The First Meeting of FuTURE Forum's Frequency Working Group in 2024 Convened

 Research     |       2024/1/24

On January 18, the Frequency Working Group of FuTURE Mobile Communication Forum held its first meeting in 2024 at Park Plaza Beijing Science Park. The main focus of this meeting is the summary of WRC-23 achievements and the discussion on the agenda items for WRC-27, as well as the preparations for the upcoming ITU-R WP 5D Meeting. Preliminary discussions and exchanges were carried out on the coexistence study parameters and scenarios for Agenda Item 1.7 of WRC-27. The meeting also introduced the progress of the updated global millimeter wave deployment. Finally, the 6G Spectrum White Paper of FuTURE Mobile Communication Forum planned to be released this year was discussed. The meeting was presided over by Wang Wei, the Vice Chairman of the Working Group. Twenty representatives from member units including the State Radio Regulation of China, China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom, Huawei, ZTE, Qualcomm, Samsung, Nokia, Apple, OPPO, Xiaomi, and UNISOC attended the meeting.

The meeting discussed the conference situation and conclusions of the WRC-23 IMT-related agenda items, focusing mainly on discussions about key questions, technical protection conditions, potential interference coordination, regulatory procedures, and the impact on future commercial network deployments during the WRC.


Wang Wei, Ericsson

Ericsson introduced the conclusions of AI 1.1 and 1.4, stating that a consensus on amending opinions could not be reached for Agenda Item 1.1 due to the large gap between the protection limits of both parties. Consequently, no modifications could be made to the related clauses of the Radio Regulations. There were still countries that chose to adopt IMT identification footnotes, while some African countries stopped adopting them. Finally, 50 countries were included in the existing IMT identification and relevant footnotes were made available to them. The strict PFD (power flux density) limits were not modified, and the original 11 exempted countries remained unchanged. Agenda Item 1.4 concerns the identification of HIBS, which identifies different frequency bands in different regions of the world. In order to ensure the existing system protection for neighboring countries, strict interference protection PFD limits were defined. HIBS stations need to declare station data according to the relevant characteristic requirements of Appendix 4 of the Radio Regulations. Once interference occurs, the established procedures for interference coordination will be adopted.

ZTE introduced the specific discussions and conclusions of WRC-23 Agenda Item 1.2 3GHz, Agenda Item 1.3, and Document 550 of WRC-19. For the 3GHz frequency band, IMT identification is mainly considered in Zone 1 and Zone 2, which was heatedly discussed at WRC-23. Finally, the following conclusions were reached in the plenary session: In the 3300-3400MHz frequency band in Zone 1, 16 countries were added for IMT identification, and in the 3300-3400MHz frequency band in Zone 2, IMT area identification was formed: In the 3600-3800MHz frequency band in Zone 1, multiple countries were added for IMT identification, of which six African countries only carried out IMT identification in the 3600-3700MHz frequency band. In the 3600-3800MHZ frequency band in Zone 2, IMT area identification was formed in the 3600-3700MHz frequency band, and 16 new countries were added for IMT identification in the 3700-3800MHz frequency band. The discussions on WRC-19 Document 550 at WRC-23 proceeded relatively smoothly. At the conference, it was decided to propose a comprehensive solution package for handling the revision of Data Item 8AA and Table 21-2 and the consideration of new agenda items, and finally reach the following conclusions: No amendment to Section 21.5 of the Radio Regulations; Three interpretations of Data Item 8AA were added; Modify Table 21-2, and modify the 24.45-29.5GHz frequency band to the global frequency band; No new agenda items were raised in this regard.


Jin Yiran, Samsung

Samsung introduced the conclusion of AI 1.2 6GHz (6425-7125MHz) frequency band, including IMT identification in the whole Zone 1, IMT identification for Brazil and Mexico in Zone 2, and IMT identification for Cambodia, Laos, and Maldives in Zone 3, with entire Zone 3 completed for IMT identification in 7025-7125MHz frequency band. The conditions for protection limits include:

-FSS (earth to space): Limits of the desired EIRP Mask for IMT BS

-FSS (space to earth), 6700-7075MHz: coordination of specific sites

Regarding the IMT identification footnote, except for the 6425-7025MHz frequency band in Zone 3, the use of Wi-Fi (RLAN) needs to be considered, and no further research on interference coexistence between IMT and Wi-Fi is required.

