on the activities of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector since WRC 19:

– In accordance with Resolution 657 (Rev. WRC 19), review the results of studies relating to the technical and operational characteristics, spectrum requirements and appropriate radio service designations for space weather sensors with a view to describing appropriate recognition and protection in the Radio Regulations without placing additional constraints on incumbent services;

APT View:

In view of all problems, difficulties, inconsistencies, limitation of service area that according to the review by the BR of the service areas of the RR Appendix 30B assignments recorded in the Master International Frequency Register (MIFR) showed that generally the service areas of RR Appendix 30B networks applied Article 6 and recorded in the List or MIFR are non-contiguous and the number of countries in these service areas ranges from one to fifty countries. Additionally, § 6.16 of RR Appendix 30B provides that an administration may at any time exclude its territory from the service area of an AP30B assignment. Therefore, A-ESIM and M-ESIMs in the 12.75-13.25 GHz band subject to this agenda item need to have the capability to restrict operations in territories of those administrations the agreement of which under §6.6 has been obtained and authorization for A-ESIM and M-ESIM operations has been granted. Also, distinctive and specific aspects of RR AP30B including but not limited to Reference situations for all Plan allotments and assignments in the List.

APT Members are considering to support Method A.

APT Members could consider to support Method B provided that the remaining elements and part of that method as referred to in attachment of Resolution relating to agenda item 1.15 need to be successfully resolved and agreed including but not limited to the following:

• Interference management mechanism to deal with interference occurs from operation of ESIM to other administrations;

• Switching facility allowing transmission over these territories of countries which agreed to be included in the service area and/or authorized operation of the service on the territory under jurisdiction and no transmission over these countries if they are not in the service areas or they have not given their authorization for operation of that ESIM;

• Lack of contiguous service area on regional and/ or worldwide, except merely one satellite network having regional service area;

• Submission of the a firm objective, enforceable and measurable with actionable commitment at the time of submission of Appendix 4 data element for planned ESIM(s);

• Review by the RRB, as an enforceable mechanism in case of raising any problem during the implementation raised, by any administration in particular occurrence and persistence of unacceptable interference;

• Deciding on responsibilities issues to be attributed to one single entity i.e. the notifying administration of the GSO satellite network if the ESIM is associated with that single GSO satellite network. In case that there are more than one satellite use for operation of ESIM and responsibility should be assigned or attributed to only notifying administration of these satellite;

• Avoiding to impose any mandatory action(s) to the administration(s) authorizing the operation of ESIM in the territory under its jurisdiction to resolve the interferences occur;

• Methodology to enable BR to verify compliance with PFD limit as contained in Annex 4.

APT Members also have views as follows:

