Page 13 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

SAMENA COUNCIL ACTIVITY SAMENA TRENDS

type communications and ultra-reliable and
low-latency communications, such as those Key Outcomes of WRC-19 Conference in Brief
that will become the hallmark of smart-city The World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19) concluded on
implementation; sustainable communities; 22 November with agreements reached by some 3400 delegates from 163
improved attention and approach toward climate Member States. These agreements were enshrined in the provisional Final
change; healthcare management; renewable Acts of the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the global
energy; and more efficient agricultural practices use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.
and food production.
Notable Outcomes:
Special considerations for protection from • Additional globally harmonized frequency bands were identified for
harmful radio-frequency interference were International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), including IMT-2020
awarded to satellite services supporting (otherwise known as 5G mobile), facilitating diverse usage scenarios for
meteorology and climatology that aim to enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type communications and
safeguard human life and natural resources, ultrareliable and low-latency communications.
and systems used by radio astronomers for • Protections were accorded to the Earthexploration satellite service (EESS)
deep space exploration. Steps were also taken as well as meteorological and other passive services in adjacent bands,
to ensure that radio astronomy stations would such as the space research service (SRS) to ensure that space-based
be protected from any harmful radio interference monitoring of the Earth and its atmosphere remain unhindered.
from other space stations or satellite systems in • Satellite services supporting meteorology and climatology that aim to
orbit. safeguard human life and natural resources will be protected from harmful
radio-frequency interference, as will systems used by radio astronomers
Some of the most notable outcomes of WRC-19 for deep space exploration.
include: • Radio astronomy stations will be protected from any harmful radio
• Additional bands for IMT identified in the interference from other space stations or satellite systems in orbit.
24.25-27.5 GHz, 37-43.5 GHz, 45.5-47 GHz, • New orbital slots were opened up for broadcasting satellites, providing
47.2-48.2 and 66-71 GHz bands, facilitating developing countries with the opportunity to regain access to spectrum
development of 5G mobile networks. orbit resources thanks to a priority mechanism especially set for them.
• Additional frequency bands for High-altitude • A stable regulatory framework was defined for non-geostationary satellite
platform stations (HAPS) identified to facili- orbit (non GSO) systems based on a milestone process enabling mega
tate telecommunications within a wide cov- constellations to rapidly come to fruition. This will ensure that more
erage area below for affordable broadband affordable means of connectivity can be offered to citizens of all countries.
access in rural and remote areas. • Earth stations in motion will enable connectivity in planes, ships, and trains.
• Regulatory provisions for WiFi networks • The provision of a truly global maritime distress and safety system was
revised to accommodate both indoor and ensured and expanded.
outdoor usage and the growth in demand • A new Recommendation was approved on Intelligent Transport Systems
for wireless access systems, including towards connecting vehicles, improving traffic
RLANs for end-user radio connections to • management and assisting safe driving.
public or private core networks, such as WiFi, • Measures were taken to ensure themcontinuous assistance and support
while limiting their interference into existing for the timely implementation of new technologies, including 4G and 5G
satellite services. networks and services, in Palestine.
• Regulatory changes introduced to facilitate • The conference declared the commitment of the Sector to gender equality,
rational, efficient and economical use of radio andmgender balance.
frequencies and associated orbits, including • WRC-19 agreed to recommend to the ITU Council that a World
the geostationary-satellite orbit. Radiocommunication Conference be held in 2023 (WRC-23) for a maximum
• Standard approved to integrate ICTs in period of four weeks. WRC-19 agreed on over twenty agenda items for
evolving Intelligent Transport Systems WRC-23, and decided to invite the ITU Council to finalize the agenda.
(ITS) to connect vehicles, improve traffic • WRC-19 also agreed to invite the Council to arrange for the convening of
management and assist in safer driving. a World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027 (WRC-27), and for the
• Non-Geostationary Satellites Regulatory Council to finalize the agenda for that conference.

13 NOVEMBER 2019