.

IV MEETING OF PERMANENT
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE II:
RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS
INCLUDING BROADCASTING
December 6 to 9, 2004
Buenos Aires, Argentina / OEA/Ser.L/XVII.4.2
CCP.II-RAD/doc. 581/04
8 December 2004
Original: English
REPORT OF SUB-WORKING GROUP 1
WRC-07 PREPARATION
(Item on the agenda: 4.1)
(Document submitted by the Coordinator)

1

P2!R-0581_i.doc08.12.04

INDEX

Structure of SWG / 2
Agenda Item 1.2 / 3
Res.742 (36-37 GHz.) / 3
Background / 3
Issues / 3
Preliminary Points of View / 3
Res.746 (18-18,4 GHz.) / 4
Background / 4
Issues / 4
Preliminary Points of View / 5
Res.746 (10,6-10,68 GHz.) / 6
Background / 6
Issues / 6
Preliminary Points of View / 6
Agenda Item 1.3 / 7
Upgrade of Radiolocation Service / 7
Background / 7
Issues / 7
Preliminary Points of View / 7
Extension of EESS / 8
Background / 8
Issues / 8
Preliminary Points of View / 9
Agenda Item 1.5 / 10
Background / 10
Issues / 10
Preliminary Points of View / 10
Agenda Item 1.6 / 12
Background / 12
Issues / 13
Preliminary Points of View / 14
Agenda Item 1.13 / 16
Background / 16
Issues / 18
Preliminary Points of View / 19
Agenda Item 1.14 / 25
Background / 25
Issues / 25
Preliminary Points of View / 26
Agenda Item 1.15 / 27
Background / 27
Issues / 27
Preliminary Points of View / 28
Agenda Item 1.16 / 29
Background / 29
Issues / 29
Preliminary Points of View / 29
Agenda Item 1.20 / 30
Background / 30
Issues / 30
Preliminary Points of View / 31

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STRUCTURE OF SWG-1

Coordinator / Héctor Budé
URUGUAY

Alternate Coordinator / Shayla Taylor
UNITED STATES

Agenda Item / Rapporteur / Alternate Rapporteur
1.2 / Shayla Taylor
USA
/ Eduardo Gabelloni
ARGENTINA

1.3 / Glenn Feldhake
USA
/ Fred Moorefield
USA

1.5 / Maximiliano Salvadori
BRAZIL
/ Ken Keane
USA

1.6 / Audrey Allison
USA
/ Ed DuCharme
CANADA

1.13 / Charles Glass
USA
/ John Wood
USA

1.14 / Ed Brady
USA
/ Chantal Baumier
CANADA

1.15 / Héctor Budé
URUGUAY
/ Maximiliano Salvadori
BRAZIL

1.16 / Ed Brady
USA
/ ECUADOR

1.20 / Shayla Taylor
USA
/ Chantal Gazaille
CANADA

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Agenda Item 1.2:To consider allocation and regulatory issues related to the Earth exploration-satellite (passive) service, space research (passive) service and the meteorological satellite service in accordance with Resolution 746 (WRC-03) and Resolution 742 (WRC-03).

This agenda item consists of three separate issues, addressed in sections A, B and C below.

A) Resolution 742: Use of the frequency band 36-37 GHz.

Resolves

1to invite ITUR to conduct sharing studies between the passive services and the fixed and mobile services in the band 36-37GHz in order to define appropriate sharing criteria;

2to recommend that a future competent conference review the results of the studies and consider the possible inclusion of the sharing criteria within the Radio Regulations,

Background

The band 36-37 GHz is allocated on a primary basis to the EESS (passive), SRS (passive), fixed and mobile services.

The data gathered under EESS (passive) and SRS (passive) in the band 36-37 GHz, contributes to the estimate of total vapour, total cloud liquid water, sea surface wind speed, sea surface temperature, sea ice extent, snow depth and soil moisture content. These parameters are derived from measurements near 7, 10.7, 18.7, 23.8, 50.3, 52.8 and 89 GHz combined with measurements in the 36-37 GHz band.

Without the proper regulatory measures, the fixed and mobile services systems could potentially cause interference to the passive services.

Issues

  • Protection of passive services (EESS and SRS) in the band 36-37 GHz without placing undue constraints on the fixed and mobile services.

Preliminary Points of View

Canada supports the participation in ITU-R studies on this issue to ensure that any new regulatory measures that may be developed would not put undue constraint on services allocated in this band.

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B) Resolution 746: Use of the frequency band 18-18.4 GHz.