At the meeting, it was discussed that other countries can add IMT identifications in the form of footnotes at WRC-27, and the protection limits for base stations can ensure the excellent deployment of future IMT. Since China has identified IMT in the division regulations, 6GHz IMT deployment will not be affected. Future work on the availability of time in the 6GHz frequency band and its deployment and adoption by additional countries will require further industry efforts.

Samsung introduced the situation of the new agenda items related to IMT in AI 10, making a comparison between 6425MHz and 7-8GHz and displaying the same/similar conditions (expected EIRP mask) for coexistence studies of U6GHz and the new agenda item on 7-8GHz. Similar to U6GHz, 7-8GHz will be identified for IMT at WRC-27, and strict limits may be adopted for the unwanted emission limits to protect EESS.


Niu Yiying, China Unicom

China Unicom introduced the WRC-23 Agenda Item 1.2 10GHz and shared the views of regional organizations and major countries in this frequency band, the main differences discussed at the conference, and their handling results, as well as the final division and conclusions on indicator limits. Representatives attending the meeting exchanged views on in-band and out-of-band indicators of base stations in this frequency band and related sidelobe suppression technologies.


Yang Huxiao, China Telecom

China Telecom shared the views on WRC-23 satellite-related agenda items and trends. They analyzed all three new agenda items for MSS allocation below 3GHz and considered AI 1.12 to be an extension of WRC-23 AI 1.18. The goal of AI 1.13 is to achieve direct-to-satellite communication, which uses the frequency band from UHF to S with existing IMT identification to provide services such as Starlink and AST. The difference between AI 1.14 and AI 1.13 lies in that it is not limited to supplementing terrestrial IMT but is a new NTN using 3GPP technology, driven by Zone 2, with the goal of making it a major global business segment. China Telecom also introduced new trends in FSS business application innovation, such as adding more ESIM frequency bands to the existing satellite internet FSS, with Ku, Ka, and Q/V frequency bands becoming the focal frequency bands for application innovation. Another trend is that changes to the regulation of NGSO non-geostationary satellites will be the focus of upcoming WRC cycles. Finally, they also introduced the significant progress made by China on issues related to Beidou short messages at the conference. The temporary rules of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) were added to Beidou Short Message Service System (BDMSS).


Liu Jianhua, Nokia Shanghai Bell

Nokia Shanghai Bell mainly introduced the main outcomes of Agenda Item 1.5 during WRC-23, including the final different business identification schemes in Europe, Africa, and the Gulf area. In the interactive session, participating experts exchanged views on the role of Agenda Item 1.5 in the development of the broadcasting business, the collaborative development of the broadcasting business and IMT technologies, the impact of Agenda Item 1.5 on China's broadcasting business, etc.

The coexistence scenarios of Agenda Item 1.7 of WRC-27 were also introduced, including some existing research results of ITU-R, simulation assumptions provided in the previous research cycle, and relevant parameters that need to be supplemented in this research. In the interactive session, participating experts suggested supplementing research on the coexistence of adjacent systems in key research frequency bands, including the coexistence between 4400-4800MHz and AMS/MMS system, and clarified some of the existing businesses in the 7125-8400MHz frequency band.


Cao Yiqing, Qualcomm

Qualcomm provided an introduction regarding the global update on the millimeter wave spectrum and showcased the commercialization and spectrum planning of the 5G millimeter wave. There are 34 operators and 35 countries/regions with available spectrum. 5G millimeter wave provides high-performance services in congested areas, such as a more consistent user experience even in crowded networks. In congested conditions, it provides speeds 4-5 times faster than those in lower and mid-frequency bands. Millimeter wave is expected to deliver extreme capacity and ultra-fast speeds under heavy network loads. Qualcomm showcased the coverage of 5G millimeter wave in sports stadiums during the Super Bowl, with 5G millimeter wave accommodating 73% of indoor cellular downlink traffic. Qualcomm also showcased the millimeter wave device ecosystem, preparing for the global commercialization of 5G millimeter wave.

The spectrum working group also discussed the 6G Spectrum Viewpoint White Paper, which is planned for release in the first half of this year.