Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - The ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07)
Date: 2007-07-02
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU policy, broadcasting, international conference, international negotiations, mobile phone, telecommunications policy, waveband

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 2.7.2007 
COM(2007) 371 final 

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

The ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 
(WRC-07) 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
Table of Content 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

The European and Global Dimensions of Spectrum Policy......................................... 3 

European Preparations for WRC-07 ............................................................................ 4 

Relevant Community policies for WRC-07 ................................................................. 5 

Future Mobile Communications................................................................................... 6 

Other Priority Issues..................................................................................................... 8 

More Flexibility in the Global Spectrum Regulatory Framework ............................. 10 

Agenda for the Next Conference (WRC-11).............................................................. 10 

Conclusion.................................................................................................................. 11 

EN 

2 

   EN 

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

The ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 
(WRC-07) 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

1. 

THE EUROPEAN AND GLOBAL DIMENSIONS OF SPECTRUM POLICY 

The  radio  spectrum  is  a  scarce  and  valuable  natural  resource  that  can  have  significant 
societal  and  economic  impacts1  for  all  sectors  using  wireless  technologies,  such  as  media, 
mobile communications, defence and aviation. Spectrum is an economically important input 
for  the  provision  of  public  and  commercial  services  based  on  wireless  technology,  for 
scientific research and for establishing international transport and communications networks2.  

Spectrum  harmonisation  in  Europe  is  a  key  enabler  for  the  completion  of  the  EU  Single 
Market  in  goods  and  services,  and  on  a  wider  level  can  foster  international  commercial 
exchanges  by  removing  technical  barriers  to  trade.  The  challenges  of  managing  the  radio 
spectrum  effectively  are  often  better  addressed  by  cooperation  between  countries.  Together 
with the value of economic activities - total value of spectrum-dependent services in the EU is 
in excess of EUR 200 € billion, i.e. between 2 % and 2.5 % of annual European gross product 
–  this  explains  why  Europe  as  an  economic  area  must  give  importance  to  international 
negotiations affecting radio spectrum usage. 

In recent years, activities to develop a coherent European radio spectrum policy have gathered 
pace, and have supported common policy areas, such as the Information Society, Environment 
and Transport. With the Radio Spectrum Decision3 (RSD), the Community has laid the basis 
for  a  regulatory  and  policy  framework  to  ensure  that  the  radio  spectrum  requirements  of 
relevant Community policies are satisfied.  

Within  this  framework,  policy  issues  are  addressed  in  a  Community  context  in  the  Radio 
Spectrum  Policy  Group,  (RSPG),  an  advisory  body  to  the  Commission.  The  relevant 
regulatory measures to harmonise the use of spectrum across the Community are undertaken 
in the Radio Spectrum Committee (RSC).  

The  coordination  of  spectrum  at  a  global  level  is  the  responsibility  of  the  International 
Telecommunications Union (ITU), a United Nations agency with the mission to maintain and 
extend international cooperation for the improvement and rational use of telecommunications 
of  all  kinds.  Every  three  to  four  years,  the  ITU  holds  the  World  Radiocommunication 

1 

2 

3 

A recent UK study estimates economic benefit of over € 1000 per capita in 2005 arising from the use of 
spectrum, based on consumer and producer surplus.  
As highlighted by priority action 2 of the EU's Lisbon process, endorsed by the 2006 Spring European 
Council,  which  mentions  explicitly  the  role  of  spectrum  management  in  promoting  knowledge  and 
innovation. 
Decision 676/2002/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 7 March 2002.  

EN 

3 

   EN 

 
 
                                                 
Conference, a process aimed at adapting the ITU Radio Regulations (RR), the international 
treaty  coordinating  spectrum  usage  globally.  The  next  World  Radiocommunication 
Conference (WRC-07), the culmination of several years of preparatory work, will be held in 
Geneva from 22 October to 16 November 2007.  

The Commission shall participate in WRC-07 as a non-voting sector member of ITU. In this 
capacity,  the  Commission  shall  endeavour  to  support  those  European  common  positions 
which are in line with and relevant to Community policies.  

This  Communication  aims  to  inform  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  about 
Community policies that could be affected by the outcome of WRC-07. It seeks to obtain their 
endorsement  of  the  policy  objectives  to  be  achieved  and  of  the  position  to  be  taken  by 
Member States at the WRC-07 conference. 

2. 

