International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that was established in 1865 to advance international telecommunications (originally telegraph). For satellite communications, that role includes the coordination of associated orbits and the use of the radio frequency spectrum. Particular relevant tasks include oversight of access to orbits through management of a coordination process, maintenance of the Master International Frequency Register (MIFR), development of international standards, and allocation of radio frequency spectrum for satellite services. ITU members include almost all states in the world—some 193 countries.

The ITU has divided the world into three regions to facilitate frequency allocation:

• Region 1: Europe, Africa, and Northern Asia (including the Middle-East and the former USSR).
• Region 2: The Americas.
• Region 3: Southern Asia, Australia, and Oceania.

Within these regions, bands of frequencies are allocated to satellite services. Article 5 of Radio Regulations provides a detailed list of frequency allocations—the ‘Table of Frequency Allocations’.