EBU Technical Review : No. 252 (Summer 1992)
WARC-92
The year 2007 seems to be a long way off; it will be 15 years before full access to the frequency bands allocated for broadcasting at WARC-92 can be achieved. The reasons for the long delay are two-fold. Firstly, it is necessary to carry out spectrum planning for the new broadcasting services. Secondly, and this takes most of the time, it is necessary to transfer to alternative frequencies the existing users of the spectrum being given to broadcasting.
This long delay is a daunting prospect but there will be opportunities for earlier implementations on an experimental basis or in some cases, if the restrictions to protect other operating services can be observed, for regular broadcasts. This possibility is important for the broadcasting industry as it will give the opportunity for a gradual introduction of the new technologies in preparation for more extensive services in the years after 2007.
The broadcasters' interest in WARC-92 centred around three areas of the spectrum, the HF band where some 1.5 MHz of additional space was sought, 84 MHz in the vicinity of 1.5 GHz for Digital Audio Broadcasting and a bandwidth of some 600 MHz in the vicinity of 22 GHz for high-definition television.
The outcome of WARC-92 can be best described as being moderately successful although in respect of HDTV this might be an understatement.
The prospects of a major improvement in HF broadcasting as a result of WARC-92 are not very rosy. Of the 1.5 MHz of extra spectrum sought, only 790 kHz was allocated and most of this was above 10 MHz where the problem of congestion is less severe. So it appears that there will be little improvement in the bands below 10 MHz. The planning of the HF spectrum is extremely complicated and the methods used up to now have not been entirely satisfactory. Perhaps a new approach could improve matters. This is something that EBU Specialist Group R/HF-PLAN will be examining in the future.
On the brighter side, an allocation of 40 MHz between 1.452 and 1.492 GHz for DAB on a world-wide basis (except for the USA) is encouraging. This allocation in the region of 1.5 GHz is a major achievement although more spectrum space would have been appreciated.
The USA obtained an allocation at 2.3 GHz together with India which also obtained a 1.5 GHz allocation. Several Asian countries and the Commomwealth of Independent States will in addition to the 1.5 GHz enjoy an allocation at 2.6 GHz.
Although the allocations for DAB nominally become available in the year 2007 there are opportunities for their use in the interim period, particularly from terrestrial use. It is intended to hold a planning conference before the year 2000 to deal with the 1.5 GHz band.
For HDTV the requested allocation of 21.4 to 22 GHz was granted for Regions 1 and 3 whilst 17.3 to 17.8 GHz was allocated to Region 2 (the Americas). Here again a moratorium of 15 years was imposed with some possibilities for experimental transmissions in the meantime.
Taking all the factors into consideration broadcasters can be pleased with the outcome of WARC-92. The extensive pre-conference work, which has continued for several years, undertaken by the EBU and its Members had a major effect on the deliberations during the four weeks of the Conference.
It is now important that plans are made for the earliest possible implementation, even on an experimental basis, of broadcasting services in the new bands. In this way the broadcasters' hall-mark can be indelibly stamped on the well earned allocations.
European Broadcasting Union
