Meteorological Spectrum Issues-Meteorological Spectrum Issues-Outcome of the 2003 World Outcome of the 2003 World Radiocommunication ConferenceRadiocommunication Conference

Presented By:

David Franc

National Weather Service

December 2, 2003

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2003 World 2003 World Radiocommunication ConferenceRadiocommunication Conference

June 9 – July 4, 2003 in Geneva Switzerland Considered proposals to modify the International

Radio Regulations.– Allocate and reallocate frequency bands to radio services. – Modify rules that govern how radio services can use radio

spectrum.

U.S. Delegation: ~50 Government and ~120 Private Sector Personnel.

Total of ~3000 delegates from 150 countries.

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World Radiocommunication World Radiocommunication Conference DecisionsConference DecisionsDecisions are based on several factors:

– Compatibility between existing and new services.

– Availability of unused spectrum.– Spectrum efficiency of existing services.– The relative importance (economic,

humanitarian, safety-of-life) of new service in comparison to existing services.

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DefinitionsDefinitions

International Telecommunications Union (ITU) – U.N. organization responsible for international regulation of radio spectrum use.

International Radio Regulations – Treaty text maintained and enforced by the ITU that provides the regulations and table of frequency allocations for international radio spectrum use.

Radio Service - A type of radio operation, such as meteorological satellites, broadcasting, mobile-satellite.

Allocation – The authority for a radio service to use a particular frequency band.

License (or Assignment) – Authority for a particular radio station to use a specific frequency under the defined technical conditions and consistent with a frequency allocation.

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Meteorological Bands Considered Meteorological Bands Considered on WRC-2003 Agendaon WRC-2003 Agenda Agenda Item 1.20: 400.15-406 MHz -

radiosondes and meteorological satellites Agenda Item 1.31: 1668.4-1700 MHz -

radiosondes and meteorological satellites Agenda Item 7.2: 2700-2900 MHz -

meteorological radars Agenda Item 1.5: 5600-5650 MHz -

meteorological radars

WRC Agenda Item (AI) 1.20WRC Agenda Item (AI) 1.20

400.15-406 MHz

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AI 1.20 (400.15-406 MHz): AI 1.20 (400.15-406 MHz): BackgroundBackground Band is used for radiosondes and

meteorological satellite data links. Under consideration since 1992 for use by

mobile-satellite service (MSS) – U.S. was primary proponent.

WARC-92 allocated 400.15-401 MHz to MSS to share with meteorological users.

Proposals were made to subsequent WRCs to allocate more spectrum to MSS – no action taken by WRC-95, WRC-97, or WRC-2000.

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AI 1.20 (400.15-406 MHz): AI 1.20 (400.15-406 MHz): Main U.S. OperationsMain U.S. Operations Radiosonde systems operated by DoD and

other Federal agencies. NOAA Data Collection System (DCS) –

Federal agency data collection platforms. NOAA Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites

(POES). Defense Meteorological Satellite Program

(DMSP). National Polar Orbiting Environmental

Satellite System (NPOESS).

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AI 1.20 (400.15-406 MHz):AI 1.20 (400.15-406 MHz):IssuesIssues Studies showed the MSS and radiosondes

could not operate in the same spectrum. MSS and meteorological satellite operations

are compatible. If an additional allocation was made to MSS

in part of 400.15-406 MHz, radiosondes would need to vacate that part of the band.

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WRC-2003 Decision onWRC-2003 Decision onAI 1.20 (400.15-406 MHz) AI 1.20 (400.15-406 MHz)

No proposals were made to allocate additional spectrum to the MSS in 400.15-406 MHz.

No new allocations were created for the MSS in 400.15-406 MHz by WRC-2003.

WRC-2003 concluded this issue will not be considered again at a future WRC.

WRC Agenda Item (AI) 1.31WRC Agenda Item (AI) 1.31

1668.4-1700 MHz

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AI 1.31 (1668.4-1700 MHz): AI 1.31 (1668.4-1700 MHz): BackgroundBackground Band is used for radiosondes and

meteorological satellite data links. Under consideration since 1992 for use by

MSS. WARC-92 allocated 1675-1710 MHz to MSS

in Americas (ITU Region 2), to share with meteorological users.

Proposals made to subsequent WRCs to allocate more spectrum to MSS - no action taken by WRC-95, WRC-97, or WRC-2000.

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AI 1.31 (1668.4-1700 MHz):AI 1.31 (1668.4-1700 MHz):Main U.S. OperationsMain U.S. Operations NWS current radiosonde network and

Radiosonde Replacement System (RRS). NOAA GOES and POES data transmission. DoD radiosonde operations. FCC licensed commercial operations – under

OBRA-93, Government operations were phased out to allow commercial use of 1670-1675 MHz.

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AI 1.31 (1668.4-1700 MHz):AI 1.31 (1668.4-1700 MHz):IssuesIssues Previous WRC decisions removed 1675-1683

MHz and 1690-1700 MHz from consideration. GOES user data downlinks operated in 1683-

1690 MHz (GVAR) – MSS and data links incompatible.

Commercial fixed and mobile operations in 1670-1675 MHz incompatible with MSS.

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WRC-2003 Decision onWRC-2003 Decision onAI 1.31 (1668.4-1700 MHz) AI 1.31 (1668.4-1700 MHz)

WRC-2003 agreed to provide the MSS an allocation in 1668.4-1675 MHz and to delete the ITU Region 2 allocation in 675-1700 MHz.

Most radiosonde operations worldwide are conducted above 1675 MHz.

