Space FAQ

Subject to coordination implies bilateral negotiation between two administrations.
Subject to agreement implies that operating administration shall obtain an agreement from affected administration. In most cases, Article 9.21 procedure applies for the case subject to agreement. In those cases, the assignment can be recorded with favourable finding subject to the condition that it will not cause harmful interference nor claim protection from the service of objecting administration from which agreement was sought.          

Please submit modified diagrams or attachments with your modification notice. Also, you may provide additional information about modification in an attachment to your submission.           

When you prepare modification notice please use “Clone” function (indicating that cloned notice will be Mod) of target notice in BR software SpaceCap and keep in this cloned notice only beams, groups, associated earth stations/space stations which you are going to modify. For kept beams, groups and etc. please set action code “M”. If you want to add or supress any beam, group, associated earth stations/space stations please set action code “A” or “S” respectively for them. For orbital information of NGSO there is no action codes in the current structure of database, therefore, to modify this information only provide modified orbital information in your modification notice. Please note that if you are modifying parameters of orbital plan, then all beams associated with this orbital plane shall be considered with action code “M”.
Also, you may provide additional information about modification in an attachment to your submission.           

In accordance with No. 9.1A upon receipt of a CR/C (coordination request), the Bureau will generate and publish an API/C that includes the frequency bands contained in the CR/C as well as the regulatory 7-year limit for those bands.       

The API/C only shows the frequency bands and the regulatory date limit. The CR/C special section which will be published approximately 4 months from the official date of receipt will be more complete and will include the results of the formal examination with respect to completeness and correctness, as well is the Bureau’s findings.                                        

Submitting a second CR/C for the same name and same orbital position will not prolong the regulatory deadline limit, and it will be published as a modification with the same target notice id. Any new frequency bands in the second submission will be given a 7-year limit date from the date of receipt of the second submission.            

The use of the bands 19.7-20.2 GHz and 29.5-30.0 GHz by ESIM under Resolution 156 must first be submitted as a CR/C. Please use class of station UF for at Earth station level and class of station EC at group level. Please remember to also include a commitment in accordance with resolves 1.5 of Resolution 156.                       

In accordance with No. 9.6 before an administration notifies to the Radiocommunication Bureau or brings into use a frequency assignment subject to Nos. 9.7 to 9.14 and 9.21, it shall affect coordination, as required, with other administrations and, therefore, submit to the Bureau a request for coordination in accordance with No.9.30. This coordination request shall be published in Special section (CR/C) in accordance with the provision No. 9.38.           

CR/D contains information on the status of the coordination procedures (which establishes the requirement of coordination for subsequent actions) under Nos. 9.11 to 9.14 and 9.21, published in accordance with 9.53A. Specific provision(s) (Nos. 9.11 to 9.14 and 9.21) corresponding to the subject station is/are indicated on the front page of the Special Section.           

In accordance with Appendix 5 for frequency bands above 17.3 GHz:
– the coordination arc of ±8° of the nominal orbital position applies for coordination between FSS networks or systems,
– the coordination arc of ±16° of the nominal orbital position applies for coordination between FSS and BSS networks or systems,
– no coordination arc applies for coordination between other networks or systems.          

No, request for coordination is only for frequency subject to coordination under Nos. 9.7 to 9.14 and 9.21.                                        

C/I is Carrier to Interference ratio. C/N is Carrier to Noise ratio, where N is Noise power due to Thermal Noise at the Receiver only.     

In the C/I calculation, the C/I requirement of a link is derived using the C/N. The C/N objective data item in Appendix 4 is the performance objective of the link under clear sky conditions. Therefore, the C/I calculations is carried out considering clear sky conditions. The only loss taken into consideration is Free Space Loss. The same method is used when carrying out C/I calculations for No.11.32A examination or for assistance.
Rec. ITU-R S.741 and RoP associated consider clear sky conditions.                                  

C/I is normally used for coordination between administrations as it more accurately indicate interference situation compared to DT/T. Furthermore, C/I is also used by the BR for No. 11.32A examination.                  

No, the operating agency code is mandatory information to be captured in your filing when a filing is submitted. If it is a new operating agency and it is not listed in the Table 12A/12B in the Preface to the BRIFIC, a nomination of the new satellite operating agency should be requested by Administration to BR at the same time with the submission of notices from your Administrations to the ITU BR. The Bureau will then assign an operating agency code for you. Please see the details here​.                                   

The width of the frequency band, at the transmitting Earth Station Antenna, that contains the carriers in the Assignment Coordination Group’s Bandwidth should be provided.              

Coordination should be effected between GSO and NGSO in application of Section I or Section II of Article 9 depending on the case. With respect to FSS and BSS GSO, No 22.2 applies.
EPFD limits in article 22 are applied to a NGSO constellations.  

For this specific scenario, i.e., frequency bands not subject to coordination under Section II of Article 9, PFD Hard limit should guarantee no harmful interference.                     

It is recommended that one main service should be included in the group of assignments having EK, ER and ED in order to avoid application of unintended provisions by the Bueau.
If multiple main services are indicated in a group, the BR will apply the minimum number of provisions to EK, ER, ED examination when possible.
For example:
In frequency band 17.7 GHz – 17.8 GHz with EV, EC, ED, EK and ER, BR will apply Nos 9.7 and 9.11 only to EV. The ED, EK, ER will only subject to No. 9.7 following the EC, except if the operator put the ED, EK, ER in the same group with the EV without EC.
Another example:
In the band 7250-7375 MHz with EI, EC, ED, EK and ER, so Nos. 9.7 and 9.21 only apply to EI, the ED, EK, ER will be subject to No.9.7 only following the EC not EI, except if the operator put the ED, EK, ER in the same group with EI without EC.
Usually, we will use the best case for TT&C findings, unless the TT&C is in the same group with EC, and if such EC is unfavorable, then we give unfavorable for the TT&C also, since one group only has one unique finding. This is the same for both coordination and notification.           