• The use of the frequency band 12.75-13.25 GHz (Earth-to-space) by earth stations on aircraft and vessels shall not limit the access of other administrations to their national resources in Appendix 30B as well as implementation of Resolution 170 (WRC-19).
• The use of the frequency band 12.75-13.25 GHz (Earth-to-space) by earth stations on aircraft and vessels shall not cause unacceptable interference to nor claim protection from the operation of terrestrial services and their future development. With respect to the sharing and compatibility studies between earth stations on aircraft and vessels and terrestrial services, the protection of terrestrial services shall be ensured under all circumstances and conditions in the various sharing scenario.
• The implementation of ESIM shall ensure the protection of and shall not adversely affect the existing services and their future development, taking in to account allotments in the Plan, assignments in Appendix 30B List and those submitted under Articles 6 and 7 of Appendix 30B as well as under Resolution 170 (WRC-19).
• Supports the development of a methodology regarding examination by the Bureau of compliance with PFD limits by A-ESIM, or of adequate transitional measures should WRC‐23 not finalize the methodology.
• The use of earth stations on board aircraft and vessels shall not cause unacceptable interference (more than what is stipulated in relevant annexes to AP30Bof the Radio Regulations) to allotments, assignments converted from allotments within the limits of initial characteristics as contained in Plan or modified characteristics, for providing services to national territory as well as those from application of Article 6 and 7 of AP30B and those submitted under Resolution 170 (WRC-19)as well as all existing and planned services in that frequency band and adjacent bands operating in accordance with the Radio Regulations.
• Earth stations on board aircraft and vessels shall not claim protection from the allotment plan, assignments in the List of AP30B for national coverage, and other services including terrestrial services to which the frequency band is allocated and operating in accordance with the provisions of Radio Regulations.
• With respect to the sharing and compatibility studies between earth stations on board aircraft and vessels communicating with geostationary space stations in the fixed-satellite service and the fixed service in the frequency band 12.75-13.25 GHz, both long-term and short-term interference scenarios under relevant ITU-R Recommendations should be considered and carried out in these studies.
• For the operation of A-ESIM and M-ESIM, the technical, operational and regulatory provisions including responsibilities of administrations and entities responsible for the operation, authorization and the interference management system of these earth stations need to be clearly defined.
• The only administration that could notify ESIM is the same administration as the one notifying the GSO network to which the ESIM communicate. Thus, notification of any frequency assignment for ESIMs shall only be made by one single administration, which will be responsible for resolving potential interference, operational issues and monitoring of ESIM to comply with the Radio Regulations as well as other tasks mentioned in the associated Resolution. Therefore, the notifying administration of the satellite system is responsible for the compliance of ESIM with all relevant regulatory and administrative provisions including cases of interferences.
• An administration the territory of which is situated inside the service area of a satellite and has provided explicit authorization to receive the service/ to be served by any type of ESIM, unless that administration has formally and explicitly agreed to collaborate within its technical ability and possibility to provide assistance, has no obligation nor any mandate, whatsoever, to be involved directly or indirectly in detection, identification, reporting, resolution of any interference caused by the operation of the ESIM the operation of which was authorized.
• The notifying administration of the GSO satellite network is also responsible for ensuring that ESIMs operate only in the territories under the jurisdiction of any administration/country which:

          – located within the service area of the space station;     
          – explicit agreement to that effect was obtained and;
          – the required authorization for operation over its territory was sought and explicitly granted from which explicit authorization has been obtained.

• A-ESIM and M-ESIMs in the 12.75-13.25 GHz band need to have the capability to restrict operations in territories of those administrations the agreement of which under §6.6 of Appendix30B has been obtained and authorization for A-ESIM and M-ESIM operations has been granted.
• Regarding the use of PFD mask in A-ESIM operation, it is an acceptable way to provide a PFD mask as guidance to administration intending to authorize the operation of the A-ESIMs to determine whether or not the interference which may be caused to its terrestrial stations/assignments are acceptable.
• The notifying administration of A-ESIM and M-ESIM when submitting Appendix 4 data elements to the Bureau shall also send a firm commitment undertaking that in case of any interference to Allotment in the Plan, assignments in the List and MIFR shall immediately cease emission or reduce it to the minimum level acceptable to the interfered assignments of administration (s).
• The compliance with the relevant technical conditions (such as the PFD mask of A-ESIM and separation distance of M-ESIM) does not release the notifying administration of the ESIM with respect to discharging its responsibility that such earth station shall not cause unacceptable interference to nor claim protection from terrestrial stations/ assignments.
• An administration authorizing the operation of A-ESIM and M-ESIM in their territories (air space and territorial waters) shall be within the service area of the subject satellite network and authorize the operation of the associated gateway earth station as needed.
• Any transmissions from M-ESIM within the minimum distance, as specified in the Resolution for this agenda item, in order to protect terrestrial services shall be subject to prior agreement of the concerned administration.
• For M-ESIM with respect to the terrestrial service, both long-term and short-term interference scenarios should be considered, in which [133 or X] km should be treated as the minimum distance for M-ESIM sharing and compatibility with FS from the low-water mark as officially recognized by the coastal State.
• There are still several issues on the operation of ESIMs to be clarified and specified in the Draft New Resolution, such as interference management mechanism and its due functionality. Moreover, the proper function of switching facility to respond to authorization provided for the operation of ESIM as well as exclusion of territory of countries that did not agree with operation.
  *X: The minimum distance ranges from 86 – 190 km as the current result of ITU-R WP4A studies.

APT Common Proposal: Doc. WRC-23/62(Add.15)

AI Coordinators: Mr. Phung Nguyen Phuong (Viet Nam)
Contact: phuongpn[at]rfd.gov.vn

 

Mr Kavouss Arasteh (Iran)
Contact: kavouss.arasteh[at]gmail.com