MSS must protect few main metsat stations operating below 1675 MHz.

MSS operations in 1670-1675 MHz not allowed in the U.S to protect fixed and mobile operations.

WRC Agenda Item (AI) 7.2WRC Agenda Item (AI) 7.2

2700-2900 MHz

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AI 7.2 (2700-2900 MHz):AI 7.2 (2700-2900 MHz):BackgroundBackground

Band is used worldwide for radar operations. Identified in 1998 as a possible source of

spectrum for 3rd generation mobile phones (3G).

Considered at WRC-2000 – decision deferred to WRC-2007 to allow time for completion of technical studies.

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AI 7.2 (2700-2900 MHz):AI 7.2 (2700-2900 MHz):Main U.S. OperationsMain U.S. Operations NWS/DoD/FAA NEXRAD meteorological radar

network, including sites overseas. The band is already sufficiently congested in

the U.S. that NEXRAD operations have frequency assignments that extend up to 3000 MHz.

FAA airport surveillance radars – provide air traffic control coverage out to approximately 60 miles from airports (some radars contain data channel).

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AI 7.2 (2700-2900 MHz):AI 7.2 (2700-2900 MHz):IssuesIssues

Studies showed that mutual interference will occur between 3G, and meteorological and airport surveillance radars.

Estimated cost to replace NEXRAD network with C-band radars: $7.9B (FY2000).

C-band radar performance inferior to S-band in severe weather conditions – will not meet NWS requirements.

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WRC-2003 Decision on WRC-2003 Decision on AI 7.2 (2700-2900 MHz)AI 7.2 (2700-2900 MHz)

Placing 3G in the band 2700-2900 MHz was on the WRC-2007 agenda.

All studies complete in time for WRC-2003. WRC-2003 was responsible for finalizing the

WRC-2007 agenda - agreed to delete the issue from the WRC-2007 agenda.

Could still be considered under a WRC-2007 general 3G agenda item.

WRC Agenda Item (AI) 1.5WRC Agenda Item (AI) 1.5

5600-5650 MHz

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AI 1.5 (5600-5650 MHz):AI 1.5 (5600-5650 MHz):BackgroundBackground Band is used worldwide for radar operations. Identified as a possible source of spectrum

for radio LAN (RLAN) devices. Studies showed mutual interference could

occur between radars and RLAN devices. Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) was

proposed as a solution for RLAN devices to avoid radar frequencies that are in use.

DFS is unproven in use with radars.

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AI 1.5 (5600-5650 MHz):AI 1.5 (5600-5650 MHz):Main U.S. OperationsMain U.S. Operations

FAA Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR).

Other DoD, Government and private sector radar operations, including meteorological radars.

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AI 1.5 (5600-5650 MHz):AI 1.5 (5600-5650 MHz):IssuesIssues DFS is not proven to work with radars:

– Radar antennas rotate.– Radar signals are pulsed.– Radar systems not always in operation.

As a result, DFS must be properly designed to detect radar signal under conditions where the signal may only be directed at the RLAN device for very brief periods of time.

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WRC-2003 Decision onWRC-2003 Decision onAI 1.5 (5600-5650 MHz)AI 1.5 (5600-5650 MHz)

RLAN devices way operate in the band 5600-5650 MHz with limited transmitter power.

RLAN devices must use interference mitigation techniques such as DFS.

The ITU should continue studies on the use of mitigation techniques to prevent interference to radars.

RLAN devices are responsible for preventing interference.

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Summary of WRC Agenda ItemsSummary of WRC Agenda Items

AI 1.20 (400.15-406 MHz): Issue closed with no additional spectrum lost.

AI 1.31(1670-1700 MHz): 1668.4-1675 MHz allocated to MSS. No impact to U.S. meteorological operations.

AI 7.2 (2700-2900 MHz): Removed from WRC-2007 agenda, though could be considered under a general 3G agenda item.

AI 1.5 (5600-5650 MHz): Allocated for use by RLANS. RLANS must protect radars.

Future WRC IssuesFuture WRC Issues

WRC-2007 and WRC-2010

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WRC-2007 Agenda ItemsWRC-2007 Agenda Itemsof Meteorological Interestof Meteorological Interest Agenda Item 1.2: New and expanded

allocations to the meteorological satellite service.– May provide additional meteorological satellite data

transmission spectrum. Agenda Item 1.3: Upgrade radiolocation

service from secondary to primary in 9300-9500 MHz so it has equal status with meteorological radars.– May result in additional limitations on X-band

meteorological radars.

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WRC-2010 Agenda ItemsWRC-2010 Agenda Itemsof Meteorological Interestof Meteorological Interest Agenda Item 2.2: Consider creating

frequency allocations between 275 GHz and 3000 GHz.– The current ITU International Table of Frequency

Allocations stops at 275 GHz.– The meteorological community should begin to

consider future requirements in this range • Active and passive remote sensing (ground and space

based)• Data transmission• Radar systems

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Need for Meteorological Need for Meteorological Spectrum Coordination in U.S.Spectrum Coordination in U.S. All U.S. meteorological interests are primarily

represented by the NWS. Knowledge of systems and operations of

other Federal agencies is limited. Establish a coordination network:

– Would assist the NWS in gathering necessary information from other agencies.

– Would provide a mechanism to disseminate information to meteorological users in other agencies.

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ConclusionConclusion

While WRC-2003 concluded on several issues that could impact meteorological operations, the threat of spectrum loss continues.

Better coordination in the U.S. meteorological community would help in defending meteorological spectrum requirements.