Spectrum Policy Podcast PolicyTracker

For the coming weeks, PolicyTracker will cover key issues of the Radio World Conference. The second episode of this WRC-23 special discusses issues related to satellite agenda items.

In this episode, we speak to ITU-R vice chair Florence Magnier on some of the major satellite agenda items that will be discussed at the conference.

For the coming weeks, PolicyTracker will cover key issues of the Radio World Conference. The first episode of this WRC-23 special features Martin Fenton, Director of Spectrum Analysis at Ofcom and Chairman of ITU-R Study Group 5.

Fenton talks about the Radio Assembly, the upper 6 GHz band, UHF and the future of IMT bands.

While the next generation of mobile technology, or 6G, is only expected to emerge around 2030, the industry is already considering what new spectrum bands could be opened up for mobile use. Some have expressed interest in various bands in the 7-24 GHz range. In fact, there are already proposals to study these bands at upcoming World Radiocommunication Conferences.

However, the 7—24 GHz range is already extensively utilised by incumbents. In particular, the range encompasses many bands that are highly valuable for the satellite industry, including the Ku-band and the Ka-band.

How will regulators decide who needs the spectrum the most, and who can deride the most benefit from these bands? In this episode, we speak to Richard Marsden, senior Managing Director at NERA Economic Consulting in New York about this conundrum.

PolicyTracker’s podcast series continues with a look into Light Fidelity (LiFi) technology. Instead of using radio frequencies, this form of wireless communication transmits data through light.

In this episode, PolicyTracker’s Mirva Villa speaks with Professor Harald Haas, who is considered to be one of the LiFi technology’s pioneers. He explains how the technology works and where the industry is headed.

The 6 GHz band is one of the most controversial issues in spectrum management. At the heart of this issue, there is a disagreement about who needs it most. The mobile industry argues that it is essential for the band to be assigned to mobile operators, while the WiFi industry says they need it.



This leaves regulators in the middle, left to make a decision about who to believe. UK regulator Ofcom thinks it can do both. In this episode, Ofcom’s director of spectrum policy and analysis Cristina Data speaks to PolicyTracker about its proposed “hybrid sharing” solution that would allow both technologies to co-exist in the band.



UK regulator proposes hybrid framework for upper 6 GHz band

News: China first in the world to set upper 6 GHz band aside for 5G and 6G

Research: 6 GHz benchmarking update January 2023

In November 2023, thousands of delegates will travel to Dubai for the World Radiocommunication Conference. For four weeks they will discuss the future of global communications. What is WRC-23? Why do we need the ITU? What are the key topics that will be discussed in Dubai?

Martin Sims Managing Director of PolicyTracker asks Mohammed A. El-Moghazi, Director of International Policies at the National Telecom Regulatory Authority of Egypt (NTRA) to explain the basics.

The next preparatory event in the lead-up to WRC-23 is the ITU's Global Symposium for Regulators 2023, which will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from 5 to 8 June 2023 in the Tonino Lamborghini Convention Center. The Symposium will have “Regulation for a sustainable digital future” as a key discussion point.

Read more on this topic in Policytracker's guide to WRC-23.