Summary of conclusions of the 1992 World Administrative RadioConference

The major decisions made at the conference are briefly described. Additional frequency bands for shortwave (HF) radio broadcasting were agreed upon. Frequency allocations were made to support a number of US proposals, to provide advanced mobile radio services using low Earth orbit satellites. Allocations for land based mobile services adopted at WARC '92, in the range 1700 to 2600 MHz, are meant to foster improved mobile services that can be used worldwide. An allocation was also made to support commercial telephone service between passengers flying on aircraft and individuals on the ground. Allocations were made for sound broadcasting from satellites, as well as for providing a means to accommodate a complementary terrestrial-based digital audio broadcasting service. New frequency allocations to support space activities were agreed upon, and an allocation was made to the fixed satellite service in the band 13.75 to 14.0 GHz     

How WARC '92 will affect mobile services

The US proposals to, and the decisions of, the 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC '92) that relate to mobile and mobile-satellite services are described. Mobile-satellite service (MSS) issues addressed at WARC '92 include new allocations for low Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite operations, new MSS spectrum allocations, and modifications to current allocations used to support mobile-satellite operations. Allocation issues on the agenda of WARC '92 that related to the terrestrial mobile services include allocations for mobile services between 1 and 3 GHz, allocations for aeronautical public correspondence, and designation of frequency bands for future public land mobile telecommunications services. A number of proposals which were put forward by the US to support MSS allocations and operations that did not explicitly require allocations to the MSS are discussed     

Regulatory Procedures and WARC-79

There are two major elements of a General World Administrative Radio Conference such as WARC-79. One is to review and revise allocations of radio frequencies to functional services such as fixed, mobile, satellite, and radionavigation. The other major element is the detailed radio regulations concerning use of these allocations by member Administrations. These regulations combine technical, economic, geopolitical, and other considerations into a framework which attempts to satisfy the perceived requirements of all Administrations. This aspect of WARC79 is the subject of this paper. As will be seen, some substantial changes in regulations were made at the Conference, especially those concerning HF assignments and use. Other changes are implicit in the Resolutions for future conferences which were adopted at WARC-79. The key to success in framing effective and acceptable allocations, and regulations, is cooperation. In this respect, WARC-79 was not much different from preceding conferences, despite contrary misgivings.     

Radio Astronomy and Spectrum Management: The Impact of WARC-79

As a valid use of the radio spectrum and an official radio service, radio astronomy was very much a part of the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79). The allocation of frequency bands is vitally important for the sustained health of the science. WARC-79 provided first the impetus for astronomers, worldwide, to examine the allocation requirements of radio astronomy and then the opportunity to communicate those needs to the regulatory community. The characteristics of radio astronomy, the criteria for interference-free operation, possibilities for sharing with other radio services, and the need for frequency-band allocations are discussed because all bear directly on an evaluation of the Conference. The Final Acts of WARC-79 are examined from the viewpoint of their impact on radio astronomy.     

The 3GPP proposal for IMT-2000

Market expectations for third-generation mobile radio systems (IMT-2000) show an increasing demand for a wide range of services from voice to low, high, and advanced data rate services to support mobile multimedia. This leads to technical requirements for IMT-2000 which are currently being standardized worldwide. Circuit- and packet-oriented services will be supported. These systems will operate in all radio environments to provide service to anyone, anytime, anywhere. The ITU has identified spectrum for the allocation of IMT-2000. However, these frequency bands are currently not available worldwide. In different regions research activities on IMT-2000 have been initiated to support the international consensus building process and standardization activities. Based on these activities system proposals have been submitted to ITU TG 8/1. In particular, the newly formed Third Generation Partnership Projects 3GPP and 3GPP2 have the objective of harmonizing similar proposals and defining detailed standards. Proposals from Europe, Japan, Korea, and the United States are very similar. The evolution and migration of second-generation systems to the third generation takes into account the deployed investment to save today's investment where useful and necessary. This article focuses on market and technical requirements and, in particular, the technical approach of 3GPP based on the big footprint of the GSM system     

Mobile communications

An important issue facing the 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference, namely, determining how to provide additional spectrum for both existing and entirely new mobile services, is examined. At least six types of mobile systems will be seeking new or expanded allocations; three involve satellites and three rely on primarily terrestrial techniques. All but one will be forced to compete for allocations in the same crowded 1-3 GHz frequency range. The various allocation proposals are discussed     

