  are  particularly  relevant  in  the
context of Community policies, the following objectives should be endorsed:

(cid:1)  Protecting  the  allocations  gained  in  WRC-2000  by  IMT-2000  and  GALILEO
(agenda items 1.34 and 1.15, respectively), relating to Information Society as well
as to transport policy objectives (satellite radio navigation);

(cid:1)  Making  progress  towards  regionally  and  globally  harmonised  frequencies  for
PPDR (Public Protection and Disaster Relief) systems, relating to the Community
policy in this field (agenda item 1.3).

(cid:1)  Supporting  the  establishment  of  alternative  wireless  infrastructure  platforms,  in
order to increase competition for the benefit of the consumer, as  explained in the
eEurope  framework.  In  this  context,  a  globally-harmonised  status  for  RLANs  in
the bands identified by Europe is essential (agenda item 1.5 et al.).

The following sections provide a brief background for each of these issues, together
with the Community policy objectives to be met at the conference. A supplementary
analysis of the technical issues discussed at the conference for these topics can also be
found in Annex II.

11

There  are  in  addition  other  less  critical  issues  at  WRC-03  which  have  some
Community interests associated to them. They are briefly described in Annex III.

5.1.

Third generation mobile communications

The  first  IMT-2000  (“3G”)  services  have  recently  been  launched  in  Europe,  and
operators  will  follow  suit  in  most  Member  States  later  this  year,  with  the  gradual
introduction of new services and terminals to customers. The continued transition to
3G services  will  need  to be supported in the  longer term  by  the  timely  provision  of
adequate  spectrum  according  to  market  demands  and  taking  into  account  the
evolution of technologies.

There  are  two main issues of  relevance  to 3G at WRC-03.  The  first  issue  addresses
the protection of Europe’s extension band for IMT-2000 from potential interference
from  satellite  systems  in  Asia  (ITU  region  3).  The  second  question  is  about  the
preliminary exploration  of possible additional future  spectrum  needs  for  IMT-2000
and  systems  beyond  IMT-2000.  However,  both  aspects  are  governed  by  a  different
time perspective and therefore require different approaches with respect to the WRC
negotiations.

On  the  issue  of  protecting  additional  IMT-2000  spectrum,  Europe  has  recently
agreed  to  make  the  band  2  500-2  690  MHz  available  by  1  January  200817.  This
spectrum  goes  beyond  the  core  band  at  2  GHz,  which  has  already  been  licensed  to
operators  in  all  Member  States,  and  is  one  of  the  three  possible  extension  bands
identified for IMT-2000 at WRC-00. In a second step to be taken by the end of 2004,
Europe will develop a frequency plan for this additional band.

Part of the European extension band for IMT-2000 (2 630-2 655 MHz) has a primary
status18  for  the  broadcasting-satellite  (sound)  service  in  eight  Asian  countries.  Any
potential  sharing  problem  between  these  BSS  (sound)  systems  and  IMT-2000  could
affect  the  long-term  provision  of  IMT-2000  services  in  some  European  countries,
since some of the proposed (not yet deployed) BSS (sound) systems will have highly
elliptical  orbits,  which  are  increasing  the  likelihood  of  interference  with  terrestrial
services  in  many  other  countries,  given  the  extended  line-of-sight  visibility  of  these
systems19.

On the issue of future work on advanced mobile systems, WRC-03 has been tasked
to  review  studies  commissioned  by  WRC-00  on  spectrum  requirements  of  future
developments  of  IMT-2000  and  of  systems  beyond  IMT-2000.  Existing  IMT-2000
radio  interfaces  and  networks  are  expected  to  be  enhanced  throughout  their
operational  life  times,  perhaps  reaching  service  bit  rates  of  30  Mbit/s,  while  new
technology  will  need  to  be  developed  to  provide  for  even  greater  bandwidths  (100
Mbit/s or even higher) and interoperability

17

18

19

ECC Decision (02)06, 15 November 2002, pursuant to Mandate 4 of the European Commission,
on the designation of frequency band 2500-2690 MHz for UMTS/IMT-2000
Radio services with primary status have a blanket “priority” in the ITU Radio Regulations over
“secondary status” services, i.e. they cannot be interfered by them.
A satellite of this type serving Japan could be “visible” from Europe and therefore potentially
cause interference.

12

                                                
Given expected growth rates of the sector, Europe assumes that there will be a need
for additional spectrum for advanced terrestrial mobile systems at some point beyond
2010. However, a more clear definition of the market is required before addressing
in  detail  the  possibility  of  additional  frequencies  for  future  developments  of  IMT-
2000 and of “systems beyond”. Any new identification of spectrum for these systems
will need to be based on deliverables from the research side and on studies on market
estimates,  quantity  and  timing  of  additional  spectrum  needed,  and  candidate  new
frequency  bands.  Europe’s  common  position  is  therefore  to  request  ITU  to  finalise
such studies on the future development of IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000
in time for WRC-07. Whatever developments on this issue, Europe wishes for IMT-
2000  and  its  enhancements  to  continue  to  operate  in  the  frequency  bands  already
identified by the WRC (1992 and 2000) for the foreseeable future.

Community policy objectives

It  is  essential  to  ensure  that  IMT-2000  can  operate  protected  from  harmful
interference.  This  requires  that  the  additional  spectrum  bands  for  which  Europe  has
made  a  first  choice  are  as  little  affected  by  non-GSO  BSS  (sound)  satellites  as
possible, by avoiding technical restrictions which could have a negative impact on the
rollout of 3G systems. The global uptake of the extension band chosen by Europe
for IMT-2000 should be encouraged. in order to favour an early harmonisation of the
used spectrum bands.

It is also important to keep all options open for further spectrum identification in the
future for developments in IMT-2000 and for systems beyond IMT-2000, on the basis
of  market  experience  of  current  systems  and  progress  in  RTD.  In  this  context,
coordinated research at Community level into new mobile technologies focussing on
interoperability  and  new  applications  will  play  an  important  role20.  However,  the
migration between cellular technologies is an evolutionary process which takes time.
While  3G  services  are  still  becoming  established,  it  is  preferable  not  to  take  radio
spectrum decisions for a further cellular generation at a too early stage, but rather to
leave  some  time  for  industry  and  operators  to  develop  their  services  in  a  stable
regulatory context, and to consider new mobile systems and their spectrum needs in
an evolutionary way.

5.2.

Satellite radio navigation

For  several  years  the  European  Union  has  been  developing  an  advanced  second-
generation  European  radionavigation-satellite  system  (RNSS),  Galileo,  to  determine
the exact position in time and space of any person or device equipped with a portable
receiver.  The  Galileo  constellation  of  30 satellites  covering  the  entire  surface  of  the
globe has been designed as an independent, global, civil-controlled system which will
provide  open  access  and  controlled  access  services,  including  reliable  signals  for
safety-of-life applications, such as civil aviation and maritime transport.

20

In  the  new  IST  programme,  “Mobile  and  Wireless  Systems  beyond  3G”  is  a  “strategic
objective”  for  the  period  2003-2004.  “Systems  beyond  3G”  are  characterised  as  a  “horizontal
communication model”, where different terrestrial access levels and technologies are combined
to  complement  each  other  in  an  optimum  way  for  different  service  requirements  and  radio
environments.  Research  supported  by  the  Community  is  expected  to  focus  on  providing  full
seamless and nomadic user access to new classes of feature-rich applications.

13

                                                
At  the  Istanbul  World  Radiocommunication  Conference  (WRC-00),  under  the
impetus  of  the  new  Galileo programme, spectrum additional to  that  already  used  by
GPS  and  GLONASS  was  allocated  to  satellite  radionavigation  services,  (and  not
specifically  to  Galileo  or  to  other  radionavigation  systems).  New  allocations  were
considered essential for the development and enhancement of new and existing RNSS
systems  and  therefore  WRC-00  allocated  3  new  “downlink”  bands  and  2  new
“uplink”  bands  to  RNSS.  However,  in  order  to  ensure  adequate  protection  to  other
important services, such as radionavigation  aids for civil  aviation, some operational
characteristics of RNSS in two of the downlink bands identified in WRC-00 were left
subject to confirmation at WRC-0321. Further details about these issues can be found
in Annex II.

