3. Good use of the radio spectrum

The radio spectrum is a scarce resource and needs to be managed with increasing efficiency. Discussion on this topic is carried out at three levels:

The decisions taken at these different levels must, of course, be compatible, with each level refining the decisions of the higher level.

For the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 1994 saw not only the Plenipotentiary Conference in Kyoto in September, but also preparations for the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) which will be held in Geneva in 1995. The two major topics at this WRC-95 will be the simplification of the Radio Regulations (RR) proposed by a Voluntary Group of Experts (VGE) and the introduction of mobile satellite services (MSS).

The simplification of the Radio Regulations:

the successful work of the Voluntary Group of Experts

Resolution 8 of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries in Nice (1989) created the Voluntary Group of Experts (VGE) and gave it responsibility for studying the improvement of the allocation and use of the radio spectrum and the simplification of the ITU Radio Regulations (RR), which have the applicability of an international treaty.

The VGE organised its work around three tasks: questions related to allocation and improved use of radio frequency spectrum, the procedures for using assigned frequencies, and operational and administrative structures.

After three years of work, the VGE prepared a voluminous report: general directives and recommendations, the changes it is proposing to the Radio Regulations, and the simplified RR. This report will be considered by the WRC-95.

Even though the report has met with a favourable response internationally, the detailed analysis it contains shows that changes are necessary before it will be possible to implement the new RR. This French approach is shared by the USA and has support in the CEPT. Already several European Common Proposals (ECP) have been prepared on this subject. Even though a number of the VGE recommendations are acceptable, it is difficult to imagine that at this stage the WRC-95 could really decide to simply substitute the new RR for the old set. An additional period of study is necessary; the WRC-97 might be in a position to consider final adoption. What is needed now is to determine the transitional measures required for advancing from the old to the new RR.

In Europe, coordination of the spectrum is organised by the European Radiocommunications Committee (ERC) of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT).

This body is especially important for the DGPT, as it sets the guidelines that have the greatest impact on direct daily use of the spectrum. Studies for this committee are carried out by working groups, in which our management takes part, as well as by its own standing body, the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO), which is located in Copenhagen and which oversees the studies financed by the Commission of the European Communities. The results of studies this year basically centre on a detailed analysis of spectrum use in millimetre waves (Detailed Spectrum Investigation), the drawing up of a European table of the harmonised use of the 960-3400 MHz frequencies, and an identical table for frequencies below 960 MHz. It also carried out preparations for the terrestrial digital audio broadcasting system (T-DAB).

The terrestrial digital audio broadcasting system (T-DAB)

The technical design of the terrestrial digital audio broadcasting system, the fruit of European Eureka project 147, will permit the reception of national or regional broadcasts with a quality comparable to that offered by a laser disc. To actually make this proposal operational, it was necessary to have reception bands allocated for it. The CEPT had three teams work on designating frequency bands for this broadcasting service, on organising a planning meeting, and on determining the technical parameters needed to draw up a plan.

1994 saw a great deal of preparation for the planning meeting for the Terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcasting system (T-DAB), which will take place in the summer of 1995. The 40 Member States of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations will be allocated blocks of frequencies for use on their territory by this new broadcasting service, with each block capable of broadcasting 6 programmes. The main blocks retained by the CEPT are band III for television (around 200 MHz) and band L (around 1500 MHz). France selected band L as its first choice.

Together with the High Council for Broadcast (CSA — Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel), the DGPT has played an important role in the activity of these work teams: this has included taking into account, at the French and European level, of other radio uses in these bands, as well as the simulation of plans, including drawing up the requirements for a software program that is capable of calculating the electromagnetic compatibility of different systems and then using these results to plan the use of blocks of frequencies. This computer application will be developed by the European Radiobroadcasters Union. All this work will come to a conclusion in July 1995 with the drawing up and signing of a plan for Terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcasting.

The CEPT has also approved a number of recommendations and reports, for example, on radio relay systems, RLANs, and on the compatibility between satellite and Earth-based systems.

The CEPT does not work in isolation, and co-operates actively with other institutions. Thus, a specialised group, the Conference Preparatory Group (CPG), is working out the European Common Positions for the ITU-R conferences. In 1994, this group will have completed fourteen European contributing papers for the upcoming World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC 95). Similarly, the CEPT works with NATO; this has made it possible to update the civilian-military agreement on the use of the spectrum in peacetime; the previous version of this dated from 1981.

Nationally, the DGPT takes part in the interministerial work of the Telecommunications Co-ordination Committee (CCT — Comité de co-ordination des télécommunications). This year this work has mainly resulted in the publication of a new national table of the distribution of frequency bands ("Section II"). In regards to its specific responsibility for the use of radiocommunications in the national telecommunications systems, the DGPT has worked to open the 23-38 GHz bands to private radio networks and to operators of mobile telephone networks, who could thus set up fixed links without having to resort to the France Télécom infrastructure.

It has also negotiated with the Ministry of Defence for the use of the bands needed for the DCS 1800 network and for RLANs using 2.5 GHz.

In addition to these aforementioned tasks, which centre on standards, frequency management requires dealing with operational procedures, which are partly technical and partly administrative, and which involves implementing the radio regulations. This basically means coordination. It requires a great many bilateral relationships with neighbouring countries, which has mainly involved coordinating the setting up of the GSM and DCS 1800 networks along the borders with Germany and Switzerland and, on the Channel side, with the United Kingdom. Another example of this kind of activity is the coordination of the satellite networks with the associated Earth-based networks.

4. Changes in technical standards

Chapter X