Candidate spectrum bands for IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000

In preparation for the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2007 (WRC-07), ITU-R Working Party 8F (WP 8F) is leading the ITU-R effort to analyze the amount of additional spectrum needed (if any) and identify potential candidate spectrum bands that could be used to support IMT-2000, its future development and systems beyond IMT-2000 for the year 2010 and beyond. It is assumed that any additional spectrum to be used for these systems would be identified at WRC-07.

At meetings of WP 8F held in 2004 and early 2005, a questionnaire on possible terrestrial candidate frequency bands for the future development of IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000 (Candidate Band Questionnaire) was created inviting countries to identify their initial proposals for candidate frequency bands for further study WP8F indicated that it needed the initial proposed candidate bands by June 2005 at its Meeting in Quebec City, Canada. At the IV PCC.II Meeting held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in December, 2004, Decision 25 was adopted requesting CITEL Member States and associate members answer the WP 8F Candidate Band Questionnaire and naming a Rapporteur for the activity who was tasked with providing a summary of the responses to the V Meeting of PCC.II held in Guatemala April 26-29, 2005. Seven CITEL Administrations submitted responses to the Candidate Band Questionnaire and the compilation of responses provided by the Rapporteur for this activity can be found in Document CCP.II-RAD/doc. 711r.01/05. Since additional time remained between the V Meeting of PCC.II and the WP8F response deadline of June 2005, the V. PCC. II Meeting in Guatemala instructed the Secretariat of CITEL in Decision 29 (V-05) to encourage Member States to complete, and if necessary, finalize their responses to the Candidate Band Questionnaire. The Rapporteur for this activity was again requested to compile all of the responses for inclusion in the Annex of the Report of the CITEL WP 8F Rapporteur for submission to the June 2005 WP8F meeting. One additional CITEL Administration’s response was received prior to the WP 8F meeting. The CITEL Rapporteur’s Report to WP 8F and the Annex of all Candidate Band Responses from the region can be found in Document 8F/512C.1.

At the June 2005 ITU-R WP 8F meeting, more than twenty responses to the Candidate Band Questionnaire were received from various Administrations throughout the world. In addition to the CITEL compilation of responses submitted as an Annex to the CITEL Regional Rapporteur’s Report, CEPT and the RCC countries submitted regional responses to the Candidate Band Questionnaire.

In order to move the identification of potential spectrum bands forward, WP 8F created two documents at its June 2005 meeting that are being carried forward to WP8F’s next meeting in October 2005. The first of these documents contains a summary of all Candidate Band Questionnaire responses received by WP 8F. Based on this summary, an attempt was made to further condense the information received with the objective of initiating sharing studies for those bands proposed that are not currently allocated to the mobile service on a primary basis. The second document is in the form of a matrix containing all the various candidate bands proposed by each country and will be used to further determine whether or not sharing studies will need to be carried out on these bands. Both documents can be found in the Chairman’s Report of the 15th Meeting of WP 8F in Chapter 5 – Meeting Report of the Spectrum Working Group.

Of special interest to many countries in the Region, WP 8F has been tasked to specifically assess the potential of identifying bands below those already identified for IMT-2000 and systems beyond (i.e. 806 MHz), recognizing the propagation advantages of these bands in meeting the needs of countries covering large areas with relatively low population density. In response to the Candidate Band Questionnaire, various Administrations called for the further study of bands below 806 MHz, such as the 450-470 MHz band. The 698-806 MHz band was also proposed by some Administrations as a possible candidate band for the future development of IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000.

The next steps for WP8F to progress the work forward, involve a correspondence group that has been set up on the ITU “JIVE” Forum to further refine the matrix containing all the various candidate bands proposed by each country prior to the next meeting of WP 8F in October 2005. All Administrations are invited to participate. WP 8F is also requesting various contributions for the next meeting including:

• Administrations submitting contributions on the advantages and disadvantages of their proposed candidate frequency bands,

• Contributions on possible sharing studies on the proposed bands (i.e. What sharing studies would be required if proposed bands were allocated to fixed or broadcasting services?, What sharing studies have already been conducted?, etc.),

• Liaison statements requesting possible sharing studies to other relevant ITU groups, and

• Further considerations on how to narrow down the number of different proposals for candidate bands at the next meeting.

The next meeting of WP 8F is scheduled for October 12-19th, 2005 in Helsinki Finland and contributions for the meeting are due to the ITU-R Secretariat October 3, 2005, 8:00 am Geneva time.

Molly Gavin
Rapporteur Candidate Bands for IMT-2000 and systems beyond
[email protected]