EUROPEAN PREPARATIONS FOR WRC-07 

EU Member States negotiate in the ITU as independent members. In practice, they choose to 
develop  their  technical  positions  together  within  CEPT,  an  association  of  47  national 
spectrum and telecom authorities, before negotiating with the rest of the world on the basis of 
consolidated  European  positions 
("European  Common  Proposals").  Administrations 
participating  in  the  CEPT  process  agree  to  support  or  at  least  not  actively  negotiate  against 
such common positions. 

While  the  CEPT  is  effective  in  developing  the  detailed  European  negotiating  positions 
required  for  a  technical-regulatory  conference  like  WRC,  Member  States  are  bound  by  the 
obligations  they  have  subscribed  under  the  EC  Treaty  and  by  the  acquis  communautaire4. 
Therefore,  the  development  of  technical  positions  in  CEPT  needs  to  be  complemented  by 
considerations on the overall Community interests in the negotiations.  

For  this  purpose,  the  RSD  requires  coordination  of  Community  positions  and  the 
establishment  of  common  policy  objectives  in  WRC.  Member  States  and  the  Community 
must develop common actions and closely cooperate during the whole negotiation process in 
order to safeguard the unity of the international representation of the Community.  

In line with this commitment, the Commission ensures the coordination of policy approaches 
based  on  the  adoption  of  Community  policy  objectives  in  advance  of  WRC  and  monitors 
Europe’s  involvement  in  the  process.  For  this  reason,  it  tasked  the  RSPG  to  develop  an 
advisory Opinion on the Community objectives for WRC-075. This activity was supported by 
a public consultation and two public workshops. 

4 

5 

Member States of the EU submit a joint declaration for inclusion in the Final Acts of a WRC, stating 
that  they  will  apply  the  revision  of  the  ITU  RR  adopted  at  the  conference  in  accordance  with  their 
obligations under the EC Treaty. 
Revised RSPG Opinion on WRC-07 of 14 February 2007. 

EN 

4 

   EN 

 
                                                 
The  overall  objective  of  the  European  Commission  in  the  WRC  process  is  to  ensure  that 
decisions are taken that support Community policies and initiatives.  

Together  with  the  Council  Presidency,  the  Commission  will  endeavour  to  assist  Member 
States  in  maintaining  common  negotiating  positions  during  the  conference.  To  this  effect, 
Member  States  should  support  the  positions  identified  by  the  Commission  and  endorsed  by 
the Council and by the European Parliament, as well as those European Common Proposals 
which  fulfil  Community  policy  objectives.  Any  modifications  of  positions  during  the 
negotiations should take due account of underlying Community interests.  

3. 

RELEVANT COMMUNITY POLICIES FOR WRC-07 

The WRC-07 agenda needs to be seen before the background of existing Community policies 
and principles. General EU objectives to be supported in the WRC include: 

•  the consolidation of the European Single Market; 

•  the removal of technical barriers to international trade; 

•  the promotion of competition between alternative infrastructure platforms; 

•  the  development  of  innovation-friendly  conditions  for  new  technologies, 

including via open standards. 

The following sectorial policies are also relevant in this respect: 

i2010 – European Information Society 2010, is a new strategic framework laying out broad 
policy orientations. It promotes an open and competitive digital economy and emphasises ICT 
as a driver of inclusion and quality of life. A key element of the renewed Lisbon partnership 
for growth and jobs, i2010 will build towards an integrated approach to information society 
and  audio-visual  media  policies  in  the  EU.  It  includes  the  provision  of  a  common  EU 
regulatory  framework  for  electronic  communications,  based  on  clear  principles  and 
obligations.  

Audiovisual  Policy  underpins  the  transmission  of  social  and  cultural  values,  with 
fundamental  public  interests  at  stake,  such  as  freedom  of  expression  and  the  promotion  of 
cultural  diversity.  Broadcasting  services  and  networks  are  regulated  by  the  general  EC 
electronic communications framework, while a new Directive on content (Audiovisual Media 
Services) has been agreed. 

Research and Development in the EU seeks to enhance the gains in competitiveness to be 
achieved  by  technological  innovation  by  coordinating  national  and  EU  policies  and 
encouraging  the  networking  of  research  teams.  The  Community’s  RTD  Framework 
programmes fund significant amounts of pre-competitive research. 

