The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) will be organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2023. Events of such level and extent are held every three to four years to review and, if necessary, revise the Radio Regulations, an international treaty governing the use of the radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. Revisions are made according to the agenda set by the ITU Council, which takes into account the recommendations of previous World Radiocommunication Conferences.

Thus, the main purpose of WRC-23 is making amendments to the ITU Radio Regulations. The basis for this revision is the agenda adopted at the previous WRC in 2019. Representatives of the Technical Department, and International and Legal Service of Intersputnik will take part in the work of WRC-23 in order to fully represent and protect the interests of the Organization and its members when adopting underlying documents governing the satellite communications industry.

Spectrum and its Regulation

ITU regulates the part of the electromagnetic spectrum below 3000 GHz that is used for telecommunications. Today, less than 10% of the spectrum (8.3 kHz to 275 GHz) is allocated for use by various services. Therefore, the ITU sees no need to go beyond it in the next few years — maybe even in the next 15-20 years. Communication services — such as infrared communications — above 3,000 GHz are not subject to the ITU Regulations, but may, in some cases, be regulated by national or other international rules. There are three possible frequency management options: allocation, allotment, and assignment.

Allocation (of a frequency band): recording in the frequency allocation table of a given frequency band to be used by one or more radiocommunication services. The ITU does not specify a particular technology or standard here, only the service itself. However, it is up to the national regulator to decide which technology a given band is intended for, or for which particular application it can be used. For example, the ITU allocates a band for mobile communications, and a national regulator may specify that the band uses LTE for corporate networks.

Allotment (of a radio frequency or radio frequency channel): recording a particular frequency channel in a negotiated plan for use in one or more countries or geographic regions.

Assignment (of a radio frequency or radio frequency channel): permission issued by the administration of a radio station to use a radio frequency or radio frequency channel.

Frequency regulation of satellite networks

A specific feature of regulating satellite systems, in contrast to terrestrial systems, is that not only the frequency, but also the orbit is subject to regulation. Another feature that complicates the regulation is that it is necessary to separate "Earth-to-satellite" and "satellite-to-Earth" signals (see Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Satellite orbits and frequency bands (source: ITU WRS-22)

Since there is no sovereignty in space, all disturbances and possible cases of interference must be regulated by a treaty. And here the ITU takes on the role of a regulator. The Radio Regulations, in turn, are the international treaty that governs the use of the radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. The geostationary orbit and spectrum are a limited resource and must therefore be used sustainably, reasonably, cost-effectively, and be accessed equitably. ITU member states must enforce the signed rules and ensure that no interference occurs between satellite systems. The specific rights and obligations of ITU member states in the use of the orbit and frequency resource are stipulated in the Radio Regulations. The regulation has five mechanisms to ensure all of the above:

• allocation of frequency bands among services;
• power limitation of communication systems;
• frequency coordination among various process participants, primarily among
• telecommunications administrations;
• recording in the Master International Frequency Register (MIFR) maintained by the ITU;
• international monitoring systems.

Frequency Coordination

There are two methods of frequency banding: coordination and planning (see Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Frequency banding methods (source: ITU WRS-22)

The first method is used for mutual coordination of the frequency spectrum of telecommunication systems operating in the immediate vicinity or by countries located nearby. Here, the work is underway based on the actual needs of relevant countries and operators. As a result of this approach, spectrum can be used more efficiently and flexibly. The shortcoming of this method is that, while working on a first-come, first-served basis, it does not always provide equal access to the spectrum, since the one who starts the process first can get more frequency resource.

Frequency Planning

The second approach — the development of frequency plans — provides equal access to the spectrum and satisfies the needs of each country in the frequency resource in the long term. However, the spectrum efficiency is much lower (see Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Regulation based on the frequency assignment planning principle (source: ITU WRS- 22)

Working based on the same coordination approach can lead to the capture of frequencies without their use, to a monopoly on the frequency resource, and the complete closure of the market for new players. Therefore, to ensure equal access to the orbit and frequency resource, a planned approach is being implemented.

