Report of the Seminar
24
The Report of Aeronautical Spectrum Management Seminar
Nairobi, 17-18 September 2007
VENUE AND DATE:
The Aeronautical Spectrum Management Seminar took place in Nairobi, Kenya from 17 to 18 September 2007.
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of the seminar was to sharing the position of other Regions with respect to ICAO position at WRC-07 meeting which is to take place in Geneva 22 October to 16 November 2007, the future aviation agenda items for the next WRC-11 and to update the African Civil Aviation the work currently taking place in Aeronautical Communication Panel Working Group on Frequency (ACP-WGF). The meeting also discussed interference to Aviation systems from broadcasting stations and Personal Electronic Devices including mobile phones on board Aircrafts.
OPENING SPEECH:
In the absents of the Regional Director, who was on official mission to Montreal to attend The ICAO 36th Assembly, Mr Apolo Kharuga the acting Regional Director opened the meeting. He stressed that frequency is a finite resource and with the current development in modern technology a lot of sectors are after the scarce resource and needs to be managed effectively. He expressed appreciation to the United States for the support to African Civil Aviation in the spectrum management and to the panel members for coming to share their knowledge with the African States. He urged the participants to take advantage of the presents of the panel members and interact with them. Mr Steve Mitchlle , the rapporteur of ACP-WG-F thank the ESAF office for hosting the ACP-WG-F meeting for the third time in Nairobi.
OFFICERS AND SECRETARIAT:
The meeting was chaired by Mr Steve Mitchlle The rapporteur of ACP-WG-F., Mr Robert Witzen Technical Officer CNS( the secretary of ACP )and Mary Obeng Regional Officer CNS ESAF office were the secretaries of the meeting.
WORKING LANGUAGE:
The meeting was conducted in English and the documentation was issued in this language.
ATTENDANCE:
The meeting was attended by 26 participants from 15 States and 2 international organisations.
AGENDA:
The meeting adopted the following agenda:
Agenda Item 1: Introduction to ACP-WG-F activities
Agenda Item 2: Specifics on Radio Regulations
Agenda Item 3: Regional Proposals for WRC-07
3.1 CITEL
3.2 APT
3.3 CEPT
Agenda Item 4: WRC- Future Agenda Items
Agenda Item 5: Spectrum Management
Agenda Item 6: Interference
6.1 General Interference
6.2 Interference from PED
6.3 FM Broadcasting Interference
6.4 Interference from Mobile phone on board Aircraft
Agenda Item 7: Any other business
Report
Agenda Item 1: Introduction to ACP-WG-F Activities
1.1 The Rapourter of ACP –WG-F informed the meeting that in May 2007 at the first meeting of the ACP Panel all the existing working groups were dissolved and new Working groups were created. Two permanent working groups were created, The Spectrum management (WG-F ) and the Maintenance Working group (WG-M ). Two temporary working groups were also created, Internet Protocol (WG-I) and Technology (WG-T) The temporary working Groups will be dissolved after the completion of their given task.
1.2 The terms of reference and the generic work programme of the ACP-WG-F panel were stated as follows:-
Generic Work programme
Ø Development of ICAO WRC draft position
Ø Amendments of the Radio Frequency Spectrum Handbook (Doc9718AN/957)
Ø Issues relating to interference from non aeronautical sources
Ø Coordination with Regional Telecommunication Organizations
Ø Development of material as a direct response to ITU and Regional
Ø Telecommunications Organizations
1.3 The role of ICAO in the ITU
1.3.1 ICAO as a UN specialised agency has the status as observer at WRCs At ITU Plenipotentiary Conference(PP-06) which was held on 6-24 November 2006 in Antalya, Turkey, ICAO status was upgraded to Observer in an advisory Capacity at both WRC and at the Drafting Groups. ICAO can perform the following functions:-
Ø submit Information papers at WRCs
Ø At CPM
Ø Amendments to CPM text
Ø Submit Input documents
Ø Active participation at the meeting
Ø Study (ITU-R) and Working Groups
Ø Full Participation
Ø Sharing of Studies
Ø Formulating of CPM text and recommendations
Ø Submissions of System details and Sharing criteria
Agenda Item 2: Specifics on Radio Regulations:-
2.1 The following Amendments to the 2004 Edition of Radio Regulations were proposed :-
2. Typographical and other apparent errors.
Volume, page / Incorrect or missing text / Correct text2.6 / 2, Appendix 27, No. 27/56, page AP27-22 (English only) / 27/56 In the aeronautical mobile (R) service the use of emissions such as those listed below is permissible subject to compliance with the special provisions applicable to each case and provided that such use does not cause harmful interference to other users of the channel concerned / Align with the French text, e.g.