For non-GSO (s-to-E) in R2 it is not subject to coordination, in R1 and R3 it is subject to coordination under No. 9.12. Between NGSO systems (s-to-E) and GSO networks (s-to-E) in this band No.22.2 applies.                                         

In general, when the hard limits are specified, coordination procedure in Section II is not applicable for that specific interference situation (see No. 9.6.3). However, in a few special cases further condition including the coordination is established together with the hard limit.                                        

It would depend on assigned frequency assignment, bandwidth, direction of transmission and its class of space station. In some cases, it also depends on the service area. Please check the Table of frequency allocation in Article 5 contains footnotes which may include a reference to coordination provisions under 9.11A (9.12, 9.12A, 9.14) and/or 9.21 for specific frequency bands and services. In such case CR/C will be required. By the way, all mandatory characteristics required is listed in Appendix 4 of the RR. As presented, to identify it’s subject to coordination or not, please read the detail footnotes for the bands/service concerned in Article 5 of the RR.                                        

Yes, all information required in accordance with Appendix 4 including EPFD information shall be provided in the same and submitted to the Bureau using e-Submission system (https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/e-submission).                                        

Yes, you can find this information in BR IFIC (\Database\EPFD) and in the ITU website (https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/go/space-epfd-data).                                        

When administrations are identified under 9.21 they have to send their comments through SpaceCom to notifying administration an BR, and a CR/D will be published by the BR. Request for assistance under 9.60 can be evoked only when coordination under 9.7 to 9.7B or 9.15 to 9.19 are involved.                   

It depends on the modifications. if modifications of the CRC related with the additional frequency assignments, Beams, etc, the period of comments will be reopened for the new groups. but if the modifications related with the review of EPFD where the date is not changed so not subject to comments under 9.11A. sometimes modification also related with the corrections, and so period of comment is reopened only to specific administration or specific provisions, so you must look carefully on the publication of the modification of CRC.                            

If your administration and the satellite networks have been identified under 9.7 in the CRC, actually you do not need to comment/confirm. You can comment under 9.41 for coordination under 9.7, if your administration or satellite networks has not been identified. and this can be done with SpaceCom, you comment under 9.52, but not with the SpaceCom.                                        

The dt/t method is used for seeking inclusion into the coordination process under No. 9.41 while the C/I calculation methodology is used by the Bureau when carrying out examination of probability of harmful interference under No.11.32A, you may also refer to the related section in the Rules of Procedure, under Nos. 9.41-9.41.                                        

If you are an affected administration that already listed under 9.7 in coordination in CRC, you do not need to send comment again, as the identification under 9.7 is already mandatory. And as affected administration, you are not required to send comments to all administration listed in the 9.7 in the CRC. The notifying administration shall coordinate with all the administrations identified under 9.7.                                        

It’s not subject to coordination. the article 9.3 applies, additionally please note, for the use of 18.6 – 18.8 in the fixed-satellite service, is limited to geostationary system and systems with an orbit of apogee greater than 20 000 km (No. 5.522B)                                        

Notification is final stage, i.e. the procedure for recording frequency assignments is the MIFR. But for your assignments to be recorded in the MIFR, you should have to submit the due diligence information (Res49 or Res552 information which is the information related to the spacecraft manufacturer and launch services), you should also confirm the bringing into use of those assignments in accordance with No. 11.44B.                                        

Nothing prevents from submitting both at the same time. Only the publication of coordination submission can give the list of affected administrations. . If coordination requirements are identified in CR/C, the notified assignments will receive unfavourable findings under No.11.32.                                      

Yes, addition of a new Earth Station will obtain a new date of receipt for the assignment concerned.                                        

Administration can review and comment about the status of the agreement of coordination. It should indicate the network and submit the valid argument. Then, the Bureau will communicate with the notifying administration and review the subject network appropriately.                                        

No, as long as it is beyond the seven-year regulatory period. it is not receivable. However, if ADMINISTRATION have good reason for such omission, they can try to go RRB to ask specially.                                        

Yes, a resubmission will have to be done by the administration if notice is retuned under Nos.11.37 or 11.38. If there is no change in characteristics, it is currently possible to just resubmit with a simple letter.                                        

Tick the check box for 4.4 in the group level via SpaceCap is OK for us.                                         

The first notification indeed has to be received within 7 years. However, sometimes a notice is returned under No.11.31 In such a case for example in NGSO not subject to coordination, the notice will not be receivable and API stage is again required, this concerns resubmissions received after 6 months. After the 6-month deadline it is considered as a MoD with a new date of receipt and shall be received by the Bureau before the 7 years regulatory period, I would like as a NEW SUBMISSION (not Mod).                                        

When you clone, you select action code ADD (since is first notification) as well as the category of notification please.                                        

Yes, you are right if it sent within the 6-month deadline: the resubmission can arrive at the Bureau even after the 7 years.                         

In case of 11.28.1, please send comments to notifying Administrations by correspondence (e-Communications, email or telefax). In case of send via e-Communications, category is Comments on Part-IS for networks not subject to coordination. Notifying and commenting administrations shall thereafter cooperate to resolve any difficulties. However, the characteristics of stations published under API-A could be modified at notification. Administrations should seek to contact the notifying administration and request that the modified characteristics are coordinated with them.                                        

The Resolution 40 is currently published on the web and there are currently no plans to include it in the SRS database.
Please note that the Resolution 49 can be provided before the frequency assignments are brought into use while the Resolution 40 should be provided when bringing (back) into use frequency assignments.                                        

If there is no change for the diagrams submitted before, when you prepare a modification, you can just indicate in note, also tick the check box in notice database, there is no need to submit GIMS again, and no need to run cross validation since you do not have the GIMS mdb.                           