Environment  protection  is  a  political  priority  for  the  EU  in  the  context  of  climate  change. 
European  policy  initiatives  in  this  area  include  GMES  (Global  Monitoring  for  Environment 
and  Security),  which  aims  to  enable  decision  makers  in  Europe  to  acquire  the  capacity  for 
independent monitoring.  

EN 

5 

   EN 

 
Transport  policy  aims  to  develop  an  integrated  transport  system  in  the  European 
Community,  inclusive  of  all  transport  modes.  In  order  to  further  this  policy,  the 
implementation  of  a  broad  range  of  measures  to develop integrated  transport  systems (road, 
airborne, rail and maritime) is being pursued 

Space is an important strategic resource for the EU to implement some of its broader policy 
goals.  Applications  which  the  Community  encourages  in  this  context  include  satellite 
broadband  communications  to  tackle  the  “digital  divide”,  Earth  observation  and  positioning 
systems. 

In its Opinion on WRC-07, the RSPG confirmed the overall EU policy background and has 
advised the Commission on the positions Europe should take at the conference with regard to 
specific negotiating items. The Commission broadly agrees with the views of the RSPG. The 
following sections clarify specific positions in this context.  

4. 

FUTURE MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS  

An  important  focus  of  the  conference  will  be  in  the  area  of  future  mobile  communication 
systems6. A clear demand for additional spectrum to be identified globally for these systems 
has been demonstrated in the preparations for WRC-077.  

In  order  to  satisfy  this  additional  demand,  spectrum  bands  in  frequencies  both  below  and 
above the frequencies currently used by mobile systems in Europe are being considered.  

The Commission believes the focus should be on identifying those frequency bands which can 
promote a convergent telecommunications environment in the long term. 

4.1. 

HIGHER FREQUENCIES 

Among  the  relevant  candidate  bands  at  higher  frequencies  than  the  spectrum  currently 
available  for  mobile  systems  in  Europe  is  the  C-band  (3.4-4.2  GHz).  While  this  band  is 
attractive  for  future  mobile  systems  in  Europe,  it  is  being  used  as  a  backbone  broadband 
network  by  satellite  services,  notably  in  developing  countries.  Technical  sharing  solutions 
accommodating mobile requirements, while adequately protecting satellite interests in the C-
band at minimal cost for the satellite operators, will need to be sought as a matter of priority. 
A  prioritisation  of  sub-bands  for  satellite  and  terrestrial  services  within  the  3.4-4.2  GHz 
band would give them both adequate long-term guarantees of operating within this frequency 
band without undue interference. Satellite operations should retain a lasting priority in the 3.8 
– 4.2 GHz sub-band.  

4.2. 

THE UHF BAND  

Due  to  its  low  frequency,  the  UHF  broadcasting  band  (470  to  862  MHz)  provides  optimal 
signal  propagation  characteristics  in  terms  of  coverage  and  indoor  penetration.  Network 

6 

7 

WRC-07 will  consider  spectrum  requirements  for  so-called  "IMT"  technology, which  includes  "IMT-
2000", the family of mobile telephony standards recognised by ITU commonly known as "3G", as well 
as "IMT-Advanced", which includes radio interfaces supporting new capabilities of IMT-2000. 
One of the main inputs into the ITU analysis was a study for the European Commission on spectrum 
requirements for Future Mobile Services. 

EN 

6 

   EN 

 
                                                 
infrastructures in the UHF band could thus be significantly more cost-effective than existing 
systems and could facilitate the deployment of mobile systems in sparsely-populated regions 
and highly-built urban areas.  

The  Commission  has  been  consistently  advocating  that  Europe  should  pursue  the  common 
goal  of  maximising  the  societal  and  economic  potential  of  the  "digital  dividend",  i.e.  the 
spectrum bands potentially released by switchover to digital broadcasting. This means that the 
use of the UHF band should not be "frozen" by the present spectrum allocation situation but 
should be assessed in the light of the opportunities provided by new, efficient uses, keeping in 
mind general interest objectives8. 

Several  Member  States  are  already  implementing  national  strategies  to  switch  off  analogue 
TV and to exploit the digital dividend. It is therefore urgent to explore any potential European 
added value. High-level policy declarations to this effect have been made recently both by the 
European Council9 and by the European Parliament10. The Radio Spectrum Policy Group has 
also  advised  the  Commission11  to  promote  the  advantages  of  introducing  an  appropriate 
degree  of  flexibility  in  the  use  of  this  band  in  order  to  cope  with  future  technology 
breakthroughs as well as evolving market demands.  

