Qatar has signed the revised Radio Regulations International Treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15), which concluded recently in Geneva, Switzerland.
Communications Regulatory Authority president Mohamed Ali al-Mannai signed the final acts on behalf of Qatar at the event organised by International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
The Qatar delegation played a major role in the discussions and took the lead in helping to facilitate regional and global co-ordination to achieve consensus between administrations on a number of complex issues.
The delegation consisted of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, Communications Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva, and Qatar Satellite Company.
Al-Mannai stated that WRC-15 has helped define new and better ways to regulate radio services and applications.
“By carefully reviewing and revising the Radio Regulations, the foundation for Radiocommunication technologies has been firmly established to serve the interests of users,” he added.
A total of 150 countries out of the 154 authorised countries who attended WRC-15, signed the treaty, making it a significant step towards improvements in the management of radio-frequency spectrum.
WRC-15 addressed more than 40 agenda items related to frequency allocation and frequency sharing for the efficient use of spectrum and orbital resources, thus ensuring high quality radio communication services for mobile and satellite communications, maritime and aeronautical as well as for scientific purposes related to the environment, meteorology and climatology.
Some of the key outcomes of the WRC-15 included: Allocation of additional spectrum resources for mobile broadband services in various frequency bands, including giving full protection to television broadcasting as well as to aeronautical radio navigation systems.
New allocation for amateur radio service to maintain stable communication over various distances, especially for use when providing communication in disaster situations; Identification of spectrum to facilitate mobile broadband communications for robust and reliable mission critical emergency services in public protection and disaster relief, such as police, fire, ambulances, etc.
Allocation of radio-frequency spectrum for the operation of short-range high-resolution automotive radar to improve road safety and improved efficiency in technology for driverless cars; Allocation of radio frequency spectrum for global flight tracking through satellite in civil aviation; and consideration of regulatory provisions and frequency allocations for enhanced maritime communications systems.
WRC is organised by ITU every three to four years to review, and, if necessary, revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits.