Community policy objectives

While  the  technical  characteristics  of  the  frequency  allocation  granted  to  satellite
navigation  in  WRC-00  need  to  be  confirmed  at  WRC-03,  it  is  essential  for  the
European  Union  to  ensure  that  these  frequencies  are  employable  in  such  a  way  to
enable Galileo  to  provide all its planned services.  It is also in the  EU  interest  for
both civil aviation and RNSS systems to co-exist in the 1.2 GHz band with acceptable
solutions not unduly constraining either of these two important services.

This conference will also consider issues of future coordination of the various satellite
radionavigation  systems  within  the  frequency  spectrum  allocated  at  WRC-00.  Any
regulatory discrimination against Galileo must be avoided. An equitable access to
the  allocated  spectrum  is  paramount,  on  the  basis  of  interoperability  and  mutually
agreed levels of interference.

5.3.

Public Protection (emergency situations and disaster relief)

Interoperable telecommunications equipment for public security services (police, fire,
ambulances,  armed  services,  search  &  rescue  teams…)  is  a  desirable  objective  for
operational  and  cost-effectiveness  reasons.  However,  interoperability  is  low  at  the
present time, even within countries, historically due to the different and uncoordinated
procurement policies of the various security services and to the long lifetimes of their
communications  equipment,  which  typically  does  not  benefit  from  large  production
runs.  Furthermore,  in  a  crisis  situation  occurring  on  land,  it  is  often  difficult  for
intervening  teams  from  outside  countries  to  be  allowed  to  use  their  own
communication equipment, and when they  are  given this authorisation, to be able to
communicate with each other, given the differences in equipment22.

In  many  countries,  significant  amounts  of  spectrum  are  provided  for  security
functions,  but  often  using  different  frequency  bands.  A  factor 
increasing
interoperability  would  be  to  harmonise  the  radio  spectrum  used,  which  would  also
make the equipment more  affordable via  economies of scale.  As requested  by  some
developing countries which are heavily affected by natural and man-made emergency

21

22

Note that the issues of potential interference due to the overlapping between the GPS M-code
and Galileo PRS signals in the band 1559-1610 MHz are not formal issues at the conference.
This  situation  is  in  stark  contrast  with  similar  emergency  situation  at  sea,  where  clear
procedures and common communication channels and technologies have long been available.

14

                                                
situations,  WRC-03  has  to  consider  global  and  regional  spectrum  harmonisation  for
future  PPDR  systems  (public  protection  and  disaster  relief).  This  issue  has  led  to  a
broad  discussion  on  whether  the  PP  element  (police,  security,  etc.),  where  the
spectrum requirements tend to be well defined and stable, ought to be separated from
DR  (disaster  relief),  where  localised  “hot  spots”  of  communications  are  needed  at
short  notice  and  for  transient  periods  of  time.  Furthermore,  it  has  been  argued  that
commercial  networks  based  on  new  cellular  technologies  like  IMT-2000  could  be
used  for  many  PPDR  functions,  without  the  need  for  specific  custom  solutions.  In
addition,  most  PPDR  systems  are  presently  based  on  narrow-band  analogue
technologies,  and  any  decisions  taken  on  the  radio  spectrum  ought  to  assist  in  the
future  migration  towards  data-rich  digital  systems  affording  greater  functionality
(such as video images, etc.).

Community policy objectives

The  European  Union  is  promoting  a  reinforced  coordination  mechanism  amongst
Member  States  in  civil  protection  intervention  in  order  to  improve  the  efficiency  of
emergency interventions and reduce duplication. Despite a limited degree of spectrum
harmonisation  within  the  Community,  the  lack  of  equipment  interoperability  is
evident in this sector and needs to be tackled in a gradual fashion, with as paramount
the operational requirements of the security services. Any decision at WRC-03 which
could  assist  in  improving  the  long-term  coordination  abilities  and  equipment
functionality of European civil protection teams is therefore to be strongly supported.

5.4.

Alternative Infrastructure Platforms, including RLAN

The  European  Union  considers  that  creating  conditions  of  vigorous  competition
between different technological infrastructure platforms in electronic communications
is in general the  most  appropriate way  to benefit  consumers in  the  long  term,  by
providing them with  sufficient  choice on  the  basis  of  cost,  functionality  and  service
provision.  Besides  IMT-2000,  there  are  several  other  commercial  wireless  systems
affected  by  the  negotiations  at  WRC-03.  They  have  been  grouped  together,  since
essentially  they  all  seek  adequate  spectrum  and  protection  from  other  radio
services,  in  order  to  be  in  an  optimal  position  to  participate  in  this  infrastructure
competition.

From  a  Community  point  of  view,  where  possible  spectrum  regulation  ought  to  be
technology-neutral and support the needs of all existing and innovative systems. The
Commission  recognises  that  these  principles  are  often  difficult  to  adopt  in  practice,
and that the development of technological sectors, including their spectrum needs, is
also very difficult to forecast. However, to decide on the extent of the spectrum access
needs  for  various  broadband  wireless  platforms,  a  clear  position  on  which  one  to
prioritise  in  Europe  in  terms  of  spectrum  use  would  need  to  be  developed  –  such
decision  should  be  based  on  the  ultimate  benefit  to  the  European  consumer,  taking
into  consideration  the  relative  technology  maturity,  costs  and  business  plans
associated  to  each  system.  The  current  draft  work  programme  for  the  Community’s
Radio  Spectrum  Policy  Group  (RSPG)  includes  the  possibility  to  identify  in  a
coherent  way  the  spectrum  requirements  at  European  level  of  various  wireless
broadband terrestrial and satellite platforms.

15

A number of wireless communication “platforms” will be discussed at WRC-03. The
following description addresses the main ones.

5.4.1. Radio Local Area Networks

Radio  Local  Area  Networks  (RLAN  –  also  called  WLAN  or  Wi-Fi)  operating  in
licence-exempt frequency bands are a fast-developing means to implement broadband
wireless  access  for  the  general  population  in  areas  such  as  airports,  train  stations,
conference centres and hotels. The current technology is using the unlicensed portion
of the 2.4 GHz band, but the 5 GHz band is potentially more interesting, as it is not so
strongly populated by other licence-free devices, and it also provides a bigger “slice”
of spectrum, with therefore  more  capacity  available  for the systems  operating  in  the
band.

The  discussion  in  WRC-03  will  be  focussed  on  fostering  global  harmonisation  of
RLAN  equipment via  the  introduction  of  a  global  primary  allocation  for  the  mobile
service at 5 150-5 350 and 5 470-5 725 MHz. Such an allocation would also protect
RLAN systems from additional future constraints which could be imposed on them by
any new service being allowed in the band at some point in the future. Several other
important radio services  besides  RLAN  already  operate  in  the  5  GHz  band,  such  as
military  radar  and  various  commercial  and  scientific  satellite  services.  Since  it  is
likely that millions of  licence-exempt  RLAN  terminals  will  eventually  populate  this
band,  it  is  essential  to  make  adequate  provisions  to  avoid  harmful  interference  with
other  users.  Europe  is  supporting  an  agreement  at  WRC-03  on  the  basis  of  the
mitigation  techniques  already  adopted  in  CEPT23,  (notably  the  detection  and
avoidance  of  channels  occupied  by  radar),  and  which  will  also  be  included  in  new
versions of the Wi-Fi and in the new HIPERLAN standard24.

Community policy objectives

In  line  with  the  European  Union’s  policy  to  encourage  multiple  broadband  access
platforms  to  the  Information  Society,  the  Commission  is  undertaking  a  number  of
initiatives to support a strong market in RLAN systems and services25.

Within this context, the identification of frequency bands for wireless access systems
(WAS, including RLAN) at global level is to be strongly supported, since it will drive
down costs and increase the commercial opportunities of the sector. At the same time,
excessive  operational  constraints  would  also  place  significant  technical  and  cost
burdens on RLAN systems and ought to be avoided.

The  protection  of  other  essential  services  using  the  5  GHz  band  is  paramount,
though  the  principle  of  regulatory  technological  neutrality  requires  that  RLAN
systems  ought  not  to  be  excluded  a  priory  from  the  market  place  on  the  basis  of

23

24

25

ERC Decision (99)23.
Harmonised standard EN 301 893 developed by ETSI under Directive 1999/5/EC (the R&TTE
Directive). Compliance with this standard will ensure adequate protection of other services.
A  Commission  Recommendation calling upon Member States to allow the  provision  of  public
services  by  RLAN  was  adopted  recently  (OJ  L  78,  20.3.2003,  p.12).  It  will  be  followed  by  a
debate in the Community on the opportunity to further harmonise RLAN spectrum usage.