At  the  same  time,  equal  regulatory  treatment  of  all  spectrum  used  for  electronic 
communication services is essential to foster constructive industry cooperation, especially for 
converging  mobile  and  multimedia  services  such  as  mobile  TV  and  "triple  play"  offerings, 
without  precluding  duly  justified  exceptions  to  fulfil  audiovisual  policy  requirements  which 
are in the general interest.  

An optimal use of the digital dividend requires actively removing undue regulatory barriers to 
the provision of innovative services in the UHF band. Currently, the ITU Radio Regulations 
grant  broadcasting  services  a  higher  regulatory  status  (a  "primary  allocation")12  in  the  UHF 
band in Europe13. Since additional spectrum for mobile services is being considered by WRC-
07, a first step in the direction of more flexibility could be taken by upgrading the status of 
these services to the same status as broadcasting services at this conference.14 

8 
9 

10 

11 
12 

13 

14 

See COM(2005) 461. 
The Council of 14-15 December 2006 called for "…a coordinated approach to the extent possible for 
the use of the spectrum capacity available as a result of digital switch-over…". 
The  EP  adopted  a  Resolution  on  14  February  2007  in  which  it  declared  that  "…part  of  the  dividend 
should  be  earmarked  for  technical  harmonisation  at  European  level"  and  that  it  "…encourages  the 
Commission to take into account the reality of the spectrum dividend when defining the future direction 
of radio spectrum policy…". It also called the Commission to ensure "…that sufficient account is taken 
of the significance of broadcasting with regard to the freedom of opinion of individuals, and of diversity 
of opinion when transmission capacities are allocated at European level". 
RSPG Opinion on the Digital Dividend of 14 February 2007. 
The  ITU  RR  differentiate  between  "primary"  and  "secondary".  Services  with  a  secondary  allocation 
must  not  cause  harmful  interference  to,  and  must  accept  interference  from,  primary  services.  When 
there  are  multiple  services  within  a  frequency  band  with  the  same  status,  they  all  have  equal  rights, 
giving priority to earlier operation. 
Formally  in the so-called "ITU Region 1". The ITU RR divide the world in three different "regions". 
Region 1 includes Europe and Africa. 
The GE06 Agreement signed in 2006 following the ITU RRC-06 conference provides a comprehensive 
regulatory  framework  for  the  protection  of  digital  broadcasting  from  harmful  interference.  The 
Commission  has  also  given  CEPT  a  formal  mandate  on  technical  considerations  regarding 
harmonisation options for the digital dividend. 

EN 

7 

   EN 

 
                                                 
4.3. 

PROTECTION OF EXISTING MOBILE SPECTRUM 

Various  satellite  systems  are  being  launched  by  countries  outside  Europe  using  parts  of  the 
band 2500 – 2690 MHz. In the light of the use of this spectrum in Europe in the near future 
for third-generation mobile networks, Europe will need to ensure its interests are safeguarded 
by an adequate protection and compatibility with satellite systems. 

Community policy objectives 

It  is  economically  important  for  the  Community  that  the  mobile  industry  continues  having 
access to sufficient radio spectrum resources. Therefore: 

–  Part  of  the  3.4  to  4.2  GHz  band  should  be  made  available  for  mobile  services  on  a  non-
exclusive basis in Europe. Adequate solutions should be implemented for current satellite 
users in this band. 

–  An  upgrade  in  the  mobile  service's  status  in  the  UHF  band  in  Europe  would  increase 
flexibility and remove a potential constraint to the future optimal organisation of this band. 

–  Every effort should be made to minimise the risks of interference to IMT-2000 networks 

operating in the EU in the 2.5–2.69 GHz band from satellite services. 

5. 

OTHER PRIORITY ISSUES  

5.1. 

SUPPORT FOR SCIENTIFIC USES OF SPECTRUM 

The scientific use of radio spectrum has a considerable societal and economic value and needs 
to be supported15. Scientific uses of the spectrum include Earth Exploration satellites (EESS), 
meteorological satellites and space research systems, which support EU policies in the areas 
of  environment,  space,  and  RTD.  The  observation  of  natural  or  man-made  physical 
phenomena  can  often  only  be  undertaken  in  specific  frequencies.  The  challenge  is  to 
safeguard  the  effective  operation  of  scientific  services  without  placing  disproportionate 
constraints on other important sectors. 

