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 view 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.

IARU Region One - https://www.iaru-r1.org/