CHAPTER 5.

APPENDIX C Spectrum and frequency Issues

APPENDIX C

SPECTRUM AND FREQUENCY ISSUES

Introducing new data link systems requires new spectrum, either in already allocated
frequency bands or in new bands. This appendix discusses issues associated with
the allocation of spectrum for VDL Mode 4.

Contents:

C.1 INTRODUCTION 1
C.2 ITU RADIO REGULATIONS 1
C.3 FREQUENCY PLANNING CRITERIA FOR VDL MODE 4 2
C.4 PRINCIPLES FOR FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENTS FOR VDL MODE 4 2

Document control

Version Status Date Page(s) affected Notes

0.1 28 MAY 2001 REVIEW ISSUE

1.3 27 AUG 2001 All Material added

1.4 12 SEP 2001 Minor additions

2.0 Issued 19 SEP 2001 ISSUE II

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CHAPTER 5. APPENDIX C Spectrum and frequency Issues

C.1 INTRODUCTION
Introducing new data link systems requires new spectrum, either in already allocated
frequency bands or in new bands.

According to the ICAO provision for VDL Mode 4 it is required that VDL Mode 4
equipment can operate in the VHF COM band (117.975-137 MHz) and it is
recommended that equipment be able to operate in the VHF NAV band (108-117.975
MHz). It is also required that VDL Mode 4 shall have two Global Signalling Channels
(GSC) assigned to support user communications and link management functions.
The GSCs will also accommodate ADS-B communications. Additional channels may
be defined in local domains and notified to mobile users by broadcast from ground
stations in the GSCs.

C.2 ITU RADIO REGULATIONS

All radio spectrum in the world is allocated by the International Telecommunications
Union (ITU) at World Radio Conferences. The allocated spectrum for aviation is by
tradition managed by national aviation authorities in accordance with agreed global
ICAO standards.

ICAO developed the VDL standards assuming that a sufficient number of frequencies
would be available in the already allocated VHF frequency band for Aeronautical
Mobile (Route) Services (AM(R)S), i.e. the 117.975-137 MHz band. This band is
traditionally used for DSB/AM analogue voice communications. The four upper
frequencies (136-136.975 MHz) are dedicated for data link services.

Spectrum in the VHF band is also allocated for Aeronautical Radionavigation

Services (ARN) in the 108-117.975 MHz band. This band is traditionally used for ILS
and VOR assignments providing services based on radio determination. It is
foreseen that GNSS Ground Based Augmentation system (GBAS) standardised by
ICAO will be assigned frequencies in this band. In many parts of the world VORs are
being decommissioned and replaced by GNSS or DME based navigation services.

The ITU definition of navigation also includes those systems, such as radar, which
contribute to the navigation of aircraft through the exercise of air traffic control, or
which support other aircraft navigation functions. It has therefore been argued that
assignments for VDL Mode 4 should take place in the ARN band.

The VHF spectrum for aviation is very congested and the utilisation has been
discussed in various aviation fora during the last few years. Digital communication
systems are based on exchange of data packages over a data link. The ITU Radio
Regulations do not allow data link services in the ARN band because these are not
classified as radio determination. Agenda item 1.28 for the World Radio Conference
addresses this issue in order to allow GBAS assignments in the band 108-117.975
MHz. The ICAO position on this issue is that surveillance services (over VDL Mode
4) should be considered in conjunction with navigation services (over GBAS). A
positive outcome of the World Radio Conference 2003 would then allow assignments
for VDL Mode 4 in the whole VHF band allocated for aviation. The ICAO position is
published in the ICAO Handbook on Radio Frequency Spectrum Requirements for
Civil Aviation.

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CHAPTER 5. APPENDIX C Spectrum and frequency Issues

C.3 FREQUENCY PLANNING CRITERIA FOR VDL MODE 4

The ICAO AMCP WG-B is tasked with defining frequency-planning criteria and
assessing the availability of spectrum for all VDL modes.

Testing of VDL Mode 4 equipment is ongoing and test results together with proposed
draft spectrum planning criteria have been presented to the ICAO AMCP WG-B. The
entire aeronautical VHF spectrum (both navigation and communications) is being
considered. Further work is required and final results will be presented to ICAO.

For test purposes the frequency 136.950 MHz has been assigned to VDL Mode 4
throughout the ICAO EUR Region to be available until 2004 in order to support
activities in the NUP Programme). The assignment is on a non-interference basis
(i.e. link operations cause no interference to protected services and no protection
from these services is claimed).

C.4 PRINCIPLES FOR FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENTS FOR VDL MODE 4

Initial analysis indicates that implementing VDL Mode 4 services in sub-bands would
be very spectrum efficient. The basic VDL Mode 4 operation requires that two Global
Signalling Channels (GSCs) be allocated worldwide. These are used for system
management and for ADS-B, which is the main application for VDL Mode 4. In
normal operation, transmissions alternate between the two GSCs, thus creating a
semi-redundant system that is believed to be required for a system supporting
delegation of separation responsibility to the aircrew. Therefore it is essential that the
two GSCs be allocated apart from each other. This could be realised in two ends of a
sub band in the top part of the radionavigation band, just below 118 MHz.
Alternatively, one GSC could be assigned in the top part of the radionavigation band
and the other one in the top part of the radiocommunication band. Intermediate
channels in a sub band could be used for ground uplinks such as TIS-B, without
causing any co-site problems.

The single sub band approach in the radionavigation band consumes the least
spectrum in the near term and likely involves the least number of station
reassignments. It appears that a sub band in the radiocommunications band will be
required in the long term, in order to maximise spectrum utilisation efficiency, if
communications applications using VDL Mode 4 are eventually brought into use.
After a recommendation from the AMCP WG-C/1 meeting, work is ongoing in AMCP
WG-M in order to include support for communications applications in VDL Mode 4.

The dual sub band approach consumes more spectrum in the near term, but
provides greater separation between GSCs which may have a marginal benefit in
terms of interference immunity.

Both the single sub band and the dual sub band approach put at least one GSC in
the VHF radio navigation band. It has been suggested that VDL Mode 4 does not
conform to the definition of a radiodetermination service and hence should not be
assigned in the VHF radio-navigation band until a suitable adjustment to the ITU-R
Radio Regulations is put in place. It should be noted that VDL Mode 4 actually
incorporates several radiodetermination features (e.g. derivations of time from other
stations transmissions and independent verification of position data in ADS-B
messages by ranging), although it is acknowledged that the primary information
transfer functions of VDL Mode 4 does not rely on these features.

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