Yes, the resubmission means there is no change of the characteristics of your filing, except the coordination agreement. So no need to send mdb anymore, you can just indicate the situation in your correspondence to the BR. That would depend on what type of unfavourable finding that the assignment has received. If it is returned because of coordination has not been completed under No.11.37 for unfavourable finding under No.11.32, or returned under No.11.38 for unfavourable finding under No.11.32A, you could resubmit the notice without any modification with a simple letter through e-communications with any update of coordination status if there is any, to be further considered in the resubmission. However, if the findings are returned under No.11.31 or characteristics of the assignments are not within those in the Coordination Request, then you may require to carry out some modification on the notice. Also please note that a notice returned under No.11.36 for unfavourable finding under No.11.31 could not be resubmitted under No.11.46. The last line should be read. However, if the findings are returned under No.11.36 for unfavourable finding under No.11.31 or characteristics of the assignments are not within those in the Coordination Request, then you may require carrying out some modification on the notice. Also please note that a notice returned under No.11.36 for unfavourable finding under No.11.31 could not be resubmitted under No.11.46.                           

If it’s already published in the API already, it in the GIMS reference database already. As long as there is no change in the notification, there is no need to send the pdf again. You should however request in a cover letter or attachment to the notification for the Bureau to make use of the same diagrams published in the API.                         

It is possible that such unfavourable findings could also exist in the CR/C stage as well. During the publication of the CR/C such unfavourable finding would have been indicated and explained in the publication. Therefore, it is important that Administrations check their Coordination Requests after they have been published to ensure that all findings are favourable at that stage. If not, they should rectify any unfavourable finding and submit for Coordination Request again so that they would not encounter complication at Notification.                

There is no timeframe for the Part II-S or Part III-S to be published. The Bureau treats any filings as promptly as it could. However, sometimes there are additional clarifications, missing information required from administrations or inquiries that needs to be carried out like 13.6 etc. and this can take some time before the Bureau could treat the filings and give findings. For non-GSO not subject to coordination, on average Part II-S or Part III-S is published after 4 months from Part I-S.                                        

Please take note that assignments that are unfavourable under 11.31 could still be recorded in the MIFR for information, if it was requested for the application of No. 4.4. Please also refer to the Rules of Procedure on No. 4.4.                                        

Satellite Networks in the Amateur Satellite Service must also be notified to ITU following the procedures in Art 9 and 11 of RR.                                        

-Yes, it is possible to submit one notification covering both frequency assignments subject and not subject to coordination bearing in mind that the date of receipt of the notification should be considered at least four months after the date of publication of the API (due to the bands not subject to coordination).
-In this case for the calculation of cost recovery, the category of the combined notification will be based on the coordination provisions that are applicable in the notice.        

When treating a notification, the Bureau will carry out a detailed comparison of the notified characteristics with the coordination characteristics. Therefore, the Bureau will be aware of any modifications that has been made at Notification. With respect to an API or coordination request, when submitting a modification notice, if you are changing the spectrum of only one beam, you do not need to resubmit the other beams for which no information has changed.                                        

If you received unfavourable finding at the coordination stage for 22.40, you should submit a modification to the coordination request. This modification (to the coordination request) should be a new mdb.                                        

It is possible to notify part of your Coordination Request at Notification. Cost recovery will be charged as per the calculated units of your notice received at notification. Cost recovery fees will be based on the total number of assignments: those published in part 2 and part 3.                 

a. It is not ignored. The conference (WRC-19) decided that the first spacecraft set the BIU within the 7 years Regulatory time, but then the full deployment is monitored through the implementation of Resolution 35, which refers to milestones based approach.
b. The administration shall submit the information detailed in Annex 1 to the Resolution 35, which includes launch information and space station characteristics. Furthermore, under Resolve 8 of this Resolution, it should report if any of the space stations have been used to satisfy milestone obligations associated with frequency assignment of any other non-GSO system subject to this Resolution.                   

This terminology is referred to in No. 13.6. Whenever it appears from reliable information available that a recorded assignment has not been brought into use, or is no longer in use, or continues to be in use, but not in accordance with the notified required characteristics 1 as specified in Appendix 4.                        

The Administration does not need to inform of the starting of the 90-day period, except if the 7-year limit is reached, as under 11.47, the administration shall provide the information on the BIU at least 30 days before the 7 year period.                     

WRC-19 decided that this could address efficient spectrum and orbit utilization and we will see in the next few years the results.                  

There is no limit on the number of times of suspension and BBIU. It has to be in accordance with No. 11.49.                                        

The milestone-based approach was studied in detail during the WRC-19 study cycle for 4 years and decided at the WRC-19. The concept behind the Resolution is to have a good balance between allowing a certain time frame for those NGSO systems to be deployed fully while reducing the probability of warehousing.                                        

Yes.                                        

The Resolution 40 should be provided when bringing (back) into use frequency assignments to a GSO satellite network whatever is the period of use.                                        

After a No.11.41B coordination status update is carried out, the results will be published again under Part II-S.                              

If the Resolution 35 information is not submitted within the deadline, the Bureau will send reminders before taking any action.
If a milestone is not met, the administration should submit the modifications to the characteristics of the recorded frequency assignments in order to reduce the number of space stations as described in Resolve 11 of the Resolution.                                        

The period of validity is an information required in A.2.b of Annex 2 of Appendix 4, and is described in Resolution 4 (WRC-03). To compute the expiry date of frequency assignments, it is counted as the period of validity in number of years, after the date of bringing into use.
For non-geostationary satellite networks operated as short-duration mission under Resolution 32 (WRC-19), the period of validity is limited to 3 years, and the date of bringing into use is the launch date of the first satellite.