16

                                                
specific  mandatory  spectrum-sharing  methods,  since  room  should  be  left  for  future
innovative technologies to meet the requirements of existing services in other ways.

5.4.2. High-Density Fixed Satellite Services

High  Density  Fixed  Satellite  Services  (HDFSS)  are  satellite  systems  providing
broadband  interactive  services  expected  be  launched  some  time  in  the  future.  They
involve the deployment of a large number of Earth stations for satellite system of any
orbital  type  (i.e.  geostationary  or  not)  and  with  any  available  technology.  HDFSS
applications will benefit from low-cost, small antenna sizes, high frequency reuse and
flexible,  rapid  deployment  according  to  market  needs.  In  general,  the  expected
proliferation  of  HDFSS  Earth  stations  means  that  any  technical  coordination  with
other services on a site by  site basis (as happens with other satellite systems) would
not be appropriate.

Following  work  carried  out  in  previous  conferences,  WRC-03  is  considering
additional  globally  harmonised  bands  for  HDFSS  again.  While  some  bands  are
already allocated to general FSS systems below 30 GHz, these bands could be fully-
utilised  by  the  time  HDFSS  services  are  finally  launched.  The  satellite  industry  has
therefore  been  requesting  additional  spectrum,  preferably  below  40  GHz,  where  the
technology is already available.

The core of the issue is therefore the identification of additional bands for HDFSS at a
global  level,  while  causing  the  least  possible  problems  with  existing  services.
However,  since  different  regions  in  the  world  have  different  spectrum  uses  and
wireless sectors at different levels of development, a global agreement on all possible
frequency bands could be difficult.

Community policy objectives

Commercially-viable  HDFSS  systems  could  contribute  to  the  political  objectives  of
fostering  viable  platforms  for  future  broadband  interactive  services  in  healthy
competition  amongst  each  other,  to  the  benefit  of  innovation  and  ultimately  of  the
consumers. Their development has therefore  been  supported  by  the  EU’s  joint  RTD
activities26.  Future  frequency  requirements  for  these  systems  need  to  continue  to  be
actively considered in Europe, though in ways which do not hinder the development
of other important wireless services. Global harmonisation of operating frequencies is
also important, to drive costs down and increase the attractiveness of HDFSS services.

5.4.3. Broadband services in aircraft

With the increasing requirement for people to remain continuously in contact and to
be able to access information in all environments, there is a renewed push to provide
two-way broadband  communication facilities in  aircraft,  following  a  distinct  lack  of
success in this area (e.g. TFTS in Europe). Some European airlines (such as Lufthansa
and  BA)  have  recently  begun  proposing  a  high-speed  internet  access  and  e-mail  on
board  planes  on  an  experimental  basis,  but  for  this  service  to  be  implemented
permanently  there  is  a  need  to  amend  the  ITU  Radio  Regulations,  to  allow  a  new

26

4th and 5th EU RTD Framework, IST programme

17

                                                
secondary allocation in the 14.0-14.5 GHz  band  for the aeronautical  mobile satellite
(AMSS), which would be used for the uplink channel from the aircraft to the satellite.

Internet-based  services  will  be  provided  to  passengers  within  the  plane  itself  by
RLAN  or  Ethernet  means.  In  addition,  airline  operational  services  will  also  be
available via this system, for example specific information support for the cabin crew.
Note  that  what  is  proposed  is  not  a  safety-of-life  communication  channel  for  the
aircraft, since anyhow a secondary allocation will not protect this service from being
interfered with by other services with primary allocations in the same band.

Community policy objectives

As  long  as  any  possible  interference  towards  other  services  (mainly  FS,  FSS  and
RAS) is acceptable, the introduction of reasonably-priced broadband communication
services within aircraft is to be strongly supported in order for European passengers to
benefit  fully  from  this  promising  new  service.  Furthermore,  while  the  protection  of
other services is essential, it is important to support this new application by avoiding
excessive  operational  constraints.  Given  the  long-range  scope  of  aviation,  a
favourable global regulatory outlook for this service is important to its success.

While  not  related  to  this  specific  agenda  item,  the  potential  of  broadband
communications  between  aircraft  and  ground-based  air  traffic  control  to  improve
capacity, safety and security is important and should be supported in the future.

5.4.4. Mobile Satellite Services (MSS)

Mobile satellite systems can provide voice, and increasingly data, services for people on
the  move  in  all  areas  of  the  globe.  As  at  the  last  three  WRC  conferences,  the  mobile
satellite systems industry requests WRC-03 to allocate additional spectrum to it, in view
of an asserted shortage of spectrum foreseen by some positive evolutionary scenarios
for the sector.

Nevertheless,  the environment  within  which to provide more spectrum  for  MSS  has
been  made  more  difficult  by  the  slow  take-up  of  S-PCS  services,  given  all  other
competing  requirements.  The  sharing  of  MSS  satellites  and  their  dedicated  feeder
links  with  existing  services  already  using  the  proposed  new  bands  for  MSS  is  also
considered to be very challenging technically. The other services potentially affected
are  passive  (i.e.  not  transmitting,  just  receiving),  such  as  Radio  Astronomy,  Earth
Exploration  and  Space  Research,  as  well  as  active:  tactical  radio  relays,  FS,
aeronautical telemetry and radar.

Community policy objectives

MSS  systems  provide  alternative  technical  means  to  supply  mobile  communication
services  to  customers,  and  their  coverage  is  often  complementary  to  terrestrial
systems,  since  they  do  not  have  to  sustain  the  incremental  cost  of  additional  base
stations in sparsely-populated areas. Research on the development of such platforms
has  thus  been  substantially  supported  by  the  European  Union.  Any  future  spectrum
needs  for  MSS  according  to  realistic  market  projections  ought  to  be  supported,
provided all other relevant radio services can be adequately protected and not unduly
constrained.

18

One  of  the  bands  under  discussion  (1  670-1  675  MHz)  for  allocation  to  MSS  was
dedicated for TFTS (Terrestrial Flight Telephone System) in Europe until recently. As
a  rule,  the  Commission  strongly  believes  that  any  refarming  of  bands  already
harmonised  in  Europe  ought  not  to  lead  to  any  lower  level  of  European
harmonisation.  The  selection  of  new  uses  for  any  such  band  ought  to  consider
explicitly the potential for a harmonised and efficient use of the spectrum, technology
neutrality,  consequences  for  competition  in  any  proposed  sector,  while  limiting
regulatory constraints as far as possible.

5.4.5. High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS)

The  HAPS  concept  has  been  around  for  quite  a  few  years  but  has  not  materialised
commercially  yet  because  of  operational  difficulties27.  It  essentially  concerns  the
provision of wireless communication services via stratospheric “balloons” high in the
atmosphere (around 20  Km).  At  this altitude, such a platform could  cover extensive
areas on the ground at, it is claimed, a fraction of the cost of satellites, and replacing a
large  number  of  terrestrial  repeaters.  Furthermore,  HAPS  elements  of  a  network
would  be  intrinsically  flexible,  as  they  could  be  deployed  or  relocated  relatively
simply. This WRC is to investigate the possible identification of additional frequency
allocations for HAPS, since the current allocation at 48 GHz is constrained by water
absorption in the atmosphere, thus particularly affecting sub-tropical services.

There is also a possibility to use High Altitude Platform Stations as part of an IMT-
2000  network.  WRC-03  is  to  consider  whether  the  constraints  placed  on  HAPS
operation  in  the  IMT-2000  spectrum  around  2  GHz  that  were  determined  at  WRC
2000  could  be  relaxed,  and  how  to  develop  appropriate  regulatory  and  technical
provisions  to  allow  the  coordination  between  a  terrestrial  IMT-2000  system
implemented using high altitude platform stations and other existing or planned fixed
or mobile services.

Community policy objectives

Support  an  adequate  provision  of  spectrum  for  HAPS,  as  it  could  provide  an
additional means for a rapid roll-out of broadband services (though the technical and
commercial  feasibility  of  HAPS  is  not  proven),  whilst  making  sure  that  all  other
existing services are adequately protected, in particular that HAPS operations do not
harmfully  interfere  with  IMT-2000  base  stations  on  the  ground.  Nevertheless,  if
technically  feasible,  an  alternative  network  topology  which  could  enable  the
footprints of 3G or of other communication systems to be extended quickly and cost-
effectively would be welcome.

