1. RATIFICATION OF THE WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE 2015 (WRC-15) FINAL ACTS
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2. Purpose
To request Parliament to ratify the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) Final Acts, in line with Section 231(2) of the Constitution.
NB: The changes to the Radio Regulations are technical in nature however they impact on the Republic of South Africa and therefore need to ensure that the National Radio Frequency Plan (NRFP) complies with Treaty Agreements. This is incorporated into South Africa’s domestic legislation in reference in section 34 of the Electronic Communications Act No. 36 of 2005.
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3. International Telecommunications Union (ITU) - WRC
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) - ITU is a United Nations (UN) Member-State body specialising in telecommunications and information technology.
The ITU convenes the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), to review and revise the Radio Regulations in order to reflect the latest technological developments, respond to changing market demand and service specific spectrum requirements.
ITU held the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15) from 02 to 27 November 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland
The Minister, in the exercise of his functions, as mandated by the Section 34 (1) of the Electronic Communication Act (Act 36 of 2005) represented the Republic at the ITU, in respect of — (a) the international allocation of radio frequency spectrum;
At the end of the WRC-15, the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Dr Siyabonga Cwele signed on behalf of the Republic the Final Acts of WRC-15 on the 27 November 2015
The ITU will then incorporate WRC decisions into the main treaty (the International Radio Regulations) for ratification by Member States
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4. ITU Radio Regulations
The Radio Regulations provide an agreed framework of rights, obligations and procedures applicable between countries in their many uses of the radio-frequency spectrum
The International Table of Frequency Allocations is amended whenever necessary to accord with any changes to the Radio Regulations made by World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs) of the ITU.
At the WRC-15, a number of amendments to the Radio Regulations were adopted to make provision for new services and new technologies in various frequency bands. The treaty also includes some non-treaty-level resolutions and recommendations, and a framework for the studies required for the agenda items of the next conference in late 2019.
The Radio Regulations, edition of 2016, contains the complete texts of the Radio Regulations as adopted by the WRC-95, subsequently revised and approved by the WRC-97, the WRC-2000, the WRC-03, WRC-07, the WRC-12 and the latest WRC-15, including all Appendices, Resolutions, Recommendations and ITU-R Recommendations incorporated by reference.
The ITU has published the 2016 edition of Radio Regulations on November 2016.
The Radio Regulations would come to force effective 01 January 2017.
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5. Strategic focus
Respond to South Africa’s domestic radio spectrum requirements, and utilization in line with Government policies
In exercise of its sovereign rights, the Republic of South Africa reserves the right to structure its own National Radio-Frequency Plan (“NRFP” or “the Table of Frequency Allocations”) to suit national requirements. (The NRFP is a comprehensive source of information, that provides key data on current and potential radio spectrum allocations in South Africa and aims to inform a diverse range of stakeholders, including current and potential users of the radio spectrum);
Ensure protection of spectrum allocated by the Minister for exclusive use of security services (as defined in Ch.11 of the Constitution), and further take account of government’s current and planned use of radio spectrum, including civil aviation, aeronautical services and scientific research.
Intensify the development of broadband services, protection of spectrum currently allocated for digital terrestrial TV, facilitate new mobile-satellite services, and provide a more flexible regulatory framework for use of the radio-frequency spectrum. As such South Africa can expect to see new technologies developed in overseas markets that can quickly be deployed within South Africa.
Harmonization within the region, benefit from economies of scale in devices and interference free operation of radiocommunication
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6. Ratification of Final Acts
National implications from WRC-15
The international Radio Regulations will have an impact on the national spectrum management arrangements, in particular the update to the National Radio-Frequency Plan (“NRFP”);
If the Amendments to the Radio Regulations are not ratified, South Africa may be disadvantaged in the long-run due to other countries not recognising South Africa when co-ordinating e.g. satellites and other terrestrial services. This could potentially lead to interference to South Africa’s existing satellite and terrestrial based services;
WRC–15 outcomes also provide ‘market’ signals, in terms of the evolving use of the spectrum in various frequency bands and hence will also influence interest in various bands for different applications; and
The outlined outcomes of WRC-15 will be taken by DTPS and ICASA as part of ongoing ‘environmental’ awareness of spectrum management trends;
Process of Ratification of WRC-15 Final Acts
State Law advisor consulted: Justice and International
Liaison with DIRCO and relevant clusters including the ICTS;
Submission to Cabinet through relevant Cabinet committee
Submission to Parliament through the Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services and the National Assembly through the Select Committee on Public Enterprises and Labour
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7. Key WRC–15 Outcomes Mobile broadband communications
WRC-15 agreed on additional allocations to the mobile broadband service and identification for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) to allow for a globally harmonized solution for the implementation of mobile broadband. Additional allocations to mobile broadband communications include:
694 – 790 MHz (approximately 96 MHz of bandwidth);
1 427 – MHz (91 MHz);
3 300 – MHz (100 MHz);
MHz (200 MHz);
Region
Current Spectrum
New Spectrum
Total after WRC-15
% Increase
Europe
1085 MHz
187 MHz
1272 MHz
17.2%
Arab states
885 MHz
387 MHz
43.7%
Africa
487 MHz
1372 MHz
55%
Americas
951 MHz
375 MHz
1326 MHz
39.4%
Asia Pacific
1177 MHz
91 MHz
1268 MHz
7.7%
Africa is the Region that gained the most spectrum for broadband from the WRC-15 IMT allocations
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8. Key WRC–15 Outcomes Broadcasting service
South Africa opposed an allocation of the frequency band MHz to mobile broadband communications.