Mobile Services--The Impact of the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference

The decisions of the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79) will have a major impact on the future development of the Mobile services. This paper summarizes the scope and structure of the Conference and details the changes in the allocations, resolutions, and recommendations which are of interest to the Mobile services. Substantial changes were made in the Maritime and Land-Mobile services and to a lesser degree to the AeronauticalMobile service. Mobile Satellite also attained footnote allocation status in two Regions (2 and 3) and in two countries of Region 1. In most part, the changes made at WARC-79 are beneficial to the future development of the Mobile Services. However, it remains for future specialized conferences to establish the bases for expanding these services in the newly allocated bands.     

New waves for new systems [radio frequency spectrum allocation]

Everywhere changes in telecommunications, from liberalization of regulations to progress in radio technology, have increased the use of radio services to unforeseen levels, bringing in their wake a pandora's box of problems. In response, the world community has altered time-hallowed methods of spectrum management, not least the organization of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the way in which radio conferences are convened and scheduled. The 1995 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-95) to be held in Geneva will tackle the broad challenges of managing the frequency spectrum in a rapidly changing world. WRC-95 will consider allocations of the electromagnetic spectrum and their effects on systems vital to national economies, including mobile communication services. The thrust will be more sharply on simplification of agreements governing the spectrum's use, and on just when to make broader provision for new satellite systems for mobile communications     

Fixed satellite service frequency allocations and orbit assignmentprocedures for commercial satellite systems

The international regulatory framework which resulted form the 1988 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Conference on Space Services (ORB-88) and its potential effect on the implementation of US satellite systems are discussed. The impact of several significant results of ORB-88 on the ability of the FCC to assign geostationary satellite orbital positions within the US and to secure international protection for these assignments is reviewed. A table of fixed satellite service frequency allocations in North, Central, and South America is given     

The maritime radio spectrum future

Future satisfaction of the electromagnetic spectrum needs of the maritime mobile service is dependent on the translation of those needs to frequency allocations. In September 1979, over 100 countries will consider all of the spectrum, and make changes to meet perceived needs of radio services, including maritime needs up to the year 2000. This conference, the World Administrative Radio Conference 1979, will have a significant impact on future maritime radio operations. Issues, procedures, competing requirements, are explored to enable a better understanding of the regulatory process for frequency allocations.     

Spectrum sharing considerations for the proposed ESA ‘archimedes’ satellite DAB service

At the 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC), spectrum was allocated, on a primary basis, to the broadcast satellite service (sound). The allocations were not, however, uniform worldwide, nor will the BSS(S) have sole use of these allocations. In addition, many countries have reserved primary use of the spectrum for existing services until 2007, with the BSS(S) permitted only on a noninterference basis. This situation will impose serious constraints on the proposed ESA S-DAB service, to be radiated from the ‘Archimedes’ constellation of satellites. The launch date for this service may be before the end of the century, and sharing with other spectrum users will therefore be necessary. Such users include fixed telephony links, broadcast links and mobile aeronautical telemetry. This paper reviews current spectrum usage in Europe and elsewhere, and investigates the restrictions thus imposed on the ESA S-DAB service. Numerical examples based on real-world systems are given, and demonstrate the feasibility, in many cases, of spectrum sharing.     

WARC-79 Provisions for Microwave Radio-Relay Systems

This paper reviews 1) the modest changes made by the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC) in frequency allocations between 1 and 40 GHz which affect the design and operation of radio-relay systems, 2) new allocations which open up the use of frequencies between 40 and 400 GHz, and 3) the related technical regulations, particularly those governing the sharing of frequency bands with other services.     