Community policy objectives 

EESS  is  an  essential  part  of  the  GMES  initiative,  the  European  contribution  to  the  Global 
Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), important for the Community's Environment 
policy. Its continued protection from interference, as well as duly justified additional spectrum 
allocations for scientific services, are to be supported. 

5.2. 

REORGANISATION OF HF BANDS 

High-frequency  (HF)  or  "short-wave"  spectrum  bands  which  are  essential  to  transmit  radio 
signals over long distances have come under pressure from different users, in particular radio 
broadcasting, aeronautical, military and maritime mobile services. The in-depth consideration 
of  this  band  taking  place  at  WRC-07  may  potentially  impact  relevant  EU  audiovisual  and 
transport policies.  

15 

See the RSPG Report and Opinion on Scientific Use of Spectrum of 25 October 2006. 

EN 

8 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Short-wave  broadcast  radio  is  poised  to  embrace  the  benefits  of  digital  technology  and 
should  be  supported  by  sufficient  spectrum  capacity.  New  broadcasting  services  based  on 
digital technologies such as DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) technology offer the prospects of 
reviving  long-distance  radio  and  contribute  to  the  dissemination  of  European  culture  and 
perspectives  on  the  global  scene.  Further  HF  spectrum  for  broadcasting  will  assist  the 
successful uptake of digital radio broadcasting technologies. 

Key HF maritime services are also gradually switching over to digital transmission. WRC-07 
should  address  the  spectrum  needs  of  this  sector  in  a  timely  manner  while  ensuring 
appropriate continuity with critical analogue services. 

Community policy objectives 

The switchover from analogue to digital technology of short-wave radio broadcasting and of 
maritime  services  should  be  assisted  by  accommodating  their  spectrum  requirements  in  the 
review of the HF band due at WRC-07. 

5.3. 

FUTURE SPECTRUM NEEDS FOR AVIATION 

The  creation  of  a  Single  European  Sky  in  the  EU  has  the  objective  to  optimise  air  traffic 
management  and  aviation  safety,  in  order  to  satisfy  all  users  of  the  airspace,  this  being  a 
common  asset  to  be  managed  collectively  regardless  of  national  borders.  The  Community 
policy  interests  related  to  aviation  include  creating  additional  flight  capacity  and  increasing 
the efficiency for air traffic management (ATM). To achieve these objectives, there is a need 
for  co-ordinated  introduction  of  new  and  more  spectrum-efficient  technologies.  The 
unavoidable situation of parallel operation of old and new aeronautical systems is recognised, 
but it should be kept to the minimum. Spectrum already allocated for aviation should also be 
used as efficiently as possible, consistent with safety considerations. 

Community policy objectives 

Sufficient  spectrum 
telemetry  and  air-to-ground  voice  and  data 
communications would serve the objectives of the Single European Sky, keeping in mind the 
target of minimising the duration of parallel use of radio spectrum by old and new systems. 

for  aeronautical 

5.4. 

SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS  

WRC-07  is  to  review  some  of  the  ITU  rules  pertaining  to  satellite  systems.  Satellite 
communications are  recognised as an integral  part of the  Information Society and  as one of 
the main pillars of the EU's space policy. Satellites are an important alternative platform for 
electronic communication services, providing capabilities for pan-European coverage of new 
services, including broadband data, thus helping bridge any 'digital divide' developing in the 
rural and remote areas of Europe. 

Community policy objectives 

While  the  ITU  principles  of  equitable  access  to  spectrum  and  orbital  resources  are 
fundamental,  it  should  be  ensured  that  the  global  regulatory  framework  is  supportive  of 
concrete industrial initiatives to develop and operate viable satellite communication systems. 
Current  satellite  filing  procedures  ought  to  be  simplified  while  existing  satellite  systems 
should be safeguarded within the satellite planning provisions in the ITU RR.  

EN 

9 

   EN 

 
6. 

MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE GLOBAL SPECTRUM REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 

The  Commission  has  recently  expressed  its  position16  that  spectrum  ought  to  be  regulated 
more flexibly, in line with an earlier RSPG Opinion on this subject17. 

WRC-07  provides  an  important  opportunity  to  debate  at  the  global  level  the  strategic 
direction for the future of spectrum management, by considering the results of studies carried 
out  by  ITU  on  the  effectiveness,  appropriateness  and  impact  of  the  RR  with  respect  to 
technology evolution, with a view to identify options for improvements. An agenda item at 
WRC-11 would be an appropriate focus for concrete progress on this issue. 

