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Journal Title: Telecommunication Journal

Journal Issue: Vol. 55, no. 12(1988)

Article Title: ORB-88 adopts plan and regulatory provisions for geostationary satellites

Page number(s): pp. 790-794

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ORB-88 adopts plans and regulatory provisions Allocations for Radio Astronomy and Space Science (IUCAF), and Internati­ for geostationary satellites onal Radio and Television Organiza­ tion (OIRT).

he Second Session of the World Administrative Radio Conference on the use of Objectives and mandate of the Confer­ Tthe geostationary-satellite orbit and the planning of space services utilizing it ence (ORB-88) opened on 29 August at the Geneva International Conference Centre and completed its work on 6 October 1988. The objective ofthe Orbit Conference was to provide equitable and guaran­ teed access by all countries to the geo­ Introduction Broadcasting Union (EBU), Internati­ stationary-satellite orbit (GSO) and onal Amateur Radio Union (IARU), the space services utilizing this orbit. It was attended by 937 delegates from Arab Telecommunication Union The Conference was held in two 120 countries and representatives of (ATU), Pan African Telecommunica­ sessions, the First Session having taken 15 regional and international organiza­ tion Union (PATU), European Space place in Geneva from 8 August to tions: the United Nations, World Agency (ESA), Association of State 15 September 1985. Meteorological Organization (WMO), telecommunication undertakings of The First Session had the difficult task International Maritime Satellite Organ­ the Andean Sub-Regional Agreement of finding a way to reconcile the prin­ ization (INMARSAT), International (ASETA), Arab Satellite Communica­ ciple of guaranteed and equitable Telecommunications Satellite Organi­ tions Organization (ARABSAT), access with that of the efficient and zation (INTELSAT), International European Telecommunications Satel­ economic use of two limited natural Organization of Space Communica­ lite Organization (EUTELSAT), Inter- resources: the GSO and the radio tions (INTERSPUTNIK), European Union Commission on Frequency frequency spectrum. To achieve this objective, the First Session worked out a balanced solution aimed at permit­ ting any Member ofthe Union to oper­ ate a satellite service on a basis of equality and consolidate continuing equitable access to satellite services, while facilitating the development of a sound technological base for the future development of satellite services. The First Session produced a report that included the principles and methods as well as the technical para­ meters to be used for planning. It also contained guidelines for the work to be carried out by the permanent organs of the Union in preparation for the Second Session of the Conference.

The Allotment Plan The mandate ofthe Second Session of the Conference was essentially to translate the principles adopted by the 880175 First Session into a practicable and ORB-88: general view of the meeting room workable Allotment Plan that would

