Supporting Existing and Future Operation of Fixed-Satellite Service Earth Stations Within

AERONAUTICAL COMMUNICATIONS PANEL (ACP)

27th MEETING OF WORKING GROUP F

Montreal, Canada 17-26 September 2012

Supporting existing and future operation of fixed-satellite service earth stations within theband 3400-4200MHz, as an aid to the safe operation of aircraft and reliable distribution of meteorological information in some countries in Region1

(Presented by M. Biggs)

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1Resolution 154 (WRC-12) is the subject of WRC-15 agenda item- 9.1.5 related the Report of the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau. The Resolution resolves to invite ITU-R “to study possible technical and regulatory measures in some countries in Region1 to support the existing and future FSS earth stations in the 3400-4200MHz band used for satellite communications related to safe operation of aircraft…” in locations where an adequate terrestrial communication infrastructure is not available,and fixed-satellite service (FSS) earth stations are the only viable option to augment the communication infrastructure in order to satisfy the overall communications infrastructure requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

2.ACTION BY THE MEETING

2.1To ensure that State WRC positions reflect aviation concerns, the ICAO WRC Position is usually developed before necessary ITU-R studies are complete. As a result, the ICAO WRC Position should reflect the core concerns of aviation, while remaining open enough to encompass study conclusions. In that vein, it is proposed that the meeting finalize the draft ICAO position for WRC-15 Agenda item 9.1.5 by making the following modifications:

WRC-152 Agenda Item 9.1.5

Agenda Item Title:

Consideration of technical and regulatory actions in order to support existing and future operation of fixedsatellite service earth stations within the band 3400-4200MHz, as an aid to the safe operation of aircraft and reliable distribution of meteorological information in some countries in Region1 (Resolution 154 [COM6/24]) (WRC-12)

Discussion:

The efficient provision ofair navigationservicesrequiresthe implementationand operation ofground communications infrastructure with the availability, reliability and integrity in order to fulfill theperformance requirementsof the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)and International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

In Africa and the Indian Ocean (AFI), the difficulty of fulfilling these requirements, given the extent of the airspace and weakness in the communications infrastructure, led, in 1997, the ICAO AFI Planning and Implementation Regional Group (APIRG) to approve the use of fixed satellite technology in the band 3.4 to 4.2 GHz to support aeronautical communications services in the band 3.4 to 4.2 GHz.

Thus, since the 90s, states and / or organizations in the AFI Region have developed and implemented networks of satellite-based very small aperture terminal (VSAT) in this band. These VSAT networks support all aeronautical communications services including the extension of VHF aeronautical mobile, navigation and surveillance.

Today, they constitute a real infrastructure spanning the entire African continent and beyond and the availability of the entire 3.4 to 4.2 GHz FSS band is crucial to allow the AFI region to ensure the continued growth of traffic while maintaining the required level of safety in this region.

Recommendation 724, adopted by the WRC-07, indicates that satellite communication systems operating in the fixed satellite service may be the only medium to satisfy the requirements of the ICAO communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management systems, by Administrations in those countries where an adequate terrestrial communication infrastructure is not available.

ICAO supports ITU-R studies in order to develop explore the appropriate regulatory and/or technical material measures that Administrations in the AFI region may be able to employ to facilitate protection of VSATs used for the transmission of aeronautical and meteorological information in the 3.4 to 4.2 GHz frequency band from other services operating in the band within the Administration’s territory. This willto ensure the continued growth of traffic while maintaining the required level of safety in this region.

ICAO Position:

To support ITU-R studies in order to the development explore of regulatory and/or technical material measures that Administrations in the AFI region may be able to employ to facilitateto protection of VSATs used for the transmission of aeronautical and meteorological information the existing and future uses of aeronautical systems in the 3.4 to 4.2 GHz frequency band from other services operating in the band within the Administration’s territory.

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