27

Despite some recent progress, notably via EU-funded RTD (HeliNet project)

19

                                                
6.

AGENDA FOR THE NEXT CONFERENCE (WRC-07)

One  of  the  main  activities  of  any  World  Radiocommunication  Conference  is  to
establish  the  agenda  for  the  next  conference.  Increasingly,  these  agendas  are
populated by contentious issues where decisions have previously had to be postponed
or  made  provisional 
to  review  as  a  negotiating  compromise.  Furthermore,
administrations  which  do  not  obtain  full  satisfaction  at  a  conference  often  present
again  their  requests  at  the  following  conference.  However,  the  inflation  in  the
number of agenda items treated in  each WRC  (originally 10-12,  17  in  1997,  27  in
2000 and 45 in 2003) is straining the process and affecting the quality and relevance
of  the  results  obtained.  Therefore,  getting  an  agenda  for  2007  which  reflects  real
needs and which does not dissipate so much energy, time and money on revisiting old
agenda  items  is  becoming  an  essential  requirement  for  all  spectrum  managers  and
users.

Several  suggestions,  notably  from  Europe,  have  been  made  on  how  to  rationalise
future WRCs, including limiting the number of agenda items; restricting the “rolling
nature”  of  many  items;  placing  precise  limits  on  the  scope  of  agenda  items;  and
having a comprehensive rationale to support new proposals, including assessment of
burden on ITU-R administrative and financial resources.

There are a number of possible agenda items for WRC-07 already submitted to CEPT
by European interests.  They  include  new harmonised allocations for passive science
services (EESS, SRS and RA) above 275 GHz, for aeronautical uses, and for public
protection.

Community policy objectives

It  is  in  the  interest  of  the  Community  to  support  initiatives  to  limit,  prioritise  and
rationalise the agenda of future WRC conferences.

It was the Commission’s original intention for the Radio Spectrum Policy Group, one
of the elements of the new Community spectrum policy framework, to hold a policy
discussion  on  the  spectrum  priorities  for  Europe  in  a  global  context,  in  order  to
provide  relevant  guidance  to  CEPT  early  enough  in  the  WRC-07  agenda-setting
process.  However,  the  later-than-hoped  establishment  of  this  group  means  that  this
action cannot be undertaken before CEPT’s proposed list of agenda items for WRC-
07 is finalised.

20

7.

CONCLUSION

This  document  has  provided  a  brief  explanation  of  relevant  WRC-03  issues  in  the
context of existing European Community policies and initiatives. Further descriptions
of these issues from a more detailed technical/regulatory point of view can be found
in Annex II.

The  Council  and  the  European  Parliament  are  called  to  support  the  European
negotiators to achieve the Community objectives for particular issues, notably:

(cid:1)  Protecting the allocations gained in WRC-2000 by IMT-2000 and GALILEO;

(cid:1)  Making  progress  towards  regionally  and  globally  harmonised  frequencies  for

PPDR (Public Protection and Disaster Relief) systems.

(cid:1)  Supporting the establishment of alternative wireless infrastructure platforms. In
particular,  a  globally-harmonised  status  for  the  spectrum  bands  identified  in
Europe for Radio Local Area Networks (RLAN) is important.

The  Commission  is  fully  confident  that  the  preparation  by  CEPT  of  European
technical  positions  before  and  during  WRC-03  will  deliver  results  which  will  assist
the various  wireless  sectors in  Europe continuing  in their development and  bringing
benefits to society. At the same time, EU Member States negotiating in WRC-03 will
need  to  ensure  that  any  decisions  taken  at  WRC  are  in  line  with  their  Community
obligations.

Following  WRC-03,  the  Commission  intends  to  prepare  a  Communication  on  the
results of the conference with regards to Community policies and on how to continue
providing an optimal coordination between the technical negotiators and Community
interests, in the light of the new spectrum policy framework in the Community.

21

ANNEX I
SIMPLIFIED AGENDA FOR WRC-2003

Items in bold are addressed specifically in this document.

Agenda
Item

ISSUE

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.9

Deletion of superfluous countries from Radio Regulations footnotes

Introduction  of  new  digital  modulation  techniques  for  broadcasting  in  HF
bands

Identification of global/regional frequency bands for future public protection
(emergency situations and disaster relief).

Review  of  allocations  to  the  aeronautical  radionavigation  service  and  the
fixed-satellite service in the band 5 091-5 150 MHz

Review  of  allocations  to  the  mobile  (RLAN),  fixed,  Earth  exploration-
satellite, radiolocation and space research services within the frequency range
5 150–5 725 MHz

Protection  of  MSS  feeder  links  operating  in  the  band  5  150-5  250  MHz,  in
view  of  the  possible  new  allocation  to  the  mobile  service  in  this  band  for
RLAN applications

Regulatory issues for radio-amateurs

Protection of passive services from unwanted emissions from active services

Consideration  of  abrogation  of  some  regulatory  safety  obligations  for  the
maritime service

1.10

Regulatory issues related to the maritime mobile service

1.11

1.12

Consideration  of  new  secondary  status  for  aeronautical  mobile  satellite
service at 14 GHz

Review  of  allocations  for  the  Space  Science  and  the  Earth  exploration-
satellite services

1.13

Review of frequency allocations for high altitude platform stations (HAPS)

1.14 Measures  to  avoid  harmful  interference  to  maritime  mobile  &  aeronautical

mobile safety services

1.15

Review of results of WRC-00 for RNSS systems (including GALILEO)

1.16

Feasibility of new allocations for MSS feeder links near 1.4 GHz

1.17

Upgrade to primary status for the allocation to the radiolocation service in the

22

band 2 900-3 100 MHz to satisfy future military radar systems.

1.18

New  primary  allocation  to  the  fixed  service  in  the  band  17.3-17.7  GHz  for
ITU Region 1

1.19 Misuse of rules to get around power limitations in non-GSO FSS systems

1.20

New global allocations for the non-GSO MSS systems below 1 GHz.

1.21

Regulatory  preparations  for  future  terrestrial  wireless  interactive  multimedia
applications (TWIMS)

1.22

Consideration of additional spectrum needs for IMT-2000 and Beyond

1.23

Global  realignment  of  the  allocations  to  the  amateur,  amateur-satellite  and
broadcasting services around 7 MHz

1.24

Sharing of the 14 GHz band between FSS, RLS and GSO-SRS systems

1.25

Spectrum identification for HDFSS systems above 17.3 GHz.

1.26

1.27

Regulatory  constraints  on  the  operation  of  Satellite  Earth  stations  on-board
Vessels (ESV)

Review of satellite broadcasting plan and of coordination procedures between
BSS and FSS satellite systems

1.28

Use of a new band for differential correction signals of RNSS systems

1.29

1.30

Sharing between non-GSO and GSO systems in the 37.5-50.2 GHz frequency
range

Review of the advance publication, coordination and notification procedures
for satellite networks

1.31

Additional allocations to the mobile-satellite service in the 1-3 GHz band

1.32

Sharing between HDFS, HDFSS and BSS systems at 37.5-43.5 GHz

1.33

1.34

Review  of  High  Altitude  Platform  Stations  (HAPS)  operating  as  part  of  an
IMT-2000 network

Potential future interference problems of IMT-2000 with NGSO BSS (sound)
systems in the 2 630-2 655 MHz band

1.35

Review of co-ordination procedures between BSS and FSS networks

1.36

1.37

Spectrum  available  for  broadcasting  between  4-10  MHz  with  a  view  to
further allocations

Study  of  the  various  regulatory  ways  to  protect  other  systems  from  Highly
Elliptical Orbit Systems (HEOS)

23

1.38

1.39

2

3

4

5

6

7.1

7.2

Up to 6 MHz new spectrum to the Earth exploration-satellite service (active)
at 420–470 MHz.

Spectrum requirements below 17  GHz  for telemetry, tracking  and command
(TT&C)  functions  of  fixed  satellite  service  networks  operating  above  17
GHz.

