World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC)

• Changes to the Radio Regulations

  • accommodate new systems and services
  • increased demands for spectrum

• Table of frequency allocations

  • 9 kHz – 275 GHz
  • footnotes

• Frequency plans

  • e.g. broadcasting satellite plan at ~ 12 GHz
  • assignment plans
  • allotment plans

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• Held every 2-3 years; task is to revise as necessary the RRs – international treaty governing use of spectrum and GSO and NGSOs; such changes are necessary because of new developments (e.g. new mobile systems, HAPS) for which spectrum has to be found and increasing demands for existing services (e.g. mobile-satellite systems using LEOs); last WRC was in 2000 – next is in 2003

• Major feature of the RRs is the Table of Frequency Allocations indicating the frequency bands allocated to which services in which region of the world and also showing whether the allocations are on an exclusive or shared basis; (9 kHz – 275 GHz). Updating and agreeing on this Table is major aspect of a WRC. If a country (or group of countries) wants to deviate from the use given in the Table, then this has to be subject to a consensus decision by the Conference and the change is indicated in a footnote to the Table.

• Conferences also establish frequency plans for radio services, e.g. broadcasting-satellite plan (frequencies and orbital slots); assignment plans – frequencies assigned on basis of a country’s requirements for each station within the given service; allotment plans – a country is allotted frequencies to be used for given service which the national authority then assigns to the relevant stations.