Mobile communications: WARC-92 must find room in already crowded bands for new worldwide mobile services and expanded existing services

Article Abstract:

Providing spectrum for existing and proposed mobile telecommunications services promises to be the most important and difficult challenge at the 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-92). Six different kinds of mobile services need spectrum: three involve satellites; and three use terrestrial technologies. All but one of them need room in the 1-GHz to 3-GHz frequency range. Satellite systems that will be considered are of three kinds: one kind, called 'little LEO' systems, would use low earth orbit (LEO) satellites for low-cost, low-data-rate two-way digital communications arrangements; another kind, called 'big LEO' systems, would provide voice, higher-speed data services and worldwide personal communications to handheld terminals; and a third kind would use geostationary orbit (GSO) satellites. Motorola Satellite Communications Inc was the first company to propose a big LEO system: Motorola's 77-satellite Iridium system is named for the element iridium because that element's atom has 77 orbiting electrons. Critics say services like Motorola's could be better provided placing three satellites in geostationary orbits, each having many spot beams. Of systems that will be considered at WARC-92, future public-land mobile telecommunication system (FPLMTS) is likely to be the most significant in terms of how it will influence the way public networks are used. The aim is nothing less than a worldwide personal communications network with voice, facsimile and data capabilities. A diagram showing how such a system might work is provided. A table listing proposed low-earth-orbit (LEO) communication systems is included.

Wireless communications, Wireless LANs, Satellite communications, Personal communications services, Mobile communication systems, Mobile Phones, Wireless Network

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Broadcasting: among the hot issues: broadcasting at HF, and digital audio and high-definition television from satellites

Article Abstract:

Three issues that have to do with broadcasting will be especially significant at the 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-92): allocation of more spectrum for high-frequency (shortwave) services; allocation of spectrum for both terrestrial and satellite digital audio broadcast (DAB) systems; and allocation of spectrum for high-definition television broadcasts from satellites. Most countries support the idea that more spectrum should be provided for HF broadcasting, but there is no agreement on how much spectrum is needed or where it should be added. Proposals tend to support the idea that single-sideband technology should be encouraged because single sideband use narrower channels, but conversion will be difficult because an estimated 520 million double-sideband receivers are currently being used. Digital audio broadcasting (DAB) is an especially exciting technology: with it, compact-disc-quality radio can be broadcast from terrestrial or satellite stations to portable receivers without any fading. From satellites, such broadcasts could be made available for entire populations. But DAB is a controversial technology because its proposed frequency allocations, in the 0.5-GHz to 3-GHz range, would usurp frequencies already being used by other kinds of services. Conference participants agree that wide-band satellite high-definition television (HDTV) is at least ten years away, but European countries want to discuss it at WARC-92 anyway. The Europeans believe it is important, both to the development of HDTV technology and to providing room for it, to prepare for it well in advance.

Broadcasting, High-definition television, High definition television, Amateur radio stations, Amateur Radio

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WARC's last act? At 1992's World Administrative Radio Conference, telecommunications delegates from around the world will allocate spectrum to old and new types of radio communications, some of which may eventually displace existing services

Article Abstract:

The 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC), to be held from Feb 3 to Mar 3 in Torremolinos, Spain, is an especially important meeting that is likely to influence telecommunications developments into the next century. Delegates must decide how to allocate radio frequencies for new satellite and ground-based services worldwide, and because some proposed new services would displace existing ones, this year's WARC is certain to generate international controversy. WARC-92, organized and managed under the authority of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Geneva, Switzerland, aims to establish agreements carrying carry the force of international treaties to cover spectrum allocations in a range between 3 MHz and 150 GHz. Three kinds of services made possible by the continuing advance of telecommunications technologies will be at the forefront of WARC-92's agenda: first, there are universal personal communications systems, otherwise known as future public land-mobile telecommunication systems (FPLMTS), made possible by hand-held wireless telephones; second, there is digital audio broadcasting (DAB), which would provide compact-disc-quality radio with no fading; and third, there is wide-rf-band high-definition satellite television. WARC-92 might be the last such conference because the ITU is now in a process of reorganizing itself and may change the way frequencies are allocated.

Glossary, International Telecommunication Union

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