INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
COUNCIL WORKING GROUP ON THE
WORLD SUMMIT ON THE
INFORMATION SOCIETY
7th Meeting, GENEVA
—
Document WG-WSIS 7/12-E
3 December 2004
English only
13-14 DECEMBER 2004
Director, Radiocommunication Bureau
PROGRESS REPORT OF ITU-R ACTIVITIES ON ISSUES
RELEVANT TO WSIS PREPARATION
1
Introduction
ITU-R membership noted that the WSIS Plan of Action and Declaration of Principles adopted by
the first phase of the Summit identified several important issues of concern to the
Radiocommunication Sector, giving as an example the need for rapid deployment of broadband
access systems for use in remote and sparsely populated areas, particularly in developing countries,
in an effort to reduce the digital divide.
The WSIS Declaration specifically acknowledges the key role to be played by ITU in building the
Information Society, when it states, in paragraph 64, that:
“The core competences of the International Telecommunication Union in the fields of ICT--assistance in bridging the digital divide, international and regional cooperation, radio spectrum
management, standards development and the dissemination of information---are of crucial
importance for building the Information Society”.
The following describes the latest developments in ITU-R in areas of interest for preparatory
activities leading to the second phase of the Summit in order to ensure that all matters pertinent to
the work of ITU-R are properly reflected as part of the ITU stocktaking exercise.
2
Wireless infrastructure
2.1
Broadband Wireless Access
Wireless access has been defined as end-user radio connection(s) to core networks, where core
networks include the Internet. In addition to cellular systems, satellite and use of digital
broadcasting discussed below, technologies in use today for implementing wireless access include
RLAN (short and wide range systems), fixed broadband wireless access, HAPS, etc. The rapid
growth of these access technologies is generating intensive ITU-R activities to provide the adequate
international framework for their timely and efficient deployment.
The ITU-R has been studying the various aspects relating to wireless access system (see
http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/study-groups/was/), including frequency spectrum issues and
standardization. Despite some problems faced in the early implementation phase of Fixed Wireless
Access (FWA), a big market potential still exists for these systems to provide wireless Internet
access, particularly broadband access as viable alternative to DSL and cable-based systems. Public
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-2RLAN systems (e.g., Wi-Fi) are seeing an extraordinary expansion worldwide. The recent decisions
by WRC-03 in providing additional global harmonized spectrum for RLAN will greatly facilitate
the consolidation of this technology as an effective means to provide short-range high-capacity
wireless access to the Internet. Technologies for the provision of medium-range broadband wireless
access systems (e.g., metropolitan area as WiMAX) are rapidly being implemented and becoming
the focus of global harmonization activities in ITU-R.
2.2
IMT-2000
IMT-2000 (third generation mobile communication) provides a framework for worldwide wireless
access making use of terrestrial and/or satellite mobile components based on globally harmonized
frequency spectrum associated with radio and network core specifications defined by a set of
interdependent ITU Recommendations.
An ITU Handbook on deployment of IMT-2000 has been published to inform and guide key
decision makers on critical aspects concerning third generation mobile communication systems,
including their application for data transmission in urban, rural and remote areas. More recently,
ITU-R has prepared a Supplement to the Handbook, specifically addressing migration from first and
second generation systems to IMT-2000.
Within the ITU-R, there is considerable activity in studying frequency-related matters for the future
development of IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000, which will be considered under agenda
item 1.4 of the World Radiocommunication Conference, 2007 (WRC-07). These studies take into
account the continuing and accelerating growth in demand for multimedia applications (such as
high-speed data, IP-packet and video) by mobile communication systems, and recognize the need,
in many developing countries and countries with large areas of low population density, for costeffective implementation of IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000. Particular emphasis has
been placed on regulatory and technical studies on the usage of frequencies below those already
identified for IMT-2000 and on taking into consideration the particular needs of developing
countries, including the use of both the satellite and terrestrial components of IMT-2000.