Procedural issue

Procedural issue

Procedural issue

Procedural issue

Procedural issue

Procedural issue

Setting the agenda for WRC-2007

24

ANNEX II
ANALYSIS OF TECHNICAL ISSUES

THIRD GENERATION MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS

Protecting the additional radio spectrum bands identified as Europe’ preferred choice:

Agenda item 1.34 has to review the result of studies concerning threshold values for non-GSO
BSS  (sound)  systems  in  the  band  2  630-2  655  MHz  and  take  action  to  protect  IMT-2000
services as required. The studies carried out by  ITU in preparation of this agenda item have
been  difficult,  complicated  by  the  multiple  possible  operating  parameters  both  of  non-GSO
satellites  and  of  IMT-2000  mobile  and  base  stations,  and  have  not  led  to  a  set  of  threshold
values  acceptable  to  all  sides.  Furthermore,  threshold  power  limits  to  be  applied  to  BSS
(sound) systems in region 3 can also be affected by the direction of transmission of IMT-2000
systems which has not been defined for this band yet28.

Nevertheless,  some  of  the  studies  have  shown  that  under  specific  operating  conditions,  the
potential interference of BSS satellites would require an 11% increase in the number of IMT-
2000  base  stations  deployed  to  provide  the  same  Quality  of  Service29.  Europe  is  therefore
proposing stricter transmission power limits than in WRC-00 for non-GSO and GSO BSS
systems operating in this band, to provide a clear protection to IMT-2000.

The  position  of  other  countries  (notably  from  Asia)  is  that  they  would  retain  the  WRC-00
threshold  limits,  but  in  addition  would  like  to  apply  standard  regulatory  agreement  or
coordination procedures  between  geostationary  satellites  and  terrestrial  services  if  the  limits
were  exceeded,  extending  such  procedures  also  to  non-GSO  BSS  satellites30.  However,  this
approach is not satisfactory  for  Europe,  as  it  would be questionable how much protection it
would  provide  to  IMT-2000  operations  in  Europe  in  practice.  Furthermore,  considering  the
prospected  time-scale  for  the  use  of  the  band  in  Europe,  (currently  expected  to  be  around
2008), the maximum time limit of three years defined in the coordination procedure between
the operation of the satellite and the objection by a European administration being interfered
with would clearly be insufficient.

Beginning the preparations for future spectrum allocations for IMT-2000 and beyond:

Agenda  item  1.22  will  consider  the  progress  of  ITU-R  studies  concerning  future
developments  of  IMT-2000  and  systems  beyond  IMT-2000.  Since  WRC-00,  ITU-R  has
developed a “vision” for these systems predicated on distinct though overlapping technology
trends,  where  the  capabilities  of  IMT-2000  technology  will  be  continue  to  be  gradually
enhanced,  while  developing  interactions  with  other  wireless  technology  such  as  digital
broadcasting  and  RLANs.  At  the  same  time,  new  wireless  access  methods  will  go  beyond

28

29

30

i.e., the coordinated segmentation of parts of a band in “channels” which may be from the base station to
the mobile phone (“downlink”) or vice versa (“uplink”), in order to avoid interference between operators
and adjacent countries and render the use of the band more efficient. The Commission is in the process of
mandating CEPT to carry out the “channelisation” of the extension band for IMT-2000 in Europe, but at
the  moment  it  is  not  possible  to  state  whether  the  2630-2655  MHz  section  of  the  band  will  be  in  the
“downlink” or the “uplink” direction.
Note  that  harmful  interference  would  be  even  more  difficult  to  control  if  these  satellites  operated  over
Belorussia, the only  Region 1 country allowing BSS  (sound)  in  this  specific  band.  However,  it  appears
that this will not happen and Belorussia will remove its name from the relevant footnote.
There  are  a  number  of  distinct  “procedures”  in  the  ITU  Radio  Regulations  defining  formal  bilateral
negotiations to avoid harmful interference between systems and countries.

25

                                                
IMT-2000 to extremely high data rates (such as 100 Mbit/s for highly-mobile applications or
even  1  Gbit/s  for  lower  mobility  applications).  It  is  widely  agreed  that  further  studies  will
need  to  be  carried  out  in  time  for  the  WRC-07  conference.  These  studies  will  consider  the
timing and demand for additional spectrum, and the possibility for sharing this spectrum with
other existing services. To be decided yet at WRC-03 is the exact guidance to ITU-R on the
scope  of  the  studies,  i.e.  on  whether  mainly  on  the  IMT-2000  family  or  also  on  “systems
beyond”.

SATELLITE RADIO NAVIGATION

WRC-03  agenda  item  1.15  addressing  RNSS  questions  is  divided  in  three  separate  issues
covering  distinct  frequency  bands.  In  the  band  1  164  –  1  215  MHz,  WRC-00  introduced  a
provisional power limit (so-called “pfd limit”) of [–115dB (W/m2) per MHz] which needs to
be  verified  at  WRC-03.  The  limit  was  introduced  to  protect  aviation  radionavigation  aids
(ARNS) essential for the safety of air traffic, such as DME and TACAN, which will continue
to operate in this band up to 2015 and beyond. Following additional compatibility studies, the
long-term protection of these aviation systems is to be ensured by a new aggregate epfd limit
of  [–121.5  dB  (W/m2)  per  MHz]  proposed  by  CEPT,  with  the  support  of  other  regions.
Furthermore, it  is  accepted that RNSS will  not  claim  any  protection  from ARNS.  There  are
also still unresolved issues about coordination between different RNSS systems in this band.
In  order  to  ensure  an  equitable  distribution  of  the  spectrum  resource,  CEPT  proposes
additional power limits per satellite (and not just per system). One of the main issues will be
the implementation of a clear and equitable process for the verification of these specific epfd
limits by administrations that have filed an RNSS system.

For the band 1 215 – 1 300 MHz, CEPT proposed at WRC-2000 to introduce in this band a
power  limit  to  protect  long-range  primary  radar  used  in  aviation  for  en-route  positioning  of
aircraft. Primary radar gives aircraft position information to Air Traffic Control (ATC) and is
the only means today to follow aircraft that are not equipped with transponders (SSR) or with
their transponders switched off. However, due to the strong opposition of the US and Russia
in constraining their existing GPS and GLONASS systems in this band, a further discussion
on this issue based on new studies to assess the need for and  the  value  of the  pfd limit  was
reported back to WRC-03.

Theoretical  and  statistical  studies  have  shown  that  the  existing  pfd  level  of  GPS  and
GLONASS  systems    should  already    exceed    some  primary    radar  protection  criteria.
However, no  interference  by RNSS on  aviation  radar  has   actually  ever   been   recorded.
Europe has supported  studies  on  the  development  of  pfd  limits  for  operation  in  the
whole band  1 215-1 300 MHz, paying due account to the existing successful sharing between
RNSS and radar in this frequency band, and ensuring that no regulatory discrimination could
be  applied  to  Galileo,  for  instance  by  introducing  a  protection  limit  only  in  the  part  of  the
band  to  be  used  by  Galileo  (1  260-1  300  MHz).  However,  following  simulation  and
experimental studies, it has proved impossible to find a power limit to protect aviation radar
while  at  the  same  time  not  constraining  existing  RNSS  systems.  CEPT  therefore  does  not
propose  an  explicit  power  limit  for  RNSS  in  this  band,  though  it  will  have  to  operate  on  a
clear non-interference basis with primary radar over the whole band, the latter being important
due to the increased emphasis on security.

A  much  less  critical  issue  for  Galileo  concerns  the  band  5  010  –  5  030  MHz,  where  a
provisional pfd  limit for out-of-band emissions from RNSS was approved by WRC-2000 to
protect the radio astronomy service below 5 GHz. This pfd limit for  the  RNSS is  subject to
revision at WRC-03. While the use of the 5 GHz band by Galileo is only expected in the long

26

term  (perhaps  around  2015),  CEPT  proposes  some  specific  power  levels  for  GSO  and  non-
GSO RNSS systems to protect the radio astronomy service.

PUBLIC PROTECTION (EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND DISASTER RELIEF).

This issue is dealt with in WRC-03 agenda 1.3, which calls for studies on the identification of
frequency bands that could be used on a global/regional basis by administrations intending to
implement future solutions  for  public  protection agencies and  organisations, including  those
dealing with emergency situations and disaster relief.

The  ITU  studies  have  focussed  on  the  actual  user  needs  and  applications,  on  the  possible
benefits of spectrum harmonisation and on a methodology to calculate spectrum requirements,
as  well  as  on  the  means  to  improve  cross-border  circulation  of  radiocommunication
equipment  in  emergency  and  disaster  relief  situations.  Different  so-called  “narrow-band”,
“wideband”  and  “broadband”  systems  have  also  been  defined  in  terms  of  technical
characteristics  and  operational  requirements.  Given  the  great  diversity  in  spectrum  use  and
operational needs, there is an overall agreement that frequency band ranges for PPDR should
be identified as far as possible, but that countries should retain the flexibility to implement as
much of the harmonised bands for PPDR as they need whenever they so choose.