790 TELECOMMUNICATION JOURNAL - VOL. 55 - XIII1988 provide each ITU Member country Vice-Chairmen: Messrs S. Bouhadeb all the Committees and the Working with one orbital position and associat­ (Algeria), Zhiyuan Song (China), Group of the Plenary. ed frequencies for one national satel­ P. Martin Leyes Hernandez lite providing domestic services. (Colombia), A. R. Bahrainian (Islamic Committee 2—Credentials Committee Republic of Iran), J. Dondelinger More specifically, ORB-88 had the task Chairman: (Luxembourg), A. L. Badalov (USSR) of: Mr S. Sissoko (Mali) and T. F. Brophy (United States). 1) establishing an Allotment Plan for Vice-Chairman: Seven Committees and one Working certain bands' of the fixed-satellite Mr J. Szekely (Hungary) service2; Group of the Plenary were set up. Committee 3—Budget Control Com­ 2) drawing up associated procedures mittee to enable the implementation ofthe Plan; Chairman: Mr M. K. Rao (India) 3) drawing up new procedures that would improve the co-ordination Vice-Chairman: process between countries that Mr G. I. Warren (Canada) would be affected by the operation of a new satellite in certain other bands3; 4) simplifying the procedures that had 1 4500-4800 MHz, 6725-7025 MHz, 10.7- been followed so far to access the 10.95 GHz, 11.2-11.45 GHz and 12.75- geostationary-satellite orbit to be 13.25 GHz. applied to the unplanned bands 2 (Articles 11 and 13 of the Radio The fixed-satellite service (FSS) is a Regulations). radiocommunication service betwen two or more fixed points via satellites. Examples of services of FSS include telephony, data Feeder Link Plan for the Broadcasting- transmission, television not intended for Satellite Service individual reception, etc., where the origin of the communication and the destination The Conference had also the task of are at specified permanent locations (as drawing up a Feeder Link Plan for the opposed to mobile locations such as ships, Broadcasting-Satellite Service (BSS)4 aircraft, cars, etc.). for Regions 1 and 3 (Europe, Africa and 3 5 3700-4200 MHz; 5850-6425 MHz; 10.95- Asia) , thus completing a comprehen­ 11.20 GHz; 11.45-11.70 GHz; 11.70- sive world agreement for direct satel­ 880176 12.20 GHz in Region 2 between networks of lite television broadcasting. The vari­ Professor I. Stojanovic, Chairman ofthe the FSS only; 12.50-12.75 GHz in Regions 1 ous other elements of the agreement Conferenc and 3 between networks ofthe FSS only; 14- such as the down-links for Regions 1 14.5 GHz, 18.1-18.3 GHz between networks Several Sub-Working Groups were also ofthe FSS only; 18.30-20.20 GHz and 27.00- and 3 as well as the feeder links and 30.00 GHz. down-links for Region 2 are already established on an ad hoc basis to subject to Plans incorporated into the resolve specific questions. 4 The BSS is for the transmission of televi­ Radio Regulations in 1979 and 1985 sion signals intended for individual recep­ respectively. Committee 1—Steering Committee tion. 5 The Chairman of the Steering For the purpose of administrative confer­ Structure of the Conference ences, the world is divided into three Committee is the Chairman of the regions: Region 1 covers Europe (including The Conference was held under the Conference, assisted by the Vice- the whole ofthe territory ofthe USSR) and chairmanship of Professor I. Stoja­ Chairmen ofthe Conference as well as Africa, Region 2 covers the Americas and novic (Yugoslavia) assisted by seven the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Region 3 covers Asia and Australasia.

