followthemedia.com - a knowledge base for media professionals
Media Rules & Rulers

WRC07 Revises Band Allocations

The month long diplomatic conference on world-wide telecommunications gave broadcasters a respite in the war with mobile telephone operators over scarce and valuable spectrum. The World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC07) was held in Geneva, Switzerland under the auspices of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Nearly 3000 delegates from 160 countries debated proposals on virtually every spot on the spectrum.

big tower“Everyone will benefit from the digital dividend that will emerge as a result of this conference,” said new ITU Secretary General Hamadoun Touré at the conference opening.

Far and away the most important discussion to delegates was setting rules for wireless and mobile services. Several of the proposals drafted over the past four years raised serious concerns among broadcasters. As a diplomatic conference rules adopted by WRC07 have the force of an international treaty. The international treaty, the ‘Radio Regulations,’ governs all radio frequency spectrum allocations and is updated each four years.

Discussions about Band C attracted considerable attention as national delegates, in regional blocks, debated present and future for satellite users most widely coveted spectrum block, 3.4 GHz to 4.2 GHz. The proposal was to reallocate Band C for use by International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), wireless mobile services like WiMax. Broadcasters make extensive use of Band C and cite engineering concerns about interference issues from high power and highly packed IMT services. Band C is not considered by the ITU as a broadcast band.

Another WRC07 agenda item would open Bands IV and V (470 MHz to 862 MHz) to mobile telephony in Europe (east to Mongolia), Africa and parts of the Middle East – ITU Region 1. Currently these blocks are allocated to broadcasting in all ITU regions. Region 2 includes North and South America.  Region 3 includes Asia, Iran and Oceana.

Strong opposition was mounted by broadcaster organizations, led by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), citing troubling interference issues. EBU Technical Director Lieven Vermaele, in a press briefing during the WRC07’s final week, noted the successful take-up of broadcasting services in these spectrum blocks. “However”, he added, “this success story could be jeopardized by the introduction of mobile phone services in broadcasting frequency bands.”

spectrum sweet spot EBUIn 2005 the US Federal Communications Commission passed a law requiring television broadcasters to abandon by February 2009 analogue UHF channels 52 through 69, a large block of Band V, referred to as the 700 MHz band. The FCC will auction this block of spectrum in January 2008.  Differences between the US government and other national regulators on the rapid change-over of the 700 MHz band from broadcasting to other services led to the FCC sending only low-level representatives to WRC07.

WRC07 concluded by approving IMT allocations worldwide in the 450-470 MHz block of Band IV and the 2.3-2.4 Ghz block of Band C. Other IMT allocations were far more divided, reflecting successful lobbying from broadcasters and regional constituents.  The whole of Band IV in Region 2 (Americas) and nine countries of Region 3 (Asia, Oceana) will have IMT allocations. The 790 – 892 MHz block of Band V will have IMT allocations in Region 1(Europe, Africa) and Region 3.

DigitalRadio Mondiale (DRM) – the digital standard designed for broadcasting below 30 MHz – got a boost from the WRC07 delegates. The conference approved DRM for broadcasting in the 3200 – 5900 kHz ‘tropical zone’ bands. The region is roughly between 30 degrees north and south latitudes and includes many countries in the developing world using the ‘tropical’ band for national and regional broadcasting.

The next World Radiocommunication Conference will meet in 2011.


Previously published in Radio World International, February 2008, in a slightly different form.


advertisement

related ftm articles

Broadcasters pounce on ‘mobile myth’ and ‘digital dividend’
Markets may fail, says a report commissioned by broadcasters groups, if TV spectrum continues to be sold-off to the highest bidders. Broadcasters providing ‘ public value’ are at a disadvantage against rich telecoms selling the ‘mobile myth,’ it says.

European Commission Sends Broadcasters New Signals
Reorganizing European Commission Directorates, President José Manuel Barroso is sending strong signals to the audiovisual industry. The most important is that the Commission recognizes the sector’s economic as well as cultural significance. But, equally important, profound changes in technology taking place right now do not pause for rule-makers thoughtful debate.

Pushing the Switch Slowly
European radio’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting is moving forward, but very slowly. Despite rich promised benefits, advocates have discovered that neither they nor anybody else can force something new to happen.


advertisement

ftm resources

no resources posted as of March 3, 2008


ftm followup & comments

no followup as of March 3, 2008

no comments as of March 3, 2008

Post your comment here

ftm Knowledge

Media in Spain - Diverse and Challenged – new

Media in Spain is steeped in tradition. yet challenged by diversity. Publishers hold great influence, broadcasters competing. New media has been slow to rise and business models for all are under stress. Rich in language and culture, Spain's media is reaching into the future and finding more than expected. 123 pages, PDF. January 2018

Order here

The Campaign Is On - Elections and Media

Elections campaigns are big media events. Candidates and issues are presented, analyzed and criticized in broadcast and print. Media is now more of a participant in elections than ever. This ftm Knowledge file reports on news coverage, advertising, endorsements and their effect on democracy at work. 84 pages. PDF (September 2017)

Order here

Fake News, Hate Speech and Propaganda

The institutional threat of fake news, hate speech and propaganda is testing the mettle of those who toil in news media. Those three related evils are not new, by any means, but taken together have put the truth and those reporting it on the back foot. Words matter. This ftm Knowledge file explores that light. 48 pages, PDF (March 2017)

Order here

More ftm Knowledge files here

Become an ftm Individual or Corporate Member to order Knowledge Files at no charge. JOIN HERE!

copyright ©2004-2008 ftm partners, unless otherwise noted Contact UsSponsor ftm