IMO participates at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19), in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, 28 October – 22 November, highlighting that the integrity of maritime radio-communication services has to be protected.
Given that communication is of a great importance for the maritime industry, the terrestrial and satellite communications play a crucial role in the efficiency of routine communications and navigation and protection for the lives of seafarers.
Therefore, the message of IMO’s participation at the conference stated that the protection and improvement of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) has to be a top priority.
Moreover, the use of radio spectrum allocated to existing (and future) maritime radiocommunication services must be safeguarded.
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A vital part of the WRC-19 agenda is to support the introduction of the Iridium satellite system in the GMDSS, by taking regulatory measures by 1 January 2020, to ensure full protection and availability of the frequency bands to be used by Iridium for the provision of GMDSS services.
Also, the stakeholders will focus on the regulation of autonomous maritime radio devices, and modifications of the Radio Regulations to include new spectrum allocations to the maritime mobile satellite service to enable a new VHF data exchange system (VDES) satellite component.
Recently, the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) issued a circular updating the requirements for the revalidation of GMDSS General Operator Certificate (GOC) and Restricted Operator Certificates (ROC).