2020 Volume 4 Issue 1 Pages 145-158
Wireless systems represented by cellphones, WiFi, and satellite communication have already become indispensable part of the socio-economic activities of modern society. Due to the peculiarities of radio waves, there are many restrictions imposed on country and industry compared with wired communication. Only when every country around the world complies with internationally binding rules can the proper and stable use of radio waves without harmful interference be maintained. These rules for radiocommunications are compiled into the Radio Regulations (RR), which is revised when a new system such as the 5th generation mobile communication system(5G) will be introduced.
This revision is decided at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), which is held every three to four years. Government, carriers and manufacturers of each country may aim to establish rules including technology or operational rule advantageous to their own country or company, or standard that can sufficiently protect existing system. The deliberation at the WRC is getting complicated by the remarkable technological development in the radiocommunication field, the congestion of frequency resources due to the increase in the number of radio stations and their types, and the speculation of each country other than these technological elements, and conflicts between regions, countries and stakeholders who have interests are becoming more and more severe.
This paper analyzes three specific conflict structures between new and conventional systems, between neighboring countries and between regional groups as typical structures of terrestrial service vs. space service that occur in the process of RR revision, and clarifies the way of thinking in agreeing on international rules and the status of its improvement. It also discusses future issues and directions based on these results.
