Press Release
Radiocommunication Assembly 2019 (RA-19), Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt Image credit ITU
Sharm El-Sheikh, 25 October 2019
The ITU Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-19) concluded today charting future directions in radiocommunication systems and information and communication technologies. Chaired by Mr Sergey Pastukh of the Russian Federation, RA-19 set future work programmes for the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) and approved a range of radiocommunication standards (ITU-R Recommendations) and Resolutions that will have a global impact on future radiocommunication technologies.
Discussion highlights during Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-19)
-Advanced technologies for short-range devices (SRD) in support of the Internet of Things, with applications for radio-frequency identification devices (RFID) and certain types of medical devices.
-Railway radiocommunications systems between train and trackside (RSTT), which are vital to provide improved railway traffic operations in a high-speed environment.
-Ongoing enhancements to International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), including IMT-2020 – also known as 5G – and the evolving convergence of a number of industries and services.
-Deployment of international public telecommunications via satellite in developing countries to foster affordable and universal access, particularly through global coverage and delivery of next-generation broadband technologies along with a focus on capacity-building.
”The Radiocommunication Assembly is an important reminder of the central role of radiocommunications in the overall technological progress of telecommunications and ICTs,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. “By approving Recommendations – or standards – pertaining to radiocommunication services and by defining future activities of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector, RA-19’s outcomes will pave the way towards shaping the ever-evolving telecommunications environment in which we operate.”
The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) will meet in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from 28 October until 22 November 2019.
The Radio Communication Assembly is prior to the World Radio Communication Conference 2019
Added notes by EMFSA:
Communication Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams directed ICASA to investigate and report to the Minister on the spectrum requirements of 5G in bands lower than 6GHz and the millimetre wave (mmW) bands. The minister said this report should be provided to her within six months after the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC -19)