Frequency allocation (or spectrum allocation) is the part of spectrum management dealing with the designation and regulation of the electromagnetic spectrum into frequency bands, normally done by governments in most countries. Because radio propagation does not stop at national boundaries, governments have sought to harmonise the allocation of RF bands and their standardization.
ITU definition
The International Telecommunication Union defines frequency allocation as being of "a given frequency band for the purpose of its use by one or more terrestrial or space radiocommunication services or the radio astronomy service under specified conditions".2
Frequency allocation is also a special term, used in national frequency administration. Other terms are:
ITU-terms pertaining to frequency regulation| Frequencydistribution to: | ITU languages | ITU RR(article) | |||||
| French | English | Spanish | Arabic | Chinese | Russian | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiocommunication services | attribution(attribuer) | allocation(to allocate) | atribución(atribuir) | 划分 | распределение(распределять) | 1.16 | |
| Regions or countries | allotissement(allotir) | allotment(to allot) | adjudicación(adjudicar) | 分配 | выделение(выделять) | 1.17 | |
| Radio stations | assignation(assigner) | assignment(to assign) | asignación(asignar) | 指配 | присвоение(присваивать) | 1.18 | |
Bodies
Several bodies set standards for frequency allocation, including:
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
- European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)
- Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL)
To improve harmonisation in spectrum utilisation, most service allocations are incorporated in national Tables of Frequency Allocations and Utilisations within the responsibility of the appropriate national administration. Allocations are:
- primary
- secondary
- exclusive or shared utilization, within the responsibility of national administrations.
Allocations of military usage will be in accordance with the ITU Radio Regulations. In NATO countries, military mobile utilizations are made in accordance with the NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA).
Examples
Some of the bands listed (e.g., amateur 1.8–29.7 MHz) have gaps / are not continuous allocations.
Common frequencies 3| Source | Frequency (MHz) | Typical radiatedpower (kW) | Meters (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longwave BCB (EU) | 0.150–0.285 | 320 | |
| AM BCB (EU & J) | 0.525–1.605 | 500 | 630 |
| AM BCB (US) | 0.530–1.710 | 50 | |
| Amateur | 1.8–29.7 | 0.16 (mobile) | 15 |
| Citizens band | 26.9–27.4 | 0.004 | 12 |
| Amateur | 28–30 | 0.2 (mobile) | 10 |
| Land mobile | 29–54 | 0.1 | |
| Amateur | 50–54 | 0.2 (mobile) | 6 |
| TV low VHF | 54–88 | 100 | |
| Land mobile (EU) | 65–85 | 0.1 | |
| FM BCB (J) | 76–90 | 44 | |
| FM BCB (US & EU) | 88–108 | 105 | |
| Aircraft | 108–136 | 1 | |
| Land mobile (EU) | 120–160 | 0.1 | |
| Land mobile | 132–174 | 18–100 | |
| Land mobile (J) | 142–170 | ||
| Amateur | 144–148 | 0.2 (mobile) | 2 |
| TV high VHF | 174–216 | 316 | |
| Land mobile | 216–222 | 0.2 | |
| Amateur | 222–225 | 0.1 (mobile) | 1.25 |
| Land mobile (J) | 335–384 | ||
| Land mobile | 406–512 | 0.1 | |
| Land mobile (J) | 450–470 | .70 | |
| Amateur | 430–450 | 0.1 (mobile) | |
| TV UHF | 470–806 | 5000 | |
| Land mobile | 806–947 | 0.035 | .33 |
| Cellular AMPS | 806–947 | 0.003 | .33 |
| AmateurLand mobileGPS | 1200–1600 | .23 | |
| Cellular PCS | 1700–2000 | 0.003 | |
| ISMBluetoothWi-Fi | 2400–2500 | 0.0000025 |
- BCB is an abbreviation for broadcast band, for commercial radio news and music broadcasts.
See also
External links
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
- ITU Radio Regulations - Volume 1 (Article 5) international table of frequency allocation by ITU Region. Alternative at ITU persistent link
References
Haim, Mazar (2008-08-01). An Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for Wireless Communications, Societal Concerns and Risk: The Case of Radio Frequency (RF) Allocation and Licensing (PDF). Middlesex University. http://www.moc.gov.il/new/documents/frequences/MazarThesisOct08.pdf ↩
ITU Radio Regulations, Section IV. Radio Stations and Systems – Article 1.16, definition: allocation (of a frequency band). ↩
"EMC Design Guide for PCB" (PDF). Ford EMC. 2003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 Dec 2023. http://www.fordemc.com/docs/download/EMC%20Design%20Guide%20for%20PCB.pdf ↩