The German city of Mainz served as venue for the 12-15 December meetings of groups PT2 and PT3 of the Conference Preparatory Group (CPG), whose aim was to prepare the European position for the 2007 World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-07).
PT2 is responsible for issues concerning scientific and space services (satellite earth exploration, space research and satellite weather forecasting) and terrestrial services.
Noteworthy is the work on revising the criteria for sharing between passive services (satellite earth exploration and space research) and active services (fixed and mobile) in the 10.6-10.68 GHz, 18 GHz and 36 GHz bands, as well as the impact of modifying the regulatory statute for radiolocalisation service in the 9 GHz band. The work on revising the criteria for sharing between mobile and mobile satellite (MSS) services in the 1668-1668.4 MHz band, between MSS and broadcasting service in the 670-790 MHz band and the criteria for band allocation around 1400 MHz for non-geostationary MSS systems (NGSO MSS) also stands out, as well as the position on terrestrial optical telecommunications in free space above 3000 GHz.
The participants in this meeting approved the revision and consequent updating of the briefs (documents with detailed information on a given conference agenda topic and which indicate the position Europe will eventually defend in the future), as well as the first draft European common proposals (ECPs) for the following WRC-07 agenda items:
- extension of 100 MHz of spectrum to satellite earth exploration service in the 18.3-18.4 GHz band;
- promotion of radiolocalistion service in the 9000-9200 MHz and 9300-9500 MHz bands from secondary to primary status;
- proposal to withdraw the allocations of the 1390-1392 MHz and 1430-1432 MHz bands to fixed satellite service limited to MSS feeder links;
- revision of the power limits on unwanted active service emissions to better protect passive services.
PT3 is the group responsible for issues concerning fixed, fixed satellite and aeronautic radionavigation services. The most important subject covered at this meeting was the possible supplementary allocation of frequency bands between 108 and 6000 MHz to aeronautic mobile service. The European Commission and various administrations in the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) have paid special attention to this issue, as it may significantly impact community policy for the civil aviation sector.
Other relevant issues involved the conditions for frequency sharing between high altitude platforms and fixed and fixed satellite services, revision of the power limits for highly inclined orbit satellite systems and also the possible re-planning of the 22 GHz band for satellite broadcasting service.
The meeting saw approval of the revision and consequent updating of the briefs, as well as the first draft ECPs on the following WRC-07 agenda items:
- Primary status allocation of the [5030-5250] MHz band to aeronautic mobile service for flight testing telemetry/telecommand applications. Also proposed is a footnote indicating that use of the [5030-5250] band by aeronautic mobile service is limited to telemetry/telecommand applications for in-flight testing, and that such use should take the operations and installation of the microwave landing system (MLS) into account;
- Proposal to allocate the primary status 108-[116] MHz, [116]-117.975 MHz, 960 [1164] MHz and 50[10]-5150 MHz bands to aeronautic radionavigation service at global level.
