Review of Study Group Activities

Kevin A. Hughes

Radiocommunication Bureau

ITU-R objective

• “…to ensure rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the spectrum by all services, ……

• …to carry out studies and adopt Recommendations on radiocommunication matters”

ITU-R objective

Objective achieved through (inter alia):

• World Radiocommunication Conferences

• Approval of Recommendations

Technical studies are required

which are conducted in Study Groups

ITU-R Study Groups

• Groups of experts from ITU membership• > 1 500 participants

• Draft technical bases for WRCs

• Draft Recommendations• technical characteristics

• operational procedures

• Compile Handbooks

Study Groups

• SG 1: Spectrum management

• SG 3: Radiowave propagation

• SG 4: Fixed-satellite service

• SG 6: Broadcasting service

• SG 7: Science services

• SG 8: Mobile services

• SG 9: Fixed service

ITU-R Study Groups

• Currently 7 Study Groups

• Subordinate groups• Working Parties

• Task Groups

• (Joint) Rapporteur Groups

• CPM - Conference Preparatory Meeting• prepares technical bases for forthcoming WRC

Scope of Study Group 1(Spectrum management)

• Principles and techniques for• spectrum management

• sharing criteria and methods

• spectrum monitoring

• long-term strategies for spectrum utilization

• Inter-service sharing and compatibility

SG 1- some key areas of study -

• Unwanted emissions• (i) spurious and (ii) out-of-band (OOB)• permitted power limits• protection of safety and passive services• boundary between “spurious” and “OOB”

• Spectrum management methodologies• long-term planning for national SM• economic approaches

Scope of Study Group 3(Radiowave propagation)

Propagation of radiowaves in ionized and non-ionized media and the characteristics of radio noise, for the purpose of improving radiocommunication systems

SG 3- some key areas of study -

• Global mapping of radiometeorological parameters• rain intensity, water vapour density• refractivity

• Prediction procedures• interference and coordination• Earth-satellite paths• short-range communications (personal, LANs)

Scope of Study Group 4(Fixed-satellite service)

Systems and networks for the FSS and inter-satellite links (in the FSS), including associated tracking, telemetry and telecommand functions

SG 4- some key areas of study -

• Sharing between:• non-GSO FSS networks and GSO networks• different non-GSO FSS networks

• Power limits• Mitigation techniques

• orbital avoidance• optimization of satellite constellation• satellite diversity• optimization of antenna patterns

Scope of Study Group 6(Broadcasting service)

Radiocommunication broadcasting (terrestrial and satellite) of vision, sound, multimedia and data services primarily intended for delivery to the general public

SG 6- some key areas of study -

• Digital sound broadcasting below 30 MHz• emphasis on single world-wide standard

• improved quality and spectrum efficiency

• Studies on new broadcasting-satellite plan (Appendices S30 and S30A of RR)• sharing criteria between BSS, FSS and terrestrial

services

• Guidelines for system options for digital terrestrial TV broadcasting

Scope of Study Group 7(Science services)

• Systems for:• space operations

• operation of space craft, e.g. tracking, telemetry

• space research• scientific and technical research purposes

• Earth exploration and meteorology• active or passive sensing of Earth’s environment

• Radio astronomy

• Standard frequency and time signals

SG 7- some key areas of study -

• Allocations for space science services• space research and space operation services

• precipitation radars (~ 35 GHz)

• Earth exploration satellite service (420-470 MHz)

• Radio astronomy• sharing possibilities and criteria

• extreme sensitivity to unwanted emissions

• sidebands from digital modulation systems

Scope of Study Group 8(Mobile services)

Systems and networks for the mobile, radiodetermination and amateur services, including related satellite services

SG 8- some key areas of study -

• IMT-2000• 3G personal mobile communication system

• wireless access to wide range of services• voice, internet, broadcasting, email

• terminal (handheld) mobility everywhere

• agreed system based on ITU standards• specification of Radio Transmission Technology

• frequency bands (WRC-2000)

IMT-2000: flexible, multifunctional

Satellite

MacrocellMicrocell

UrbanIn-Building

Picocell

Global

Suburban

Basic TerminalPDA Terminal

Audio/Visual Terminal

SG 8- some key areas of study -

• IMT-2000 (continued)• update radio interface specs. (RSPC)

• global spectrum harmonization

• global circulation of terminals

• systems beyond IMT-2000

• opportunities for developing countries• facilitates access to telecoms networks

SG 8- some key areas of study (continued) -

• TICS (Transport Information and Control Systems)• standards for Vehicle Information and

Communication Systems (VICS)

• evolution of Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) systems

TICS

Millimeter wave Low power short range radar

Moving vehicle

About 100 meter

Temp 8/61-01

FIGURE 1

Image of vehicles using low power short-range radar

About 100meter

Movingvehicle

Low power short range radarMillimeter

wave

SG 8- some key areas of study (continued) -

• RLANs (Nomadic Wireless Access)• broadband NWA

• e.g. wireless access to labtop computers

• frequency spectrum and standards harmonization

Scope of Study Group 9(Fixed service)

Systems and networks of the fixed service operating via terrestrial stations

SG 9- some key areas of study -

• High altitude platform stations (HAPS)• balloon-supported platforms at ~21 km altitude

• telecom services to a city and surroundings

• spectrum allocation at ~ 47 GHz

• additional allocations sought in range 18-32 GHz• technical and operational characteristics

• impact on other services

• interference mitigation techniques

• Fixed Wireless Access

Terrestrial Fixed Wireless Access

SG 9- some key areas of study -

• High Density systems in FS and FSS• high concentration of terminals in a given area

• FWA to wide range of services

• HD FS spectrum: between 30 to 60 GHz

• HD FSS spectrum: currently under study

Joint Task Group 1-6-8-9

• Involves 4 Study Groups

• Review of spectrum and regulatory requirements for emerging terrestrial wireless interactive multimedia applications

• Technical convergence of services• scope covers fixed, mobile and broadcasting

Terrestrial Wireless Interactive Multimedia Systems

Mobile Fixed

HDFS

LMDS

NWA/RLAN FWA

Broadcasting

Interactive Broadcasting

MWA/Cellular BWA

Study Group Products

• Technical bases for WRC• CPM Report

• Draft ITU-R Recommendations

• Handbooks

CPM Report to WRC-03

1. Radionavigation, radnav-sat and radiolocation services

2. Mobile, mob-satellite and space science services3. Fixed-satellite and broadcast-sat services4. Fixed and fixed-sat services and HAPS5. Maritime-mobile, amateur and am-sat, and

b’cast services at MF and HF6. Other matters7. Future work programme

ITU-R Recommendations

• > 900 Recommendations in 16 series• “Standards” in areas of spectrum

management and radio technology• Result of consensus from meetings of

world-wide experts• Some referred to in RR• Used by spectrum planners and system

designers

ITU-R Handbooks

• Approximately 20 published• Tutorial in nature• Emphasis on use by developing countries• Continuing Handbook programme in ITU-R

• Fixed-Satellite Service handbook• Frequency adaptive systems at MF/HF• FWA• Spectrum monitoring

Concluding remarks

• The Study Groups represent a major aspect of ITU-R activities

• Technical forum for discussion amongst experts

• Technical bases for Radio Conferences

• Recommendations and Handbooks