The Decisions on the Future Usage of the Radio Frequency Spectrum were brought at WRC

ZAGREB, 30 November 2015 - The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15) was closed with the last plenary meeting and the signing of the Final Acts on Friday, 27 November 2015. The two - week conference was held in Geneva and the Croatian experts from the Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) took part in it as well. The WRC is the most important world meeting in the field of radio communications where the amendments to the radio regulations are brought while the Table of Frequency Allocations at global level is determined, which is extremely important due to the global harmonization of the radio frequency spectrum. The Conference was attended by over 3800 delegates from across the globe, and the Council was deciding on 20 topics regarding the usage of radio frequency bands for various services, from broadcasting and mobile communications networks to satellite spectrum required for managing the unmanned aircraft.

One of the most important topics was the introduction of the automatic monitoring aircraft (Global Flight Tracking - GFT) due to the Air France that crashed in2009 and Malaysia Airlines crashed in 2014. As a result of negotiations between the countries, the frequency spectrum from 1087.7 to 1092 3 MHz is allocated to the aeronautical mobile-satellite service (Earth-to-space) for satellite reception ADS-B emissions (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) from the aircraft according to the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization
Many discussions were evoked by the topic on the planned allocation of new frequency bands for broadband networks and mobile digital dividend .The lower UHF frequency band (470-694 MHz) in the region 1 (Europe, Africa, the Middle East west of the Persian Gulf, including Iraq, the former Soviet Union and Mongolia) remained intended only for the television, providing the regulatory certainty for further investments and development of audio visual services and electronic media.

The 694 MHz frequency was determined as the boundary for digital dividend according to which the allocation of the frequency band 694-862 MHz was confirmed for the development of 4G networks .In addition to it the L band (1427-1525 MHz) was designed for broadband networks of mobile communications at the global level, as well as C-band (3400-3600 MHz), which is aligned for the IMT services usage. Technical preconditions for the implementation of additional services and the increase of mobile Internet speeds were created by means of the global harmonization of additional frequency bands for mobile broadband speeds.

The 694-894 MHz band is aligned for the Public Protection and Disaster Relief systems– PPDR in all regions.
The additional topic discussed was the satellite managing of unmanned aircraft (drones) over long distance for which the frequency bands in 12,14,20 and 30 Ghz were allocated.
The allocation of 1715-1800 kHz frequency band for amateur mobile service as well as the allocation of47-68 MHz frequency band for mobile service was of great importance to the Republic of Croatia in order to meet the requirements defined by the Radio Regulations

In addition to it, Mr. Francois Rancy, Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau reported the Conference on the steps which had been taken regarding the removal of the Italian interference in the neighbouring countries. As well as other neighbouring countries, the Croatian delegation pointed out that Croatia had many TV and FM interference problems coming from Italy from the transmitters that are not a part of the international plan and are not internationally harmonized. Croatia has supported the activities by ITU and the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau (BR's) so far, which should be continued. Furthermore together with the neighbouring countries Croatia has asked Italy to continue with the activities that will result with a faster and permanent removal of interferences.

The Conference has defined the topics for the next World Conference to be held in 2019 and 2023, when, among other things, the allocation of additional bands for 5G networks will be discussed.

ABOUT HAKOM: HAKOM (www.hakom.hr) - Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries – ensures preconditions for a fair market competition, stable growth and environment for innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market. HAKOM protects users’ interests and the possibility of choice among various communications and postal services at affordable prices, defines sustainable competitive conditions for operators and service providers under fair conditions for return on investment, and provides support to economic growth, public services and the quality of life in the Republic of Croatia by using modern technologies. HAKOM’ strategic goals are: to promote regulation of the electronic communications and postal services market, to support growth of investments and innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market, to provide efficient use of limited resources, to accelerate the growth of broadband products and services, to provide affordable offers of communications and postal services, to provide protection and informing of users, to build an efficient and comprehensive information system, to define and implement efficient processes, and to acquire multi-disciplinary competencies in market regulation.