The WRC-23 Webinars

Discussions around the future use of the UHF band are expected to be some of the most prominent ahead of WRC-23, with a particular focus on the situation in Region 1. At WRC-19, there was a proposal from some Arab states for a change in the WRC-23 UHF agenda item to propose a harmonised band at 470—694 MHz with a co-primary allocation to the broadcasting and mobile services and an identification for IMT. Both Europe and Africa opposed this position and the proposal was rejected – instead a more neutral review of the use of the UHF band in Region 1 will be considered at WRC-23.

 
WRC-23 will review the spectrum use and spectrum needs of existing services in 470-960 MHz in Region 1; and will consider possible regulatory actions in 470-694 MHz in Region 1.
 

• • What work needs to be done in ITU-R study groups in order to prepare for the WRC-23 review of the usage and needs in the 470-960 MHz UHF band in Region 1?
  • What similarities and what differences currently exist between the approaches and positions being seen across the sub-regions in Region 1?
  • How much UHF spectrum is actually required by different services (for example IMT, DTT, PMSE) in the medium and longer term? How can the needs of all users in the band best be balanced?
  • To what extent are there possibilities for sharing between IMT and incumbent users of the UHF band, and what challenges are there to this?
  • Would making the frequencies available on a paired (FDD) or an unpaired (TDD) basis make any changes to this?
  • What roadmap is in place for the development and adaptation of the required equipment for mobile broadband services in the UHF band, and what might this mean for the future bandplan?

Around the world, the C-Band is seen by the mobile community as a hugely important frequency for 5G. It is also intensively used for other services however – particularly in tropical areas, where its high resistance to rain fade makes it crucial for satellite services. The 3.4GHz – 3.6GHz portion of the C-band has been allocated on a primary basis to the mobile service and identified for IMT on a global level. However, the future of the 3.3GHz – 3.4GHz and the 3.6GHz – 3.8 GHz portions of the band in Regions 1 and 2 are set to be discussed in detail at WRC-23.
 
At WRC-23, the 3.6 – 3.8 GHz upper portion of the C-band is due to be studied ahead of a possible upgrade to co-primary for mobile in Region 1, and also for possible use for IMT 5G in Region 2. The 3.3 – 3.4 GHz portion of the band is due to be studied ahead of a possible identification for IMT in Regions 1 and 2.

• • What are the key issues for consideration for national and regional delegations studying the both the 3.3 – 3.4GHz and the 3.6 – 3.8GHz portions of the band ahead of its discussion at WRC-23?
  • What similarities and what differences currently exist between the approaches and positions being seen in different regions?
  • Where does the balance lie between looking to deliver a co-ordinated approach (at both a regional and global level), whilst also providing flexibility and recognising the differences that exist between countries and regions?
  • With the 3.4GHz – 3.6GHz now allocated as on a primary basis to the mobile service on a global level, to what extent is there still a need for additional bandwidth in the C-band to be allocated to the mobile service and identified for IMT to meet the growing needs for 5G?
  • To what extent could the opening up of the 3.3 – 3.4 GHz portion of the band for IMT provide an additional option for countries looking to provide 400MHz of contiguous spectrum for IMT whilst also continuing to meet the needs of key satellite stakeholders?
  • How can the needs of the satellite, mobile, broadcasting and other communities across the C-band be best balanced to ensure that the requirements of all key sectors are met?

The 6GHz band is quickly becoming the new spectrum ‘battleground’, with a number of different technologies and users staking a claim for access to this vital spectrum. The main issue is around a possible identification of parts of this band for IMT while keeping the balance of 5G, WiFi users and existing services in the band. A number of quite different approaches and positions are being seen on this in countries around the world – the US supports unlicensed use for all of the band, while Europe opted for unlicensed use in the lower part only (below 6425 MHz). China, meanwhile, supports the use of the entire 6GHz band for licensed 5G. Many other countries are currently consulting and developing their own national positions on the band.
 
At WRC-23, the upper portion (6425-7125 MHz) of the band is due to be studied ahead of a possible identification for IMT in Region 1, with the top 100 MHz of the band due to be studied globally.

• • Where does the balance lie between licenced and unlicenced use in the 6GHz band?
  • To what extent could it be an option for mobile operators to access the band on a licence-exempt basis using NR-U?
  • To what extent is coexistence between 5G and WiFi in the band a possibility?What work is being done across the regions to study this and what results have been seen?
  • What similarities and what differences currently exist between the approaches and positions being seen in different regions?
  • What impact may counties making an early decision on the use of the band (ahead of the WRC-23 process) have on the overall future ecosystem in the band?
  • To what extent is a globally or regionally harmonised 6GHz band ecosystem a realistic goal in the long term?