Daily Image
29-10-2007
Opening of WRC2007
| Submitter: | CRAF |
| Description: | The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) opened on 22nd October in Geneva, to address the worldwide use of radio frequencies and to meet the global demand for spectrum, fueled by rapid technological developments and growth in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. A finite resource, the radio-frequency spectrum is the bedrock of state-of-the-art ICT, which, in turn is the driving force behind the world’s economic and social systems. The future points towards a wireless world. This year, WRC brings together nearly 3200 participants from the whole world, nearly three times more than during the previous edition. The notion that the radio spectrum is a very valuable natural resource has been well understood by commercial industry. Their efforts to be allowed active use (transmit and receive) of as much of this resource as they can claim, is the predictable result. New modes of transmission are threathening to occupy more of the radio spectrum and even access to parts of the sky, effectively blocking out spectral and spatial regions. This leaves scientific institutions that need access to unpolluted parts of the spectrum for passive use (receive only) in a rather weak position. Radioastronomers should be more aware of the dangers that face their science. What little has been set aside for the 'radio astronomy service' in the radio spectrum should be defended as the areas where radio astronomy can be done at maximum sensitivity. Parts of the spectrum that need to be shared with the active users should preferrably be used in such a way that radio astronomy is still possible in those parts as much as possible. Active participation in fora such as the WRC and CRAF should therefore be seen as a very important activity, defending the future use of the radio spectrum for radio astronomy. |
| Copyright: | Laurentiu Alexe |
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