ITU World Radi​ocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23)​ Dubai (20 November - 15 December)

The Cush

WRC-23 – World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) (itu.int)

for this thread the agenda item of interest will be 1.5, the review of the entire UHF band, in reality the focus is on the current broadcasting band in Region 1

1.5 - to review the spectrum use and spectrum needs of existing services in the frequency band 470-960 MHz in Region 1 and consider possible regulatory actions in the frequency band 470-694 MHz in Region 1 on the basis of the review in accordance with Resolution 235 (WRC-15)

WRC-23 Agenda and relevant resolutions.pdf

Report of the ITU CPM23-2 (Conference Preparatory Meeting) to WRC-23, consolidates all the inputs and reports from the various regional administrations and stakeholders including Europe's CEPT. Its purpose is to provide a basis for the discussions at the Conference. Chapter 1 (p.238) refers to the various proposals for the discussion on agenda item 1.5, change/no change of use, including primary, secondary, co-primary and allocation of spectrum to mobile services. The allocation proposed for release to mobile services is 614 - 694 MHz (UHF 39-48).

CEPT Summary Report from CPM23-2 - https://cept.org//files/4200/Summary%20Report%20from%20CPM-23.pdf

Europe's CEPT position on Agenda item 1.5

CEPT is of the view that the primary allocation of the 470-862 MHz band to the broadcasting service in Region 1 shall remain, in order to enable the protection and development of incumbent usage of the broadcasting service.

CEPT supports a secondary allocation to the mobile service (except aeronautical mobile) in the frequency band 470 – 694 MHz to be made at WRC-23, with a future agenda item for WRC-31 to consider a possible upgrade to a primary allocation.

CEPT is of the view that sharing studies indicate that due care will be required in any introduction of new applications of the mobile service in the band.

CEPT is of the view that this agenda item seeks the long-term balance between (1) national requirements, in particular due to the evolution of spectrum usage and demands, and (2) the challenges of effective cross-border coordination between the existing services and various services/applications wishing to access spectrum, including applications of the mobile service.

In line with Resolution 235 (WRC-15), CEPT acknowledges and supports that no regulatory action is required in the band 694-960 MHz. CEPT position

CEPT is of the view that any possible regulatory action by WRC-23 in the band 470 – 694 MHz shall not be in conflict with any provision of the GE06 Agreement.

CEPT European Common Proposal (ECP), multi-country proposal of CEPT member administrations - https://cept.org/Documents/cpg/79983/cpg-23-060-annex-v-05_ecp-on-wrc-23-agenda-item-15

CEPT Brief (conference working document) - https://cept.org/Documents/cpg/80196/cpg-23-060-annex-iv-05_cept-brief-on-wrc-23-agenda-item-15

Regional preparation for WRC-23 - https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/conferences/wrc/2023/Pages/reg-prep.aspx

2020 Radio Regulations are available here, free download - Radio Regulations 2020 - ITU Hub

WRC-23 News - WRC News – WRC-23 (itu.int)

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121344839#Comment_121344839

Your post in the other thread reminded me that WRC-23 was about to start.

To answer the question here, Ireland will be represented by both the Dept of Communications, who have responsibility for spectrum policy in the state, and Comreg, who are responsible for spectrum management. Ireland of course falls under the CEPT umbrella and the agreed European Common Proposal.

Comreg's Kenneth Concannon is one of the vice-chairs of CEPT's CPG23 and chair of CEPT's Project Team D - UHF review.

The Cush

EU regulation on the use of 470-694 MHz for broadcasting/PMSE until the end of 2030

Decision (EU) 2017/899 states that “Member States shall ensure availability at least until 2030 of the 470-694 MHz (‘sub-700 MHz’) frequency band for the terrestrial provision of broadcasting services, including free television, and for use by wireless audio PMSE on the basis of national needs, while taking into account the principle of technological neutrality”.

The 470-694 MHz band is now the only remaining spectrum available in many CEPT countries for DTT and PMSE uses in the UHF band

The Cush

In parallel with CEPT the EU also puts forward its proposal on behalf of member states. Member states are also represented at CEPT.

On Sept 18 last, in Brussels, at a Council of the European Union meeting, a proposal was adopted on the EU position at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023.