No, information required by both resolutions need to be provided, as appropriate.
The Res35 is the milestone-based approach for NGSO – to be provided for bands and services listed in the Resolution after 7years limit. The Res49 is due diligence information – to be provided within 7years limit + 30 days for FSS, MSS, BSS subject to coordination.                             

Yes, that is the purpose of RES 49.
The RES 49 must be fully consistent with the frequency band as whole operation range for FSS, MSS, BSS subject to coordination.    

RES49 can be provided in advance before the frequency assignments are brought into use. Furthermore, RS49 are only provided for FSS, BSS, MSS subject to 9.7, 9.11, 9.12, 9.12A, 9.13 only. To have a better picture of actual use of radio frequency spectrum, please refer to the Master Register recorded assignments that have been brought into use.                       

Administration can submit the modification of Res49 any time.                                        

Yes, Earth stations need to follow the different coordination procedures with regard to neighbouring Terrestrial stations.                

When the AP7 Coordination contours include the territory of your neighbouring country (Adm A) and when the coverage is less than 5 % as defined by Section 1 of AP7 of Rules of Procedure, your Administration can notify the earth station without the coordination with the subject Administration (Adm A).
However, you need to note that the notification of this earth station may not be protected from the current and future system in Adm A because you have not gotten any agreement from Adm A.                   

The inclusion of Earth station in the CR/C is related to the coordination with respect to the NGSO satellite system in the FSS.
Nos. 9.17, 9.17A are only related to the coordination of Earth station with regards to Terrestrial system or other Earth station transmitting in the opposite direction. The concept is different.                         

Difference between mode 1 and mode 2 propagation is detailed in Section 1.5 of Appendix 7.
Auxiliary contours which are applicable to both modes are explained in Annex 6 of Appendix 7. For the generation of auxiliary contour for propagation mode 1, any imaginary reduction in the value of minimum required loss can be introduced (for example 5, 10 and/or 15 dB etc.).
For the generation of auxiliary mode 2 contours, an offset in the pointing angle between the terrestrial station and the earth station (for example 1, 2 and/or 3 deg etc.) can be considered as an example. This offset angle avoids the direct pointing to the victim system so that the potential interference become reduced.           

The permissible interference power Pr(p) calculated by using equation No. 127 does not depend on the percentage of time during which the interference may exceed the permissible interference power (p). Currently, AP7 has no function or possibility to manipulate the percentage of the time different from those indicated in Tables of that Appendix.          

If receiving Earth stations want to be protected, they have to be coordinated and then registered in the MIFR. Especially, it is important for a specific earth station to be notified in order to be protected from interference cause by terrestrial services.              

No, each specific earth station is requested to be submitted separately on e-Submission system. If 1 SNS file includes multiple earth stations, an error message is shown and the submission is blocked on e-Submission.

Since 1st August 2018 (Circular Letter CR/434) all administration are asked to use the e-submission system to send any kind of filings. On the current functions on e-Submission system, each specific earth station is requested to be submitted par submission.            

Yes when the satellite is suppressed, the corresponding E/S should also be suppressed/removed from the MIFR. Then A new submission of this ES could be sent to the Bureau with the replaced satellite.
You can still see in our databases some earth station with a suppressed satellite, but we are in the process of cleaning up all these cases.   

All Earth stations, including VSAT, that may cause interference across border need coordination.

Please kindly check GIBC excercise.zip in the following link. It contains what you are looking for.
https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/space/WRS20space/24%20Coordination%20of%20Earth%20Stations%20(Appendix%207).zip           

Yes, a ground control station may be considered as an earth station. If an Administration wants to guarantee the interference control and international recognition for this specific control station, it is required to notify it through the coordination process with neighbouring countries of the Administration.        

Specific Earth station has a precise location, which is required to be captured in the SpaceCap, once you select specific type. Typical Earth station has typical parameters which covers multiple Earth stations. There is no specific location for typical Earth station, and it can be deemed that multiple Earth stations are operated in the service area with the parameters same or within the ones designated as typical parameters on a SNS file.
Concerning the regulatory procedure, there is no difference for recording a typical or a specific earth station included in the notice of associated satellite network/systems. However, for notification of earth station, No.11.17 of the Radio Regulations applies. Except mobile earth station, an individual notice (usually as Specific earth station) has to be notified if coordination with respect to terrestrial services or earth station operating in the opposite direction is required.
For coordination of mobile earth station (usually as Typical earth station), paragraph of 1.4.6 of Appendix 7 applies.The coordination area is determined by extending the periphery of the specified service area by the predetermined coordination distance (see Table 10 of Appendix 7).              

Yes. These Min & Max distances are the guideline of the calculation range. Any calculated mode 1 or mode 2 should be inside this range: Min <= calculated mode 1 or mode 2 <= Max.              

Mode 1 or 2 n in Annex 6 of Appendix 7 are related to Propagation mechanism, so that they should be applied to any direction of transmission. Therefore, for Receiving only earth station, it will have Mode 1 and mode 2 lines.       

In that situation, both notifying and affected Administrations should try any means to resolve the difficult situation. The coordination requirement of the Earth Station shall be based on Main line (not auxiliary line) of Mode1 and Mode 2 (in Coordination contour of GIBC/AP7).Auxiliary contour can be used only in order to reach possible agreement in the coordination process between the concerned Administrations.           

The bandwidth (BW) will be limited by a transponder BW of the associated satellite. The total BW needs to be within the BW of the spectrum range allocated to concerned space services.
There is no other specific rule.            

Gateways that receive broadcasting signal to be redistributed, should be coordinated and notified in order to be protected from harmful interferences. In case of massive end user TVROs, it depends on the Administration to accept a potential interference without international recognition and protection or not.                 

