The Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) participated in the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from 28 October to 22 November 2019.
The ASBU participated in the conference in the presence of an active Arab broadcasting organizations. The purpose of their participation is to contribute to the protection of the spectrum utilization in the broadcasting services, especially in the UHF band 470 to 694 MHz and the “C” band to maintain their current and future broadcasting services, which face significant challenges in allocating these bands as a primary service shared with the service. IMT, which may contribute to their extinction as a result of the difficulty of coexistence between these systems (broadcasting and mobile) according to previous studies completed for this purpose.
Due to the considerable efforts of Arab and international broadcasters, attempts were made by some countries (including some Arab countries) to propose a common initial allocation of mobile systems in the UHF band from 470 to 694 MHz at the next WRC 2023, by retaining To the pre-2015 Conference Resolution to study the different service needs in this band and to work to separate this UHF (470-694) MHz band from the issue of band identification for IMT. Part 3.8 to 4.2 GHz of the “C” band has also been successfully excluded from the proposed IMT bands, while Part 3600-3800 MHz of the “C” band has been included in the proposed items with a co-primary allocation to the broadcasting service at the next WRC- 2023.
On the other hand, the Arab Group of spectrum ASMG, as well as the ASBU, supported Resolution 12 of the Conference on the continued assistance to Palestine, through the Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) and cooperation with the Development Sector (ITU-D) in accordance with relevant ITU Resolutions and Decisions, particularly in the areas of capacity building, spectrum management and exploitation Radio spectrum for the use of modern communication technologies, especially the mobile service.
Broadcasters have thus successfully joined forces to protect the spectrum of digital terrestrial television until it is re-examined in 2023 in parallel with all other services. Broadcasters are now required to intensify the use of terrestrial spectrum for digital television so that this vital media sector can be secured for citizens and a service under the supervision of national sovereignty without being influenced by external variables, in addition to being a means to broadcast important high-cost events such as sports, which are available at reasonable or sometimes free of charge on terrestrial platform.