Recommendation ITU-R F.

1520-3
(04/2011)

Radio-frequency arrangements for systems

in the fixed service operating
in the band 31.8-33.4 GHz

F Series
Fixed service
ii Rec. ITU-R F.1520-3

Foreword
The role of the Radiocommunication Sector is to ensure the rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the
radio-frequency spectrum by all radiocommunication services, including satellite services, and carry out studies without
limit of frequency range on the basis of which Recommendations are adopted.
The regulatory and policy functions of the Radiocommunication Sector are performed by World and Regional
Radiocommunication Conferences and Radiocommunication Assemblies supported by Study Groups.

Policy on Intellectual Property Right (IPR)

ITU-R policy on IPR is described in the Common Patent Policy for ITU-T/ITU-R/ISO/IEC referenced in Annex 1 of
Resolution ITU-R 1. Forms to be used for the submission of patent statements and licensing declarations by patent
holders are available from http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/go/patents/en where the Guidelines for Implementation of the
Common Patent Policy for ITU-T/ITU-R/ISO/IEC and the ITU-R patent information database can also be found.

Series of ITU-R Recommendations

(Also available online at http://www.itu.int/publ/R-REC/en)

Series Title

BO Satellite delivery
BR Recording for production, archival and play-out; film for television
BS Broadcasting service (sound)
BT Broadcasting service (television)
F Fixed service
M Mobile, radiodetermination, amateur and related satellite services
P Radiowave propagation
RA Radio astronomy
RS Remote sensing systems
S Fixed-satellite service
SA Space applications and meteorology
SF Frequency sharing and coordination between fixed-satellite and fixed service systems
SM Spectrum management
SNG Satellite news gathering
TF Time signals and frequency standards emissions
V Vocabulary and related subjects

Note: This ITU-R Recommendation was approved in English under the procedure detailed in Resolution ITU-R 1.

Electronic Publication
Geneva, 2011

 ITU 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, by any means whatsoever, without written permission of ITU.
 Rec. ITU-R F.1520-3 1

RECOMMENDATION ITU-R F.1520-3

Radio-frequency arrangements for systems in the fixed

service operating in the band 31.8-33.4 GHz
(Questions ITU-R 247/5)

(2001-2002-2003-2011)

Scope
This Recommendation specifies radio-frequency channel arrangements for fixed service systems
with channel separation of 3.5, 7, 14, 28, 56 and 112 MHz (including 56 MHz block arrangements)
in the band 31.8-33.4 GHz which has been identified for use for high density applications in the
fixed service (HDFS).

The ITU Radiocommunication Assembly,

considering
a) that the band 31.8-33.4 GHz is allocated, among others, to the fixed service (FS) on a
primary basis;
b) that the 31.8-33.4 GHz band is available for high-density applications in the FS;
c) that sharing in the 31.8-33.4 GHz band with radionavigation service (RNS), space research
service (deep space, space-to-Earth) and inter-satellite service is considered to be feasible;
d) that harmonized RF arrangements can facilitate effective use of the spectrum;
e) that several systems with various transmission signal characteristics and capacities may be
in simultaneous use in this frequency band;
f) that certain frequency block arrangements can be achieved by aggregating the frequency
channels given in Annex 1;
g) that it may sometimes be desirable to interleave additional RF channels between those of
the main pattern;
h) that a high degree of compatibility between FS systems of different frequency arrangements
can be achieved by selecting channel centre frequencies within a homogeneous basic pattern;
j) that each region or country will have specific needs in how to use the band;
k) that different block sizes may be required to suit various applications,
recognizing
a) that some applications in this frequency band may require differing architectures (point-to-
point and multipoint systems), channel bandwidths, and systems characteristics including the
accommodation of symmetrical and asymmetrical traffic; and may require the use of frequency
block-based arrangements that may or may not align with the channel arrangement in Annex 1;
b) that, in accordance with the Radio Regulations (RR), administrations should take practical
measures to minimize the potential interference between stations in the FS and airborne stations in
the RNS in the 31.8-33.4 GHz band, taking into account the operational needs of the airborne radar
systems,
2 Rec. ITU-R F.1520-3

noting
a) that Recommendation ITU-R F.1571 recommends that the airborne stations in the RNS are
encouraged to use the centre gap in the radio-frequency (RF) arrangements for the FS in order to
facilitate the compatibility between stations in the FS and RNS, in particular in the vicinity of urban
areas,
recommends
1 that administrations should consider the RF channel arrangement given in Annex 1 for FS
systems deployment in the 31.8-33.4 GHz frequency band;
2 that when additional RF channels interleaved between those of the main pattern, as
described in Annex 1, are required, the values of the centre frequencies of these RF channels should
be below those of the corresponding main channel frequencies by a value of half the considered
channel spacing;
3 that those administrations wishing to implement FS systems in this band using a
block-based frequency arrangement should consider the guidance given in Recommendation
ITU-R F.1519;
4 that administrations wishing to implement block based arrangements, based on block-size
increments of 56 MHz, should consider the arrangement in Annex 2;
5 that administrations are encouraged to avoid, where practicable, the use of the centre gap of
the RF arrangements in order to facilitate the compatibility between stations in the FS and RNS, in
particular in the vicinity of urban areas (see Note 1).
NOTE 1 – The centre gap to be avoided is at least 56 MHz as given in Annex 1.

Annex 1

Radio-frequency channel arrangement in the band 31.8-33.4 GHz

The RF channels for separations of 3.5 MHz, 7 MHz, 14 MHz, 28 MHz, 56 MHz and 112 MHz
shall be derived as follows:
let fr be the reference frequency of 32 599 MHz,
fn be the centre frequency (MHz) of the RF channel in the lower half of the band,
f n′ be the centre frequency (MHz) of the RF channel in the upper half of the band,
frequency duplex spacing = 812 MHz,
then the frequencies (MHz) of individual channels are expressed by the following relationships:
a) for channel separation of 112 MHz:
lower half of the band: f n = fr – 784 + 112 n
upper half of the band: f n′ = fr + 28 + 112 n
 Rec. ITU-R F.1520-3 3

where:
n = 1, 2, 3, … 6
b) for channel separation of 56 MHz:
lower half of the band: f n = fr – 756 + 56 n
upper half of the band: f n′ = fr + 56 + 56 n
where:
n = 1, 2, 3, … 12
c) for a channel separation of 28 MHz:
lower half of the band: f n = fr – 798 + 28 n
upper half of the band: f n′ = fr + 14 + 28 n
where:
n = 1, 2, 3, … 27
d) for a channel separation of 14 MHz:
lower half of the band: f n = fr – 791 + 14 n
upper half of the band: f n′ = fr + 21 + 14 n
where:
n = 1, 2, 3, … 54
e) for a channel separation of 7 MHz:
lower half of the band: f n = fr – 787.5 + 7 n
upper half of the band: f n′ = fr + 24.5 + 7 n
where:
n = 1, 2, 3, … 108
f) for a channel separation of 3.5 MHz:
lower half of the band: f n = fr – 785.75 + 3.5 n
upper half of the band: f n′ = fr + 26.25 + 3.5 n
where:
n = 1, 2, 3, … 216.
NOTE 1 – Systems using time division duplex (TDD) techniques can also operate in the above-defined
sub-bands.
Centre gap = 56 MHz for the 3.5, 7, 14 and 28 MHz channel separation, 140 MHz for the 56 MHz
and 112 MHz channel separation.
4 Rec. ITU-R F.1520-3

TABLE 1
Calculated parameters according to Recommendation ITU-R F.746

XS f1 fn f 1′ f n′ ZS1 ZS2 YS DS
n
(MHz) (MHz) (MHz) (MHz) (MHz) (MHz) (MHz) (MHz) (MHz)
112 1, …, 6 31 927 32 487 32 739 33 299 127 101 252 812
56 1, ..., 12 31 899 32 515 32 711 33 327 99 73 196 812
28 1, ..., 27 31 829 32 557 32 641 33 369 29 31 84 812
14 1, ..., 54 31 822 32 564 32 634 33 376 22 24 70 812
7 1, ..., 108 31 818.5 32 567.5 32 630.5 33 379.5 18.5 20.5 63 812
3.5 1, ..., 216 31 816.75 32 569.25 32 628.75 33 381.25 16.75 18.75 59.5 812
XS: separation between centre frequencies of adjacent channels.
YS: separation between centre frequencies of the closest go and return channels.
ZS1: separation between the lower band edge and the centre frequency of the lowest channel in the lower
sub-band.
ZS2: separation between centre frequency of the highest channel in the upper sub-band and the upper band
edge.
DS: duplex spacing ( f n' – f n ).
 Rec. ITU-R F.1520-3 5