TELECOMMUNICATION JOURNAL - VOL. 55 • XIII1988 791 Committee 4—Allotment Planning and 1. A Feeder Link (up-links) Plan for tions, adding the new concept of multi­ Associated Procedures Committee the broadcasting-satellite, service for lateral planning meetings (MPMs). Regions 1 and 36 included in the Radio Chairman: MPMs may be called, in exceptional Regulations as Appendix 30A(Orb-88). Mr S. Pinheiro (Brazil) cases, when an administration finds it 2. An Allotment Plan7 for the fixed- has a major difficulty in obtaining co­ Vice-Chairman: satellite service in the bands ordination otherwise. The essential Mr C. T. N'Diongue (Senegal) mentioned in footnote 2, included in features of MPMs include the follow­ Committee 5—Broadcasting-Satellite the Radio Regulations as ing: an administration which cannot Service (BSS) Matters and Associated Appendix 30B. The Plan consists of attend an MPM may delegate another Procedures Committee two parts: Part A containing the nati­ administration to represent it; the onal allotments and Part B containing pertinent provisions of Article 11 will Chairman: the networks of existing systems. Exist­ be applied to the network(s) of affected Mr D. Sauvet-Goichon (France) ing systems are defined as being those administrations which would be unable Vice-Chairmen: for which information relating to to attend an MPM for any reason; the Mr K. Kosaka (Japan) advance publication has been received results of an MPM will be considered as Mr C. A. Merchan Escalante by the ITU or those for which co-ordi­ co-ordination agreements among the (Mexico) nation procedure has been initiated participants without prejudging the prior to 8 August 1985 or those record­ rights of non-participating administra­ Committee 6—Regulatory Procedures ed in the Master International Frequ­ tions; MPMs will be open to represen­ (other than for Allotment Planning and ency Register. tatives of affected multi-administra­ BSS Feeder-Links) Committee tion systems (such as INTELSAT, 3. Procedures associated with the FSS INTERSPUTNIK, EUTELSAT, etc.); Chairman: Allotment Plan relating to: the costs of participation will be borne Mr J. F. Broere (Netherlands) — the conversion of an allotment into by the participants and the ITU may be Vice-Chairman: an assignment8; requested to supply secretarial services under contractual arrangements. MrS. K. Kibe (Kenya) — the introduction of a subregional 9 Committee 7—Editorial Committee system ; 6 Chairman: — additional uses; The BSS Plans are in bands 11.7-12.5 GHz Mr P. Aboudarham (France) in Region 1, 12.2-12.7 GHz in Region 2 and — the addition of a new allotment to 11.7-12.2 GHz in Region 3; the Feeder Link Vice-Chairmen: the Plan for a new Member of Plans are in bands 14.5-14.8 GHz and 17.3- Dr K. C. Shotton (United the ITU; 18.1 GHz in Regions 1 and 3, and 17.3- 17.8 GHz in Region 2. Kingdom) — the notification and recording in the Mr J. A. Prieto Tejeiro (Spain) Master International Frequency 7 For the purpose ofthe Plan, an allotment Register of assignments in the comprises: a nominal orbital position, a Working Group of the Plenary—Techni­ planned bands ofthe FSS. service area for national coverage, genera­ cal and Miscellaneous matters lized parameters used for establishing the 4. Improved procedures contained in Plan, a predetermined arc within which the Chairman: Article 11 of the Radio Regulations. definitive orbital position may be chosen Mr R. Ryvola (Czechoslovakia) and the frequency bands required to oper­ The improved procedures relate to ate the satellite (800 MHz bandwidth). Vice-Chairman: revised provisions of this Article 8 Mr H. K. Al Shankiti (Saudi including the possibility of multilateral When the decision is taken to use the Arabia). meetings which may be required to allotment, a definitive orbital position and achieve co-ordination between admin­ the specific operating frequencies must be selected. This is called the assignment of Results of the Conference istrations whose satellites may be the satellite. affected by the decision of another The results of the Conference are 9 administration to launch a new satel­ A subregional system is a satellite system published in the Final Acts signed on lite. These multilateral meetings form created by agreement among neighbouring 6 October 1988. countries Members of the ITU, or their part of the co-ordination process in authorized telecommunications agencies, The Final Acts enable the partial revi­ addition to bilateral meetings. New intended to provide domestic or subregi­ sion of the Radio Regulations and improved procedures were also includ­ onal services within the geographical areas appendices (see box) and include: ed in Article 11 of the Radio Regula­ ofthe countries concerned.

792 TELECOMMUNICATION JOURNAL - VOL. 55 - XIII1988 Summary of the revision of the Radio Regulations and Appendices as contained in the Final Acts of ORB-88

The partial revision ofthe Radio Regulations and Appendices undertaken during ORB-88, as contained in the Final Acts ofthe Conference, concern the following:

