WRC-23: Week-3 Update – 23cm and WPT

The end of the third week of the WRC-23 World Radiocommunication Conference saw plenary approval of a new footnote to the 23cm amateur band at 1240 to 1300MHz – a major landmark after four years of hard work. Meanwhile, 40-50MHz radar sounders and future agenda items are consuming considerable time and effort – all week and weekend.

Regarding 23cm, where amateurs are secondary in any case, the full text of the allocation footnote is:

“5.A91B: Administrations authorising operation of the amateur and amateur-satellite services in the frequency band 1 240-1 300 MHz, or portions thereof, shall ensure that the amateur and amateur-satellite services do not cause harmful interference to radio navigation-satellite service (space-to-Earth) receivers in accordance with No. 5.29 (see the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.2164). The authorizing administration, upon receipt of a report of harmful interference caused by a station of the amateur or amateur satellite services, shall take all necessary steps to eliminate such interference rapidly. (WRC-23)”

Formally this does not take effect until 1st January 2025 (when the 5.A91B footnote reference will be updated), but it is likely that CEPT, pushed by the EU, may move quicker. RSGB is aware that changes by other primary users may also influence the final shape of 23cm.