IFIC

The ITU (International Telecommunication Union) BR International Frequency Information Circular (BR IFIC) is a service publication in DVD-ROM format, published by once every two weeks by the Radiocommunication Bureau (BR). It contains information on the frequency assignments to space stations (i.e. that are submitted under the Article 9, Article 11, Appendices 30, 30A and 30B Plans of Radio Regulations), Earth stations or radioastronomy stations submitted by administrations to the Radiocommunication Bureau for recording in the MIFR (Master International Frequency Register).

The radio regulations currently in force; regarding the coordination between geostationary satellite networks (No. 9.7), the Bureau provides the list showing administrations with which coordination has to be effected as well as the respective satellite networks. The Bureau uses either the “coordination arc” (CA) concept (i.e., if there is bandwidth overlap, and the angular separation between satellites FSS is not more than ±6 degrees for a range of 14/13/12/11 GHz and ±7 degrees for the range of 6/4 GHz and) or the method described in Appendix 8 (ΔT/T ratio exceeds 6%) for this identification. However, under the provisions of No. 9.41, administrations which are not in the list may request their inclusion if the value of ΔT/T calculated by the method in Appendix 8 exceeds six per cent for their satellite network(s). Therefore, administrations/satellite operators should perform their own calculations to determine the likelihood of interference, especially when a coordination arc has been used as a tool.

Each IFIC contains a number of individual publications of different types, as set out in the Radio Regulations, with certain provisions that subject to comment with SpaceCom or letter/telefax within four months of the date of publication of the relevant IFIC. We provide detailed report (justification for the request to engage in coordination, networks identified by ITU but does not need to coordinate, relevant provisions which coordination is requested etc.) to our partners (administrations, ministries, satellite operators, national space agencies, related regulatory bodies and others) about the bi-weekly IFIC publications not to miss any step, which is necessary.

As summarized above, the analysis of the IFIC publications is one of the most important elements of the international regulations to preserve the rights of Member States in the context of the limited frequency resource. Administrations may lose their filing rights/service quality/advantages (i.e. EPM (Equivalent Protection Margin) degradation, implicit ratification to satellite network(s), implicit agreement for the inclusion of its territory in the service area of a broadcasting-satellite service, decrease the aggregate carrier-to-interference (C/I) value, decrease the uplink and/or downlink single entry carrier-to-interference value etc.) if they not fulfil the mandatory steps before the comments period has expired. In this respect Satmen Telecom examines the BR IFIC’s and prepares the written comments and SpaceCom databases which need to be send to the Administrations and to Bureau within the time limit specified in ITU Radio Regulations (RR).

We perform the detailed analysis on the all satellite networks publications in the IFIC (both PDF format and mdb files) with respect to coordination provisions and triggers including ITU RR No. 9.7, 9.7A, 9.7B, Z/9.7, 9.12, 9.12A, 9.13, 9.21/A, 9.21/B, 9.41, AP30B#6.6, AP30A#4.1.1C, AP30A#4.1.1D, AP30A#4.2.2A, AP30A#4.2.2B, AP30A#4.2.2C,AP30#7.1, AP30A#7.1, AP30#4.1.1C, AP30#4.1.1E, AP30#4.2.3A, AP30#4.2.3B, AP30#4.2.3E6, AP30#4.2.3E7, AP30#4.2.3F, Appendix 8, Delta T over T and power flux density (PFD) limits.

We also follows your submitted filings which is published in the IFIC to check everything is on track. As is well known, foreign administrations will comment on your satellite networks published in ‘special sections’ of an IFIC. Satmen Telecom will help to manage the ITU requirements for CR/D comments. To this end, we will wait until after the comments period has expired and work on these documents. As part of the ITU satellite networks coordination process, administrations/operators are frequently required to answer to requests. These requests may come from an administration or satellite operator or ITU. For instance, under Radio Regulations 9.46 or 9.60, an administration may request the assistance of the BR. Administrations/operators are obliged to respond to the requests in a substantive and timely manner.

Satmen Telecom assists you to fulfil this obligation in a timely manner. Failure to respond in a timely manner or failure to provide sufficient technical detail may result to lose some of your rights.

IFIC Analysis