Radiocommunication Connects the Information Society
For almost a century, radiocommunications have been close to the heart of ITU’s
mission to connect humanity through communications, and the many stakeholders in
this work have shown a tremendous commitment to this challenge.
In addition to determining the technical characteristics and operational
procedures for a wide range of wireless services, the Radiocommunication Bureau
also plays a vital role in the management of the radio-frequency spectrum, a
finite resource that is increasingly in demand. Its work is vital to a wide
range of the human need for connectivity including telecommunications,
broadcasting, amateur radio communications, space research, radio astronomy,
aeronautical and maritime services, meteorology and, not least, emergency
communication services that ensure safety of life on land, at sea, in the skies
and in space.
Preparing for the Future
Providing communication access for humanity requires the development of a
proper regulatory environment as well as the design of the appropriate
standards. The World Radiocommunication Conference to be held in 2003 (WRC-03)
in Geneva, Switzerland, will be key in the further development of an adapted
regulatory framework to ensure fair and efficient use of the radio-frequency
spectrum. The work of ITU–R study groups and the Special Committee on Regulatory
and Procedural Matters in 2001 in preparation for WRC-03 makes possible the
necessary technical and operational bases on which to take sound decisions. It
also ensures that the world radiocommunication community gets timely and
relevant standards to continue the development of mobile, wireless and
satellite-based systems and services.
The preparation for the Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-03) and the WRC-03
has involved all the ITU–R study groups and the Special Committee, resulting in
the development of significant contributions for the Conference Preparatory
Meeting scheduled for November 2002.
The main study areas in regard to standardization have related to operational
and technical limits in the fixed-satellite service allocations to space science
services, earth stations on board vessels using fixed-satellite service bands,
and allocations to fixed terrestrial services.
Special provisions have been established in order to revise the 1961
Stockholm Agreement, which will enable the introduction of digital sound and
television broadcasting. The ITU–R study group chairmen and vice-chairmen
decided to designate Study Group 6 (Broadcasting) as responsible study group. As
a result, Study Group 6 established a new task group to prepare a technical
report for the First Session of the Regional Conference. A new Recommendation
containing a VHF/UHF point-to-area prediction method, for use by broadcasting
and mobile services, is expected to greatly contribute to this preparatory work.
Considerable progress has also been made in the development of a number of
significant new or revised Recommendations on radio-system standards. This
concerns, in particular, those intended to facilitate the introduction of the
IMT-2000 systems as well as to address technical characteristics and sharing
criteria in preparation for WRC-03.
Study group activities have also resulted in the preparation of a
considerable number of new handbooks which were published in 2001 or are in the
process of being prepared. Their topics include:
- Satellite Communications
- Terrestrial Land Mobile Radiowave Propagation in the VHF/UHF Bands
- Digital Sound Broadcasting
- Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting
- Space Research Communication
- Use of the Frequency Spectrum for Meteorology
- Frequency Adaptive Communication Systems and Networks in the MF/HF Bands
- Spectrum Monitoring (new edition)
Space Service Connections
Satellites play an important role in the development of world communication
systems and services, encompassing an increasing range of services, which go
beyond traditional (fixed and mobile) voice and data. These include, amongst
others, broadcasting, digital cinema, meteorology, maritime communications,
health care, distance learning and space research.
ITU–R plays a vital role in the development of a relevant regulatory, policy
and technology framework for the peaceful use of outer space in general and of
satellites and their applications in particular.
The primary objective of the Radiocommunication Bureau is to process notices
for new or modified satellite systems. At the end of 2001, the
Radiocommunication Bureau reported 1409 coordination requests outstanding. While
the number of notices is virtually the same as the previous year, improvements
in processing methods and software have begun to speed up the ability to handle
them. However, the work by the Bureau continues to be overburdened by the fact
that notices for advance publication and coordination of new systems and
modifications to systems continue to be submitted in volumes that are around
five times greater than the numbers of satellite systems that are subsequently
brought into service.
During 2001, the Bureau also implemented decisions from WRC-2000 to introduce
the new Broadcasting Satellite Service (BSS) Plans and the Lists for Regions 1
and 3 established at the Conference. This work included the need to complete a
review started in 2000 of all relevant satellite systems already published in
order to determine whether or not there is any additional requirements for
coordination. The review activity will enable the Bureau to resume its normal
activity of examining proposals for modifications to the Plans.
Earth Service Connections
While satellite services are fundamental to the development of a fully
effective worldwide communication network, most applications and services are
based on fixed or mobile, wire line or wireless terrestrial systems where
potentially harmful interference remains the biggest concern.
The FM/TV component for the processing of notices for terrestrial services
(TerRaSys) became fully operational during 2001 and the accumulated backlog was
eliminated at the end of October 2001 (completion of the treatment for
7 754 notices for new or modified assignments under Article S11, as well as
for 10 072 submissions for plan modifications under various regional
With respect to notices for which standard tools are not yet available, local
databases were developed to deal with these and resulted in a treatment of
45 081 notices under Article S11, as well as of 134 submission notices
under various Plan modification procedures. The relevant information was
published on a bi-weekly basis, through the International Frequency Information
Circular (IFIC), as well as on the ITU website.
