1. ATU Preliminary Views on the various WRC-15 Agenda Items
African Telecommunications Union
ATU Preliminary Views on the various
WRC-15 Agenda Items
a presentation to the ICAO AFI Spectrum Workshop for WRC-15
Nairobi 3-4 Sep 2013
Kezias MWALE
Technical Coordinator
Sep 2013

2. Overview of ATU
Established in 1977 in Kinshasa – the DRC, as Pan-African Telecommunications Union (PATU) as a specialized agency of AOU for telecommunications. Re-named in 1999 as African Telecommunications Union (ATU) still as specialized agency of AU for telecommunications
Has four permanent organs
Plenipotentiaries Conference
Administrative Council
Technical and Development Conference
General Secretariat - headquartered in Nairobi – Kenya
Provides for non-permanent organs e.g. the newly established AfriSWoG (African Spectrum Working Group)
Currently has 43 Member States and 21 Associate Members
However, all African countries actively participate in ATU activities
Major challenge has been finances due to lack of confidence – however this is been actively addressed – up to 8 countries liquidated all their arrears last financial year alone
Decision 18 of SADC ICT Ministers meeting of 2013
Delegation of AUC roaming agenda, ISOC, African Institute, other partnerships
Sep 2013

3. (African Common Position, AfCP)
Preliminary views Vs. Positions
Status
Preliminary views
Preliminary view
No rule established as yet. Views are collated as they are presented by membership. Categorization into majority or minority in warranted cases is simply an aid to help understand different views, where applicable. A competent meeting is not necessarily required.
Position
(African Common Position, AfCP)
A position supported by 16 countries and no more than 8 express objections attending a competent meeting (in other words those opposing should not be more than 50% of those proposing a position). This is similar principle to APT.
1st competent meeting for WRC-15 preparations was held in Dakar from 18 – 20 March, 2013
Regional positions (ECCAS, EACO, ECOWAS, SADC, North) play a major role in forming the ATU position – a regional have a ‘veto’ power
Sep 2013

4. WRC-15 preliminary views 1/9
Agenda Item
Topic
Preliminary views
1.1
Additional spectrum to mobile and identification thereof for IMT under mobile service
The 470 – 694 MHz band
View 1: To be excluded in the studies (majority view)
View 2: To be included for study
The 3400 – 3600MHz band
View 1: To be included in the studies see 5.430A which list 27 countries for IMT use (majority view);
View 2: To be excluded for study
The 3600 – 4200MHz band
View 1: To be excluded in the studies (majority view; Section 9.9 of Dakar Report)
C-band remains crucial to most parts of Africa sometimes as the only form of communications
is increasingly being for aeronautical services
C-band is used as backbone for IMT in many parts
Other bands
No strong view on whether or not to consider other satellite bands ( MHz, MHz, MHz)
Sep 2013

5. WRC-15 preliminary views 2/9
Agenda Item
Topic
Preliminary views
9.1-5
Satellite services in the C-band (3400 – 4200 MHz) to support civil aviation in some countries of Region 1
The 3400 – 3600MHz band
Safe use of this band by civil aviation may not be sustainable because the band is already identified for IMT in many countries (AI 1.1 and 5.430A refers).
5.30A: African countries (Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo (Rep. of the), Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Dem. Rep. of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe)
The 3600 – 4200MHz band
Safe use of this band by civil aviation may be sustainable as such the studies are supported (AI 1.1 refers).
Sep 2013

6. WRC-15 preliminary views 3/9
Agenda Item
Topic
Preliminary views 8
Footnotes
5.457: HAPS in the 6GHz band demanding explicit agreement of countries within 1000km from the border of Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Nigeria. The four countries will be invited to reconsider the relavance of thier names in this footnote
5.XYZ: Deletion or addition of country names onto footnotes to improve harmonization e.g A on the use of MHz for IMT (already 27 countries are included)
Sep 2013

7. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
WRC-15 preliminary views /9
Agenda Item
Topic
Preliminary views
1.5
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
No objection to the principle so far: Support the studies for possible identification as it would support the development of aviation and progressive
Foreseen deployment includes e.g. anti-pouching and farming
Not aware of any objecting view
Sep 2013

8. Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC)
WRC-15 preliminary views /9
Agenda Item
Topic
Preliminary views
1.17
Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC)
No objection to the principle so far: Support the studies for possible identification as it would support the development of aviation and progressive
Not aware of any objecting view
Sep 2013

9. WRC-15 preliminary views 6/9
Agenda Item
Topic
Preliminary views
1.7
Review the use of the band 5091 – 5150 MHz
By the Fixed satellite service
No objection to the principle so far: Support the review so as to improve the coordination process
Not aware of any objecting view
Sep 2013

10. WRC-15 preliminary views 7/9
Agenda Item
Topic
Preliminary views
1.4
Amateur service in the band 5250 – 5450 kHz
Only one view so far: Support the new allocation
1.16
Automatic Identification Systems (AIS)
No objection to the principle so far: Support the studies for possible introduction of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) as it would support the development of maritime and would be progressive
Not aware of any objecting view
Sep 2013

11. WRC-15 preliminary views 8/9
Agenda Item
Topic
Preliminary views
1.11/
1.12
Additional/extension spectrum to Earth exploration-satellite service in the band GHz/ 10 GHz band
No objection to the principle so far: Support the studies for possible additional/extension provided current systems are protected/not constrained
Not aware of any objecting view
1.6/
1.9-1/
1.9-2/
1.10
Additional spectrum to fixed/mobile/maritime-mobile satellite satellite service in the band 10 – 17 GHz; 7 and 8 GHz bands; GHz
Sep 2013

12. Definitions of fixed service, fixed station and mobile station
WRC-15 preliminary views /9
Agenda Item
Topic
Preliminary views
9.1-1
Protection of systems on mobile satellite systems in the band MHz
No objection to the principle so far: Support the studies for possible additional protection provided systems in the adjacent are not unduly affected or constrained
Not aware of any objecting view
9.1-6
Definitions of fixed service, fixed station and mobile station
Align to existing frequency coordination and notification practice in ITU-R
Reflect emerging and future real-life deployment scenarios of fixed and mobile stations as far as possible.
Do not negatively impact National Licensing and Spectrum Management Practices. 10
WRC-18 Agenda Items
No view as yet
Sep 2013

13. Overview of AfriSWoG Similar to APT, CEPT, ASMG, CITEL
Established in accordance with Articles 3 and 10 of ATU Constitution
Dual role
Working group
Advisory group
Membership
19 member states
All associate members
Participation
Open to all membership, and other stakeholders on invitation; Section 8 (6)
Output
Recommendations to higher courts
Working on WRC-15 Agenda Item 1.2 (technical studies for OoBE value)
Sep 2013

14. Recommendations
Segment the C-band into core band MHz and extended band MHz as basis for ‘give-and-take’ under WRC-15 Agenda Items 1.1 and 9.1-5
Collaborate with ATU in undertaking an urgent study to back-up the objection for studies in the core C-band MHz
Actively participate in the work of AfriSWoG to ensure that the technical basis for any ICAO position is appreciated at an early stage
Work closely with AfriSWoG member state members as champions for various ICAO issues of interest
Sep 2013

15. Conclusion
Spectrum is increasing in value, its prudent management against various competing needs is a must
Africa can build on the success story of WRC-07 and WRC-12 for yet another success at WRC-15
ATU stands committed to providing a platform by which stakeholders’ interests can be promoted and defended for a win- win scenarios
We look forward for more collaboration with ICAO ‘working together we can do more’ (RSA)
Sep 2013

16. Technical Coordinator
thank you
Kezias MWALE
Technical Coordinator
Sep 2013