International Radio Regulations Refresh: 2023 Edition

1.2

Terrestrial IMT

3300-3400 MHz.  Added IMT identification in various African countries and Region 2

3600-3700 MHz.  Added IMT identification in Region 2

3700-3800 MHz.  Added IMT identification in various Region 2 countries, including the United States

6425-7025 MHz.  Added IMT identification in Cambodia, Lao P.D.R., and the Maldives

6425-7125 MHz.  Added IMT identification in Region 1, Brazil, and Mexico

7025-7125 MHz.  Added IMT identification in Region 3

10.0-10.5 GHz.  Added IMT identification in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay

1.4

HIBS

698-960 MHz or portions thereof.  Added HIBS identification in Region 2 (with 694-728 MHz, 830-835 MHz, and 805.3-806.9 MHz limited to ground-to-HIBS operations)

694-960 MHz or portions thereof.  Added HIBS identification in Region 1 (with 694-728 MHz, 830-835 MHz, and 805.3-806.9 MHz limited to ground-to-HIBS operations)

698-960 MHz or portions thereof.  Added HIBS identification in Australia, Maldives, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Vanuatu (with 698-728 MHz and 830-835 MHz limited to ground-to-HIBS operations)

703-733 MHz, 758-788 MHz, 890-915 MHz, and 935-960 MHz or portions thereof.   Added HIBS identification in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand (with 698-728 MHz and 830-835 MHz limited to ground-to-HIBS operations)

1710-1980 MHz; 2010-2025 MHz; 2110-2170 MHz.  Added HIBS identification in Regions 1 and 3 (with 1710-1785 MHz limited to ground-to-HIBS operations in Region 1, 1710-1815 MHz limited to ground-to-HIBS operations in Region 3, and 2110-2170 MHz limited to HIBS-to-ground operations in both regions)

1710-1980 MHz; 2110-2160 MHz.  Added HIBS identification in Region 2 (with 1710-1785 MHz limited to ground-to-HIBS operations and 2110-2170 MHz limited to HIBS-to-ground operations)

2500-2690 MHz.  Added HIBS identification in Regions 1 and 2 (for ground-to-HIBS operations only)

2500-2655 MHz.  Added HIBS identification in Region 3 (for ground-to-HIBS operations only)

1.6

Sub-orbital vehicles

No regulatory provisions adopted

1.8

UAS control and non-payload communications using GSO FSS networks

No regulatory provisions adopted

1.11

Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) modernization

Adopted various regulatory provisions with two notable changes summarized below:

• Permitted automatic identification system (AIS) search and rescue transmitters (or AIS-SART) and satellite emergency position indicating radio beacons with AIS (or EPIRB-AIS) to operate alongside AIS in 161.9625-161.9875 MHz and 162.0125-162.0375 MHz
• Introduced new Chinese GSO satellites (BeiDou Message Service System) into the GMDSS in 1614.4225-1618.725 MHz, 1616.3-1620.38 MHz (Earth-to-space) and 2483.59-2499.91 (space-to-Earth) subject to various coordination and further ITU and WRC review.  These bands overlap Globalstar and Iridium MSS (direct-to-device) operations

1.13

Ku-band space research service allocation upgrade

Added 14.8-15.35 GHz space research service allocation (space-to-space, space-to-Earth, and Earth-to-space) on a primary basis except the service remains secondary with respect to terrestrial services in various countries, including the United States

1.15

Ku-band GSO FSS earth stations in motion (ESIMs)

Adopted regulatory provisions permitting GSO FSS aeronautical and maritime ESIMs in 12.75-13.25 GHz (Earth-to-space)

1.16

Ka-band NGSO FSS ESIMs

Adopted regulatory provisions permitting NGSO FSS aeronautical and maritime ESIMs in 17.7-18.6 GHz, 18.8-19.3 GHz, and 19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 27.5-29.1 GHz and 29.5-30 GHz (Earth-to-space)

1.17

Ka-band inter-satellite links

Added inter-satellite service allocation in 18.1-18.6 GHz, 18.8-20.2 GHz,  and 27.5-30 GHz for space research, space operation, and/or Earth exploration-satellite applications and data transmissions originating from industrial and medical activities in space