In addition, some 30 373 notices were treated under the Article S12
procedure (HF broadcasting service) and the relevant information, including the
compatibility results, has been distributed regularly, on a monthly basis,
The Bureau continued to provide updated information on the use of the
frequency spectrum, as well as publishing various service documents dealing with
ship stations, coast stations, radio determination and special service stations
and call signs. The online database on ship stations, Maritime mobile Access and
Retrieval System (MARS), which is available 24 hours a day, has been
enhanced by incorporating additional search and rescue information, and
arrangements were made to provide access to this additional data for authorized
users around the world.
In response to several categories of users, the List of Ship Stations (List
V) was published in a combined format: paper version containing particulars of
all ship stations that are normally engaged on international voyages, and a
CD-ROM version containing the complete information on all ship stations included
in the ITU database on ship stations.
Connecting the Plans
A major achievement of 2001 was the completion of a two-year operational plan
in order to respond to members’ expectations, as expressed in the Minneapolis
Plenipotentiary Conference Resolution 72, for improved linkages between
strategic, financial and operational planning. This operational plan addresses
the complete 2002-2003 budgetary period. It also provides a clear linkage with
the budget structure as well as with the activities defined in it. Moreover,
this enhanced biennial plan sets out expected achievements to be attained in the
period 2002-2003 and also describes the accomplished achievements of the
previous reporting period.
The biennial plan will result in a more effective management of the Bureau’s
limited resources. The work to be carried out in the various units of BR will be
assessed by means of quarterly reports in which the situation at the end of each
quarter is compared to the results to be achieved. This assessment is
facilitated by key performance indicators that will focus on members’ needs,
taking into consideration, on the one hand, the workload placed on BR, and on
the other hand, the resources available as proposed by the Secretary-General and
decided by the ITU Council.
Considerable efforts are also being made to provide the software
infrastructure needed to process the space and terrestrial frequency notices
submitted by ITU Member States. These software tools are required to capture,
examine and validate the notice forms. They are also used to publish the results
of these examinations with a view to informing the international community about
new services being brought into use. By doing so, the Bureau helps ITU Member
States Administrations identify cases where their national services may
potentially be affected.
The Bureau is also in charge of the dissemination of handbooks, standards and
regulatory documents developed within the area of responsibility of ITU–R.
Further, it complements the mission of ITU–D by designing and organizing
seminars for ITU Member States and ITU–R Sector Members. In 2001, seminars were
held in Iran and Mexico. Practical workshops were also organized in Geneva for
space and terrestrial services. The complete series of ITU–R Recommendations
were published in 2001. This amounted to 92 Volumes of Recommendations (in
English, French and Spanish), as adopted by the Radiocommunication Assembly in
Istanbul, Turkey (May 2000). These were produced on paper, on CD-ROM and are
also available online through ITU’s website.
The Bureau also produced the 2001 Edition of the Radio Regulations, including
all amendments and decisions of the World Radiocommunication Conference
(Istanbul, 2000), both on paper and in electronic format.
Public Private Partnerships — The Key to Sustained Connectivity
ITU signed non-exclusive Memoranda of Understanding in 2001 with Siemens and
Alcatel as part of its Centre of Excellence (CoE) initiative. The two European
manufacturers will make in-kind contributions in equipment as well as making
experts available to assist in developing new ICT training courses to complement
the current programmes being made available through the Centres of Excellence.
The ITU Centres of Excellence serve as focal points in the different
developing regions of the world for training, professional development, research
and information on matters related to telecommunication issues. Training is
provided to policy-makers, regulators, high-level corporate managers and
frequency managers. The CoEs are also the focal points for regional and global
information society initiatives and they provide consultancy to governments and
private sector interests as well as facilities for conferences, seminars and
Building the human resource capacity to manage and administer networks in the
new telecommunication environment is one of ITU’s key objectives. Pioneering
partnerships between the public and private sectors such as those with Alcatel
and Siemens are essential if we are to see sustainable improvements in
telecommunication service in all the regions of the world.
Centres of Excellence such as the Ecole supérieure multinationale des
télécommunications (ESMT) in Dakar and the African Advanced Level Training
Institute (Afralti) in Nairobi are located in physical facilities and serve
professionals in West and East Africa respectively. Others consist of networked
establishments, which accumulate and disseminate examples of best practice and
training materials. The programme modules consist of telecommunication policies,
regulatory issues, spectrum management, business management, technology
awareness, IP awareness and human resources development.
Virtual Connections for Broadcast Training
The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and the Asia-Pacific Institute for
Broadcasting Development (AIBD) launched a Virtual Learning Centre (VLC) in 2001
as part of the ITU Asia-Pacific Centre of Excellence. The goal is to meet the
growing demand for skills development in the field of broadcasting.
Rapid developments in technology are presenting challenges for broadcasters
in developing countries that risk falling further behind global broadcast
standards if they are not able to embrace digital technology. This VLC will
provide training in all aspects of broadcasting to the broadcasting community in