TERJE TJELTA, ANNE LISE LILLEBØ, ERIK OTTO EVENSTAD

ITU-R's World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) is the international forum for revising the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. The WRC in 2007 (WRC-07) addressed the worldwide use of radio frequencies and sought solutions on how to exploit the limited resource of the radio frequency spectrum in the most rational and efficient way in order to meet the global demand for spectrum generated by rapid tech- nological developments and growth in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. The highlights of the WRC-07 included the issues regarding more spectrum for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), especially in the UHF-band and the C-band, and the revision of the regulatory procedures applicable to satellite services, including the Plan for fixed satellite services that provides spectrum and orbit resources to the Member States of the ITU. WRC-07 agreed on the following decisions of importance to telecommunications operators and vendor industry: • New allocations of additional spectrum for mobile services and IMT; • A revised framework of procedures for the fixed satellite service (FSS); • Resolution advocating the use of ICT in emergency and disaster relief including the prevention of climate change. The decisions of the WRC-07 in the form of Final Acts will be part of the international treaty "Radio Regulations" (RR).