WRC 2019 Agenda Items for WP 5B

This agenda item relates to consideration of possible regulatory actions to support Global Maritime Distress Safety Systems (GMDSS) modernization and to support the introduction of additional satellite systems into the GMDSS, in accordance with Resolution 359 (Rev.WRC-15). This relates to ongoing modernization, in particular including consideration of the mobile-satellite service (MSS), the allocations used and the potential impact of possible modifications to the Radio Regulations on sharing and compatibility with other services and systems.

The ITU-R is invited:

1. to conduct studies, taking into account activities of the IMO, to determine the regulatory provisions to support GMDSS modernization
2. to conduct studies, taking into account the activities of the IMO, on sharing and compatibility with other services and systems, both in-band and with services in adjacent frequency bands.

This agenda item considers, based on the results of ITU-R studies: regulatory actions within the frequency band 156-162.05 MHz for autonomous maritime radio devices to protect the GMDSS and automatic identifications system (AIS), in accordance with Resolution 362 [COM6/10] (WRC-15).

This includes:

1. studies into the spectrum needs and technical and operational characteristics of autonomous maritime radio devices,
2. to conduct studies to categorize the various device types,
3. to conduct sharing and compatibility studies to ensure that no undue constraints are placed on the GMDSS and AIS and
4. from 1-3 undertake studies to determine potential regulatory actions and appropriate frequencies for autonomous maritime radio devices.

This agenda item relates to consideration of, based upon the results of ITU-R studies: modifications of the Radio Regulations, including new spectrum allocations to the maritime mobile-satellite service (Earth-to-space and space-to-Earth), preferably within the frequency bands 156.0125-157.4375 MHz and 160.6125-162.0375 MHz of Appendix 18, to enable a new VDES satellite component, while ensuring that this component will not degrade the current terrestrial VDES components, ASM and AIS operations and not impose any additional constraints on existing services in these and adjacent frequency bands.

This agenda item relates to consideration of spectrum needs and regulatory provisions for the introduction and use of the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS), in accordance with Resolution 426 [COM6/11] (WRC-15).

GADSS is intended to address the timely identification and location of an aircraft during all phases of flight as well as distress and emergency situations and to use existing and new applications to support search and rescue and flight data retrieval.

In particular:

1. to study terrestrial and satellite components including
   1. data requirements, radiocommunication requirements relating to safety of life applications, performance criteria
   2. existing allocations to determine whether additional spectrum is required
   3. studies on sharing and/or compatibility with existing services and
2. to study existing regulatory provisions to determine whether additional regulatory measures might be necessary.

This agenda item relates to stations on board sub-orbital vehicles, and it invites the ITU-R to:

1. conduct studies to identify any required technical and operational measures that could assist in avoiding harmful interference,
2. conduct studies to determine spectrum requirements and a possible future agenda item for WRC-23 and
3. complete these studies in the existing study cycle.