Agenda Item: 1.12 Title: Extension of current worldwide allocation to the Earth exploration–satellite (active) service in the frequency band 9300– 9900 MHz ITU-R Group: WP7C RSA Rapporteur: Dr. Adrian Tiplady

Relevant Resolution/s RESOLUTION 651 (WRC-12) Possible extension of the current worldwide allocation to the Earth exploration-satellite (active) service in the frequency band MHz by up to 600 MHz within the frequency bands MHz and/or MHz

Issues  Growing demand for increased resolution of global environmental mapping, achieved through increased bandwidth (600 MHz) to achieve 1.2 GHz contiguous bandwidth  Compatibility studies required to consider:  EESS(active) and existing services in bands under consideration, to ensure protection of existing services  Unwanted OOB emissions affecting Space Research Service in 8,400 – 8,500 MHz  Unwanted OOB emissions affecting Space Research Service, Radio Astronomy Service and EESS (passive) in 10,600 – 10,700 MHz

Frequency Bands under consideration Current worldwide allocation: – 9,300 MHz – 9,900 MHz Bands under consideration: – 8,700 MHz – 9,300 MHz – 9,900 MHz – 10,500 MHz

Summary of Relevant ITU SG/WP Progress  WP7C Meeting May 2014 (next in October 2014)  Preliminary reports and studies  DN ITU-R RS.[EESS-9GHz_OOBE] – Sharing between EESS (active) and OOB emissions with the SRS in MHz and RAS and other passive services in GHz.  For protection of RAS and other passive services, further mitigation measures discussed with WP 7B (SRS) and WP 7D (RAS). APPROVED  PDN ITU-R RS.[EESS-9GHz_FS/MS/AS] – Sharing between EESS (active) and the fixed service in bands MHz and MHz  Completed, but further questions raised regarding protection margins for FS. APPROVAL FOR NEXT MEETING  PDN ITU-R RS.[EESS-9GHz_RDS] - Sharing of wideband EESS SAR transmissions with stations in RDS in the bands MHz and  Liaison statement to WP5B, indicating 8,700 – 9,200 MHz no longer under consideration. APPROVAL FOR NEXT MEETING

Summary of Relevant ITU SG/WP Progress  Proposed new Recommendations for Mitigation  PDN ITU-R RS.[EESS9GHz-RAS-MITIGATION] - Protection of RAS in band GHz from unwanted OOB from synthetic aperture radars operating in EESS (active) around MHz  Agreed at WP7C in close liaison with WP7D. Further discussion required at next meeting, as various operational aspects to be considered  PDN ITU-R RS.[EESS9GHz-SRS-MITIGATION] - Protection of SRS space-to-earth links in the MHz and MHz bands from unwanted OOB from synthetic aperture radars operating in the EESS (active) around MHz  Agreed at WP7C in close liaison with WP7B. Further discussion required at next meeting, due to various operational mitigation measures and further engagement required.

Summary of Relevant ITU SG/WP Progress  Study Highlights (Existing in-band allocations)  Sharing between EESS & RDS  9,000 – 9,200 MHz not retained due to lack of guidance from ITU on processing gain, and safety critical service of ARNS  As a result, 8,700 MHz – 9,000 MHz no longer considered as it would not provide a contiguous 1,200 MHz band  9,300 MHz – 10,000 MHz already studied, indicating no interference  10,000 MHz – 10,500 MHz may result in interference % * N, where N = number of systems, of time over 11 days  Sharing between EESS & FS/MS  Feasible  Sharing between EESS & Amateur RS / Amateur RSS  Very limited interference (0.004% of the time)

Summary of Relevant ITU SG/WP Progress  Study Highlights (OOB Emissions)  Space Research Service (SRS) – 8,400 – 8,450 MHz (deep space), 8,450 – 8,500 MHz (near earth)  For normal operations, 77dB attenuation required for deep space, 31dB attenuation required for near earth  SRS Receiver damage by:  71dB if 8,700 – 9,300 MHz  9dB if 9,000 – 9,300 MHz and 9,900 – 10,200 MHz  2dB if 9,900 – 10,500 MHz  Operational mitigation strategies exist  Radio Astronomy Service (RAS) – 10,600 – 10,700 MHz  63dB attenuation required to reduce to 2% allowable data loss  Operational mitigation strategies exist  SRS (passive) & EESS (passive) – 10,600 – 10,700 MHz  No interference expected

Method(s) to satisfy the agenda Item  Method A - Primary EESS (active) allocation in the frequency band MHz.  Method A1 – Add primary allocation: Shall impose that EESS shall not cause harmful interference to, nor claim protection from, radio location service allocated in the frequency band MHz. In addition, the extension band shall only be used by EESS (active) systems requiring a bandwidth greater than 600 MHz that cannot be accommodated in the frequency band MHz. The protection of radio astronomy service in the frequency band GHz will be ensured through Recommendation incorporated by reference in the RR.  Method A2 - Add primary allocation, subject to inclusion of technical and regulatory constraints in the RR: As above, but inclusions will ensure protection for radiolocation and fixed services (ensured through footnote in RR with pfd-limit).

Method(s) to satisfy the agenda Item  Method B - Primary EESS (active) allocation in the frequency bands MHz and MHz.  Impose that EESS (active) shall not cause harmful interference to, nor claim protection from the radio determination services allocated in the frequency bands MHz and MHz. In addition, the extension band shall only be used by EESS (active) systems requiring a bandwidth greater than 600 MHz that cannot be accommodated in the frequency band MHz. The protection of radio astronomy service in the frequency band GHz will be ensured through Recommendation incorporated by reference in the RR.

Method(s) to satisfy the agenda Item  Method A1  Advantages  Achieves required 600 MHz for EESS  Provides explicit protection of radiolocation service  Disadvantages  None  Method A2  Advantages  As above, but also specifies provisions for protection of FS  Disadvantages  Depending on value of pfd limit, may place undue constraints on EESS

Method(s) to satisfy the agenda Item  Method B  Advantages  Achieves required 600 MHz for EESS  Provides an explicit requirement for protection of the RLS and the RNS by footnote  Disadvantages  None

Preliminary SA Position  Method A2 or B  A2 provides stronger protection measures for radiolocation and fixed services  B provides for explicit protection requirement for radiolocation and radionavigation services, whilst also reducing potential impact as a result of unwanted OOB emissions (larger guard band)

Conclusion  No significant controversy  Discussions ongoing regarding mitigation techniques  Responsibility of coordination should be on EESS operators, not SRS/RAS