Proposals to be made at APT Conference Preparatory Group for WRC-15

The ABU Technical Bureau Mid-year Meeting was held in Kuta, Bali on 5 to 6 May. The event was hosted by RRI-Indonesia, who has been a long standing supporter of the ABU.

Mr Sunarya Ruslan, Member of Board of Supervisor RRI, mentioned that it was an honour for RRI to host the 2015 mid-year bureau meeting.

Twenty Bureau members attended the meeting organised and facilitated by the ABU Technology Department.

“Once again the main focus of the meeting was on spectrum requirements for future broadcasting” said Dr Amal Punchihewa, ABU Director Technology, as the World Radiocommunication Conference WRC-15 will be addressing the vital issue of spectrum for all ABU members.

The Bureau requested two important studies to be carried out and reported at the next meeting which will be held in Istanbul. The study groups and the Technology Department have to study Early Warning Systems and Broadcasting in disaster mitigation and character sets required for future radio, television and new media broadcasting.

Dr Punchihewa said: “The ABU Technology Department is reviewing the digitalisation plans of its members as only four members have completely switched off analogue.” He also described “The ABU Technology Department’s activities such as the Digital Broadcasting Symposium and Pacific Media Partnership Conference as vital guidance to ABU members”.

The Chairman, Mr Masakasu Iwaki of NHK-Japan, commended the work done by the ABU Technology Department over the past six months and reviewed issues of strategic interest to ABU members.

A strategic group was formed which comprises the ABU TC Chairman, the Director ABU Technology, ABU TC Vice-Chairman, Mr Hamid D Nayeri and the chairmen of the four topic area studies.