Resolves 1

to invite ITUR to conduct sharing analyses between geostationary meteorological satellites operating in the space-to-Earth direction and the fixed, fixed-satellite and mobile services in the band 18-18.4GHz to define appropriate sharing criteria with a view to extending the current 18.1-18.3GHz geostationary meteorological satellites allocation in the space-to-Earth direction to 300MHz of contiguous spectrum;

Background

The band 18.1-18.4 GHz is allocated to the fixed, fixed-satellite (s-E)(E-s) and mobile services on a primary basis. In addition, No. 5.519 allocates the band 18.1-18.3 GHz to the meteorological-satellite service (s-E) on a primary basis. Its use is limited to geostationary satellites and shall be in accordance with the provisions in Table 21-4.

The bandwidth requirements are determined by the use of high-resolution sensors and microwave sounding units. They will exceed 200 MHz for the downlink of sensor data from the third generation geostationary meteorological satellites to major MetSat ground stations. Preliminary ITU-R WP 7B studies have shown that the number of such groundstations will be very low, e.g., of the order of 5 stations per Region. The implementation of the first spacecraft of the third generation will be in the time-frame of 2015-2020. Two options are currently under consideration for an extension of the band in No.5.519: either from 18.3-18.4 GHz or from 18.0-18.1 GHz. Both options are being considered and decisions will be taken based on the results of the compatibility studies.

Table 21-4 of the ITU Radio Regulations contain the pfd limits to which FSS satellite networks are currently being designed and built. These constraints have been in existence for several years, and have been used as the basis for significant design and development work. Other existing technical constraints to be taken into account in technical studies have been identified by ITU-R Working Party 4A in ITU-R Document 7B/33.

Working Party (WP) 7B made a preliminary sharing analysis between geostationary MetSat systems operating in the space-to-Earth direction and fixed service systems around 18.2 GHz. The preliminary study concluded that sharing is feasible and that no undue constraints would be put on either service. The pfd level produced by the geostationary MetSat on the Earth’s surface would be 16 dB below the pfd limits mentioned in RR Table-21-4. [Source: ITU-R Doc. 9D/73] Further studies may be required which consider higher modulation schemes such as 16-QAM and 64-QAM.

With regards to sharing with the fixed-satellite service (FSS), preliminary assessment by WP 4A indicates that, for the proposed MetSat protection criteria, significant and unacceptable constraints would be imposed on GSO FSS satellite systems. However, WP 7B believes that some flexibility in the MetSat system design could be implemented to improve sharing compatibility between the two services. WP 7B is of the view that the greater the homogeneity between the FSS and MetSat systems, the easier the sharing is expected to be. [Source: ITU-R Doc. 4A/113]

Issues

  • Sharing analysis between geostationary meteorological satellites operating in the space-to-Earth direction and the fixed, fixed-satellite and mobile services in the band 18-18.4GHz need to be conducted with a view to extending the current 200 MHz bandwidth allocate to MetSat to 300MHz of contiguous spectrum
  • Existing services (FS, MS and FSS) must be protected from potential interference due to the possible extension of the MetSat allocation and should not have additional constraints imposed due to the MetSat allocation expansion.

The United States is planning and designing geostationary FSS satellite networks for use of the band 18.3-18.4 GHz, under the technical and regulatory constraints presently found in the Radio Regulations. The United States has fostered implementation of HDFSS in the 18.318.8 GHz bands, through allowing blanket licensing of FSS earth stations. In addition, to facilitate ubiquitous deployment of small earth stations, the United States has removed terrestrial allocations in this band.

  • A consultation process in Canada to review its spectrum utilization policy with regards to the 18 GHz band has recently been completed. Priority is given to the fixed service in the band 17.8-18.3 GHz for a variety of low, medium and high capacity point-to-point applications. Priority is also given to the fixed-satellite service in the band 18.3-18.8 GHz to facilitate ubiquitous deployment of small earth stations for high density applications (HDFSS).

Preliminary Points of View

Canada believes that, to protect the fixed and mobile services, any expansion of the MetSat service (s-E) allocation beyond the band 18.1-18.3 GHz for geostationary applications will be required to conform to the existing pfd limits given in Table 214.

Canada believes that any expansion of the MetSat allocation into the band 18.0-18.1 GHz should be governed by the same coordination conditions with the FS and MS as are currently applied in the band 18.1-18.3 GHz.

The United States and Canada support ongoing ITU-R studies on this issue in both the 18.0-18.1 GHz and the 18.3-18.4 GHz bands.