25. Council Decision on the EU position in the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (Dubai, UAE, 20 November - 15 December 2023)

Adoption Approved by Coreper, Part 1, on 13.9.2023 12534/23 + ADD 1

The Council's position was not made public.

The EU Council of Ministers decided on Monday evening: "The Council also adopted without discussion the items on the lists of legislative and non-legislative A items."

https://www.teltarif.de/weltfunkkonferenz-wrc-23-kultur-rundfunk-mobilfunk/news/93115.html

Exclusive: EU opts to keep UHF band for broadcast at WRC-23, but adds mobile (broadbandtvnews.com)

Europe supports a "secondary allocation" to mobile for the sub-700 MHz UHF band | EBU Technology & Innovation

The Cush

Region 1 wants almost no changes, regional telecom organizations positions

• CEPT (European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations): No change
• ATU (African Telecommunications Union): No change
• RCC (Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications (Russia and CIS): No change (mainly used for military purposes in Russia)
• ASMG (Arab Spectrum Management Group): above 614 MHz "co-primary", below 614 MHz "no change"

A co-primary allocation of the entire band is no longer advocated in Europe - except Norway

Regional preparation for WRC-23 – WRC-23 (itu.int)

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121383183#Comment_121383183

Even before WRC-23 begins the EU has begun planning for the future use of the UHF band post 2030 with this Opinion published last month.

https://radio-spectrum-policy-group.ec.europa.eu/document/download/6cb17632-9aba-4a15-aee9-28b9d272d9ed_en?filename=RSPG23-035final-RSPG_Opinion_on_UHF_beyond_2030.pdf

The Cush

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgtllC5pZN0

EBU aims to protect UHF for broadcasting and the creative industries at WRC-23 | EBU Technology & Innovation

marclt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121390114#Comment_121390114

What are the top lines?

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121398754#Comment_121398754

This is an policy discussion document from the European Commission. Just looking at the lay of the land so to speak.

The outcome of WRC-23 has yet to be finalised in the new Radio Regulations, so any top-lines would be premature until then.

This is laying the foundation for the discussion that will happen in the coming years as recommended in the Lamy report on the UHF band back in 2014. Reading through the document it looks like it'll be difficult to get consensus among member states in the run in to 2030. This quote pretty much sum up the situation right now.

As it is expected that, until 2030, different Member States will remain in different situations regarding the usage of sub-700 MHz band, the conclusion of RSPG subgroup is that a common path for all Member States seems difficult even after 2030, due to different national spectrum needs and cross border issues.

marclt

Could the deployment of SFN (Single Frequency Networks) help maintain some sort of terrestrial delivery of tv services?

It’s obviously manageable - just about - for DAB, but maybe more tricky for DTT and yet more expense.

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121401938#Comment_121401938

We are where we are until at least until the end of 2030.

In a decade's time we could be looking at 5G/6G broadcasting tech - high power high towers for broadcasting, low power low towers for mobile services, white space spectrum tech, WiB spectrum reuse, AI in the transmission sphere, etc. etc.

There are 2 more WRCs planned between the end of this WRC and 2031. Who knows what comes out of them.

The last 30 years have been very interesting in TV broadcast standards/spectrum and the next 10 years will be equally so.

The Cush

CEPT WRC-23 report from week 1

AGENDA ITEM 1.5 - UHF REVIEW

Sub Working Group 4C2 (Ronel LE GRANGE, Namibia)

to review the spectrum use and spectrum needs of existing services in the frequency band 470-960 MHz in Region 1 and consider possible regulatory actions in the frequency band 470-694 MHz in Region 1 on the basis of the review, in accordance with Resolution 235 (WRC-15

SHORT REPORT, INCLUDING STATUS FOR WEEK 1

All input contributions have now been presented within Sub Working Group 4C2. Detailed discussions around the specific proposals have not yet started. Two documents have been drafted to assist the work of SWG 4C2: a compilation document which consolidates all proposals into one document and a separate working document, which summarises and groups in tabular format the central aspects of each of the contributions.

Discussions regarding the central focus for the work of the SWG are ongoing and some concerns remain around the structure of the “Summary” working document.