1.18

Narrowband MSS

No regulatory provisions adopted

1.19

Ka-band FSS allocation

Added FSS (space-to-Earth) allocation in 17.3-17.7 GHz for GSO and NGSO operations in Region 2

7A

Orbital tolerance

Implemented permissible deviations from the orbital altitudes and inclinations, notified to the ITU, for NGSO FSS, MSS, and BSS satellites in the 10.7-51.4 GHz frequency range

New reporting obligations now apply at two stages.  Stage 1 notification occurs during the bringing into use, bringing back into use, or constellation deployment milestone notification.  At this time, a national administration must disclose orbital altitude and inclination for each satellite and take additional action, as follows, depending on the variation between the ITU filing and observed characteristics:

• 70 km or less (altitude) and 2 degrees or less (inclination) variance for satellites below 2,000 km altitude AND 5% in km or less and 3 degrees or less for satellites greater than 2,000 km altitude
  • National administration action.  Explain to the ITU why there is a difference between the observed and the notified orbital characteristics
• 70-100 km (altitude) and 2-3 degrees (inclination) variance for satellites below 2,000 km altitude AND between 5% and 10% in km and 3-4 degrees (inclination) variance for satellites above 2,000 km altitude
  • National administration action 1.  Explain to the ITU why there is a difference between the observed and the notified orbital characteristics
  • National administration action 2.  Submit technical demonstration confirming that a difference between the observed and the notified distances does not result in any increased interference protection requirements
• 100 km or greater (altitude) and 3 degrees or greater inclination variance for satellites below 2,000 km altitude AND 10% in km or greater and 4 degrees or greater for satellites above 2,000 km altitude
  • National administration action.  Modify at the ITU the characteristics of the notified or recorded frequency assignments reflecting the revised orbital parameters; a failure to provide such a modification will result in the frequency assignments not being considered as brought into use, brought back into use, or counted toward a constellation deployment milestone

Stage 2 notification occurs after the bringing into use, bringing back into use, or constellation deployment milestone notification if the difference between the ITU filing and observed characteristics exceeds the following permissible tolerances for a maximum of 60 consecutive days (in which case an ITU filing modification, and interference-protection reduction, may be necessary):

• 30 km or less (altitude) and 2 degrees or less (inclination) for satellites below 2,000 km altitude
• 30 km or less (altitude) and 3 degrees or less (inclination) for satellites above 2,000 km altitude

7B

NGSO satellite constellation deployment milestones

Adopted post-milestone reporting obligations with the first notification occurring eleven years after the 7-year regulatory bringing-into-use deadline and subsequent notifications occurring every four years after the first notification deadline

Required an administration to reduce the number of satellites in an ITU filing if a NGSO system that has met the constellation deployment milestones subsequently has less than X satellites in the following formula:

• X = N · 50% for N ≤ 340
• X = N – 67 · log(N) for 340 < N ≤ 4 950
• X = N · 95% for N > 4 950

where N is the total number of satellites indicated in the ITU Master Register (BR IFIC Part I-S or Part II-S) for a particular NGSO system

Required an administration to explain why the NGSO system falls below the necessary number for informational purposes only and the ITU-R to publish such information on its website and include a report on such activities

7J

Aggregate EPFD limits protecting GSO FSS

Urged the ITU, as a matter of urgency and preferably before July 30, 2027, to develop a suitable methodology for calculating the aggregate co-frequency EPFD produced by NGSO FSS systems and accurately modelling NGSO FSS operations compliance with aggregate EPFD limits protecting GSO FSS and GSO BSS networks in the frequency range 10.7-30 GHz

Agreed that administrations operating or planning to operate NGSO FSS systems shall, on a regular basis (e.g., yearly), hold a consultation meeting to determine the level of aggregate interference caused to GSO FSS or GSO BSS networks from NGSO FSS systems and determine the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the required level for protecting GSO FSS and GSO BSS networks

10

Future WRC agenda items

Adopted the WRC-27 agenda and WRC-31 preliminary agenda.  See following tables for additional detail

Opted to omit a future agenda item on the hotly contested GSO and NGSO FSS spectrum sharing (single-entry EPFD) framework but adopted plenary minutes inviting studies on the matter