The United States and Canada are not in favor of an extension of the MetSat allocation into the 18.3-18.4 GHz band in Region 2 if it necessitates imposition of additional constraints on the FSS in this band.

The United States and Canada believe that, if an additional 100 MHz is allocated to the MetSat service in the 18 GHz band in Region 2, the lower sub-band at 18.0-18.1 GHz, could be favored under certain restrictions, due to the likelihood of sharing difficulties identified by WP4A between HDFSS GSO systems and MetSats in the upper sub-band at 18.3-18.4 GHz.

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C) Resolution 746: Use of the frequency band 10.6-10.68 GHz.

Resolves 2

to invite ITU-R to conduct sharing analyses between the EESS (passive) and the SRS (passive) on one hand and the fixed and mobile services on the other hand in the band 10.6-10.68GHz to determine appropriate sharing criteria;

Background

The band 10.6-10.68 GHz is allocated to the Earth exploration-satellite service (EESS passive), radio astronomy and space research services (SRS passive), as well as to the fixed and mobile services. This band, combined with other windows between 1 and 40 GHz, is used by the scientific community mainly to measure global water circulation, precipitation, snow, sea surface wind speed and temperature and soil moisture.

The fixed service is used in several countries worldwide in conformance with No. 5.482 for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint telecommunication applications, without reported cases of interference. No. 5.482 indicates that in the band 10.6-10.68 GHz, the maximum e.i.r.p. for the fixed and mobile services, except aeronautical mobile, must be limited to 40 dBW, and that the power to the antenna port must not exceed –3 dBW. In addition, Recommendation ITU-R F.1568 presents “Radio-frequency block arrangements for fixed wireless access systems in the range 10.15-10.3/10.5-10.65 GHz”.

A preliminary sharing study (ECC Report 17) between EESS (passive) and Video SAP/SAB (Services Ancillary to Program making (SAP) and Broadcasting (SAB)) links in the band 10.6-10.68 GHz concluded that there is a risk for EESS (passive) to experience interference on board the satellites should omnidirectional antennas be used. In particular, this report concluded that sharing is not feasible between EESS (passive) and cordless cameras or portable video links using omnidirectional antennas. Consequently, it may be necessary to consider the adequacy of the limits in No.5.482.

These preliminary results suggest the need to review the sharing conditions between EESS (passive) and active services in the band 10.6-10.68 GHz in order to establish the required sharing criteria without placing undue constraints on the active services. These studies are underway within ITU-R Working Parties 7C and 9D.

Issues

  • Sharing studies need to be performed to identify the requirement for additional constraints and their impact on both services.
  • The band 10.5-10.65 GHz is extensively used in Brazil for fixed wireless access systems, according to Annex 1 of Recommendation ITU-R F.1568.

Preliminary Points of View

Canada currently licenses fixed systems in the band 10.6-10.68 GHz. In addition, Canadian manufacturers produce point-to-point and point-to-multipoint equipment for both the Canadian and foreign markets. There is also an interest from Environment Canada to use the data gathered by existing or planned missions such as the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR), the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and WINSAT. Since Canada has interest in both services, Canada intends to participate in ITU-R studies with a view to accommodate these Canadian interests.

The Brazilian Administration supports the studies ongoing within ITU-R WPs 7C and 9D. In addition, it should be noted that the band 10.5-10.65 is extensively used in Brazil for fixed wireless access systems according to Annex 1 of Recommendation ITU-R F.1568.

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Agenda Item 1.3:in accordance with Resolution 747 (WRC-03), consider upgrading the radiolocation service to primary allocation status in the bands 9 000-9 200 MHz and 93009500MHz, and extending by up to 200 MHz the existing primary allocations to the Earth exploration-satellite service (active) and the space research service (active) in the band 95009800 without placing undue constraint on the services to which the bands are allocated.

This agenda item consists of two separate issues, addressed in sections A and B below.

A) The upgrade of Radiolocation Service in the band 9000-9200 MHz. and 9300-9500 MHz.

Background

As identified in considering a) of Resolution 747 (WRC-03), there is a need to provide contiguous spectrum in the 9 GHz band in order for new radar systems to function. Therefore, there is a need to upgrade the status of frequency allocations to the radiolocation service in the frequency range 9000-9200MHz and 9300-9500MHz in order for existing and planned radiolocation systems to satisfy their required missions. Changes in technology and emerging requirements for increased image resolution and increased range accuracy necessitate wider contiguous emission bandwidths.

