ITU's World Radiocommunication Conference Pushes for 700 MHz Mobile Broadband

Following four weeks of negotiations in Geneva, the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 came to a conclusion with the signing of the Final Acts that revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. A total of 153 countries are expected to sign the treaty, which significantly call for global harmonization of the use of the 700 MHz band for mobile broadband communications.


In addition to the use of the 790-862 MHz in Regions 1 and 3, WRC-12 considered further spectrum allocations to the mobile service, including International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) to facilitate the development of terrestrial mobile broadband applications in the frequency band 694 – 790 MHz.


ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the Conference. “WRC-12 has helped define new and better ways to regulate radio services and applications, and represents a major contribution in making the world a better place for all,�? Dr Touré said. “The work done here will make the world a better place to communicate – and that will make the world a better place to live in.�? He highlighted the achievements of WRC-12 in allocating spectrum resources for mobile broadband and for addressing the digital dividend issue which “now provides for a great deal of global harmonization of the use of the 700 MHz band for all regions by the services which most need it�?. He also commended the delegates on the attention given to Earth observation radiocommunication applications, which are crucial for monitoring and combating climate change and for disaster prediction.


The next World Radiocommunication Conference is expected to be held in 2015.
http://www.itu.int/net/newsroom/wrc/2012/index.aspx