APEC TPT-WG 17 SN&C ADVISORY COMMITTEE: FINAL REPORT

Singapore

The Satellite Navigation & Communications (SN&C) Systems Advisory Committee met on Monday, March 27, 2000, during the 17th meeting of the APEC Transportation Working Group (TPT-WG) in Singapore. Thirteen Economies were represented at the meeting including Australia, Brunei Darussulam, Canada, China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and the United States.

After the Chair reviewed the agenda, the floor was opened to review the Terms of Reference and the revised Initial Task List (TPTWG17/SC/SNC/2/1). As a result of the review, Economies noted that maritime and land transport representatives should be encouraged to participate in SN&C advisory committee meetings. The Chair also reminded the delegates that targeted deliverables should be apparent as the Initial Task List continues to be updated.

The Chair provided an update on his presentation to the Asia Pacific Telecommunity meeting in February 2000 in Tokyo regarding global navigation satellite system spectrum protection (TPTWG17/SC/SNC/4/1). The SN&C advisory committee noted that the APEC Transportation Ministers endorsed retention of the spectrum band 1559-1610 MHz for exclusive use by radionavigation services. The committee members also noted that all Ministers agreed to work to support the retention of the current allocation of the spectrum band 1559-1610 MHz for exclusive use of the aeronautical radionavigation and radionavigation-satellite services at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) 2000. The Chair thanked all the advisory committee members for their work over the past two years in developing and receiving final endorsement of the statement. It was also noted by a number of the members that, although the committee had achieved success in receiving endorsement of the statement, all Economies must remain vigilant in providing information to their colleagues, particularly within the telecommunication community, on the importance of maintaining GNSS spectrum as outlined in the statement for transportation safety of life applications. It also was noted that all Economies should remain engaged within their governments as positions are developed for the May 2000 WRC in Turkey.

The Chair then moved to discuss promotion of the development of a regional GNSS augmentation system. A report on the March 23-24, 2000 Workshop on Regional Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) was presented by Brunei Darussalam (TPTWG17/SC/SNC/3/1). A total of 16 participants from six Economies and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) attended the workshop at the Singapore Aviation Academy. The workshop participants agreed that there was a need to form a small group of experts and nominated the Brunei Darussalam delegate to lead this experts group called the "Group of Experts on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Implementation". The workshop participants encouraged all Economies to participate and report back to their respective Economies on this important initiative. The proposed terms of reference and objectives of this experts group were developed after a thorough review of information known to the participants. It was recommended that the experts group meet in August/September 2000 so its recommendations can be reviewed at the next SN&C meeting, held in conjunction with the 18^th APEC TPT-WG meeting in November 2000. Furthermore, to progress the work of the experts group and obtain users’ feedback, the advisory committee will seek approval from the Steering Committee to work with the Lead Shepherd, APEC Secretariat, and TPT-WG to obtain permission to invite the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Maritime Organization (IMO), and other relevant international organizations to attend SN&C meetings on a regular basis.

The Chair reminded participants of the Calendar of Events on the SN&C homepage within the TPT-WG website. If Economies have events to post, please forward to the Chair.

Recommendations:

• that the Steering Committee endorse the advisory committee report; with emphasis placed on the Spectrum Protection Statement by the Ministers and continued vigilance by the Economies on this issue leading up to the WRC 2000 in May;

• that maritime and land transport representatives be encouraged to attend SN&C Advisory Committee meetings;

• that the Steering Committee report to the TPT-WG that the SN&C Advisory Committee established a "Group of Experts on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Implementation" as recommended at TPTWG-16 that would report its initiatives regularly to the Steering Committee and the full TPTWG as appropriate;

that the Steering Committee agree that the Chair work with the Lead Shepherd, APEC Secretariat, and TPT-WG to obtain permission to invite the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Maritime Organization (IMO), and other relevant international organizations to attend SN&C meetings on a regular basis

This page was last updated on 13 April 2000