Community policy objectives 

Community interests would be best served by a global framework which supports the removal 
of undue regulatory restrictions to the use of the radio spectrum, thereby enhancing its flexible 
and efficient use and introducing more competition between different radio infrastructures. 

7. 

AGENDA FOR THE NEXT CONFERENCE (WRC-11) 

Each World Radiocommunication Conference establishes the agenda for the next conference. 
It is in the interest of the Community to support initiatives leading to future WRC conferences 
which relate directly to particular EU policy requirements.  

The  Commission  has  already  identified  the  need  for  more  flexibility  in  the  global  spectrum 
regulatory framework to be explicitly addressed by the WRC-11 conference (see section 6). In 
this context, the possibility of upgrading the status of the fixed service in the 470-862 MHz 
band should be on the agenda of WRC-1118.  

Most WRC decisions have an impact and applicability over a long time frame (often 10 to 20 
years  after  the  conference).  It  is  therefore  important  to  ensure  that  agendas  are  sufficiently 
"future-proofed"  to  be  able  to  address  the  spectrum  requirements  of  important  policies  and 
trends.  EU  policies  which  are  relevant  in  this  context  and  which  are  likely  to  increase  in 
importance over this period include: 

•  Sustainable  development  and  climate  change:  particular  attention  should  be  given  to 
efforts undertaken to identify the spectrum requirements for future applications in this area 
and to ensure that they are anchored in a timely manner in the ITU process. 

•  Pan-European networks and services, in transport and in electronic communications: for 
instance,  additional  spectrum  requirements  for  the  next-generation  European  Air  Traffic 
Management system19 may be required, and the WRC-11 agenda ought to be able to cater 
for  this  eventuality,  as  well  as  for  unmanned  aerial  vehicles  and  aeronautical  satellite 
communications. 

16 
17 
18 

19 

See COM(2007) 50.  
RSPG Opinion on WAPECS of 23 November 2005. 
Without pre-empting a primary allocation to the mobile service in this band being granted by WRC-07 
in Region 1. 
See COM(2007) 103.  

EN 

10 

   EN 

 
                                                 
•  Overcoming  "digital  divides",  in  particular  for  rural  areas,  for  the  elderly,  the  disabled 
and  for  other  disadvantaged  communities.  Additional  consideration  about  spectrum  for 
satellite  communications  and  for  devices  supporting  medical  and  assistive  technologies 
would be required . 

In  preparation  of  WRC-11,  the  Commission  will  work  with  all  relevant  stakeholders  to 
identify the specific spectrum needs of such policy areas to be supported at the conference. 

Community policy objectives 

The  next  WRC  agenda  in  2011  should  be  flexible  enough  to  address  any  spectrum  needs 
arising from important Community policies, such as the Single European Sky and Sustainable 
Development.  Further progress on general  spectrum flexibility would also require a specific 
agenda item on this topic. 

8. 

CONCLUSION 

The  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  are  called  to  endorse  the  Community  objectives 
identified in this Communication working towards the successful implementation of relevant 
Community policies, and in particular actions by Member States at the conference, by: 

•  Accommodating the spectrum demands of mobile systems 

– 

– 

– 

Identifying  the  3.4  to  3.8  GHz  frequency  band  for  this  purpose  on  an 
non-exclusive basis; 

Upgrading the regulatory status of the mobile service in the UHF band; 

Protecting the 2.6 GHz band for terrestrial third-generation mobile use; 

•  Ensuring the effective protection of Earth Exploration and other scientific services 

from harmful interference; 

•  Satisfying the necessary spectrum requirements for digital radio broadcasting and 

for maritime services in the HF band; 

•  Enhancing the regulatory framework to support genuine satellite systems; 

•  Providing  sufficient  spectrum  for  aeronautical  telemetry  and  air-to-ground  voice 

and data communications; 

•  Preparing  actions  supportive  of  Community  policies  in  view  of  the  next  WRC 

Conference due in 2011. 

Following  WRC-07,  the  Commission  will  report  on  the  results  of  the  conference  with 
regards to Community policies and on the preparation of the next conference due to take place 
in  2011.  It  will  also  begin  without  delay  preparations  to  translate  relevant  results  of  the 
WRC-07 conference in appropriate European Community measures. 

EN 

11 

   EN