The ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) is one of the three sectors (divisions or units) of the
International Telecommunication Union
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)In the other common languages of the ITU:
*
* is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for many matters related to information ...
(ITU) and is responsible for
radio communications.
Its role is to manage the international
radio-frequency spectrum and
satellite orbit resources and to develop standards for
radiocommunication
Radio is the technology of communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 3 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connected ...
systems with the objective of ensuring the effective use of the
spectrum
A spectrum (: spectra or spectrums) is a set of related ideas, objects, or properties whose features overlap such that they blend to form a continuum. The word ''spectrum'' was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of co ...
.
is required, according to its constitution, to allocate spectrum and register
frequency allocation,
orbital positions and other parameters of
satellites
A satellite or an artificial satellite is an object, typically a spacecraft, placed into orbit around a celestial body. They have a variety of uses, including communication relay, weather forecasting, navigation ( GPS), broadcasting, scientif ...
, "in order to avoid harmful interference between radio stations of different countries". The international
spectrum management system is therefore based on regulatory procedures for
frequency coordination, notification and registration.
ITU-R has a permanent secretariat, the Radiocommunication Bureau, based at the ITU HQ in
Geneva
Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...
,
Switzerland
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
. The elected Director of the Bureau is Mario Maniewicz; he was first elected by the ITU membership to the directorship in 2018.
History
The CCIR—Comité consultatif international pour la radio, Consultative Committee on International Radio or International Radio Consultative Committee—was founded in 1927.
In 1932 the CCIR and several other organizations (including the original
ITU, which had been founded as the International Telegraph Union in 1865), merged to form what would in 1934 become known as the International Telecommunication Union. In 1992, the CCIR became the ITU-R.
See also
*
ITU-T
The International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) is one of the three Sectors (branches) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It is responsible for coordinating Standardization, standards fo ...
*
ITU-R Recommendations
*
Rec. 601
*
Rec. 709
*
ITU standards
*
Global Standards Collaboration
*
Radio science#ITU-R
References
External links
*
*
Highlights from CCIR meetings: 1929–1990
International Telecommunication Union
Radio organizations
{{radio-org-stub