1. Agenda Item: 9.1 Title: Protection of the systems operating in the mobile-satellite service in the band 406- 406.1 MHz

2. Relevant Resolution/s Resolution 205 (Rev.WRC-12) In accordance with the direction of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12) Resolution 205 (Rev.WRC- 12), ITU-R undertakes to conduct appropriate regulatory, technical and operational studies with a view to ensuring adequate protection of mobile-satellite service (MSS) system operating in the frequency band of 406-406.1

3. Issues  9.1.1 Protection of the systems operating in the mobile-satellite service in the band 406-406.1 MHz

4. Frequency Bands under consideration 390 to 406 MHz 406.1 to 420 MHz Rec ITU-R M.1478-2 1 544-1 545 MHz Rec ITU-R M.1731-1

5. Summary of Relevant ITU SG/WP Progress  The 406-406.1 MHz frequency band is exclusively allocated to mobile-satellite service, which is currently used by the Cospas-Sarsat system. The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme implements, maintains, co-ordinates and operates satellite systems designed to provide distress alert and location data to assist search and rescue (SAR) operations, using spacecraft and ground facilities to detect and locate the signals of distress beacons operating on 406 MHz.

6. Summary of Relevant ITU SG/WP Progress As a summary, the Cospas-Sarsat system encompasses three space segment components: 1)a LEO (Low Earth Orbit) component with satellites embarking SARP (Search and Rescue Processor) and SARR (Search and Rescue Repeater) instruments on polar sun ‑ synchronized orbit; 2)a GEO (GEO stationary Orbit) component with different satellites (MSG, GOES, Insat ‑ 3A, Electro and Luch) embarking a SAR (Search And Rescue) repeater; 3)a MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) component with three main radio-navigation systems (GPS, Galileo, Glonass) embarking on their satellites a SAR repeater.

7. Summary of Relevant ITU SG/WP Progress As a summary, the Cospas-Sarsat system encompasses three space segment components: 1)a LEO (Low Earth Orbit) component with satellites embarking SARP (Search and Rescue Processor) and SARR (Search and Rescue Repeater) instruments on polar sun ‑ synchronized orbit; 2)a GEO (GEO stationary Orbit) component with different satellites (MSG, GOES, Insat ‑ 3A, Electro and Luch) embarking a SAR (Search And Rescue) repeater; 3)a MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) component with three main radio-navigation systems (GPS, Galileo, Glonass) embarking on their satellites a SAR repeater.

8. Summary of Relevant ITU SG/WP Progress The protection criteria developed in Recommendations ITU-R M.1478-2 and ITU-R M.1731-1 provide allowable power flux-density requirements against wideband out-of band and narrow band spurious emissions for the frequency bands used by the Cospas-Sarsat systems. Emissions in adjacent bands, if not adequately controlled, could raise the level of noise captured by the Cospas ‑ Sarsat systems and hinder their abilities to detect and/or relay signal from beacons and/or degrade the accuracy of the positions reported for the distress signals.

9. Method(s) to satisfy the agenda Item  To be developed

10. Preliminary SA Position  To be developed, but in existence of very little interference from the Southern Hemisphere around RSA/SADC, will support methods to protect this important SAR function from harmful emissions in the future

11. Conclusion  Close monitoring of all tests results is on-going.  Attendance to COSPAS- SARSAT in Montreal, Canada during February 2014 underlined the importance of this protection.