In order to allow the market to grow flexibly, alternative solutions have also been proposed,
such  as  or  using  current  or  future  commercial  mobile  technology  and  frequency  bands.
However,  proponents  of  dedicated  PPDR  spectrum  harmonisation  consider  that  civil
protection  operational  requirements  are  specific  (redundancy,  scalability,  one-touch  group
calls,  network  access  reliability  in  an  emergency…)  and  cannot  be  fully  catered  for  by
existing cellular technologies.

Taking into account the previous considerations, Europe’s position is that at least the digital
narrow-band  spectrum  already  harmonised  in  Europe31  should  be  identified  globally  for
PPDR.  These  frequencies  would  be  part  of  a  “tuning  range”  band  identified  for  PPDR
between  380  and  470  MHz,  which  countries  could  use  according  to  their  existing  spectrum
uses  and  changing  civil  protection  requirements.  Consideration  for  additional  studies  on
PPDR harmonisation would be included in the agenda of WRC-07, to take into account the
development of the technology  and the long-term need for data-rich  systems (broadband) to
use higher frequencies than those currently identified.

RADIO LOCAL AREA NETWORKS

WRC-03  is  addressing  RLAN  by  considering  at  the  same  time  the  status  of  all  the  various
services operating in the 5 GHz band. Europe proposes new primary allocations to the mobile
service  in  the  bands  5  150-5  350  and  5  470-5  725  MHz,  together  with  specific  mitigation
techniques  to  protect  the  existing  primary  services  and  radar.  However,  the  DFS  (Dynamic
Frequency  Selection)  mitigation  technique  used  in  most  of  the  5  GHz  bands  identified  for
RLAN in Europe to avoid interfering with radar, has now been defined by the  relevant  ITU
study group with power threshold limits which are more restrictive than applied until now in
Europe. While radars are better protected, it becomes more difficult for RLAN manufacturers
to ensure these systems can operate adequately and cost-effectively.

In  order  for  other  services  in  the  5  GHz  band  to  be  at  the  same  regulatory  level  as,  and
therefore adequately protected from, the new RLAN mobile allocation, they are also proposed

31

The 380-385 and 390-395 MHz bands, by ERC Decision (96)01.

27

                                                
to be upgraded to primary status (agenda item 1.5). These services include Earth exploration-
satellite (active) and space research (active) services in the frequency range 5 460-5 570 MHz,
and the radiolocation service in the frequency range 5 350-5 650 MHz. Europe agrees to this
approach, provided that no additional constraints are placed on RLANs. Furthermore, in order
to protect MSS feeder links operating in the band 5 150-5 250 MHz, it is proposed to restricts
the  use  of  stations  of  wireless  access  systems  including  RLANs  to  indoor  use  with
transmission limits in this band, as already happens in Europe (agenda item 1.6).

HIGH-DENSITY FIXED SATELLITE SERVICES

HDFSS are addressed in WRC-03 in agenda items 1.18, 1.25 and 1.32. The general approach
in Europe for these systems is that, rather than  giving them exclusive identification in some
bands,  they  have  to  share  frequencies  with  existing  services  wherever  possible,  since
segmentation  of  spectrum  tends  to  lead  to  inefficient  use.  Given  the  possibility  of  harmful
interference,  sharing  of  HDFSS  with  existing  terrestrial  services  needs  also  to  be
demonstrated to be clearly feasible. If bands which are already used by terrestrial services are
also identified for HDFSS, this should be done on an unprotected basis for HDFSS. However,
the  European  satellite  sector  would  much  prefer  band  segmentation  and  feels  strongly  that
such  an  approach  is  not  beneficial  to  the  satellite  sector,  since  many  of  the  mitigation
techniques imposed on it to protect terrestrial services are too constraining.

Europe  has  identified  possible  global  bands  for  HDFSS  in  the  “Downlink”  and  “Uplink”
directions  (i.e.  space-to-Earth  or  vice  versa)  at  19.7-20.2  GHz  (D),  29.5-30  GHz  (U),  39.5-
40.5 GHz (D), 47.2-50.2 GHz and parts of 27.5-29.5 GHz (U). CEPT would also accept the
band 17.3-17.7 GHz for HDFSS in Region 1 (i.e. Europe), since the fixed service allocated to
this  band  is  currently  operating  in  very  few  European  countries.  In  order  to  protect  RAS,
military  uses,  HAPS,  FS  and  FSS  from  uncoordinated  and  ubiquitous  HDFSS  terminals,
CEPT  does  not  support  the  identification  of  other  bands  on  a  global  basis,  as  suggested  by
administrations outside Europe, (notably 17.7-19.7 GHz (D), 37-39.5 GHz (D), 40.5-42 GHz
(D) and other parts of the 27.5-29.5 GHZ band).

WRC-03 has also been tasked (agenda item 1.32) to review the operational parameters of the
sharing  plan  for  the  37.5-43.5  GHz  band  between  HDFS,  HDFSS,  BSS  and  RAS  agreed  at
WRC-00. In Europe, this frequency range is currently covered by three ERC decisions32, the
first  designating  the  band  40.5-43.5  GHz  for  HDFS,  the  second  giving  priority  for  FS  with
regards  to  uncoordinated  FSS  terminals  in  the  band  37.5-39.5  GHz  and  providing  the  band
39.5-40.5  GHz  for  HDFSS;  finally,  the  third  giving  priority  for  HDFS  with  respect  to
uncoordinated FSS terminals in the band 40.5-42.5 GHz. CEPT supports the existing limits in
the  bands  37.5-40  GHz  and  40.5-42.5  GHz  for  FSS,  MSS  and  BSS.  In  addition,  CEPT
supports  power  limits  and  possible  mitigation  techniques  to  protect  stations  in  the  radio
astronomy service operating in the 42.5-43.5 GHz band.

As well as frequency allocation matters, WRC-03 will address regulatory issues for HDFSS.
CEPT  does  not  support  any  modification  to  the  provisions  applicable  to  the  coordination,
notification and registration of typical HDFSS Earth stations, since such a simplified approach
could pose difficulties to other wireless services.

32

ERC Decisions (00)02, (00)07 and (00)09.

28

                                                
BROADBAND SERVICES IN AIRCRAFT

Agenda item 1.11 of WRC-03 is concerned with including the operation of  the  aeronautical
mobile-satellite service (AMSS) on a secondary basis in the band 14.0-14.5 GHz as an MSS
uplink, while protecting the primary services operating in this band, notably the fixed-satellite
(Earth-to-space), fixed, radionavigation, and mobile services (though for these last two there
is no actual operation). There are also some secondary services in this band: space research,
radionavigation-satellite and radioastronomy.

The  CEPT  position  is  to  support  this  secondary  allocation  to  AMSS.  However,  in  order  to
protect all primary  and secondary  services in the band  from  harmful interference  due  to  the
proposed  new  AMSS  system,  some  protection  criteria  have  been  worked  out  in  an  ITU
Recommendation,  in  particular  to  protect  the  fixed  services  currently  operating  in  some
countries.  The  main  question  during  the  preparation  of  WRC-03  for  this  item  has  been
whether to include the protection criteria directly in a footnote in the ITU Radio Regulations
or  whether  to  leave  them  in  the  Recommendation  (considered  to  be  less  constraining  on
AMSS  by  some).  Most  countries,  including  in  Europe,  do  not  support  such  an  additional
regulation,  since  the  regulatory  status  of  a  secondary  service  means  that  it  is  anyhow  by
definition compelled to avoid harmful interference against primary services in the same band.
It is understood that if some European countries wish to anchor the AMSS protection criteria
more  solidly  in  the  Radio  Regulations,  they  will  recur  to  specific  country  footnotes.  At  the
same time, it is likely that non-European countries with already a footnote allowing FS in the
band will adopt the protection criteria defined by ITU-R

MOBILE SATELLITE SERVICES (MSS)

MSS  requirements  are  addressed  in  the  WRC-03  via  agenda  items  1.16,  1.20  and  1.32.
Concerning  a  new  global  allocations  for  MSS  operating  below  1 GHz,  Europe  is  not
convinced  that  additional  spectrum  is  justified  for  MSS  in  bands  which  are  already  heavily
used in Europe by terrestrial and passive services. In addition, the possibility of sharing with
terrestrial  services  (notably  PMR  at  450-470  MHz)  is  unproven  and  probably  not  possible
with  reasonable  operational  constraints  for  either  side.  The  same  reasoning  applies  to
spectrum  requirements  for  MSS  feeder  links.  Therefore,  according  to  CEPT,  any  eventual
market growth of MSS systems below 1 GHz will have to be accommodated within existing
allocations.

Concerning additional spectrum for MSS between 1-3 GHz, this issue was already discussed
at WRC-97 and WRC-2000. The sector has estimated a maximum requirement of spectrum by
2010 of about 2x675 MHz33, though these requirements are based on assumptions which are
not currently accepted by most administrations. However, there does appear to be a shortfall
of about 2x8 MHz by 2005 (required 2x123 MHz v.  the existing allocation of 2x115  MHz)
Therefore, the allocation of some additional spectrum (2x7 MHz) has been under discussion.
CEPT  supports  a  global  allocation  to  MSS  (space-to-Earth)  in  the  band  1  518-1  525  MHz,
though  there  may  be  a  significant  difficulty  with  compatibility  with  aeronautical  mobile
telemetry  (AMT)  operating  in  the  United  States.  Furthermore,  Europe  favours  the
complementary global allocation to MSS (Earth-to-space) in the band 1 670-1 675 MHz, one
of the two bands where TFTS was supposed to operate in Europe, together with possibly an
additional 2 MHz between 1 668-1 670 MHz, in order to obtain a global allocation of 2 x 7
MHz in total.

33

ASMS-TF-commissioned study, “Assessment of Spectrum Requirements to MSS”, 19 September 2001

29

                                                
HIGH ALTITUDE PLATFORM STATIONS (HAPS)

WRC-03  was  mandated  to  investigate  the  possibility  of  allowing  HAPS  to  operate  in
additional  bands  (agenda  item  1.13).  Concerning  48  GHz,  Europe  is  in  favour  to  continue
with the current regulatory arrangements, pending the commercial and technical development
of these platforms. In general, Europe does not support new identifications for HAPS, given
that significant needs for this application have not been established. In addition, for the 18-32,
27.5-28.35, and 31.0–31.3 GHz bands, Europe does not support the introduction of HAPS in
these bands,  since  it does not believe the  protection  of  existing  services  (such  as  EESS  and
radio astronomy) could be ensured.

Concerning HAPS within IMT-2000 (agenda item 1.33), the results of WRC-00 enabled this
new platform to operate as base stations in IMT-2000 networks at several frequencies, though
a review of the provisional operating conditions (power flux density limits, pfd) of HAPS in
these  networks  was  also  requested  at  WRC-03.  CEPT  proposes  a  limited  relaxation  (by  4.5
dB) of the power limit for HAPS. In order to further protect other IMT-2000 operators, CEPT
wishes to reinforce the obligation of HAPS operators to notify their stations and to ensure that
administrations  which  licence  HAPS  stations  commit  themselves  in  applying  the  agreed
operational  criteria.  According  to  CEPT,  the  regulations  also  have  to  be  clear  that  HAPS
(IMT-2000) base stations can transmit only in the 2 110-2 170 MHz band.

30

ANNEX III
OTHER WRC-03 ISSUES OF INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY

SATELLITE BROADCASTING

Following  pressure  from  developing  countries,  the  last  conference  (WRC-2000)  produced  a
revision of  the  plan  governing  the  equitable  sharing  of  the  spectrum  (12/17  GHz  band)  and
orbital resources for satellite broadcasting between different countries in ITU Regions 1 and 3
(Europe, Africa and Asia). In the new plan, ten broadcasting channels have been pre-assigned
to  each  country,  while  various  provisions  in  the  plan  allow  existing  or  planned  European
satellite  systems  (especially  FSS)  to  continue  operating.  However,  in  order  to  facilitate  the
coexistence  between  different  systems,  Europe  would  like  to  relax  sharing  requirements,
which some studies  have demonstrated  to  be  excessive,  and  to  take  due  account  of  existing
FSS systems in the coordination procedures established (agenda items 1.27 and 1.35).

The  Community  policy  objectives  are  to  support  the  development  of  a  competitive
broadcasting  market  in  Europe  by  ensuring  a  fair  and  efficient  distribution  of  resources
(orbital positions, channels) needed for satellite broadcasting, including cross-border systems
within  Europe,  in  order  to  provide  European  citizens  with  access  to  balanced  and  diverse
audio-visual content. Spectrum planning principles should allow for flexible usage to cater for
system deployment tailored to market demand.

TERRESTRIAL WIRELESS INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA APPLICATIONS (TWIM)

This is another open-ended issue at WRC-03, in preparation for possible more concrete action
in WRC-07 (or later), and is meant to address the whole topic of “convergence” between radio
applications,  which  opens  up  questions  on  the  flexibility  of  radio  service  definitions  and
regulation, and of the possibility for long-term spectrum access for convergent applications. A
draft definition for TWIM has been provided within the ITU, as being “applications in one or
more of the terrestrial mobile, fixed and broadcasting services that are capable of supporting
bidirectional  exchange  of  information  of  more  than  one  type  (such  as  video,  image,  data,
voice,  sound  and  graphics)  between  users  or  between  users  and  servers,  and  with  different
levels of interactivity and mobility.”

There is an understanding by most administrations that studies in view of WRC-07 will need
to  focus  on  identifying  possible  frequency  bands  for  TWIM  applications,  the  extent  of
spectrum  harmonisation  which  is  to  be  encouraged  for  such  systems,  and  reviewing  the
existing radiocommunication services definitions.

Europe’s position is that regulations hindering the development of TWIM applications ought
to  be  modified,  once  the  effects  of  convergence  on  user  needs  are  understood.  The  main
regulatory  impediment  which  some  have  identified  within  Europe  is  in  the  470-790  MHz
broadcasting band, where there is no general co-allocation for the mobile and fixed services,
and therefore any application based on a mix of all these services would have difficulties to
operate in this important band. The forthcoming RRC-04 conference revising the Stockholm
’61 arrangement to prepare the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting in Europe, is
also addressing related issues, and therefore a degree of coordination between these activities
is required.

For the Community, it is clear that in an environment of digital convergence the development
of advanced mobile systems cannot be seen in isolation from other access platforms such  as
digital  broadcasting  and  RLANs.  The  Commission  is  fostering  a  widespread  access  to  the

31

Information Society services using different platforms which should be interoperable for the
benefit of the citizen and the development of innovative content. It is important therefore to
study  the  impact  of  technical,  service  and  content  convergence  on  spectrum  management
activities, in order to provide the necessary regulatory flexibility at national and global level,
and thus improve the supply of spectrum to applications which will make optimal use of it.

It is  expected  that  the  impact  of  “convergence”  on  spectrum  management  will  need  a  high-
level policy discussion in the Community, and therefore the Radio Spectrum Policy Group is
likely  to  be  tasked  to  analyse  this  issue,  notably  in  the  context  of  the  expected  switchover
from analogue to digital broadcasting in Europe.

POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR SATELLITE NETWORKS.

The increasing complexity and volume of satellite network notifications has resulted in very
large backlogs in the processing. On the other hand, the time to build and launch satellites is
decreasing  and  the  long  processing  delays  by  the  ITU  are  not  consistent  with  these  shorter
times.  Consequently,  one  approach  to  improve  this  situation  would  be  to  introduce
simplifications  in  the  ITU  procedures  without  sacrificing  the  main  objectives  of  these
procedures (agenda item 1.30).

It is important for the Community to support any simplification of the ITU procedures, in
order to overcome the “paper satellite” problem and the related backlog, thus facilitating the
access to spectrum by real systems.

EARTH STATIONS ON BOARD VESSELS (ESV)

This agenda item (no. 1.26) was not resolved at WRC-2000. Earth Stations on board Vessels
(ESV) supply ships with high-speed data, voice and video applications using  existing fixed-
satellite  service  (FSS)  networks  operating  in  the  4  GHz  band  (downlink)  and  6  GHz  band
(uplink).  Other  FSS  allocations  at  11  and  14  GHz  are  also  under  consideration  for  ESVs.
However, all these bands are extensively used in Europe for long-haul, high-capacity systems
and cellular backbone networks (fixed service – FS). ESVs, potentially operating from many
ships, must not cause harmful interference to these FS systems, and avoid constraining their
expected  growth.  This  can  be  ensured  by  introducing  appropriate  technical  and  operational
limitations on ESVs, including a minimum distance from the coast (between 125 and 300 Km,
depending  on  the  frequency)  where  they  can  be  switched  on.  With  this  approach,  the
minimum  ESV  antenna  diameter  could  also  be  reduced.  In  case  administrations  wished  to
authorise  the  use  of  ESV  inside  the  minimum  separation  distance,  adequate  coordination
methodologies with FS would need to be used.

