The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has announced the release of an updated version of the Radio Regulations, an international treaty that governs the global use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.
The 2024 edition of the ITU Radio Regulations, set to come into effect on January 1, 2025, is the culmination of a four-year process that included four weeks of negotiations during the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, last year.
This treaty regulates the global use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits for various radio services, systems, and applications, such as fixed and mobile broadband, satellite systems, sound and TV broadcasting, radio navigation, meteorological monitoring and prediction, space research and Earth exploration, and amateur radio services.
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasised the significance of the 2024 edition of the Radio Regulations, stating, “As technological progress advances and the demand for spectrum grows, the international treaty continues to evolve to accommodate new radiocommunication services and applications, minimise interference between services, and ensure equitable access to this essential resource.”
The treaty plays a crucial role in international radio frequency management, ensuring that spectrum allocations keep pace with the rapidly evolving technological landscape and meet the needs of modern communication systems. It also governs how radio equipment and systems operate to ensure efficient and effective coexistence among various services worldwide and anywhere in space, optimising the usage of today’s increasingly crowded airwaves.
The 2024 Radio Regulations identify new spectrum resources to support technological innovation, deepen global connectivity, increase access to and equitable use of space-based radio resources, and enhance safety at sea, in the air, and on land.
Mario Maniewicz, Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, highlighted that the updated Radio Regulations result from hard-won agreements reached WRC-23 and underscored the spirit of cooperation and compromise among all members to negotiate timely changes to the international treaty. He emphasised that the updated treaty provides a framework for national spectrum management that aligns with international standards and guarantees a stable, predictable regulatory environment essential for the development of innovative radiocommunication services.
The global regulation of the radio spectrum dates back to the first International Radio Telegraph Convention in 1906. From its origins, the Radio Regulations have evolved into a comprehensive treaty encompassing more than 40 different radiocommunication services, spanning frequencies from 8.3 kilohertz (kHz) to 3000 gigahertz (GHz).
The ITU Radio Regulations aim to facilitate equitable access to and rational use of the radio-frequency spectrum and geostationary satellite orbits, support the efficient and effective operation of all radiocommunication services, and facilitate introducing and regulating new radiocommunication services and technologies as necessary. The treaty also promotes international coordination mechanisms to ensure the availability of frequencies for distress and safety communications and to prevent or resolve instances of harmful interference between the radio services of different administrations.
The 2024 Radio Regulations are available in all six UN official languages in electronic versions that can be downloaded free of charge. Print and DVD versions will be available for purchase in the coming weeks.