Space communications

Six proposals for enhancing or expanding the electromagnetic spectrum allocated for communications supporting research in space, which will be heard by the 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference, are discussed. They will cover extravehicular activities, space operations, data relay links, deep space interplanetary probes, future planetary missions, and Earth exploration satellites. Of primary importance to most space agencies is the need to improve the status of the allocation of the space research, space operations, and Earth exploration satellite services in the bands 2.025-2.110 GHz and 2.20-2.29 GHz     

Europe prepares for WRC-95: mobile satellite service issues

European preparations for World Radiocommunication Conferences are coordinated within the European regional posts and telecommunications organization known as the CEPT. The basic objective of the European proposals is to achieve an even playing field for the introduction of competitive mobile satellite services that can provide global services from the earliest feasible common date. Europe believes the additional allocations made at the 1992 conference are sufficient for the foreseeable future, especially now that there is an opportunity every two years to make additional allocations should the need be proven. What must be agreed upon, however, are the allocations for the feeder links to the mobile satellite service to complement the 1992 allocations for service links. Europe also need to consider the technical constraints that were placed on the use of these service links at the 1992 conference. Of particular concern to Europe, is the most unsatisfactory conclusion in 1992 on the date of availability of the 2 GHz mobile satellite service allocations. The article describes the European proposals on these mobile satellite issues     

边境地区150 MHz/400 MHz陆地移动业务频率协调方法

对我国与周边国家在150 MHz/400 MHz频段陆地移动业务规划和国际电信联盟申报台站情况进行分析,比较目前现存协调方法,并对划分信道的可行性进行分析,最后给出上述频段的协调建议。     

The future of high frequency broadcasting

Since the end of World War II, the number of daily frequency hours used by high-frequency (HF) broadcasting (also known as shortwave and band 7, 3-30 MHz) has tripled. Approximately 35000 daily frequency hours are carried in an HF spectrum that can barely accommodate half that amount. As a consequence, congestion is severe, and interference levels intolerably high. Attempts to remedy this situation by planning the high-frequency bands date back to 1947, but, thus far, they have not been successful. International planning conferences in 1984 and 1987 have shown a possibility for agreement; another conference is tentatively scheduled for 1992. Some broadcasters have attempted to solve their congestion problems by moving out-of-band, sometimes expanding their services int bands allocated to other services, such as amateur radio, fixed, aeronautical, and mobile. It is feared this trend will continue. The attempts that have been made to plan the HF bands in an effort to alleviate congestion are described and the outlook for the remainder of the 20th century is discussed     

Broadband CDMA for personal communications systems

Multipath propagation in a broadband CDMA environment is described. A propagation model for broadband spread-spectrum signals is presented. Experimental results relating to the sharing of the band by fixed service microwave users and mobile personal communications network (PCN) users are discussed. Field tests indicate that PCN systems can provide high-quality communications when sharing the spectrum with fixed-service microwave systems in suburban and urban areas     

Architecture and networking issues in satellite systems for personal communications

The paper expands on some specific aspects of personal communications via satellite, often–although not necessarily–envisaging extensive use of ‘small’ satellites, using orbits not necessarily coinciding with the geostationary one (36,000 km), but rather at 1000–11,000 km altitude. One key point to be borne in mind is the issue of internetworking between satellite and terrestrial systems. Network integration should be carefully implemented in order to comply with ITU future public land mobile telecommunication systems (FPLMTS) requirements, also accepted in the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS). In addition to some insight into the technology of small satellites and associated orbits, architectures and networking aspects of most relevant systems providing personal communication services (PCS) are addressed in some detail, and potential applications highlighted. Frequency spectrum allocation is addressed in the light of the 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-92), taking into account also multiple access problems and regulatory issues such as Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensing and spectrum sharing debates. Some remarks on critical technologies and cost conclude the paper.     

The Impact of WARC-79 on Space Applications

Prior to the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79), no frequency bands were allocated for remotesensing measurements. Actions taken by the WARC insure that frequencies will be available for such use, and that operations can be conducted without harmful interference on a worldwide basis for the benefit of all nations. Allocations employed for transfer of scientific data from spacecraft in all regions of space from near-Earth orbit to deep-space planetary ranges were significantly improved. New global allocations for Earth exploration-satellites will permit worldwide acquisition of Earth exploration data both via direct transmission and via relay satellites. New allocations for meteorological satellite data transmission will permit wide-band applications such as direct reception of highresolution picture data by users. Satellite-aided search and rescue systems will benefit from WARC decisions to allocate frequencies exclusively for emergency radiobeacon systems using space techniques. Bands to provide links between the satellite and Earth were designated for distress and safety operations. Time and frequency services with accuracies in the 10- to 50-ps range, needed to meet future system requirements for precise time and frequency information, will be possible because of WARC actions to allocate frequency bands with suitable bandwidth for these services. The search for communications from extraterrestrial intelligence was afforded a degree of protection near several spectral lines of basic physical interest.