The 1087.7–1092.3 MHz frequency band is currently used for transmitting ADS-B signals from aircraft to ground stations within line of sight. The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15) has now allocated this frequency band in the Earth-to-space direction to enable transmissions from aircraft to satellites. This extends ADS-B signals beyond line of sight, making it easier to report the position of ADS-B-equipped aircraft anywhere in the world, including oceanic, polar, and other remote areas.
WRC-15 acknowledged that, as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) develops Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for systems that enable aircraft position determination and tracking, ICAO will also need to address the issue of performance quality criteria for satellite reception of ADS-B signals.
This agreement comes after the disappearance and tragic loss of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 in March 2014, with 239 people on board, which triggered worldwide discussions about global flight tracking and the need for coordinated action by the ITU and other relevant organizations.
At its special meeting on global flight tracking, held in Montreal on 12 and 13 May 2014, ICAO encouraged the ITU to take urgent steps to provide the necessary spectrum allocations for satellites to help address the evolving needs of aviation. In October 2014, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, meeting in Busan, Republic of Korea, tasked WRC-15 with including the issue of global flight tracking on its agenda.
"By reaching this agreement at WRC-15, the ITU has responded in record time to the expectations of the global community on the important issue of global flight tracking," said Mr. Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General. "The ITU will continue to make every effort to improve civil aviation flight tracking."
"The allocation of frequencies for receiving ADS-B signals from aircraft by space stations will allow for real-time tracking of aircraft anywhere in the world," said Mr. François Rancy, Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau. "We will continue to collaborate with ICAO and other international organizations to improve safety in the skies."
