ITU and the World Meteorological Organization have called on governments and regulators to safeguard radio-frequency spectrum used by meteorological and Earth-observation systems, as the two agencies opened a joint seminar in Geneva. The appeal came alongside the launch of a new handbook for weather, climate, water and related environmental applications, with the guidance aimed at protecting the frequencies underpinning forecasts, early warnings and climate monitoring.
The seminar at ITU headquarters runs from 28 to 30 September and brings together spectrum regulators, meteorological authorities, satellite experts and industry representatives. The agencies warned that rising demand for wireless and satellite services is increasing interference risks for bands needed by weather radar, lightning detection, radiosondes, satellites and hydrological monitoring systems.
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin and WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo fronted the launch of the updated handbook, which sets out technical and regulatory guidance for spectrum management. The publication is intended to support more informed decisions ahead of future World Radiocommunication Conference work, including preparations for WRC-27, where spectrum issues relevant to meteorology are expected to remain on the agenda.