At the kind invitation of the
Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications et de la Poste (ARTP) of Niger, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the
African Telecommunications Union (ATU) jointly organize the Regional Radiocommunication Seminar 2015 for Africa (RRS-15-Africa), to be held in Niamey, Niger, on 20-24 April 2015. RRS-15-Africa will be held in the following format:
- A pre-seminar web tutorial is available at this web page, with the basic concepts of spectrum management at national and international levels, their links with ITU Radio Regulations (RR), ITU and ITU-R structures and functions, including the study groups and BR departments, and ITU basic texts, with the main focus on RR and their associated Rules of Procedure (RoP). A good understanding of the pre-seminar web tutorial concepts is required in order to be able to participate actively in the seminar.
- The first two days of the seminar will cover concepts related to spectrum management as well as the procedures associated to the recording of frequency assignments in the Master International Frequency Register (MIFR). The review of the modifications to the RR, associated WRC Resolutions and ITU-R Resolutions decided by the last World Radio Conference (WRC-12) and Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-12) as well as agendas of the next WRC-15 will follow. These two days will also cover the current regulatory framework for international frequency management and the ITU-R Recommendations and best practices regarding the use of spectrum for both terrestrial and space services, including basic training on ICT tools developed by ITU for frequency notifications for those services and for the technical examinations.
- During following 2 days, the subsequent sessions will be devoted to workshops enabling participants to prepare their own schedule, based on their interest, alternating between space and terrestrial services and lectures or practical sessions. These workshops will enable the participants to get hands-on experience with ITU notification procedures as well as with the software and electronic publications made available by the Radiocommunication Bureau to the Administrations of Member States and to the ITU-R Sector Members.
- RRS-15-Africa will conclude with a Forum on Friday 24th April 2015, on "Emerging concepts in spectrum utilization and monitoring: Preparing for future spectrum management for the region". The addressed topics will include: i) Emerging concepts in mobile technologies/spectrum utilization (dynamic spectrum access, e.g. TV white spaces); ii) Bridging the digital divide through the allocation of the digital dividend; iii) Emerging concepts in spectrum monitoring; iv) Emerging concepts in satellite technologies/spectrum utilization (e.g. Nano and Pico satellites); v) Industry view on C-band in relation to WRC-15; vi) Improvements to satellite procedures (WRC-15). This Forum will include participation of main stakeholders who will discuss the emerging concepts in spectrum utilization and monitoring in order to prepare for future spectrum management decisions in the region.
The lectures and discussions during RRS-15-Africa will be in both English and French with simultaneous interpretation facilities. The seminar will be conducted in a "paperless" environment. Given the amount of practical work expected during the workshops, participants are required to bring their laptops, performing the indicated set of minimal specifications. All participants are kindly requested to download the documents before the meeting starts to avoid congestion of Internet network.
Member States, ITU-R Sector Members, Associates and Academia from African countries, and ATU membership are invited to attend the RRS-15-Africa. Attendance to this Seminar is free of charge for their representatives. Registration for this event will be carried out exclusively online, through the respective designated focal point (DFP). Advance registration is strongly advised for all participants; unannounced participants will face further delays at the on-site registration desks.