NEXT STEPS

Efforts are ongoing to ensure that all elements and interdependencies between the various proposals within each of the contributions are accurately captured in the Summary working document. It has also been stressed by CEPT that detailed consideration of the compilation document is key to progressing with the work of the SWG

https://cept.org/ecc/groups/ecc/cpg/page/weekly-report-from-wrc-23

ECC - Groups - ECC - CPG - News - Current status of work at WRC-23 (cept.org)

The Cush

Not sure if this is the outcome of discussions or their position on AI 1.5

https://twitter.com/SaveOurSpectrum/status/1730205659365290487?t=BfGJaVroejhcSAZmlx-uLg&s=19

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121426838#Comment_121426838

CEPT WRC-23 report from week 2

SHORT REPORT, INCLUDING STATUS FOR WEEK 2

The sub-working group (SWG 4C2) held a number of further meetings during week 2, with efforts focussed on how to reduce the number of options currently being considered under this agenda item. Discussions have not yet led to progress in this regard, and an informal discussion group has been formed to tackle the issue. One meeting of the informal group has so far been held, and discussions are in their preliminary stages, with no results yet to report to SWG 4C2. Further meetings of the informal group are therefore expected prior to reporting back to its parent group.

NEXT STEPS

Continue discussions within the informal group, with the aim of reporting back to SWG 4C2 in week 3 with, if possible, a reduced list of options to consider, in addition to a proposed way forward on each of these options.

https://cept.org/files/130712/WRC-23%20report%20from%20week%202.pdf

ECC - Groups - ECC - CPG - News - Current status of work at WRC-23 (cept.org)

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121447705#Comment_121447705

CEPT WRC-23 report from week 3

SHORT REPORT, INCLUDING STATUS FOR WEEK 3

Discussions have continued within the informal group, but no way forward has yet been agreed with regards to reducing the number of options being considered under this agenda item. To address concerns expressed during the informal discussions, CEPT has modified its original proposal from that of a secondary allocation within the Table of Allocations, to a modified proposal for a secondary allocation through a footnote to the table. In conjunction with this proposal, CEPT has further revised its proposal for a possible review of the 470 – 694 MHz band during WRC-31 which would be focussed on Region 1 in general, to a more prescriptive review of the entire band which could be limited to a specified geographic area (e.g. those countries that have signed up to a footnote for a secondary allocation). Discussions around this possibility are ongoing. The outcomes from the informal group have now been reported to Working Group 4C and further discussed. Little progress was made during the Working Group discussion, and the outcomes from the informal group will now therefore be referred to Committee 4 for further consideration.

NEXT STEPS

CEPT focus over the coming days will remain on ensuring a secondary allocation through a footnote, and also securing a review of the entire band during WRC-31. Of particular note, it is essential to bring focus to the modified Resolution text (as per the European Common Proposal) concerning possible review during WRC-31

https://cept.org/files/130712/WRC-23%20report%20from%20week%203.pdf

ECC - Groups - ECC - CPG - News - Current status of work at WRC-23 (cept.org)

The Cush

Into the final week, future use of UHF in Region 1 still not agreed

https://twitter.com/CEPT_ECC/status/1734163336743256516

The Cush

WRC-23 completed

https://twitter.com/CEPT_ECC/status/1735319122001481881

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121485296#Comment_121485296

SHORT REPORT, INCLUDING STATUS FOR WEEK 4

Extensive discussions continued throughout the week on this agenda Item; firstly, during Committee 4 Ad Hoc and an associated informal discussion group activity, which was again followed by further discussions between Heads of regional groups, with talks concluding on Thursday Morning (December 14th).

This agenda item has now been resolved, with the following main elements, amongst other, now agreed:

1. A new secondary allocation, to the mobile, except aeronautical mobile, service has been agreed for implementation through a country footnote, which applies to the entire frequency band 470-694 MHz. The footnote’s country list will encompass most CEPT countries.

2. A further new secondary allocation to the mobile, except aeronautical mobile, service has been agreed for implementation through a country footnote, which applies to the 614-694 MHz band for a number of African countries;

3. A new primary allocation to the mobile, except aeronautical mobile, service has been agreed for implementation through a country footnote, which applies to the frequency range 614-694 MHz for a number of ASMG countries;

4. Resolution 235 has been modified to, amongst other items, enable:

a. a review, after WRC-27, of the spectrum use of the frequency band 470-694 MHz or parts thereof for some countries in Region 1; and, based upon this review, consider i. possible regulatory actions in the frequency band 614-694 MHz at WRC-31; ii. possible regulatory action to protect radio astronomy services in the frequency band 608-614 MHz.

