WRC–12Industry Debrief23 April 2012

Agenda item 1.4 – New AM(R)S in the bands 112–117.975, 960–1 164 and 5 000–5 030 MHzPresenter: Eddy D’Amico

WRC–12Industry Debrief

Background

• Under this agenda item, regulatory measures were made to finalise the provisional allocations made at WRC-07 to the aeronautical mobile (route) service (AM(R)S)

• Three separate issue considered:

– in order to support future requirements for air-ground communications, in particular extending the current usage of the band 117.975-137 MHz in congested areas, WRC-07 made a provisional AM(R)S allocation in the 108-117.975 MHz band, pending further studies. (Resolutions 413 (Rev.WRC-07)).

– in order to support the introduction of future applications and concepts in air traffic management requiring safety critical aeronautical communication, WRC-07 made a provisional AM(R)S allocation in the band 960-1 164 MHz. Noting ICAO will take care of compatibility issues between ICAO standardised ARNS and AM(R)S systems sharing this allocation, the ITU-R considered compatibility with non-ICAO ARNS systems and RNSS. (Resolutions 417 (WRC-07)).

– at WRC-07 a 59 MHz wide allocation was made to the new airport surface communications system currently being standardised for use in the 5 GHz band. One of the tasks of WRC-12 was to determine whether this system needed more spectrum, and if so, whether an additional allocation could be made. (Resolutions 420 (WRC-07))

WRC–12Industry Debrief

Summary of Australian Position

• Res 413: Australia supported modification of Res 413 to reflect that ITU-R studies were complete, showing compatibility of new (AM(R)S) systems in the band 112-117.975 MHz with FM broadcasting receivers below 108 MHz. Australia supported ongoing compatibility studies between AM(R)S and digital sound-broadcasting below 108 MHz (Method A in the CPM Report).

• Res 417: Australia supported modification of Res 417 to introduce operational and technical means to facilitate sharing between AM(R)S systems and non-ICAO ARNS systems in the band 960-1 164 MHz, and to introduce equivalent isotropic radiated power limits on AM(R)S systems below 1 164 MHz to protect RNSS systems above 1 164 MHz (Method B in the CPM Report).

• Res 420: Although ITU-R studies show sharing is possible between AM(R)S and existing services (including RNSS and adjacent band RAS) in the 5 000-5 010 MHz band, Australia was of the opinion that it has yet to be conclusively shown that spectrum requirements cannot be met in the existing 5 091-5 150 MHz allocation for airports in Australia, and therefore supported no additional allocation (Method C1 in the CPM Report).

• Australia fully supported the APT common proposals to WRC-12 for this agenda item.

WRC–12Industry Debrief

Discussion on Res 413

• The result of ITU-R studies confirmed that no harmful interference will arise from the introduction of AM(R)S in the band 112-117.975 MHz into analogue FM broadcasting receivers below 108 MHz.

• All input contributions to WRC-12 were similar supporting Method A of the CPM Report (except for some differences in regards the conference name and how to reference Annex 10 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation).

• The COM 4 Chairman prepared a revised Res 413, addressing these concerns, for consideration at the first COM 4 meeting.

• Regarding the compatibility with digital broadcasting service below 108 MHz, it was agreed to pursue this matter under traditional ITU-R activities and outside the WRC process.

WRC–12Industry Debrief

Discussion on Res 417

• The results of the ITU-R studies provide separation distances below which site-specific compatibility studies should be performed in order to ensure that non-ICAO ARNS systems remain protected.

• There was considerable debate between APT countries (South Korea, Japan and China) and RCC members on the coordination process for these compatibility studies.

• In the end a compromise was developed where APT countries agreed not to apply No. 9.21 in the coordination process (hence not involving the BR) and RCC countries agreed to a timeframe of four-months to respond to a request seeking agreement, or otherwise being considered as unaffected (the timeframe given in No. 9.52C).

• It was also agreed that the APT proposal to develop practical operational measures to facilitate the coordination between AM(R)S systems and non-ICAO ARNS systems be included as noting c) of the revised Res 417, and China’s name being included in a list of countries requiring coordination.

WRC–12Industry Debrief

Discussion on Res 420• ITU-R studies focused on two issues; a) whether more

spectrum was required; b) compatibility studies to identify whether this service could share the 5 000-5 030 MHz band, or parts of that band.

• For issue a), the outcome of ITU-R studies was a Report that proved to be inconclusive. – One method concluded that the existing 59 MHz shared allocation is not

sufficient (based on a max of 500 airports being visible to the satellite footprint, and only one transmitter being active on each frequency, at each airport at any given time).

– A 2nd method concluded that the existing 59 MHz is sufficient (based on a frequency reuse of one, even though such reuse requires 20 to 30 dB higher transmitting power per transmitter for appropriate signal/noise shaping and no attempt was made to satisfy sharing conditions to protect the FSS (earth-Space) feeder links).

• For issue b), as the current GNSS user & service link requirements are immature, only the band 5000-5010 MHz was studied. – An ITU-R Report confirmed that sharing in the band

5000-5010 MHz is feasible.

WRC–12Industry Debrief

Discussion on Res 420 (Con’t)

• At WRC-12, an additional allocation of 10 MHz at 5 GHz was only supported by the USA & African States:– The USA & African States indicated they could accept a country footnote. – CEPT strongly oppose the development of a country footnote, even though the

airport systems would not cause interference issues beyond country borders. – The APT remained silent on this matter as it was a USA verses Europe debate.

• A proposal with 2 options was developed: 1) NOC; & 2) allocating 5 000-5 010 MHz to AM(R)S through a multi-country footnote, including two sub-options (options 2a and 2b) on measures required to protect RNSS.

• COM 4 agreed to approve the NOC option:– package deal agreed between the US and CEPT on Agenda items 1.3, 1.4 & 1.21. – CEPT agreed to remove their proposal for terrestrial UAS at 15 GHz (AI 1.3),

therefore allowing a global allocation for radars at 15 GHz (AI 1.21), provided the US removed their proposal for an additional allocation for AM(R)S.

WRC–12Industry Debrief

Summary of Outcomes• Res 413

– The AM(R)S allocation in the band 112-117.975 MHz was confirmed & Res 413 amended accordingly

– Minor Mod to No. 5.197A

• Res 417– The AM(R)S allocation in the band 960-1 164 MHz was confirmed &

Res 417 amended accordingly– Minor Mod to No. 5.327A

• Res 420 – Res 420 was suppressed

• Other Issues – WRC-12 revoked the use of the band 5 091-5 150 MHz for

aeronautical security systems (Mods to No. 5.444B and Res 418 & 748; Sup of Res 419)

WRC–12Industry Debrief

Future Impact

• The outcomes are very closely aligned with both Australia’s position and APT’s Common Proposals to WRC-12

• The new AM(R)S allocations are limited to systems which meet ICAO SARPs published in Annex 10 to the ICAO Convention. – These new allocations are shared with existing allocations to the ARNS in a manner

which does not burden existing and future implementations of ARNS systems– The new allocations allow for more efficient & flexible aeronautical use of these

frequency bands– The development of SARPs for L-band datalinks (LDACS) needs to be closely

monitored

• Although no additional allocation was made in support of the new aeronautical airport surface systems, some countries may operate these systems in the 5 000-5 010 MHz band under No. 4.4 – US propose to operate system under domestic AM(R)S allocation– SARPs developed for AeroMACS will need to take this into account for

interoperability with foreign aircraft flying into those countries – RTCA/EUROCAE standards specify frequency bands 5 000-5 150 MHz– The development of SARPs for AeroMACS needs to be

closely monitored