Studies are being pursued in ITU-R based on the established long-term vision of convergence
between IMT-2000 and fixed wireless access systems.
2.3
Broadband satellite systems
As recognized in ITU-R, satellite telecommunication technology has the potential to accelerate the
availability of high-speed Internet services in countries with large areas of low population density,
and land-locked and island countries. In this regard, a new topic has been recently included in the
current ITU-R study period to consider the technical and operational characteristics that could
facilitate the mass production of simple (i.e. very small aperture terminal (VSAT)) terminal
equipment at affordable prices for the worldwide provision of high speed satellite-based Internet
services. These studies are linked with a WRC-07 agenda item concerning global broadband
satellite systems that aims to identify possible global harmonized frequency bands for the use of
Internet applications, together with the appropriate regulatory/technical provisions. The emphasis of
such studies is the provision of high-speed Internet access for developing countries, via low cost
satellite terminals, recognizing also the need to serve remote and sparsely populated communities.
In response, an ITU-R Recommendation is being developed that proposes air interface
characteristics to be used as guidance by designers of broadband satellite networks and introduces a
generic description of the network architecture of such networks.
2.4
Digital broadcasting
Besides the telecommunication network as such, the main means of delivery of the mass
information are the omnipresent broadcasting services, which have greater carrying capacity and
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-3higher penetration compared to other options. In addition to video and audio signal distribution,
digital broadcasting may serve as a data platform for innovative telecommunication applications
(e.g., e-health, e-government, e-learning) to effectively help to bridge the digital divide, in
particular in the developing world. The broad multifunction interactive digital broadcasting services
along with the extensive development of telecommunication networks will certainly play an
important role in addressing the information access problem.
ITU-R has been actively pursuing studies on digital TV, including HDTV, sound, data and
multimedia, including the complex issue of the transition from widely spread analogue systems to
digital broadcasting. As a result of intensive ITU-R efforts, a package of international
Recommendations and standards for terrestrial and satellite digital broadcasting systems and
terrestrial and satellite interactive systems has been developed, making it possible to design a
strategy for the transition period from analogue to digital technology.
Work is underway in ITU-R to develop studies on transition from analogue to digital television
terrestrial broadcasting for the identification of the economic and development aspects of proposed
and existing digital sound and television broadcasting systems that have particular impact on all
countries, with particular attention to receiver costs. At the same time, the studies aim to identify
transition techniques from terrestrial analogue to digital broadcasting, taking into consideration the
experiences of the membership and those studies undertaken by ITU-R.
ITU-R is contributing to the timely introduction of the digital broadcasting services by means of its
on-going work relating to standards setting as well as the important planning activities in some
regions of the world. In particular, RRC-04/06* will establish a set of procedures, technical criteria
and a number of frequency plans, which will greatly stimulate the introduction of digital
broadcasting in a significant portion of the world. As a consequence, many countries in the planning
area, particularly developing countries, will benefit from the enhanced performance of the
associated digital technology. Currently, ITU-R is deeply involved in technical, operational and
planning studies in preparation for the second session of the RRC.
3
Spectrum Management
Increasing use of radio-based technologies, and the tremendous opportunities for social
development that these technologies provide, highlight the importance of international and national
spectrum management processes. The emergence of new wireless applications, introduction of
advanced systems and effective convergence of radio technology are challenging the established
rules and practices in spectrum management at national and international levels.
ITU-R is currently carrying out studies and establishing recommendations on questions related to
the broad aspects of spectrum management, including long-term strategies for spectrum utilization
and issues related to introduction of ultra-wideband devices and software-defined radio.
Finally, WRC-07 will consider results of ITU-R studies on options to improve the international
spectrum regulatory framework based on the examination of the effectiveness, appropriateness and
impact of the ITU Radio Regulations with respect to the evolution of existing, emerging and future
applications, systems and technologies.
____________
*
Regional Radiocommunication Conference for planning of the digital terrestrial broadcasting service in
parts of Regions 1 and 3, in the frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz.
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