The  policy  objective  for  the  Community  for  this  issue  would  to  obtain  a  regulatory  regime
not  unduly  hindering  the  provision  of  new  satellite  broadband  communication  services  on
ships, though it is essential to ensure the long-term protection of the Fixed Service operating
in  the  same  bands,  literally  the  “backbone”  of  telecommunication  and  mobile  networks  in
Europe.  Nevertheless,  it  is  questionable  whether  managing  potential  interference  by
artificially limiting the spread of wireless systems via mandatory minimum antenna sizes is an
appropriate regulatory principle.

32

SHARING OF SATELLITE EARTH STATIONS WITH OTHER SERVICES AT 14 GHZ

The same type of antenna diameter limitation on FSS Earth station antennas was introduced at
WARC-92 in the 13.75-14 GHz band to the fixed-satellite service (FSS) (Earth-to-space), in
order  to  limit  the  number  of  such  systems  and  thus  protect  the  other  services  in  the  band
(radiolocation,  radionavigation,  space  research),  and  in  particular  mobile  military  radar
(missile tracking systems). However, using smaller antenna diameters (from  a minimum 4.5
m  to  perhaps  1.2  m)  is  strongly  supported  by  the  satellite  operator  industry,  and  by  many
developing  countries,  which  favour  affordable  VSAT  services  for  reasons  of  economic
coverage  of  their  territory.  Agenda  item  1.24  is  looking  at  this  difficult  issue,  though  no
solution has been found yet, including in Europe.

From a Community point of view, an acceptable compromise needs to be found, in order to
introduce  network  cost  savings  in  the  satellite  sector  by  relaxing  operating  requirements,
while fully  addressing the concerns  of  important  military  radar  systems  in  this  band,  by  for
instance introducing limits on the transmission power of smaller FSS earth stations.

SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR THE MARITIME SERVICE

In  order  to  promote  the  migration  of  maritime  distress  and  safety  communications  systems
from  traditional  analogue  technologies  to  GMDSS  (Global  Maritime  Distress  and  Safety
System),  the  ITU  has  introduced  a  long  transition  period  and  double  procedures  with  old
distress and safety systems. However, many vessels have still not upgraded to GMDSS, well
beyond the end of the original transition period. WRC-03 was originally tasked to verify the
possibility to update relevant maritime safety regulations (agenda item 1.9), but due to the fact
of  the  continued  use  by  many  ships  of  the  old  distress  and  safety  systems,  there  is  near-
universal consensus in keeping the regulatory status quo for the time being.

Concerning  measures  to  address  harmful  interference  to  maritime  mobile  &  aeronautical
mobile  services  (agenda  item  1.14),  there  is  a  growing  concern  that  routine  or  illegal
communications between ships is impacting on distress and safety-of-life communications of
ships  and  aircraft  in  the  HF  bands  in  the  two  distress  signal  bands.  WRC-00  decided  to
remove any calling facilities from the GMDSS distress channels as from the end of 2003, in
order to safeguard safety communications above “social” calls, though there are concerns that
this  will  leave  ships  without  adequate  means  of  communicating  routine  messages.  CEPT
proposes to continue using these two frequencies for limited general calling for safety related
communications, subject to certain safeguards.

The general policy objective for the Community would be to support maritime safety via the
protection  of  safety-of-life  communications  and  the  gradual  move  to  new  digital  maritime
distress and safety systems, with due consideration for the slow implementation of the change
in many vessels.

AVIATION REQUIREMENTS AT 5 GHZ

Within the context of the overall discussions about the 5 GHz band (see section 5.4.1), there is
an  issue  of  sharing  between  FSS  and  aviation  in  part  of  the  band  (agenda  item  1.4).  CEPT
wants to keep the primary allocation for the Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) in the 5 091-5 150
GHz  band  until  2  018,  and  not  until  2  010,  as  agreed  originally,  when  FSS  was  to  be
downgraded 
the  aeronautical
Radionavigation service (ARNS) sharing this band). The reason for this postponement is that,
according to CEPT, neither FSS nor new aviation systems to replace MLS have developed as

to  a  secondary  allocation  (i.e.  more  protection  for 

33

quickly  as  planned,  and  therefore  there  is  no  need  to  modify  the  band  allocation  for  the
foreseeable future. However, the aviation community thinks that this band could be used for
surface  movement  of  aircraft  at  airports  or  for  cockpit  surveillance  by  2010  and  would
therefore like some action before then34.

The  Community  needs  to  increasingly  consider  the  aviation  sector’s  safety  and  operational
requirements within the contest of the Single European Sky.

HIGHLY ELLIPTICAL ORBIT SATELLITES

The  special  characteristics  of  satellites  with  highly  elliptical  orbits  (HEOS)  and  their
possibilities  to  share  spectrum  bands  with  all  other  types  of  satellite  and  terrestrial  systems
need  to  be  studied  (agenda  item  1.37),  in  order  to  identify  any  specific  regulations  to  be
applied to these new types of satellites. No satisfactory definition of HEOS has been agreed
upon,  and  mutually  satisfactory  mitigation  solutions  with  other  services  have  also  not  been
identified. Europe’s position is that HEOS should continue having the same regulatory status
as  other  non-GSO  systems.  This  is  another  open-ended  agenda  item  with  a  lot  of  different
frequencies to be covered, and more work may need to be carried out at WRC-07.

It is in the Community’s interest to promote equitable and equal regulatory treatment in the
ITU Radio Regulations of all types of satellite systems, while affording suitable protection to
affected services.

34

The need for both of these applications has been exemplified by recent events: the Milan airport runway
collision in December 2001, and the plane highjackings in the US on 11/09/2001.

34

                                                
AMSS

APT

ARNS

BSS

CEPT

CITEL

DME

ECP

EESS

ECC

ERC

ESA

ESV

EU

FS

FSS

GALILEO

GLONASS

GMES

GNSS

GPS

GSM

GSO

HAPS

HDFSS

HIPERLAN

IMT-2000

ITU

ANNEX IV

GLOSSARY

Aeronautical Mobile Satellite Service

Asia-Pacific Telecommunity

Aeronautical Radio-Navigation Service

Broadcast Satellite Service

European  Conference  of  Postal  and
Telecommunications Administrations

Commission 
Telecommunications Administrations

of 

Inter-American

Distance Measuring Equipment

European Common Proposal, to be adopted
by CEPT

Earth Exploration Satellite Services

Electronic Communications Committee

European Radiocommunications
Committee

European Space Agency

Earth Stations on board of Vessels

European Union

Terrestrial fixed systems

Fixed Satellite Service

European  satellite-based  navigation  and
positioning system

Russian  Global  Orbiting  Navigation
Satellite System

Global Monitoring for the Environment and
Security

Global Navigation Satellite System

Global  Positioning  System  of  the  United
States

Global System for Mobile Communications

Geostationary Orbit

High Altitude Platform System

High-Density Fixed Satellite Service

An RLAN standard

International  Mobile  Telecommunications
for the year 2000

International Telecommunications Union

35

ITU-R

MSS

NGSO

PMR

PPDR

RAS

RLAN

RNS

RNSS

RR

RRC

RSC

RSPG

RTD

S-PCS

SRS

SSR

TFTS

TWIMS

WRC

WTO

Radiocommunication Sector of the ITU

Mobile Satellite Service

Non-Geostationary Orbit

Private Mobile Radio

Public Protection and Disaster Relief

Radio Astronomy Service

Radio Local Area Network

Radio Navigation Service

Radio Navigation Satellite System

Radio Regulations of the ITU

ITU Regional Radio Conference

Radio Spectrum Committee

Radio Spectrum Policy Group

Research & Technological Development

Satellite 
Services

Personal 

Communications

Space Research Service

Secondary Surveillance Radar

Terrestrial Flight Telephone system

Terrestrial Wireless Interactive Multimedia
Systems

World Radiocommunications Conference

World Trade Organisation

36