ITU Radiocommunication Sector (BR)

(ITU-R) plays a vital role in the global management of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits – limited natural resources which are increasingly in demand from a large and growing number of services such as fixed, mobile, broadcasting, amateur, space research, … Read more

Director’s Corner

Mario Maniewicz
Director, ITU Radiocommunication Bureau

Highlights

The ITU-R Events calendar is available here.

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Events

WP 5D – Confirmed
2025-06-24 – 2025-07-03 Kobe, Japan

CCT – Confirmed
2025-07-01 – 2025-07-01 E-Meeting

RRB-25.2 – Planned
2025-07-14 – 2025-07-18 Geneva, Switzerland

WP 6C – Confirmed
2025-09-01 – 2025-09-05 Geneva, Switzerland

WP 6A – Confirmed
2025-09-02 – 2025-09-10 Geneva, Switzerland

Seminars & Workshops

More Seminars/Workshops

Intersector Activities

Departments

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Space Services Department (SSD)
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Terrestrial Services Department (TSD)
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Radiocommunication Study Groups
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The Radio Regulations (RR)

Space Services Department (SSD)

The Space Services Department (SSD) is responsible for coordination and recording procedures for space systems and earth stations. The Department handles capture, processing and publication of data and carries out examination of frequency assignment notices submitted by administrations for inclusion in the formal coordination procedures or recording in the Master International Frequency Register (MIFR).

The Department is also responsible for managing the procedures for space related assignment or allotment plans of the ITU and for provision of assistance to administrations on all of the above issues.

Structure of SSD

  • Space Publication and Registration Division (SPR)
  • Space Systems Coordination Division (SSC)
  • Space Notification and Plans Division (SNP) ​​

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Terrestrial Services Department (TSD)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Terrestrial Services Department (TSD) carries out technical and regulatory functions and provides assistance to administrations in the domain of international management of the RF spectrum, as specified in the Radio Regulations and various Regional Agreements, concerning terrestrial services (broadcasting, fixed, maritime mobile, aeronautical mobile, etc.).

It processes notifications of frequency assignments, maintains the Master Register and Plans concerning terrestrial services and publishes their updates at regular intervals.

It applies various administrative regulations dealing with allocation of international means of identifications (call sign series, MIDs) and with safety of life. To this end, it processes submissions for various service documents (List of coast stations, List of ship stations, etc.), publishes their updates and maintains their on-line versions.​

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Radiocommunication Study Groups

The ITU-R Study Groups develop the technical bases for decisions taken at World Radiocommunication Conferences and develop global standards (Recommendations), Reports and Handbooks on radiocommunication matters. More than 5​ 000 specialists, from administrations, the telecommunications industry as a whole and academic organizations throughout the world, participate in the work of the Study Groups on topics such as efficient management and use of the spectrum/orbit resource, radio systems characteristics and performance, spectrum monitoring and emergency radiocommunications for public protection and disaster relief.

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Download Radiocommunication Study Groups Brochure

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Study Gro​up 1 (SG 1)

Spectrum Management
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Study Group 3 (SG 3)

Radiowave Propagation​
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Study Group 4 (SG 4)

Satellite Services
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Study Group 5 (SG 5)

Terrestrial Services
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Study Group 6 (SG 6)

Broadcasting Services
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Study Group 7 (SG 7)

Science Services

The Radio Regulations (RR)

​​​​​​The legal framework of ITU comprises the basic instruments of the Union, which have treaty status and are binding on ITU Member States. These instruments are the Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunication Union and the Administrative Regulations, which complement the Constitution and the Convention.

The Radio Regulations (RR) form an integral part of the Administrative Regulations.

The Rules of Procedure are approved by the Radio Regulations Board (RRB). They complement the RR by providing clarification of the application of particular Regulations or establishing the necessary practical procedures that may not be provided for in the current Regulatory Procedures

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Conferences & Meetings

WRC

World Radiocommunication Conferences

RA

Radiocommunication Assemblies

RAG

Radiocommunication Advisory Group

RRB

Radio Regulations Board

RRC

Regional Radiocommunication Conferences

RRS

Regional Radiocommunication Seminars

World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC)

World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) are held every three to four years to review, and, if necessary, revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits. Revisions are made on the basis of an agenda determined by the ITU Council, which takes into account recommendations made by previous world radiocommunication conferences. The general scope of the agenda of world radiocommunication conferences is established four to six years in advance, with the final agenda set by the ITU Council two years before the conference, with the concurrence of a majority of Member States. Under the terms of the ITU Constitution, a WRC can:

On the basis of contributions from administrations, ​the Radiocommunication Study Groups, and other sources (see Article 19 of the Convention (Geneva, 1992)) concerning the regulatory, technical, operational and procedural matters to be considered by World and Regional Radiocommunication Conferences, the Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) shall prepare a consolidated report to be used in support of the work of such conferences.

