By
Telecom Lead Team:
The World Radiocommunication Conference opened in Geneva to review and revise
the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of
radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.
The work of
this international treaty-making conference will be conducted over four weeks
until 17 February to address the changes required to the regulation of
orbit/spectrum resources in the interest of the users of these scarce
resources, with global implications for policy-makers, regulators, the industry
as well as end-users.
Tarek Al
Awadhi of the United Arab Emirates was appointed chairman of the World
Radiocommunication Conference along with six vice chairmen: D. Anstrom (United
States), E. Fournier (France), A. Nalbandian (Armenia), M. Ouhadj (Algeria), H.
Al-Shankiti (Saudi Arabia) and A.R. Jamieson (New Zealand).
Over 3000
participants, representing more than 150 out of the ITU’s 193 Member States are
expected to attend the four-week conference, making it one of the most
significant ITU events. About 100 Observers from among ITU’s 700 private sector
members along with international organizations will also attend the 2012 World
Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12).
The World
Radiocommunication Conference will review and modify global spectrum regulations
to ensure that this most precious resource is used effectively to benefit all
players. The aim is to ensure reliable radio services are available everywhere
and at any time enabling people to live and travel safely while enjoying high
performance radiocommunications,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Toure.
The
decisions taken by the ITU Membership during WRC-12 will play a vital role in
contributing towards improved access and development of ICT wireless
infrastructure, in particular in meeting the challenges of mobile broadband and
ensuring that ICTs work for the benefit of all the world’s people. The
objective is to enable the introduction of the latest technological developments,
while protecting investments and favoring economies of scale,” said François
Rancy, director of ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau.
Fuelled by
rapid technological developments in information and communication technologies
(ICT) along with increasing convergence of radiocommunication services in
today’s communication devices, there is an urgent need to ensure the best
efficiencies in the use of spectrum, a finite resource. WRC-12 will examine the
technical, regulatory and operational aspects to address frequency allocation
and frequency sharing to ensure high quality of radiocommunication services for
maritime and aeronautical transport as well as for scientific purposes related
to the environment, meteorology and climatology, disaster prediction,
mitigation and relief.
The
management of satellite orbital slots and associated spectrum resources will be
a key area of focus for WRC-12.The Conference goal will be to ensure that the
modifications made to the international procedures for the coordination and
registration of satellite systems provide for equitable and efficient use of
these resources.
WRC-12 will
also advance the introduction of mobile broadband and other advanced
technologies such as the development of Ultra High Definition Television
(UHDTV), promote the use of the digital dividend resulting from the switch over
to digital TV, as well as consider the potential for radiocommunications to act
as a catalyst to reduce the impact of human activity on the environment.