NEXT STEPS

None - work completed.

https://cept.org/files/130712/WRC-23%20report%20from%20week%204.pdf 

ECC - Groups - ECC - CPG - News - Current status of work at WRC-23 (cept.org)

The Cush

Broadcasting remains as primary user of the entire UHF band in the European region with mobile services allocated secondary status.

Review of the band post WRC-27 with no further regulation of the band until post WRC-31

Preliminary agenda for WRC-31

...

Agenda Item 2.14 possible regulatory actions, including a review of the allocation of the frequency band 614-694 MHz to the mobile service for countries listed in No. 5.15A.

The Cush

ITU Radio Regulations

5.28 3) Stations of a secondary service:

a) shall not cause harmful interference to stations of primary services to which frequencies are already assigned or to which frequencies may be assigned at a later date;

b) cannot claim protection from harmful interference from stations of a primary service to which frequencies are already assigned or may be assigned at a later date;

c) can claim protection, however, from harmful interference from stations of the same or other secondary service(s) to which frequencies may be assigned at a later date.

5.32 4) Where a band is indicated in a footnote of the Table as allocated to a service “on a secondary basis” in an area smaller than a Region, or in a particular country, this is a secondary service

dublinman1990

What I can read from the main report from the EC so far is that the 470 - 694Mhz band currently used for Saorview is staying on at least unil 2030.

That is good news for us. But is there anything else to add to that decision from that conference.

What is the secondary allocation of spectrum for mobile services for? Will all Region 1 countries in Europe get to benefit from it or not?

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121497499#Comment_121497499

Broadcasting spectrum is guaranteed by regulation to the end of 2030, so that is locked in for those countries that require it.

No new Radio Regulations for the band until late 2031. According to the preliminary agenda for this conference and then only the band above 614 MHz will be looked at, subject to change of course.

As mentioned in the weekly report not all European countries will be included in the "secondary" footnote. We haven't seen the footnote yet as to which countries will not be allocating the spectrum nationally on a secondary basis.

I assume these could be countries where DTT broadcasting is in decline, Switzerland/Holland/Belgium come to mind. If this is the case they could allocate some (614-694 MHz likely) or all of this spectrum to mobile services on a national basis provided there is no cross border interference to their neighbours.

Before secondary mobile services can use this spectrum EU and national regulators must put the necessary conditions and regulations in place to harmonise use across the continent.

I believe Comreg are to publish a discussion paper on the band in H1 next year.

Within the next two years the EU are to review the UHF band as per the regulation.

Post WRC-27 review to be carried out pre WRC-31

In the interim, with broadcasting spectrum safe, there is now space and time to explore the possiblity of moving to 5g/6g broadcasting post 2030.

The Cush

Provisional Final Acts of WRC-23

footnote 5.15A

Agenda item 1.5

ADD 5.15A

Additional allocation: in Albania, Germany, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Vatican, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Uzbekistan, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Türkiye, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, the United Kingdom, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the frequency band 470- 694 MHz is allocated to the mobile, except aeronautical mobile, service on a secondary basis, subject to agreement obtained under No. 9.21. For the protection of the broadcasting service, stations in the mobile service shall not create a field strength for more than 1% of the time at the highest of the clutter height or 10 m above ground level at the border of the territory of any other administration that exceeds the field strength value as calculated using § 4.1.3.2 of Annex 2 to the GE06 Agreement with regard to allowance for multiple interference, Table AP1.10 and the methodology given in the GE06 Agreement. These limits may be exceeded on the territory of any country whose administration has so agreed. This allocation shall in no way adversely affect the broadcast development or undermine new entries of the broadcast service to the GE06 Plan. (WRC-23)

Countries missing from the secondary allocation list - Italy and Spain.

Both countries have a high DTT penetration and could probably do with more spectrum, 91% and 92.4% respectively, according to 2021 figures, is the total proportion of the population that view programs using terrestrial television broadcasting in their respective countries. They won't be allocating spectrum on a secondary basis to mobile services.

Presently Administrations from the following 46 countries are members of CEPT:

Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Republic of North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Vatican. 

The Cush

ITU News Magazine - Outcomes of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 - ITU Hub

ECC Newsletter January 2024 - WRC-23 Special Edition (pdf)