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PRESS RELEASE


WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE 2023 - PATHWAYS TOWARDS BETTER RADIO
ASTRONOMY PROTECTION IN THE EVOLVING SATELLITE EPOCH



December 21, 2023

The four-week-long World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) concluded on
Friday, December 15. While the COP28 meeting, which took place at the same time
in Dubai, garnered more media attention, WRC-23 will also have a major impact on
almost every human being, as decisions were made about the future use of the
radio spectrum, for example allocating new cell-phone frequencies and paving the
way for new air- and spaceborne communication applications. In addition, radio
astronomers managed to take the first major steps towards improved protection of
their extremely sensitive telescopes from satellite constellation interference.

In recent years, the number of satellites around Earth has increased almost
exponentially. While the plethora of new applications and services undoubtedly
have benefit, the sheer number of satellites poses a significant threat to
optical, infrared, and radio astronomy alike. In response , the worldwide
astronomy community, via its International Astronomical Union (IAU), founded the
IAU Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite
Constellation Interference (CPS).  Led by NSF’s NOIRLab (National
Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory; optical/IR) and the Square
Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO; radio), it aims to study the impact of large
satellite constellations on astronomy and to seek solutions with administrations
and the industry.

The protection of radio astronomy from anthropogenic transmissions (e.g. radio,
TV, cell-phone networks) is in principle already well-organised. The
Radiocommunication Sector of the International Telecommunication Union – the
ITU-R – is responsible for ensuring fair and coordinated access to the radio
spectrum for all stakeholders, including governments, industry, and scientific
users. Unfortunately, the rapid development of the satellite sector has
surpassed the ITU-R regulations, which did not foresee such growth . Hence, CRAF
(Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies) and other organisations such as SARAO
(South African Radio Astronomy Observatory) & SKAO have been working diligently
to address this issue and have now achieved notable success.

Every three to four years, the ITU-R organises the WRC, a conference where
thousands of delegates from administrations and stakeholder organisations gather
for four weeks to update the so-called Radio Regulations – an international
treaty which defines the rules for the use of radio spectrum. At each WRC it is
also decided, which topics – agenda items – the next WRC will cover. Before new
regulation can be finalised, all aspects must be studied in detail, including
the effects on all stakeholders involved. This applies to all services utilising
the radio spectrum, encompassing both radio astronomy and active satellite
services.

As previously reported by the CPS [LINK], African and European administrations
had submitted proposals for new radio astronomy agenda items (AI) to the
Conference. In a challenging, but very constructive process, administrations at
the WRC agreed to create a new AI related to satellites in non-geostationary
orbits and radio astronomy. This will  involve studying how two of the most
significant scientific radio astronomy facilities – SKAO in South Africa and
ALMA in Chile – can be protected, even in frequencies that are not globally
reserved (“allocated”) to astronomy. Both sites also hold immense importance for
the development of their respective countries, promising significant
improvements in education, infrastructure, international collaboration, and
more. Additionally, the protection of other radio observatories is also
addressed, with the intention of finding streamlined processes and technical
solutions applicable to existing frequency allocations of the radio astronomy
service for protection from the new large satellite constellations.

The coming four years will undoubtedly entail a substantial workload for all
involved parties. Nevertheless, CRAF members are more than prepared to engage in
this. CRAF have already developed appropriate software for conducting
compatibility calculations, extensively studied the existing regulations, and
initiated cooperation with satellite operators. Embarking on a new AI represents
the initial stretch of the marathon; the finish line is set for the next WRC in
2027, with the hope that it will bring adequate protections for radio astronomy.

Find out more about CRAF



Photo: The NOEMA observatory - The new agenda item for WRC-27 is the first to
examine the effects of satellite constellations on high-frequency radio
astronomy observations. NOEMA, situated in the French Alps, is well shielded
from most ground-based human-made transmissions. However, large satellite
constellations are visible from anywhere on Earth. Therefore, the protection of
astronomical observatories should already be considered in the planning phase of
new constellations. Credit: IRAM/ J. Boissier

 


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