15^th TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP
Santiago de Chile, April 19 - 23,1999

 TPT/WG/15/SE/SC/3.6b

 Third Meeting of Steering Committee on
Safe and Environment-Friendly Transportation Systems

Review of existing projects

 Information Paper: Asia Pacific Telecommunity Meeting

 USA

(Information Document)

ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC)

Working Draft Ministerial Statements regarding Protection of ARNS/RNSS
Spectrum 1559 – 1610 MHz

Both the Transportation Working Group and Telecommunications Working Group of APEC have independently reviewed existing studies and data regarding the proposed co-primary allocation of the spectrum 1559 – 1610 MHz at WRC-97 and the potential issue (Res.220) to be raised again at WRC-2000.

In light of the potential negative impact, to vital Trade and Economic industries, including Safety of Life applications, which rely on the satellite services provided using this spectrum band; the working groups have drafted the attached positions. The working group’s positions have been developed in the form of Ministerial Statements and have submitted them for review within the Economies. At the conclusion of the review, the working groups will forward these statements to the Ministers of each Economy with Transport and Communication’s Portfolios for their endorsement and submission to the ITU.

Attachments (2)

Attachment 1

DRAFT

Statement of the APEC Telecommunications Ministers on the Protection of Global Navigation Satellite System Spectrum for Information Infrastructure

The 1997 International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 27 to November 22, 1997. Over 2000 delegates participated, representing 131 States and several international organizations. A proposal was made at WRC-97 to provide a co-primary allocation for Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) in the 1559-1567 MHz segment of the 1559-1610 MHz aeronautical radionavigation and radionavigation satellite service band used by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The Conference did not adopt the proposal, but resolved to complete studies of the potential for sharing spectrum between GNSS and MSS before WRC-2000 so that a final decision could be made at that time.

The 1559-1610 MHz band is currently used for the Global Positioning System (GPS), which is operated by the United States, and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), which is operated by Russia. Due to the very low power and a data rate of receive-only GNSS signals, two-way communications systems can easily cause harmful interference as a result of spectrum sharing or even out-of-band emissions from nearby services. In addition, innovative uses for existing GNSS spectrum continue to emerge, such as European proposals for a new satellite navigation service (Galileo) that would be interoperable with GPS, and efforts by Japan, Europe, and the United States to complete implementation of GPS augmentation systems for air navigation and other purposes.

We, the APEC Telecommunication Ministers,

Recognizing that the positioning, navigation, and precise timing services provided by GNSS add value to a wide range of information infrastructures;

Recognizing the importance of free access to GNSS signals in bringing the benefits of global information infrastructure to all economies;

Noting that studies conducted within the ITU indicate that sharing of GNSS spectrum with other services is not feasible and would adversely impact safety-of-life applications;

Noting supportive interventions by PECC to protect the GNSS spectrum and increase the understanding of GNSS applications to the needs of Asia-Pacific economies;

Acknowledging the need to preserve and protect the integrity of GNSS spectrum for current users as well as future development of GNSS services; do hereby

ENDORSE retention of the existing spectrum band 1559-1610 MHz for exclusive use by radionavigation services, and accordingly

CALL UPON member economies to work cooperatively to support retention of the current allocation of the spectrum band 1559-1610 MHz for exclusive use by aeronautical radionavigation and radionavigation satellite services at the 2000 Word Radiocommunication Conference.

Attachment 2

DRAFT

Statement of the APEC Transportation Ministers on the
Protection of the Global Navigation Satellite System Spectrum
for all Modes of Transportation

The 1997 International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 27, to November 22, 1997. Over 2000 delegates participated, representing 131 States and several international organizations. One proposal made at WRC-97 was to provide a co-primary spectrum allocation to the mobile satellite service (MSS) in the 1559-1567 MHz segment of the 1559-1610 MHz aeronautical radionavigation/radionavigation-satellite service band used by the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS.) The conference did not adopt the proposal, but resolved to complete a study of the potential for spectrum sharing between the GNSS and MSS before WRC-2000 so that a final decision could be made at that time.

The 1559-1610 MHz band is currently used for the Global Positioning System or GPS (operated by the United States) and the Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System or GLONASS (operated by Russia) and has been identified by the international transportation community as the sole frequency band available to support the spectrum requirements of the emerging Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS.)

We, the APEC Transportation Ministers,

recognizing the importance of maintaining and protecting the integrity of the GNSS spectrum for safety of life, environmental protection and economic applications and services, including air, marine and other modes of transportation;

noting that studies conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, and the Economy of the United States indicate that the worldwide sharing of the spectrum band 1559-1610 MHz, will adversely impact distress and safety of life applications and other transportation services;

acknowledging that continued safety and growth of all modes of transportation may be adversely affected if this frequency band is not protected;

noting the work required of Economies to prepare for the WRC-2000 in regard to allocation of aeronautical radio frequencies, frequency interference and its effect on such applications;

ENDORSE retention of the spectrum band 1559-1610 MHz for exclusive use by radionavigation services, and

accordingly AGREE 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 WRC 2000.

This page was last updated on 12 March, 2008