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EUROPEAN COMMISSION Information Society and Media Directorate-General Electronic Communications Policy Radio Spectrum Policy Group RSPG Secretariat Brussels, 4th February 2005 DG INFSO/B4/RSPG Secretariat RSPG05-67 FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY RADIO SPECTRUM POLICY GROUP Subject: Scientific use of radio spectrum – Document submitted by The Netherlands and France Request by France and The Netherlands to the Radio Spectrum Policy Group for an Opinion on a COORDINATED EU SPECTRUM POLICY APPROACH FOR SCIENTIFIC USE OF RADIO SPECTRUM 1. INTRODUCTION Radio spectrum is used for a variety of services and applications, amongst others scientific use of spectrum. Observations and physical measurements that make use of the related frequency bands are essential for a large range of domains, including Radio Astronomy, Space Research, Earth Exploration, Geodesy, Climate research, Meteorological research and Weather forecasting. These applications use frequencies over a wide range of spectrum (sometimes involving only a few kHz, sometimes several GHz) and make use of a variety of radio technologies These applications currently represent considerable public investments at national and European level and do not only sustain fundamental science and research but give economic benefits to the society as a whole and support environmental and public safety policies all around Europe. Many of these scientific activities are organised at a global level and, therefore, spectrum related issues must be considered globally. This applies for radio astronomy and geodesy and is also essential for research related to the understanding of the global climate system and for weather forecasting. The ITU Radio-Regulations are the key-instrument for frequency allocations on a global scale and therefore the scientific community so far has focused its efforts to protect these essential frequencies mainly at global level. With the EC Spectrum Decision coming into effect the scientific community has to pay greater attention to the instruments available at the European level. In support to the related RSPG work programme item proposed by The Netherlands, this document elaborates further on the regulatory environment of the “Scientific Use of Spectrum” and the societal and economic impact of the scientific activities related to spectrum. Also some specific information on the GEO1 and GMES2 programmes is provided. This document also contains arguments for ensuring protection of the relevant frequency bands now and in the future to facilitate further development, and proposes that an RSPG Opinion is formulated. 2. SCIENTIFIC USE OF SPECTRUM 2.1. Radio Regulations The scientific use of the radio spectrum is covered in the Radio Regulations by a number of services, either in the Table of Frequency Allocation or by footnotes. Scientific services concerned are: 1 GEO : Group on Earth Observations (see also section 4) 2 GMES : Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (see also section 4) - Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) - Space Research Service - Space Operation Service - Radio Astronomy Service (RAS) - Meteorological Satellite Service - Meteorological Aids Service - Radiolocation Service These applications and services can be split in two categories : - passive services (RAS, EESS and Space Research Service), that measure natural radiations. The operation of these services necessarily involve the measurement of naturally-occurring radiations of very low power levels, which contain essential information on the physical process under investigation. The relevant frequency bands are determined by fixed physical properties (e.g. molecular resonance) that hence cannot be changed or ignored. - active services that make use of a variety of radiocommunication technologies such as telecommunications or radiodetermination to perform adequate measurements and observations, or, for satellite applications and radiosondes, transfer back the collected data. In principle, these active applications are relatively less sensitive to interference compared to passive sensors. However, sharing issues with other active services occur that may jeopardise measurements carried out with the existing and future sensors. 2.2. Passive services Passive services measure natural resources with unique characteristics. Therefore, the specific information cannot be retrieved in alternative frequency bands. Furthermore, the combination of observational data taken in several different frequency bands is an essential prerequisite for many research programs and hence the degradation of one or more frequency bands has immediate impact on these programs. Among the numerous ITU Radio Regulations footnotes related to the scientific services, two of these recognise, on a general basis, the particular case of frequency bands used by the Earth Exploration Satellite (passive), Space Research (passive) and Radio Astronomy Services (see annex 1): - footnote 5.149 urges administrations to take all practicable steps to protect the Radio Astronomy Service from harmful interference in a number of specific frequency bands, - footnote 5.340 lists a number of essential frequency bands in which all emissions are prohibited, Even low levels of interference received by passive sensors may have a degrading impact on the sensor/receiver performance and thus on passive service bands usage. In most cases the sensors/receivers are not able to discriminate between these natural radiations and man-made radiations. Therefore, passive bands cannot tolerate any man-made interference and, in this respect, the abovementioned footnote No. 5.340 enables the passive services to deploy and operate their systems with the highest reliability. An example of the global deployment of passive services is the EESS (passive) to monitor the Earth and its atmosphere worldwide. Corrupted measurements from several areas may impact reliable weather forecasts over the world, which may have significant societal and economical impacts. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), during its Fourteenth Congress (Geneva, May 2003) attended by 170 Member countries, expressed serious concerns about the threat to radio frequency bands allocated for meteorological and related environmental systems. This Congress issued Resolution 3 (Cg-XIV) – Radio frequencies for meteorological and related environmental activities – (See annex 2) that appeals to the ITU and its Member Administrations to ensure absolute protection of the special bands allocated to space-borne passive sensing (Meteorological Satellites and Earth Exploration Satellites), which are a unique natural resource for atmospheric measurements. The Resolution pays particular attention to the exclusive 23.6-24 GHz passive band, The compromise allowing Short-Range Radars (SRR) to use this band on a temporary basis does not seem to be in line with the objectives of Radio Regulations footnote 5.340. 2.3. Active services Active scientific services are used for multiple different purposes either on a spaceborne basis for Earth exploration (Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR), precipitation radars, cloud profile radars, Altimeters, Scatter meters) and data transfer (satellite control and telecommand, measurements download,) or on a terrestrial basis (precipitation radars, wind profilers and radiosondes). Like for passive Earth observations, these active applications are in particular used for meteorological and environmental measurements and survey, essential to provide short-term alert in case of severe weather conditions (such as flooding, cyclones, hurricanes) endangering populations and strategic economical domains such as transportations, energy or agriculture. It is worth noting that, on a large scale, frequency bands used for active scientific services are harmonised on a worldwide basis, among space agencies e.g. within the Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG) or within the meteorological community under the auspices of WMO. Also, like for passive bands, measurements and observations carried out by national or regional administrations or organisations are exchanged on a worldwide and mutual basis to improve weather forecasts and scientific programs. Hence, modifications to the operational conditions of the related frequency bands in a given regional area, such as Europe, may adversely affect measurements and observations, and related scientific programs in other parts of the world. Therefore, if necessary, decisions must be made at the ITU-R level. 3. ECONOMIC BENEFITS Scientific use of the radio spectrum requires the development of advanced technologies, leading to direct benefits for the whole radiocommunication industry and to innovations applicable for all radiocommunication sectors Scientific use of spectrum represent billions of Euros of public investments, f.e. for the building of radio telescopes and scientific or meteorological spacecraft and for the deployment of scientific or meteorological stations all over Europe for which European companies are stakeholders. A large number of different scientific applications exists, and therefore it is difficult to give at this stage an overall figure for the economic value of these activities. Concerning Earth Observation, one can estimate that satellite programs, including development, building and running costs, represent Billions of Euros of public funding. For example the METEOSAT 2nd Generation (MSG) and METOP programs cost respectively 1 and 1.5 Billions of Euros. The expenses for a single microwave instrument for Earth observation (both active