ConTEL 2011

Keynote lecture 1

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Establishing internationally recognized recommendations on propagation in ITU-R

Bertram R. Arbesser-Rastburg, Electromagnetics and Space Environment Division, European Space Agency.

Abstract:

The radio spectrum is a limited natural resource. The global demand from a range of services such as fixed and, mobile communications, broadcasting, amateur radio, space research, meteorology, global positioning system and earth observation monitoring is steadily rising. Only careful planning of the spectrum utilisation can ensure efficient usage while maintaining good system availability and minimising intra-system interference. World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs) which are held once every 4 - 5 years are tasked to review and, where necessary, revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio frequency spectrum and the satellite orbit.

One of the elements essential for good spectrum planning is a solid set of propagation prediction models. Within the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Study Group 3 of ITU-R (the Radio-communications Sector of ITU) is responsible for elaborating, based on carefully tested propagation models, new or improved Recommendations. The actual work is assigned to one of four Working Parties, depending on the subject:

• WP 3J – Propagation fundamentals
  
• WP 3K – Point-to-area propagation
  
• WP 3L – Ionospheric propagation and radio noise
  
• WP 3M – Point-to-point and Earth-space propagation

The presentation will give some examples for propagation models adopted by ITU-R and outline the process of assessment and testing of a proposed procedure to arriving at an approved Recommendation.

Biography:

Bertram R. Arbesser-Rastburg studied Electrical Engineering at the Technical University of Graz, Austria. In his first position at the Technical University of Graz, he was involved in the design of a C-band weather radar for propagation studies. In 1983 he became Propagation Engineer at INTELSAT in Washington, D.C., taking responsibility for propagation experiments in tropical regions. In 1988 he joined the European Space Agency where he was responsible for the planning and implementation of wave propagation studies for all aspects of satellite communication and navigation as well as wave interaction studies for earth observation. End of 2007 he was appointed Head of the Electromagnetics and Space Environment Division of the European Space Agency, responsible for R&D and project support in the fields of Antennas, Propagation, EMC and Space Environment. He is Chairman of ITU-R SG3 (Propagation), Coordinator of the European part of the international SBAS-IONO Group and Executive Secretary of the Galileo Science Advisory Committee. He serves as member of the editorial boards of the “International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking” and as member of the Scientific Advisory Board of “Annals of Telecommunications”. He is Senior Member of IEEE, URSI Radioscientist and Member of IEICE.

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