The bands 9000-9200MHz and 9300-9500MHz are allocated on a primary basis to Aeronautical radionavigation and Radionavigation, respectively. While radionavigation is recognized as a safety service as delineated in No. 4.10 of the Radio Regulations, radiolocation services and the radionavigation service have demonstrated compatible operations over many years through the use of similar system characteristics such as low-duty cycle emissions, scanning beams and interference reduction techniques. Previous and ongoing studies in the ITU-R addressing compatibility in other bands, but indicate that compatibility in the bands 9 000-9 200 MHz and 9 300-9 500 MHz is likely to be feasible.

Studies are currently underway in the ITU-R to characterize the technical performance and protection criteria of radiolocation and radionavigation systems that ensure compatible operations in the bands 9000-9 200 MHz and 9 300-9 500 MHz. However, it should be noted that Recommendation ITU-R M.1313 contains the technical characteristics and protection criteria for maritime radars in the band 9300-9500MHz and that Recommendation ITU-R M.1372 identifies interference reduction techniques which enhance compatibility among radar systems.

Issues
  • Ensure protection of existing primary aeronautical radionavigation and radionavigation service in the 9 000-9 200 MHz and 9 300-9 500 MHz bands respectively;
  • Study and conduct test measurements to determine the appropriate protection criteria for aeronautical and maritime radionavigation radars in the 9 GHz band;
  • Studies on radionavigation radars sharing with radiolocation radars in the 9 GHz band.

Preliminary Views

Canada and the United States have the point of view that while the bands 9000-9200MHz and 9300-9500 MHz have a long history of successful co-band operations by the radionavigation and radiolocation services, new systems may not necessarily be compatible with existing systems. Therefore, Canada and the United States support measurement tests and ITU-R studies to verify the feasibility of sharing in these bands. If the outcome of these measurements and studies is favorable, Canada and the United States anticipate supporting the upgrading of radiolocation services to a primary status on the basis that the radiolocation service operating in the 9000-9200MHz and 9300-9500MHz bands should not constrain the use and development of the radionavigation service, operating in accordance with the Radio Regulations. This could be accomplished by an appropriate footnote to protect the aeronautical radionavigation and radionavigation systems.

The United States has the position that the footnote would be needed to protect aeronautical radionavigation and radionavigation systems regardless of the outcome of the ITU-R studies.

B) The extension of EESS and Space Research Service by 200 MHz.

Background

The band 9500-9800MHz is allocated on a primary basis to the Earth exploration-satellite (EESS) (active), space research (active), radiolocation and radionavigation services, taking into account the constraints of footnote5.476A. The allocation of this band to the EESS (active) and SRS (active) was decided by WRC-97 largely based on studies that were completed in ITU-R Joint Working Party 7-8R.

There are plans to enhance synthetic aperture radars (SAR) that operate near 9.6GHz to improve the spatial resolution to the order of 1 meter, which would require up to 500MHz of total bandwidth. This additional 200MHz of bandwidth would greatly improve the resolution of the features for global monitoring and for environmental and land-use purposes. Therefore, this increase of bandwidth available to Earth exploration-satellite service (active) and the space research service (active) is necessary to satisfy global environmental monitoring requirements for improved resolution.

Previous ITU-R studies have resulted in a number of pertinent Recommendations. Recommendation ITU-R SA.516 indicates the general feasibility of sharing between the EESS (active) and the radiolocation service for active sensors. Recommendation ITURSA.1166 contains the technical characteristics and protection criteria for Earth sensors operating near 9500MHz. Finally, Recommendation ITU-R SA.1280 addresses the selection of active spaceborne sensor emission characteristics to mitigate the potential for interference to terrestrial radars operating in frequency bands 1-10GHz.

Further study is ongoing to confirm the compatibility between EESS (active), SRS (active) and the incumbent services in the possible extension bands around 9500-9800MHz. If sharing studies in the 9300-9 500 MHz band result in unsatisfactory conclusions, additional sharing in the band 980010000MHz might be explored. It is noted however, that footnote 5.477 allocates the fixed service on a primary basis in many countries in the band 9 800-10 000 MHz and could present additional challenges to the sharing feasibility studies.

Issues
  • Ensure protection of the operation of existing primary services allocated to the band;
  • Study the feasibility of compatible operations between systems of the radiolocation and radionavigation services, and spaceborne radars of the Earth exploration-satellite and space research services in the band 9 300-9 500 MHz such that EESS (active) and SR (active) services would not place any undue constraints on the radiolocation and radionavigation services.

Preliminary Points of View