If it is a VSAT which is operated for a short-term (5 days) for only an event, there is no point to register it in MIFR. The process of recording in MIFR will be minimum a few months. However, it is important to coordinate frequency which might cause harmful interference to neighbouring countries before its operation.                                       

Yes in accordance with regulatory provisions, the same coordination process is necessary when the earth station is associated with a new space station because the associated NGSO become different.                    

The recorded earth station is valid if the characteristics of the notified earth station is not modified in your assumption.                                      

Submissions containing only amateur satellite service bands are exempt from cost recovery.        

This Part III-s is based upon the result of technical examination under 11.31 or lack of completion of coordination under 11.32. But, if the notice is returned under Nos 11.37 and 11.38, then there will be no cost.
In your assumption of 2nd notification based on RRB decision, Administration may submit the frequency bands returned under No11.31 or submit additional frequency band. In this case, Cost recovery should be applicable.                

-Submissions of notification of earth stations are exempt from cost recovery
– Large Earth stations submitted to ITU for coordination purposes under 9.7A are subject to cost recovery with category C1                   

Free entitlement shall be applied to both submissions for satellite networks with the same name and received by the Bureau on the same date.       

Free entitlement must be requested:
-by notifying Administration
-for the year of receipt
-before the due date of the invoice                             

The publications (Special Sections and Parts) related to the corresponding filings will be suppressed, and the Administration will still have to pay the amount concerned.                                      

You cannot upload BR IFIC space services for only training purposes. But if you want to download the ISO format of BR IFIC DVD, you are invited to contact Sales Department: sales@itu.int                                        

The BRIFIC is a paying service. However, each member state receives a free copy. More detail please see here – https://www.itu.int/pub/R-SP-LN/en.                                      

You may check preface https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/space/Preface/preface_e.pdf. While there is no comprehensive list of acronyms, here is the names for SNS and SNL. Let us know what others you have difficulty with:
– SNS is Space Networks Systems.
– SNL is Space Network List.                

This information can be found in the special section in the IFIC or in the SNS Online system, using following link: https://www.itu.int/sns/query_builder.html      

They serve different purposes. Please use the one that you find most useful.
– SNL Part A gives information on the use of the frequency spectrum, the occupancy of the geostationary orbit and non-geostationary orbit.
– SNL Part B gives information on all reference publications (special sections and PARTs) related to the space services. Parts when related to SNL is only a legacy from the book version before 2000. Today in SNL online version, the equivalent to the old (Part B) is the most important. In the ITU Space Explorer new project, the parts will disappear. When we are referring to Parts I, II or III, it is by default the parts of the Circular BR IFIC when it was in a Book format with the Notifications notices were published in Part I and results of examinations in Parts II or III. The Parts A, B, C, D of the AP30/30A and maybe AP30B Plans Special Sections are also indicating. It is another meaning and also a legacy from the time when publications were in a book format.                   

Administration Manager on e-Submission and focal points of correspondence by email or faxes are not directly connected. Therefore, correspondence from BR will be delivered to the focal point in your Administrations by email.
If your Administration has been registered on e-Communications, Administration Manager on e-Communications will receive the same correspondence from the Bureau via e-Communications at the same time with email sent to the focal point.                         

There is no common mandatory attachment other than mdb file. However, another attachment such as technical justifications, information about a new operating agency may be required according to the circumstances of notices or SpaceCom comments. For a new operating agency, please see the details here.
Any cover letter is not mandatory, but it is recommended if a notifying Administration wishes to inform information concerned the notice to the Bureau.            

Correct. Comments under 11.28.1 is not subject to SpaceCom comments. Your administration can send correspondence to a notifying administration. BR recommends your administration to send correspondence to a notifying administration copying to BR via e-Communications. .    

The pdf file of a letter is not mandatory for SpaceCom comments via e-Submission, however can be attached in “other” fields for information only and should be related to the comments file (mdb) if your Administration wishes.

Administrations can nominate a new operating agency to BR. Agencies in Table 12A/12B can hold user accounts if a user in your Administration creates user accounts for the listed operator on e-Submission. Operator users on e-Submission can submit filings to Administration. Administrations receive filings from operator, and can submit them to BR.
Operators cannot send filings to BR directly via e-Submission. An operator can send their submission through e-submission to its administration. The operator role can create, modify, and control their own filings before sending them to their administration.              

Yes, e-Communications can be used for coordination or communication between Administrations.”         

Yes, possible. Your Administration can send a letter again by email to BR or other administrations even if the letter has been sent via e-Communications. However, when your administration sends correspondence to the Bureau via e-Communications, the same correspondence is not required to be sent to the Bureau via e-mail or telefax again. Please just choose one communication means to contact the Bureau, because every correspondence has to be recorded, distributed and considered, even though it’s disregarded in the end due to the repetition. There are still lots of work behind.             

On the current functionality, operating agencies cannot hold access rights to e-Communications, which cover correspondence between Administrations and between Administrations and the Bureau. Future releases would enlarge the system to allow Operator users and Intergovernmental Satellite Organizations (IGSO) users to access the system.         

BR will be updating the system to reply only to BR. Now what you can do is to create a new correspondence, and copy the text over, and put BR only as TO. It is not possible to delete letters once it is sent. This is similar to email and postal mail. We do not plan to create folders yet, perhaps in the future.                       

There is not any planned timeframe, but BR hopes e-Communications will be the sole communication means to send/receive administrative correspondences on space services in future.
If an administration informs BR that it wishes to receive solely by e-Communications, then BR will discontinue sending email to the administration. The Bureau welcomes this request from Administrations.        

Basically, comments to BR IFIC are requested to be sent to notifying administrations and the Bureau according to the Radio Regulations.
If the comments are required to be submitted with SpaceCom software, a SpaceCom comment file shall be submitted to the Bureau via e-Submission. Further, comments are sent to notifying administrations. The Bureau may be copied with the communications sent to notifying administrations.           

