Spectrum managers around the world are increasingly embracing the concept of regulatory sandboxes to facilitate technology, product and service innovations and to support new business models. Regulatory sandboxes are also enabling policymakers to test new, more flexible, regulatory frameworks that are data-driven and informed by the outcomes of projects conducted… Read more...

As the world looks beyond 5G to 6G, standards development activities are spread across a large number of organisations. 6G technology is underpinned by geo-political tensions and there are growing concerns about standards fragmentation, prompting calls for tighter integration and coordination between international, regional and national standards bodies. Read more...

Spectrum allocated for satellite services and/or mobile broadband are increasingly being considered for UAS. In 2022, battle lines are forming between supporters and opponents of WRC-23 satellite allocations enabling beyond line of sight C2 link for UAS. Read more...

Despite the demise of Loon's balloons in January 2021, industry and government support for the development of High-Altitude Platform Stations, or HAPS, continues. There is broad interest in this connectivity solution; a new layer or architecture – between terrestrial and satellite networks – to deliver commercial communications services, particularly in… Read more...

The International Telecommunications Union explicitly recognises High-Altitude Platform Stations, or HAPS, as an application of a service and has progressively identified a range of spectrum bands for use by HAPS in the fixed service and by HIBS in the mobile service. WRC-23 is particularly focused on examining new spectrum resources… Read more...

There is a large amount of traction in the satellite space with geostationary satellite operators moving into lower orbits and a raft of new and planned low-Earth-orbit constellations envisaging hundreds of thousands of new satellites orbiting the skies. These plans are being orchestrated through both inter-industry tie-ups and new operator… Read more...

This second Note examines further topics relating to the reform of WRCs. Read more...

Is the WRC process broken? Views on this perennial question are country-, stakeholder- and issue-dependent, calling for a balanced analysis of the complex and often controversial spectrum management matters that the ITU seeks to mediate, and ultimately resolve. In two Research Notes we examine key criticisms of the WRC process,… Read more...

This note provides an overview of the status of the preparations of regional organisations on science-related WRC-23 Agenda Items and Topics. Read more...

WRC-23 will consider a range of transport-related Agenda Items, some of which are framed to modernize outdated Radio Regulations. As regional organisations continue preparations for WRC-23, high-level consensus on these items is shaping. Nonetheless, a number of these items involve complex operational and technical issues that will complicate deliberations. Read more...