Road to WRC-27: Key Milestones from WRC-23 to the Final Acts
The journey to the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27) is a structured four-year process involving technical studies, regulatory analysis, national consultations and regional coordination before the final negotiations take place. Rather than being a single event, WRC-27 represents the culmination of a continuous cycle established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to ensure that decisions on the international use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbital resources are based on sound technical evidence and broad international consensus.
The process officially began with the conclusion of WRC-23 in Dubai, where Member States adopted the Final Acts, revised the Radio Regulations, and approved Resolution 813 (WRC-23), establishing the agenda for WRC-27. This was followed by the first Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM27-1), the commencement of ITU-R technical studies, and parallel national and regional preparations that will continue until the conference convenes in Shanghai, China, from 18 October to 12 November 2027.
The timeline below summarizes the principal milestones leading to WRC-27, highlighting the major activities undertaken by the ITU-R, national administrations, regional organizations and the ITU Council throughout the preparation cycle.
Table . Road to WRC-27: Key Milestones in the ITU Preparatory Process (2023–2027)
|
Step |
Indicative
date |
Description |
|
WRC-23
Decisions |
20
November–15 December 2023 |
WRC-23
concluded in Dubai and adopted decisions, resolutions and the agenda
framework that launched the next WRC cycle. |
|
↓ |
||
|
WRC-27
Agenda Established |
December
2023–2024 |
The WRC-27
agenda was defined through WRC-23 Resolution 813 and subsequently finalized
through the ITU Council process. |
|
↓ |
||
|
CPM27-1 |
18–19
December 2023 |
The first
Conference Preparatory Meeting organized the preparatory work, assigned
responsibilities and structured the draft CPM Report. |
|
↓ |
||
|
ITU-R
Technical and Regulatory Studies |
2024–2026 |
ITU-R Study
Groups and Working Parties conduct sharing, compatibility and regulatory
studies for each WRC-27 agenda item. |
|
↓ |
||
|
National
Preparations |
2024–2027 |
Administrations
review study results, consult national stakeholders and develop preliminary
national views. |
|
↓ |
||
|
Regional
Preparatory Meetings |
2024–2027 |
Regional
groups compare national views, refine positions and identify possible areas
for common regional approaches. |
|
↓ |
||
|
CPM27-2 and
CPM Report |
5–15 April
2027 |
CPM27-2
consolidates technical, operational and regulatory study results into the CPM
Report for use by administrations at WRC-27. |
|
↓ |
||
|
Regional
Common Proposals |
Mid–late
2027 |
Regional
organizations finalize common proposals and align positions before the
conference. |
|
↓ |
||
|
RA-27 |
11–15
October 2027 |
The
Radiocommunication Assembly meets immediately before WRC-27 to address ITU-R
work and study structures. |
|
↓ |
||
|
WRC-27
Negotiations |
18
October–12 November 2027 |
Administrations
meet in Shanghai to negotiate agenda items and revise the Radio Regulations
where agreement is reached. |
|
↓ |
||
|
Final Acts
and Revised Radio Regulations |
November
2027 onward |
The
conference outcomes are recorded in the Final Acts and reflected in updates
to the international Radio Regulations. |
|
↓ |
||
|
Implementation
and the Road to WRC-31 |
2028 onward |
Administrations
implement WRC-27 outcomes nationally while the next cycle begins for WRC-31. |
Source
[1] International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Final Acts of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 20 November–15 December 2023.
[2] ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, Administrative Circular CA/270 – Results of the First Session of the Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM27-1), 26 January 2024.
[3] ITU Council, Resolution 1422 – World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27).
[4] ITU-R, WRC Preparatory Process and Cycle, World Radiocommunication Seminar (WRS), Geneva, 2024.