WRC–15 outcome: No change to the Radio Regulations for the frequency band MHz at WRC-15, i.e., this frequency band will continue to be used on an exclusive basis for digital TV.
WRC-15 outcome provides certainty to broadcasting service by protecting Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) spectrum.
Emergency communications and disaster relief
WRC-15 identified spectrum in the MHz frequency band to facilitate mobile broadband communications for robust and reliable mission critical emergency services in public protection and disaster relief (PPDR), such as police, fire, ambulances and disaster response teams.
Facilitates introduction of mission-critical data applications for emergency services.
Search and rescue
WRC-15 reinforced protection to Search and Rescue beacons that transmit in the MHz frequency band signals in the uplink to search and rescue satellites, e.g. the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system
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9. Key WRC–15 Outcomes Unmanned aircraft and wireless avionics systems
WRC-15 opened the way for the development by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of worldwide standards for unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS” or “drones”), and identified the regulatory conditions that may be applied to such systems internationally once these standards are adopted.
WRC-15 also agreed on spectrum in the band 4200 – 4400 MHz for wireless avionics intra-communications (WAIC) to allow for the heavy and expensive wiring used in aircraft to be replaced by wireless systems.
Global flight tracking for civil aviation
Agreement was reached on the allocation of radio-frequency spectrum for global flight tracking in civil aviation for improved safety.
The frequency band MHz has been allocated to the aeronautical mobile-satellite service (Earth-to-space) for reception by space stations of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) emissions from aircraft transmitters. This will facilitate reporting the position of aircraft equipped with ADS-B anywhere in the world, including oceanic, polar and other remote areas.
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10. Key WRC–15 Outcomes Enhanced maritime communications systems
WRC-15 considered regulatory provisions and frequency allocations to enable new Automatic Identification System (AIS) applications and other possible new applications to improve maritime radiocommunication.
New applications for data exchange, using AIS technology, are intended to improve the safety of navigation. New allocations were made in the bands MHz and MHz to the maritime mobile-satellite service uplink for such applications.
Road Safety
Radio-frequency spectrum needed for the operation of short-range high-resolution automotive radar has been allocated in the 79 GHz frequency band.
This will provide a globally harmonized regulatory framework for automotive radar to prevent collisions and thus improve vehicular safety.
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11. Key WRC–15 Outcomes
Earth observation satellites for environmental monitoring
WRC-15 agreed to new allocations in the 7-8 GHz frequency range needed to uplink large amounts of data for operation plans and dynamic spacecraft software modifications that will eventually lead to simplified on-board architecture and operational concepts for future missions of earth-exploration satellite services (EESS).
Additionally, allocations of spectrum in the 9-10 GHz frequency range will permit the development of modern broadband sensing technologies and space-borne radars on active sensing EESS.
Fixed-satellite service
WRC-15 made a new allocation for the fixed-satellite service (FSS) in the frequency bands GHz (Region 1), GHz (Regions 1 and 2) and GHz (Region 3) to meet the growing demand for spectrum for various applications.
The use of the band MHz by systems of the FSS providing feeder links of non-GSO systems in the mobile-satellite service was maintained as a primary allocation without time limit.
Operation of broadband satellite systems: Earth Stations in Motion
WRC-15 agreed to facilitate the global deployment of Earth Stations In Motion (ESIM) in the and GHz frequency bands in the fixed-satellite service (FSS), paving the way for satellite systems to provide global broadband connectivity for the transportation community.
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12. Key WRC–15 Outcomes Maritime-mobile satellite service
WRC-15 made a new allocation to the maritime-mobile satellite service (MMSS) in the frequency band MHz to provide additional bandwidth for data transmission by the next-generation satellites in the MMSS.
Satellite filing, coordination and notification procedures
Regulatory procedures for an advance publication, coordination and notification have been improved by the various decisions taken by WRC-15 including suppression of the requirement for submission of Advance Publication Information (API) for satellite networks subject to coordination.
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13. SIYABONGA, KE A LEBOGA, DANKIE
Making South Africa a Global Leader in Harnessing ICTs for Socio-economic Development