FIGURE 1
Occupied spectrum: 31.8 to 33.4 GHz
Guardband Centre gap Guardband
a) 112 MHz channels
71 MHz 140 MHz 45 MHz

6 x 112 MHz channels 6 x 112 MHz channels

31.871 GHz 32.543 GHz 32.683 GHz 33.355 GHz

b) 56 MHz channels
71 MHz 140 MHz 45 MHz

12 x 56 MHz channels 12 x 56 MHz channels

c) 28 MHz channels
15 MHz 56 MHz 17 MHz

27 x 28 MHz channels 27 x 28 MHz channels

d) 14 MHz channels
15 MHz 56 MHz 17 MHz

54 x 14 MHz channels 54 x 14 MHz channels

e) 7 MHz channels

15 MHz 56 MHz 17 MHz

108 x 7 MHz channels 108 x 7 MHz channels

f) 3.5 MHz channels

15 MHz 56 MHz 17 MHz

216 x 3.5 MHz channels 216 x 3.5 MHz channels

31.815 GHz 32.571 GHz 32.627 GHz 33.383 GHz

31.800 GHz 33.400 GHz

Annex 2

Radio-frequency block arrangement in the band 31.8-33.4 GHz

using block size increments of 56 MHz

This Annex provides an example RF block arrangement for the band 31.8-33.4 GHz using block
size increments of 56 MHz. Guidance is provided on a flexible approach to specifying portions of
the band for RF channel assigned point-to-point systems and RF block allocated systems.
6 Rec. ITU-R F.1520-3

For frequency division duplex (FDD) the band is divided into twelve (56 + 56) MHz symmetrically
paired frequency blocks as follows:

TABLE 2
Lower frequency Upper frequency
Paired block sub-band block sub-band block
(MHz) (MHz)
A/A' 31 871-31 927 32 683-32 739
B/B' 31 927-31 983 32 739-32 795
C/C' 31 983-32 039 32 795-32 851
D/D' 32 039-32 095 32 851-32 907
E/E' 32 095-32 151 32 907-32 963
F/F' 32 151-32 207 32 963-33 019
G/G' 32 207-32 263 33 019-33 075
H/H' 32 263-32 319 33 075-33 131
I/I' 32 319-32 375 33 131-33 187
K/K' 32 375-32 431 33 187-33 243
L/L' 32 431-32 487 33 243-33 299
M/M' 32 487-32 543 33 299-33 355

Different RF block arrangements can be achieved by aggregating the frequency blocks specified in
Table 2.
As an example, the band may contain several aggregated blocks, arranged in a way shown in
Table 3.

TABLE 3

Lower frequency block Upper frequency block

Paired block
(MHz) (MHz)
1 (2 × 112 MHz block) 31 871-31 983 32 683-32 795
2 (2 × 112 MHz block) 31 983-32 095 32 795-32 907
3 (2 × 112 MHz block) 32 095-32 207 32 907-33 019
4 (2 × 56 MHz block) 32 207-32 263 33 019-33 075
5 (2 × 56 MHz block) 32 263-32 319 33 075-33 131
6 (2 × 56 MHz block) 32 319-32 375 33 131-33 187
32 375-32 543 33 187-33 355
7 (2 × 168 MHz block)
 Rec. ITU-R F.1520-3 7

The 56 MHz block arrangement and possible aggregation are shown below in Figs 2 and 3,
respectively.

FIGURE 2

Guardband Centre gap Guardband

71 MHz 140 MHz 45 MHz
12 × 56 MHz blocks 12 × 56 MHz blocks

FIGURE 3

Guardband Centre gap Guardband

71 MHz 140 MHz 45 MHz
3 × 112 MHz 3 × 56 MHz 168 MHz 3 × 112 MHz 3 × 56 MHz 168 MHz

For FDD systems, the blocks located in the lower part of each sub-band should be used preferably
with the upper sub-band for uplink transmissions, and lower sub-band for downlink transmissions.
Systems using TDD can also operate in the above-defined sub-bands.
Arrangements stated in Figs 2 and 3 do not preclude the use of other blocks or block pairs.