There is a provision whereby new states request accession to the plan. Thus, the space plan is designed to guarantee equal access and is based on reserving capacity for future use by each member state. This means that a country may not need an orbit and frequency resource immediately, but the ITU will reserve the resource for it for the future.

World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 The ITU states the basic principle of the WRC is to bring all interested parties together in order to reach consensus, which should promote the development of new networks and applications, while protecting existing radiocommunication services. This approach creates an internationally stable and transparent regulatory environment that encourages future investments and upholds the ITU's founding core principle of ensuring sustainable, equitable, efficient and cost-effective use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbit resources.

As a result of the WRC’s work, the probability of interference is reduced; interoperability and international roaming are provided; users in different countries can use the same devices in networks (see Fig. 4).

A separate and important area of the WRC’s work is the development of mechanisms for the operation of telecommunication networks in emergency situations. Basically, in 2023, the WRC will be focused on mobile communication in all its diversity.

The ITU is actively promoting new IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications) standards, and by the end of May 2022, more than 200 operators in more than 18 markets around the world had already launched commercial 5G services. One of the most important elements for the successful IMT development is the frequency resource, so the recent WRCs, and especially WRC-19, allocated the frequency resource in favor of mobile communications.

WRC-19 allocated an order of magnitude more bandwidth to IMT than previous WRC-15 (see Fig. 4). Many new IMT bands are also scheduled for discussion at WRC-23.

Fig. 4. The results of the work of various WRCs regarding the allocation of frequencies in favor of mobile communications (source: ITU WRS-2022)

Satellite band protection at WRC-23

Satellite market players are gearing up to defend their range at WRC-23. First of all, this concerns the Ka-band portion in the region of 28 GHz. At WRC-19, a portion of the millimeter-wave satellite band, namely from 28.5 GHz to 29.5 GHz, was identified for testing IMT services. Satellite operators struggled to maintain the Ka-band then, and this made it possible to invest in satellite broadband access with greater confidence.

One of the most active advocates of the Ka-band is India, the Intersputnik member country. It is developing its own Ka-band satellite constellation, whose role in the national “connecting the unconnected" program is very high.

In addition, the operation of satellite services in the 28 GHz band will bring more benefits to the 5G ecosystem than the launch of IMT services in this band. Satellite technologies — backhaul of base stations, mobile communications, IoT traffic transmission — will allow mobile operators to significantly increase the coverage area.

Intersputnik participates in ITU seminars, in Working Parties (WP-4A Efficient Orbit and Frequency Resource Utilization for FSS and BSS), World Radiocommunication Conferences, which gives the Organization the opportunity to follow changes in the Radio Regulations and Rules of Procedure, to understand the general trends of the industry in general. It also allows preventing unexpected situations to some extent in terms of the possibility of using the Organization's orbit and frequency resource, coordinating the frequency assignments to satellite networks. Therefore, acting in the interests of its member states, Intersputnik intends to use all its international authority to ensure that the frequency range allocated for satellite services is used as efficiently as practically possible.

High-Altitude Platform-Stations, Sea and Air Communications, Earth Observation (EO)

WRC-23 is scheduled to discuss the assignment of frequencies for the operation of highaltitude platforms used as transponders and base stations. To expand the coverage of mobile networks in hard-to-reach regions, the first commercial networks of transponder drones (HAPS) are now being put into operation (see Fig. 5)

Fig. 5. Use of HAPS drone networks (source: ITU WRS-22)

Frequencies for mobile communication with ships and aircraft will also be discussed. For example, the issue of improving the signal exchange between various ships to improve safety.

Here, much attention is planned to be paid to satellite systems, both geostationary and nongeostationary. IoT is another important topic at WRC-23. The regulation of satellite networks that ensure the operation of Internet of Things services is scheduled for discussion. The frequency provision for Earth observation services to prevent emergencies will also be considered.

In the work of the WRC, the International Telecommunication Union seeks to make decisions based on compromise among various stakeholders. Intersputnik, following its fundamental principles of international cooperation, actively participates in the work of the World Radio Conference. The organization uses its 50 years of experience in the satellite communications market to promote the harmonious development of communications services globally and joint operation of all radio services without mutual interference.