Commencement of Deliberations on “Technical Requirements for Maritime Radars Using the 3-50MHz Band”

1.Background of commencement of deliberations

  Maritime radars are used to emit radio waves from land to sea and to measure ocean currents (current direction and current velocity) and ocean waves (wave height and period) by echo (reflected waves scattered by resonance of irregularities of ocean surface waves).
  In Japan, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Japan Meteorological Agency, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology and universities have conducted studies on tracking and search of ocean floating objects, etc. by establishing experimental radio stations of maritime radars using the 3-50MHz band in dozens of places nationwide.
  In addition, radiolocation services have been newly allocated to shortwave bands, etc. in the “2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12)” held in January and February 2012 and the actual operation of maritime radars using the 3-50MHz band has become possible.
  As a result, it has become possible to widely observe ocean currents, etc. and track/search ocean floating objects, etc. by means of maritime radars using the 3-50MHz band. Deliberations on technical requirements for maritime radars using the 3-50MHz band will commence toward the practical use of maritime radars, as they are expected to contribute to applications for observation of meteorological and hydrographic information and safe navigation of vessels.
 

2.Content of deliberations

  Technical requirements for maritime radars using the 3-50MHz band will be deliberated among “technical requirements for oceanic radiocommunication equipment.” (Telecommunications Technology Council Inquiry No.50 of April 23, 1992).
 

3.Future plans

  The MIC will receive a partial report around December 2012 and then consolidate related provisions.