UN-organized radio communication conference opens in Geneva

The United Nations telecommunication agency today opened an international conference on radio communications that aims to examine the worldwide use of radio frequencies and meet the global demand for spectrum.

More than 1,500 delegates attended the opening day of the World Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reported. It is the first time the conference has been held since mid-2003.

The conference, which runs until 16 November, serves as the international forum for revising the radio regulations – the treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.

Rapid growth in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, driven by technological advances, is also increasing demand for wireless communications, and thus the need to streamline and regularize those operations.

Some 30 items relating to terrestrial and space radio services and applications are on the conference agenda, ranging from digital broadcasting to satellites for meteorology to the better prediction and detection of natural disasters.