1.1

V-band ESIMs

Technical and operational conditions, and associated regulatory provisions, for the use of the frequency bands 47.2-50.2 GHz and 50.4-51.4 GHz (Earth-to-space), or parts thereof, by aeronautical and maritime ESIMs communicating with GSO and NGSO FSS space stations

1.2

13/14 GHz small antenna

Possible revisions of sharing conditions in the frequency band 13.75-14 GHz to allow the use of uplink FSS earth stations with smaller antenna sizes

1.3

50 GHz NGSO gateway

Use of the frequency band 51.4-52.4 GHz to enable use by gateway earth stations transmitting to NGSO FSS systems (Earth-to-space)

1.4

17 GHz Updates in Regions 1 and 3

Primary allocation to the FSS (space-to-Earth) in the frequency band 17.3-17.7 GHz and a possible new primary allocation to the BSS (space-to-Earth) in the frequency band 17.3-17.8 GHz in Region 3, while ensuring the protection of existing primary allocations in the same and adjacent frequency bands, and consideration of EPFD limits to be applied in Regions 1 and 3 to NGSO FSS systems (space-to-Earth) in the frequency band 17.3‑17.7 GHz

1.5

Explicit agreement

Regulatory measures, and implementability thereof, to limit the unauthorized operation of NGSO FSS and MSS earth stations in countries seeking to block the service, and associated service area issues

1.6

Q/V-band equitable access

Technical and regulatory measures for FSS satellite networks/systems in 37.5-42.5 GHz (space-to-Earth), 42.5-43.5 GHz (Earth-to-space), 47.2-50.2 GHz (Earth-to-space), and 50.4-51.4 GHz (Earth-to-space) for equitable access to these frequency bands

1.7

IMT

IMT identification in the frequency bands 4400-4800 MHz, 7125-8400 MHz (or parts thereof), and 14.8-15.35 GHz for next generation terrestrial mobile services, such as 5G and 6G

• 4400-4800 MHz, or parts thereof, in Region 1 and Region 3
• 7125-8400 MHz, or part thereof, in Region 2 (including United States) and Region 3
• 7125-7250 MHz and 7750-8400, or part thereof, in Region 1
• 14.8-15.35 GHz (including United States)

1.8

231 GHz radiolocation

Allocations to the radiolocation service on a primary basis in the frequency range 231.5-275 GHz and possible new identifications for radiolocation service applications in the frequency bands within the frequency range 275-700 GHz for millimetric and sub‑millimetric wave imaging systems

1.9

WideBand HF (or WBHF)

Appropriate regulatory actions to update RR Appendix 26 for aeronautical mobile (OR) high frequency modernization

1.10

71/81 GHz power flux-density (PFD) limits

PFD and equivalent isotropically radiated power limits for inclusion in Article 21 of the Radio Regulations for the FSS, MSS, and BSS to protect the fixed and mobile services in the frequency bands 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz

1.11

MSS space-to-space links

Technical and operational issues, and regulatory provisions, for space-to-space links among NGSO and GSO satellites in the frequency bands 1518-1544 MHz, 1545-1559 MHz, 1610-1645.5 MHz, 1646.5-1660 MHz, 1670-1675 MHz and 2483.5-2500 MHz allocated to the MSS

1.12

MSS narrowband

Allocations to the MSS and possible regulatory actions in the frequency bands 1427-1432 MHz (space-to-Earth), 1645.5-1646.5 MHz (space-to-Earth) (Earth-to-space), 1880-1920 MHz (space-to-Earth) (Earth-to-space) and 2010-2025 MHz (space-to-Earth) (Earth-to-space) required for the future development of low-data-rate NGSO MSS systems

1.13

MSS IMT

Allocations to the MSS for direct connectivity between space stations and IMT user equipment to complement terrestrial IMT network coverage in 694/698 MHz to 2.7 GHz (bands identified for terrestrial IMT in Rec. ITU-R M.1036)

1.14

MSS 2 GHz

New frequency allocations to the MSS in the frequency bands 2010-2025 MHz (Earth-to-space) and 2160-2170 MHz (space-to-Earth) in Regions 1 and 3 and 2120-2160 MHz (space-to-Earth) in all Regions

1.15

Lunar

Frequency-related matters, including possible new or modified space research service (space-to-space) allocations, for future development of communications on the lunar surface and between lunar orbit and the lunar surface

1.16

RQZs

Technical and regulatory provisions necessary to protect radio astronomy operating in specific RQZs and, in frequency bands allocated to the radio astronomy service on a primary basis globally, from aggregate radio-frequency interference caused by NGSO systems

1.17

Space weather

Regulatory provisions for receive-only space weather sensors in the following frequencies and their protection in the RR

• 27.5-28.0 MHz
• 29.7-30.2 MHz
• 32.2-32.6 MHz
• 37.5-38.325 MHz
• 73.0-74.6 MHz
• 608-614 MHz

1.18

EESS passive /

RAS above 76 GHz

Regulatory measures regarding the protection of the Earth exploration-satellite service (passive) and the radio astronomy service in certain frequency bands above 76 GHz from unwanted emissions of active services

1.19

EESS passive 4-8 GHz

Allocations to the Earth exploration-satellite service (passive) in the bands 4200-4400 MHz and 8400-8500 MHz for sea surface temperature measurement

2.1

275-325 GHz allocations

New allocations to the fixed, mobile, radiolocation, amateur, amateur-satellite, radio astronomy, Earth exploration-satellite (passive and active) and space research (passive) services in the frequency range 275-325 GHz in the Table of Frequency Allocations of the Radio Regulations, with the consequential update of Nos. 5.149, 5.340, 5.564A, and 5.565

2.2

Wireless power transmission

[Frequency bands] for [non-beam and beam] wireless power transmission to avoid harmful interference to the radiocommunication services caused by wireless power transmission

2.3

Ku-band NGSO ESIMs

Use of aeronautical and maritime earth stations in motion communicating with NGSO FSS (Earth-to-space) in the frequency band 12.75-13.25 GHz

2.4

C-band ISLs

Inter-satellite service allocations in the frequency bands 3700-4200 MHz and 5925-6425 MHz, and associated regulatory provisions, to enable links between NGSO and GSO satellites

2.5

IMT AMS

Primary allocation in the frequency bands [694-960 MHz, or parts thereof, in Region 1], 890-942 MHz, or parts thereof, in Region 2, and [3400-3700 MHz, or parts thereof, in Region 3] to the aeronautical mobile service for the use of International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) user equipment in terrestrial IMT networks by non-safety applications

2.6

102-275 GHz IMT

Identification of the frequency bands [102-109.5 GHz, 151.5-164 GHz, 167-174.8 GHz, 209-226 GHz and 252-275 GHz] for International Mobile Telecommunications

2.7

VHF maritime

Improving the utilization of the VHF maritime mobile band

2.8

MF and HF maritime

Improving the utilization and channelization of maritime radiocommunication in the MF and HF bands, including potential revisions to Article 52 and Appendix 17

2.9

5 GHz RNSS

Allocations to the radionavigation-satellite service (space-to-Earth) in the frequency bands [5030-5150 MHz and 5150-5250 MHz] or parts thereof

2.10

23 GHz EESS

Primary allocation to the Earth exploration-satellite service (Earth-to-space) in the frequency band 22.55-23.15 GHz

2.11

37.5-52.4 GHz EESS

Upgrade of the secondary allocation to the Earth exploration-satellite service (space-to-Earth) in the frequency band [37.5-40.5 GHz] or possible new worldwide frequency allocations on a primary basis to the Earth exploration-satellite service (space-to-Earth) in certain frequency bands within the frequency range [40.5-52.4 GHz]

2.12

3.0-3.1 GHz / 3.3-3.4 GHz EESS (active)

Allocations to the Earth exploration‑satellite service (active) in the frequency bands [3000-3100 MHz] and [3300-3400 MHz] on a secondary basis

2.13

9-10 GHz EESS (active) restrictions

Studies on coexistence between spaceborne synthetic aperture radars operating in the Earth exploration-satellite service (active) and the radiodetermination service in the frequency band 9200-10400 MHz, with possible actions as appropriate