27/56 In the aeronautical mobile (R) service the use of emissions such as those listed below is permissible subject to compliance with the special provisions applicable to each case and provided that such use does not cause harmful interference to other users of the channel concerned
The recommended action as contained in the report of the Director limits the emissions to those listed, thus not allowing other emissions. However, in the light of the need to align the text of the Radio Regulations with the French version, the modification in the English version of the Radioregulations can be supported.
3. Inconsistencies in the Radio Regulations, provisions that lack clarity
/ Volume, provision, page / Nature of inconsistency / Possible corrective action /3.1 / 1, Art. 5, p. RR5-46 / In the band 328.6-335.4MHz, No. 5.258 is applicable only to the aeronautical radionavigation service, but this footnote reference appears below the allocated service / In accordance with No. 5.51, place No.5.258 to the right of the aeronautical radionavigation service
The (minor) editorial change can be supported. It will amend the Table of Frequency allocations as follows:
INSERTINSERTINSERTINSERTINSERTINSERTINSERT
4. Outdated provisions; text in the Radio Regulations that may require updates
/ Volume, page / Current RR text that may require update / Possible course of action /4.1 / 1, No. 5.77, p.RR512 / 5.77 Different category of service: in Australia, China, the French Overseas Territories of Region3, India, Indonesia (until 1 January 2005), Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka, the allocation of the band 415-495 kHz to the aeronautical radionavigation service is on a primary basis. (…).(WRC2000) / Delete “Indonesia (until 1 January 2005)”. /
In Region 3 the band 415-495 kHz is allocated to the Aeronautical Radionavigation Service on a secondary basis and to be used for ICAO standard non-directional beacons (NDB). ICAO has no opinion on the proposed modification.
4.2
/ Volume, page / Current RR text that may require update / Possible course of action /4.4 / 1, No. 5.203, p.RR540 / 5.203 In the band 136-137 MHz, existing operational meteorological satellites may continue to operate, under the conditions defined in No.4.4 with respect to the aeronautical mobile service, until 1January2002. Administrations shall not authorize new frequency assignments in this band to stations in the meteorological-satellite service.(WRC97) / Delete No. 5.203, or modify accordingly. /
The proposal to remove the allocation for meteorological satellites from the band 136-137 as per 5.203 MHz is supported by ICAO . In 1979, at WARC-79, the date in this allocation was 1990, which in 1995 was extended until 2002. The intention of WARC-79 to delete this secondary allocation should be implemented by now. Deletion of this footnote is already included in the ICAO position on WRC-07 agenda item 1.1.
4.3
/ Volume, page / Current RR text that may require update / Possible course of action /4.5 / 1, No. 5.203A, p.RR540 / 5.203A Additional allocation:in Israel, Mauritania, Qatar and Zimbabwe, the band 136-137 MHz is alsoallocated to the fixed and mobile, except aeronautical mobile (R), services on a secondary basis until 1January2005.(WRC-97) / Delete No. 5.203A (allocation ineffective as from 1 January 2005). /
The proposal to delete the allocation to the fixed and mobile, except aeronautical mobile (R) services is supported. As indicated in 4.2 above, this allocation was supposed to be deleted from the Radio Regulations in 1990, as was agreed at WARC-79. Deletion of this footnote is already included in the ICAO position on WRC-07 agenda item 1.1
4.4
/ Volume, page / Current RR text that may require update / Possible course of action /4.6 / 1, No. 5.203B, p.RR540 / 5.203B Additional allocation:in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Syrian Arab Republic, the band 136-137MHz is also allocated to the fixed and mobile, except aeronautical mobile, services on a secondary basis until 1January 2005.(WRC-03) / Delete No. 5.203B (allocation ineffective as from 1 January 2005). /
The proposal to delete the allocation to the fixed and mobile, except aeronautical mobile services is supported. As indicated in 4.2 above, this allocation was supposed to be deleted from the Radio Regulations in 1990, as was agreed at WARC-79. Deletion of this footnote is already included in the ICAO position on WRC-07 agenda item 1.1
4.5 The proposals in 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 above will remove from the Radio Regulations allocations that potentially restrict full use of the band 136-137 MHz by the Aeronautical Mobile (R) Service, to which this band was allocated at WARC-79.
