Update on 144MHz and 23cm threats

The IARU was represented this week at the meeting of CEPT Project Team A—one of the groups leading WRC-19 preparations—which finished in Prague on Friday, 21 June 2019.

Of particular interest were discussions on two proposed agenda items for WRC-23, concerning the sharing of the 1240-1300MHz band with the Galileo satellite navigation system and the proposal from France to study a range of frequencies, including the 144MHz amateur band, for future primary aeronautical applications.

The meeting considered views that the Galileo issue did not currently warrant a WRC23 agenda item and should be first investigated within CEPT.

However, regarding new aeronautical frequencies including 144MHz, the proposal was unfortunately not strongly opposed by other administrations; this has been carried forward to the higher level CEPT-CPG meeting in August.

The IARU and RSGB views with grave concern any proposal to include the global amateur and amateur satellite 144MHz primary band in the proposed aeronautical agenda item; and will be making every effort to fully protect amateur radio interest and seek the support of regulators in this regard.

More details at iaru-r1.org and on the RSGB’s WRC-19 special focus pages where you can find all the latest meeting documents and minutes.

Category: Front Page News, GB2RS Headlines, WRC-19