Article 1 Article 28 Terms and Definitions Space Radiocommunication Services Sharing Frequency Bands with Terrestrial Radiocommunica­ Article 8 tion Services above 1 GHz Frequency Allocations Article 29 Article 11 Special Rules Relating to Space Radiocommunica­ Coordination of Frequency Assignments to Stations tion Services in a Space Radiocommunication Service Except Stations in the Broadcasting-Satellite Service and to Article 69 Appropriate Terrestrial Stations Entry into Force of the Radio Regulations Article 12 Appendix 3 Notification and Recording in the Master Internati­ Notices Relating to Space Radiocommunication and onal Frequency Register of Frequency Assignments Radio Astronomy Stations to Terrestrial Radiocommunication Stations Appendix 4 Article 13 Advance Publication Information to Be Furnished Notification and Recording in the Master Internati­ for a Satellite Network onal Frequency Register of Frequency Assignments Appendix 28 to Radio Astronomy and Space Radiocommunication Method for the Determination of the Coordination Stations Except Stations in the Broadcasting-Sate­ Area Around an Earth Station in Frequency Bands llite Service Between 1 GHz and 40 GHz Shared Between Space Article 14 and Terrestrial Radiocommunication Services Supplementary Procedure to Be Applied in Cases Appendix 29 Where a Footnote in the Table of Frequency Alloca­ Method of Calculation for Determining if Coordina­ tions Requires an Agreement with an Administration tion is Required Between Geostationary-Satellite Networks Sharing the Same Frequency Bands Article 15A Coordination, Notification and Recording of Frequ­ Appendix 30A(Orb-88) ency Assignments to Stations in the Fixed-Satellite Provisions and Associated Plans for the Feeder Links Service (Earth-to-Space) in the Frequency Band 17.3- for the Broadcasting Satellite Service (11.7-12.5 GHz 17.8 GHz (in Region 2) Providing Feeder Links for in Region 1, 12.2-12.7 GHz in Region 2 and 11.7- the Broadcasting-Satellite Service and also to 12.2 GHz in Region 3) in the Frequency Bands 14.5- Stations of Other Services to Which this Band Is Allo­ 14.8 GHz and 17.3-18.1 GHz in Regions 1 and 3, and cated in Region 2, so far as their Relationship to the 17.3-17.8 GHz in Region 2 (Articles, Plans and Fixed-Satellite Service (Earth-to-Space) in this Band Annexes) Is Concerned in Region 2 Appendix 30B Article 27 Provisions and Associated Plan for the Fixed-Sate­ Terrestrial Radiocommunication Services Sharing llite Service in the Frequency Bands 4500-4800 MHz, Frequency Bands with Space Radiocommunication 6725-7025 MHz, 10.70-10.95 GHz, 11.20-11.45 GHz Services above 1 GHz and 12.75-13.25 GHz (Articles, Plan and Annexes)

In accordance with its agenda, the Conference took other decisions considered necessary or appropriate, including the review and revision of existing Resolutions and Recommendations and the adoption of various new Resolutions and Recommendations.

TELECOMMUNICATION JOURNAL • VOL. 55 - XI111988 793 In addition to the new provisions of sary before the implementation of contained in the Final Acts of ORB-88 Article 11 on multilateral forms of co­ operational systems could take place, will enter into force on 16 March 1990 at ordination, a resolution on the subject and that a future conference, to be held OOhOl UTC (universal co-ordinated was adopted (COM6/3). In this no later than 1992, should select a band time) except as specifically provided context, it should be noted that the or bands of frequencies in this range otherwise. The Allotment Plan will Conference decided not to retain for 500-3000 MHz with a view to a possible remain valid for a period of at least planning frequency bands 18.1- allocation to the SBSS. 20 years from the date of entry into 18.3 GHz, 18.3-20.20 GHz and 27- force of the Final Acts or until a revi­ 30 GHz as initially foreseen under the sion by a competent conference is improved procedures (see footnote 4) made. The BSS Feeder Link Plan will and invited the CCIR to continue its Entry into force of the Final Acts remain valid until at least 1 Janu­ studies of the technical characteristics The partial revision ofthe Radio Regu­ ary 1994 or until a revision by a compe­ of these bands until a future competent lations which includes the New Plan as tent conference is made. conference may take a decision. Hence, three ways of acceeding to the GSO now exist: — the pertinent provisions of Articles 11 and 13 if the frequencies to be used are part ofthe unplanned bands; — the pertinent provisions of Article 11 for the planned bands under new procedures; — the implementation of the Allot­ ment Plan. The Conference adopted 15 Resolu­ tions and four Recommendations and revised four Resolutions of the Radio Regulations. Among the resolutions adopted, one relates to high-definition television (HDTV) (COM5/3) and another to sound satellite broadcasting service (SBSS) intended for individual reception by mobile or portable radio receivers (COM5/1). As regards HDTV, the Conference resolved that the introduction of satel­ lite HDTV should be effected by means of a frequency allocation on a world­ wide basis and that the frequency range 12.7 to 23 GHz should be considered for the choice of an appropriate band to be chosen by a future competent conference. With respect to SBSS, the Conference decided that the frequency band 500- 3000 MHz should be considered for the accommodation of this new service, that further experiments were neces­

794 TELECOMMUNICATION JOURNAL - VOL. 55 - XIII1988