The latest version of BR software is here – https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/go/space-software/en
You can have it on every BR IFIC or ITU website at https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/go/space-software/en                                

GIMS has an integrated help (using F1 key). Then tutorial is available on ITU Web site. Please refer: https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/go/space-software/en
If you have any specific question, you can contact to brsas@itu.int. A lot of the applications have some or even substantial documentation, all should be accessible either from that site, or from within the applications (help menu).             

Explaining what modifications you are making in a note or in a letter is always helpful, but it is important that the modified data is included in your mdb file. The Bureau will see that the frequency band has changed and will know which beam is being modified because it has been included in the MOD notice.        

The administration may inform/send the copy as well to the operator(s) what it is sending to the notifying administration and ITU. Else you will see the comments also when the BR published the special sections.                                      

Cross validation is the validation of the SNS data against Gims data to be sure that you have provided all diagrams as indicated in your submissions.  

You should run BOTH software before submitting your notice to BR.
Findings can be checked in the publication of the CRC in the corresponding IFIC.              

They are published on the BR website at the same time as EPFD examination results.                                      

You would need to use BRSIS SpaceQuery software to see whether the notice contain assignments in 14.5-14.8 GHz – note all beams in 14.5-14.8 GHz. Check GIMS if these beams contain gain contour covering Region 3. If you wish to calculate PFD Limit itself you would need to use GIBC PFD GSO module.                 

Please refer to Provision No. 21.16 of Volume I of Radio Regulation.                                      

No, there is no need to install IDWM separately.
IDWM runtime libraries are included inside both GIMS and GIBC.                  

You may do it easily using GIMS software.                                      

If the diagrams are modified, you need submit them in GIMS mdb format.                                      

can use this database to run the GIBC PFD limits.
But, if you want to check the pfd limit of a satellite network already recorded in ITU database, you may use the SRS_all database available in IFIC publication.
The step-by-step guidance of using the software is available in the video https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/space/Pages/wrs2020SpaceWorkshopVideo.aspx                   

Yes, it does . You can click on the View Notes button on that module. There is a document to explain what is checked.       

No, It is not foreseen to include C/I software as part of the ITU software package. Nevertheless, there are many commercially available C/I software packages in the market.               

They are published on website at the time of EPFD examination.                                      

The best way to find that information would be to use MS Access query (your own-made query) on SRS.mdb. In other way, you could try BRSIS program. If you have any specific question, you can contact to brsas@itu.int                                      

To coordinate with another administration, all means of communications can be used as the choice of each administration. However, if both administrations have accounts in e-communications, it is advisable to use e-communications.
From the Bureau side, it is necessary to be informed that an agreement has been reached (or that the interference has been eliminated) when you submit a Part B or a notification, as appropriate.      

§ 4.1.3 bis of Appendices 30 and 30A and 6.31bis of Article 6 of Appendix 30B specify the cases as well as the conditions to be met in order to obtain a maximum of 3 years (only one time) of extension to the regulatory time-limit for bringing into use due to launch failure without a need to submit the request to the Radio Regulations Board (RRB).
For other cases including those that constitute the force majeure shall be submitted to the RRB for its consideration.        

The assignments entered in the List cannot be directly modified. The procedure of Article 4 (AP30/30A) or Article 6 (AP30B) needs to be started again and the coordination requirements shall be fulfilled before the new modified assignments could be entered in the List. When applying the Article 4 (AP30/30A) or Article 6 (AP30B), the “first-come first-served” principle applies based on the official date of receipt of the notice intended to modify the assignment in the List.            

It can be found in the GIMS reference database (\Databases\GIMS_Data\grefdbXXXX.mdb – where XXXX represents the number of BR IFIC), which is included in all BR IFIC. Installation of the GIMS software application is required so that the relative antenna gain contours, boresights, service areas and the gain towards GSO diagrams can be viewed graphically. For AP30/30A, not only co-polar antenna gain contours but also the cross-pol antenna gain contours can be found.                     

To calculate interference from/to other satellite networks, we need to know where transmitting/receiving earth stations are located.
For AP30/30A/30B, such locations are determined by a set of test-points. For assignments/allotments in the Plans, test-points were determined by the Conferences that established the relevant Plans. For other submissions in AP30/30A/30B, test-points are submitted by the notifying administrations.
Because transmitting/receiving earth stations are supposed to be located at those test-points, they describe the associated service area for a satellite network and thus they should be homogeneously distributed.
In terms of technical examinations by the Bureau, test-points are used for the calculation of interference and checking of hard limits.                 

To ensure the equitable access to the GSO orbit/spectrum among the ITU Member States (including both developing countries and developed countries), two space services Plans were established (i.e. BSS and associated BSS Feeder-link Plans as contained in Appendices 30 and 30A; FSS Plan as contained in Appendix 30B).
In addition to the above-mentioned space services Plans, there are other mechanisms to facilitate the access to the GSO orbit/spectrum, especially by the developing countries, like Resolution 170 (WRC-19) in Appendix 30B and Resolution 553 (Rev.WRC-15) in the frequency band 21.4-22 GHz.
AP30/30A/30B contains the commenting procedures in order for an administration to protect its resources potentially affected by satellite networks of other Administrations. An administration can request for assistance of the Bureau in application of AP30/30A/30B procedures.

When applicable coordination trigger limits are exceeded in respect of your Plan assignments or Plan allotment, as appropriate, your administration is identified as affected.
The notifying administration of an affecting network has the right to create interference to your Plan upto the levels that are defined as “permissible interference” in accordance with the relevant Plan.
Beyond that permissible interference, the notifying administration needs to seek the agreement from your administration.
In case you provide agreement to the new network, you should define what the acceptable interference is based on a link-budget calculation. The acceptable interference would still allow your administration to operate your Plan while giving agreement to the notifying administration.           

Capacity of GSO orbit/spectrum of frequency bands allocated to space service Plans can be roughly divided into two parts: one part for the establishment of the Plans for the equitable access and another part for the use beyond the Plans (i.e. additional use in case of Appendices 30 and 30A and additional system in case of Appendix 30B). The additional use/system shall protect Plans as Plans have higher priority.
Procedure applicable for additional use/system and procedure for non plans are based on the “first-come first-served” principles. For additional use, the applicable procedure is contained in Article 4 of Appendices 30 and 30A; for additional system, the applicable procedure is contained in Article 6 of Appendix 30B; for non plans, the applicable procedure is contained in Article 9 of the Radio Regulations.              

The BSS and FSS Plans are independent and thus they can be used at the same time. However, their use shall be in accordance with the established Plans and the relevant procedures because the BSS Plan is a Regional Plan.                                      

No as paragraph 1.1 and the associated footnote of the Rule of Procedure on the receivability of forms of notice indicate that SpaceCom cannot be used for commenting on Special Sections related to AP30/30A in Regions 1 and 3. Instead, affected administrations are requested to send comments to the notifying administrations and copy to the Bureau by other means of communication, preferably through the E-communications portal.               

Yes, because SpaceCom cannot be used (see the reply to the question above).
In order to properly protect your Plan assignments or assignments of your additional use, your administration needs to make comments within the 4-month commenting period counted from the date of publication of the relevant BR IFIC (Space services).                       

The service area of the original Plan assignments is limited to the national territory of the responsible administration.
Regional systems refer to the networks that can have wider service area than the national territory. These systems can be submitted to the Bureau through the application of Article 4 of Appendices 30 and 30A for additional use and of Article 6 of Appendix 30B for additional system.                   

Plans were established based on a set of standard technical parameters with a service area limited to the national territory. One of the standard technical parameters is satellite elliptical beam defined by a -3 dB relative antenna gain contour in the GIMS application.
To meet the C/N objective over the national territory, the coverage area (-3 dB) needs to include the national territory. During the establishment of the Plan, the ellipse was determined based on a set of test-points. Therefore, because of special geographical situation of certain countries, some test-points needed to put outside the national territories. It should be noted that the test points for Plan assignments are part of the characteristics of the Plans agreed by all Administrations during the corresponding WRC.            

SPS_ALL database is a master database of Appendices 30 and 30A. It is available in every BR IFIC (\Databases\AP30-30A\SPS_ALL_IFICXXXX.mdb – where XXXX is the number of the relevant BR IFIC). SPS_ALL database is in MsAccess format and contains the following information:
– Detailed characteristics of BSS and the associated BSS Plan assignments;
– Detailed characteristics of assignments in the List of additional use;
– Detailed characteristics of requests for additional use in Regions 1 and 3 or for Plan in Region 2;
– Reference situation (EPM or OEPM) of all frequency assignments;
– Detailed characteristics of assignments in the Master Register;
– Detailed characteristics of requests for coordination of assignments for Space Operation Functions (Article 2A);
– Associated information relating to Resolution 49;
– Identification of affected administrations as well as affected satellite networks;
– Other information including the one relating to the management of the Bureau.                                      

Because BSS Plan for Region 2 and for Regions 1 and 3 were established by different WARC (WRC). For Region 2, it was developed by 1983 Conference (RARC Sat-R2) and subsequently incorporated into the Radio Regulations by WARC Orb-85 (first session). For Regions 1 and 3, the BSS and the associated BSS Feeder-link Plans were established by WARC-77 and WRC Orb-88 (Second session), respectively. Different Conferences have different motivation and objectives. It should be noted that procedures applicable to Region 2 and those to Regions 1 and 3 are also different.                                      

The beamlet is a parameter directly related to the roll-off of the antenna. The smaller the value of the beamlet, the greater the value of the roll-off and therefore better performance. It can be found in 3.13.3 of Annex 5 to Appendix 30 for minimum values of the beamlet in Regions 1 and 3 and in Region 2.                                      

With respect to assignments in the Plan, there is no period of validity. With respect to an assignment in the List of additional uses, once it has been notified, recorded in the Master Register and brought into use, the period of operation is limited to a maximum of 15 years counted from the date of bringing into use or 2 June 2000, whichever is later. However, the period of operation can be extended by another 15 years if:
– the responsible administration sent a request to the Bureau at least 3 years before the expiry of the first 15 year period;
– and confirm that all the characteristics of the assignment remain unchanged.              

It can be found in the Special Sections AP30/E and AP30A/E published in BR IFIC 2932 of 27 October 2020. At the end of each Special Section, the list of the Administrations/networks identified as potentially affected under 4.1.1 of Appendices 30 and 30A can be found.
The Notice_IDs of Res.559 submissions are in the range 120552008 to 120552052 for Appendix 30 and 120554008 to 120554052 for Appendix 30. Any affected network with the Notice_ID in the above-mentioned range belongs to a filing submitted under Resolution 559 (WRC-19).                      

Plans were established by a Conference (WARC/WRC) in order to ensure the equitable access to the GSO orbit/spectrum among all the ITU Member States. Plans are stipulated in Volume 2 of the Radio Regulations (Appendices 30 and 30A) and permanent.
List of additional uses was established by WRC-2000 for additional uses in Regions 1 and 3. To include an assignment in the List, a notifying administration has to apply the 4.1 procedure of Article 4 of Appendices 30 and 30A. Assignments in the List have a limited time of operation(15 + 15 years) in accordance with § 4.1.24 of Article 4.                    

SpaceQry helps identify EPM value, but it cannot give information to Administration whether or not the value is accepted. A link budget calculation should be performed during a frequency coordination for making a decision.                  

If any assignment in the Plan or Region 2 Article 4 is still affected by an incoming Part B, that incoming Part B will not be allowed to enter in the AP30/30A List. Therefore, there is no such disagreement for an assignment in the List.
An assignment still can be entered in the List with some disagreements from other assignments in the List or Regions 1 and 3 Article 4 networks. By updating the reference situation when there is such a disagreement, the reference situation of the assignment which was the basis of the disagreement would be degraded. That is the subject of the discussions you referred to under Agenda Item 7 of WRC-19.                    

The Bureau applies decision of RRB in this regard. Several years ago, there were additional countries jointed Europe in application of footnote 5.510. These three countries are GEO, ARM and AZE.
Indication of the request for exclusion when sending the filing submission to BR, this allows BR to exclude Europe from the service area of BSS Feeder-link in 14.5 – 14.8 GHz.       

Yes, there are certain Article 2A of AP30/30A R1&3 that affect assignments in the Plan.
The compatibility between Article 2A networks and Plan assignments is determined by using GIBC/PFD and GIBC/Appendix 8 based on the pfd and Delta T/T criteria.
Meanwhile, Mspace and EPM are used for the compatibility among assignments belonging to the same Plan (e.g. among assignments of Regions 1 and 3 Plans).
In accordance with Appendices 30 and 30A, there are various criteria used for different sharing situations.                        

EPM is used for the compatibility among assignments in the same Plan and not between Article 2A and Plan assignments (see the answer on the just above question).
Therefore, even an Article 2A network can affect an assignment in the Plan, its effect is reflect based on the pfd mask in the downlink and Delta T/T in the feeder-link and not in the EPM.                 

In such a case, the notifying administration is given 30 days to modify the technical parameters so that the hard limits are complied.
If some assignments exceed the hard limits, they will be removed by the Bureau before further processing of the remaining assignments. Thus, there would be no publication from the Bureau to indicate an assignment that exceeds the hard limits.     

Yes, please read footnotes 7bis of 4.1.12 of Appendix 30 and 9bis of 4.1.12 of Appendix 30A.                          

Because BSS Plan for Region 2 and for Regions 1 and 3 were established by different WARC (WRC). For Region 2, it was developed by 1983 Conference (RARC Sat-R2) and subsequently incorporated into the Radio Regulations by WARC Orb-85 (first session). For Regions 1 and 3, the BSS and the associated BSS Feeder-link Plans were established by WARC-77 and WRC Orb-88 (Second session), respectively. Different Conferences have different motivation and objectives. It should be noted that procedures applicable to Region 2 and those to Regions 1 and 3 are also different.             

Comments under Appendix 30B are not SpaceCom comments, so please communicate via e-Communications or email.                                       

You can only make a comment for the provisions under which you are identified.
The provision 6.6 of Appendix 30B is a special case and there would be no interference if an administration does not reply to 6.6 of appendix 30B. The only consequence is that its territory will not be included in the service area of the incoming notice. Even if the administration accepts to be included in the service area under 6.6 of Appendix 30B, it may request to be excluded later, under 6.16 of Appendix 30B. Provision 6.5 of Appendix 30B means that there is a potential interference. You can comment (agreement/disagreement) when you are identified as affected (by correspondence, not SpaceCom).         

No, such provision doesn’t exist under Appendix 30B. Unless your assignments are identified as affected under §6.5 of AP30B, you cannot ask to reduce the emission on your territory.                

It is advisable to ask the assistance of a satellite antenna manufacturer when creating a satellite antenna gain diagram. Otherwise, there are available software for the generation of satellite antenna gain diagrams where you can insert your constraints (example: exclusion area) and obtain the best you can achieve with the available technology.                    

Currently there are no such plans.

In principle, if you wish to bring into use your allotment in the Plan, you have to convert it into an assignment even if you do not modify the characteristics during the process of conversion. The procedure for conversion is contained in Article 6 of Appendix 30B.
Doing conversion, you may wish to change some technical parameters of your Plan’s allotment (power density, Earth stations diameter, test-point location, service area beyond your national territory and so on). These modifications shall not be brought into use immediately, you may wish to keep them as allotment for further usage. However, it needs to be mentioned that some of these modifications may require additional coordination.
AP30B database shall be used for this purpose.                     

No coordination requirements are applicable to the conversion without modification or within the envelope of the original allotment.  

Part B contains an envelope of characteristics. Notification contains a real usage (set of different ESs, specific frequency (transponder) plan and so on).                                      

AP4 = Appendix 4 (Annex 2) of the Radio Regulations contains all data which shall be submitted in the relevant notices (subject of coordination, notification or Plans’ submissions).                                       

A Special Section is an official publication of notices received by the Bureau and published in accordance with provisions in the Radio Regulations. They are published every two weeks in the BR IFIC for Space Services. Examples are API/A, API/B, API/C, CR/C, CR/D, CR/E etc. Please see the Preface for more information:https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/space/Preface/preface_e.pdf             

There are usually no notes provided by the administration on what is being modified, but you can make use of the action codes of the beams and groups to see what is being modified.                                      

The ITU BR Annual Space Report to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STS) of the COPUOS on the use of the geostationary-satellite orbit (GSO) and other orbits is available for download. Please check the information on the following webpage: https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/space/snl/Pages/reportSTS.aspx                                      

The answer is both: To use the orbit-spectrum resource in an efficient, rational, and equitable manner by the Member States and to operate free of harmful interference. (Art 44 and 45 of ITU Constitution) That’s why we have 2 approaches Planned Bands for FSS and BSS in Ap30/30A and 30B which ensure access to all countries, and Unplanned Bands with Art 9 and Art 11 of RR which is a competitive process ensuring efficiency.                                      

Time=0. LAN=0 and Phase=0 would correspond to sub-satellite point at lon=0, lat=0.