Previous conferences

Radiocommunication Assemblies

Radiocommunication Assemblies (RA) are responsible for the structure, programme and approval of radiocommunication studies.

They are normally convened every three or four years and may be associated in time and place with World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs).

The Assemblies:

  • assign conference preparatory work and other questions to the Study Groups;
  • respond to other requests from ITU conferences;
  • suggest suitable topics for the agenda of future WRCs;
  • approve and issue ITU-R Recommendations and ITU-R Questions developed by the Study Groups;
  • set the programme for Study Groups, and disband or establish Study Groups according to need.​

Previous Assemblies

Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG)

According to the ITU Constitution (CS 84A) and Convention (CV 160A-160H), the Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG) is tasked to:

  • review the priorities and strategies adopted in the Sector;
  • provide guidance for the work of the Study Groups
  • recommend measures to foster cooperation and coordination with other organizations and with the other ITU Sectors.

The RAG provides advice on these matters to the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau. Radiocommunication Assemblies may refer specific matters within its competence to RAG (CV 137A). The matters assigned to RAG by RA-03 are specified in Resolution ITU-R 52-1. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The RAG Chair was elected by the Radiocommunication Assembly.

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Radio Regulations Board (RRB)

The twelve members of the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) are elected at the Plenipotentiary Conference. They perform their duties independently and on a part-time basis, normally meeting up to four times a year, in Geneva. 

The Board :

  • approves Rules of Procedure, used by the Radiocommunication Bureau in applying the provisions of the Radio Regulations and registering frequency assignments made by the Member States;
  • addresses matters referred by the Bureau which cannot be resolved through application of the Radio Regulations and Rules of Procedure;
  • considers reports of unresolved interference investigations carried out by the Bureau at the request of one or more administrations and formulates Recommendations;
  • provides advice to Radiocommunication Conferences and the Radiocommunication Assemblies;
  • considers appeals against decisions made by the Radiocommunication Bureau regarding frequency assignments;
  • performs any additional duties prescribed by a competent conference or by the Council. 

The Director of the Bureau is the Executive Secretary of the Radio Regulations Board. 

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World Radiocommunication Seminar (WRS)

The ITU organizes World Radiocommunication Seminars (WRS) on a biennial basis, in complement to the cycle of Regional Radiocommunication Seminars (RRS). WRS deal with the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the satellite orbits, and, in particular, with the application of the provisions of the ITU Radio Regulations.

Previous Seminars

 Regional Radiocommunication Seminars (RRS)

The main objectives of BR seminars and workshops are: to give assistance to Member States in spectrum management activities, e.g. through training, information meetings, seminars, development of handbooks and the provision of tools for automated spectrum management; to expand the assistance offered to Member States in coordinating and registering frequency assignments and in applying the Radio Regulations, with special attention to developing countries and Member States that have recently joined the Union.
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One of the objectives of the BR is to hold regional seminars in a way to equitably cover all ITU Regions. Administrations that are interested in hosting a regional seminar may contact the BR and, subject to availability of time and resources, the BR undertakes all the necessary steps to organize the event. The BR also organizes, upon request, individual training in Geneva. This training is usually held in conjunction with important ITU-R meetings and the BR tries to regroup them over a one-week period.​​

Previous RRS

Africa

Americas

Arab States

Asia and Pacific

CIS and neighboring countries

Europe 

Regional Radiocommunication Conferences (RRC)

Regional Radiocommunication Conferences (RRC) are conferences of either an ITU Region or a group of countries with a mandate to develop an agreement concerning a particular radiocommunication service or frequency band.

Such conferences cannot modify the Radio Regulations, unless approved by a WRC, and the Final Acts of the conference are only binding on those countries that are party to the agreement.

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