4.6
/ Volume, page / Current RR text that may require update / Possible course of action /4.10 / 1, No. 5.362B, p.RR563 / 5.362B Additional allocation:The band 1559-1610 MHz is also allocated to the fixed service on a primary basis until 1 January 2005 in Germany, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Spain, the Russian Federation, France, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Nigeria, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Poland, Kyrgyzstan, the Dem. People’s Rep. of Korea, Romania, Senegal, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkmenistan and Ukraine, and until 1 January 2010 in Saudi Arabia, Cameroon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, the Syrian Arab Republic and Tunisia. After these dates, the fixed service may continue to operate on a secondary basis until 1January 2015, at which time this allocation shall no longer be valid. Administrations are urged to take all practicable steps to protect the radionavigation-satellite service and the aeronautical radionavigation service and not authorize new frequency assignments to fixed-service systems in this band.(WRC-03) / Split this provision in two separate provisions, e.g.:
5.362BA Additional allocation:The band 1559-1610MHz is also allocated to the fixed service on a primary basis until 1 January 2010 in Saudi Arabia, Cameroon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, the Syrian Arab Republic and Tunisia. After this date, the fixed service may continue to operate on a secondary basis until 1January 2015, at which time this allocation shall no longer be valid. Administrations are urged to take all practicable steps to protect the radionavigation-satellite service and the aeronautical radionavigation service and not authorize new frequency assignments to fixed-service systems in this band.
5.362BC Additional allocation:The band 1559-1610MHz is also allocated to the fixed service on a secondary basis until 1 January 2015 in Germany, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Spain, the Russian Federation, France, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Nigeria, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Poland, Kyrgyzstan, the Dem. People’s Rep. of Korea, Romania, Senegal, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. Administrations are urged to take all practicable steps to protect the radionavigation-satellite service and the aeronautical radionavigation service and not authorize new frequency assignments to fixed-service systems in this band. /
The proposal to split the provisions of 5.362B is supported.
4.7
/ Volume, page / Current RR text that may require update / Possible course of action /4.21[1] / 1, No. 5.433, p.RR581 / 5.433 In Regions 2 and 3, in the band 3400-3600 MHz the radiolocation service is allocated on a primary basis. However, all administrations operating radiolocation systems in this band are urged to cease operations by1985. Thereafter, administrations shall take all practicable steps to protect the fixedsatellite service and coordination requirements shall not be imposed on the fixed-satellite service. / Delete No. 5.433, or modify accordingly.
The Bureau considers that the wording used in this provision (“administrations are urged”) has no regulatory implications. /
The proposal to delete 5.433 can be supported.
4.8
/ Volume, page / Current RR text that may require update / Possible course of action /4.22 / 1, No. 5.476, p.RR592 / 5.476 In the band 9300-9320 MHz in the radionavigation service, the use of shipborne radars, other than those existing on 1January1976, is not permitted until 1January2001. / Delete No. 5.476 (obsolete). /
Deletion of 5.476 is supported by ICAO and is already part of the ICAO position on WRC-07 agenda item 1.3
4.9 Paragraph3.1.1.2.2 of the Report of the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau to the WRC-07 highlights a number of footnotes, including those in several aeronautical bands where the non-standard wording “and shall not constrain the development and use of the xxx service in the band yyy. In the opinion of the Bureau, this is a condition of an operational nature that does not really define the status of a service vis-à-vis another service and this understanding should be confirmed or the wording should be amended. In ICAO’s views, such wording should be removed from the Radio Regulations since it has no apparent regulatory status. The wording “shall not cause harmful interference nor claim protection” should be sufficient to define the status of two services.
4.10 Paragraph 5.4 of the Report of the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau to the WRC-07 addresses the application of footnotes 5.357 and 5.376. The report notes “The terrestrial uses authorized by these provisions appear to be closely related to the operational conditions within a combined aeronautical system using space and terrestrial radiocommunications. As the Bureau has no means to verify such uses, the Board established Rules of Procedure whereby these provisions are considered as additional allocations to the aeronautical mobile (R) service. The concerned Rules of Procedure could be incorporated in Nos. 5.357 and 5.376 by introducing this additional clarification.”
It proposes the following amendments to these footnotes: