More than 275 Inter-American Proposals will frame the position of the Americas through Citel during the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19), which will be held in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, from October 28 to November 22. At the 34th Meeting of the Permanent Consultative Committee II (PCC.II) – Radiocommunications, in mid-August, an agreement was reached on 276, but it is possible that in the next few days there will be some additional ones, as Oscar León, Executive Secretary of Citel told Convergencialatina.

Among the main agreements reached at the Ottawa meeting are the bands identified for IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications), due to their impact on the development of 5G and future networks. The American region will propose to WRC-19 that they identify 37-43.5 GHz and 47.2-48.2 GHz for IMT, while for other bands it was decided not to introduce modifications: 31.8-33.4 GHz, 45.5-47 GHz, 48.2-50.2 GHz, 66-71 GHz, 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz. Meanwhile, there was no agreement for one option or another in 50.4-52, 6 GHz.

Haps

In relation to High Altitude Platforms (HAPS),the possibility of having greater spectrum was identified, since they propose a solution for connectivity challenges in American countries. Among the points agreed on during the Citel meeting, officials proposed that in the 21.4-22 GHz portion the HAPS be allowed to operate on a primary basis, in fixed services, with priority over other services, in region 2 only.

At 38-39.5 GHz, it is suggested to allow its operation, although not on a primary basis, and under a specific method; and in 47.2-47.5 GHz and 47.9-48.2 GHz, the proposal is that HAPS can be developed, while protecting the already operational services.

2023 in the sights

In the next few days, opinions of the inter-American countries could be added on agenda items for the WRC 2023. This debate, known as “Agenda Item 10,” refers to 10 agreements, among which highlighted sub-orbital vehicles; the use of high altitude IMT radiobases in certain bands below 2.7 GHz regionally harmonized; protection of spectrum-dependent space weather sensors; non-geostationary systems in fixed satellite services coexisting with geostationary; and technical, operational and regulatory studies on non-geostationary fixed satellite services at 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz.