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ITU RR table: 8.3-110 kHz
Spanning the Very Low Frequency (VLF) and lower Low Frequency (LF) ranges, this band is notable for its exceptional propagation — VLF waves penetrate seawater tens of metres deep, enabling submarine communications. Key allocations include maritime radionavigation (LORAN, now largely decommissioned), precision time-signal stations (DCF77 at 77.5 kHz, JJY at 40/60 kHz, MSF at 60 kHz), and meteorological aids.
Allocation Changes Timeline
Regulatory changes made to this frequency band at each World Radiocommunication Conference.
WRC-23
20 – 70 kHz
WRC-23: Footnote 5.56 revised (Condition)
Footnote text
5.56 The stations of services to which the frequency bands 14-19.95 kHz and 20.05-70 kHz and in Region 1 also the frequency bands 72-84 kHz and 86-90 kHz are allocated may transmit standard frequency and time signals. Such stations shall be afforded protection from harmful interference. In Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, the Russian Federation, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, the frequencies 25 kHz and 50 kHz will be used for this purpose under the same conditions. (WRC-23)
67 – 70 kHz
WRC-23: Footnote 5.58 revised (Additional allocation)
Footnote text
5.58 Additional allocation: in Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, the frequency band 67-70 kHz is also allocated to the radionavigation service on a primary basis. (WRC-23)
WRC-15
8 – 110 kHz
WRC-15: Footnote 5.54B revised (Additional allocation)
Footnote text
5.54B Additional allocation: in Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Russian Federation, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, the Syrian Arab Republic, Sudan and Tunisia, the frequency band 8.3-9 kHz is also allocated to the radionavigation, fixed and mobile services on a primary basis. (WRC-15)
8.3 – 9 kHz
New allocation cell appears for all regions (global)
Services: METEOROLOGICAL AIDS (primary)
9 – 11.3 kHz
New allocation cell appears for all regions (global)
Services: METEOROLOGICAL AIDS (primary), RADIONAVIGATION (primary)
9 – 14 kHz
Allocation cell for all regions (global) no longer exists as a separate cell
Previously allocated to: RADIONAVIGATION (primary)
11.3 – 14 kHz
New allocation cell appears for all regions (global)
Services: RADIONAVIGATION (primary)
14 – 17 kHz
WRC-15: Footnote 5.55 revised (Additional allocation)
Footnote text
5.55 Additional allocation: in Armenia, the Russian Federation, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, the frequency band 14-17 kHz is also allocated to the radionavigation service on a primary basis. (WRC-15)
WRC-12
8 – 110 kHz
WRC-12: Footnote 5.54C created (Additional allocation)
Footnote text
5.54C Additional allocation: in China, the frequency band 8.3-9 kHz is also allocated to the maritime radionavigation and maritime mobile services on a primary basis. (WRC-12)
8 – 110 kHz
WRC-12: Footnote 5.54A created (Condition)
Footnote text
5.54A Use of the 8.3-11.3 kHz frequency band by stations in the meteorological aids service is limited to passive use only. In the band 9-11.3 kHz, meteorological aids stations shall not claim protection from stations of the radionavigation service submitted for notification to the Bureau prior to 1 January 2013. For sharing between stations of the meteorological aids service and stations in the radionavigation service submitted for notification after this date, the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R RS.1881 should be applied. (WRC-12)
8 – 110 kHz
WRC-12: Footnote 5.54B created (Additional allocation)
Footnote text
5.54B Additional allocation: in Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Russian Federation, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, the Syrian Arab Republic, Sudan and Tunisia, the frequency band 8.3- 9 kHz is also allocated to the radionavigation, fixed and mobile services on a primary basis. (WRC-12)
20 – 70 kHz
WRC-12: Footnote 5.56 revised (Condition)
Footnote text
5.56 The stations of services to which the bands 14-19.95 kHz and 20.05-70 kHz and in Region 1 also the bands 72-84 kHz and 86-90 kHz are allocated may transmit standard frequency and time signals. Such stations shall be afforded protection from harmful interference. In Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, the Russian Federation, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, the frequencies 25 kHz and 50 kHz will be used for this purpose under the same conditions. (WRC-12)
WRC-07
14 – 17 kHz
WRC-07: Footnote 5.55 revised (Additional allocation)
Footnote text
5.55 Additional allocation: in Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, the band 14-17 kHz is also allocated to the radionavigation service on a primary basis. (WRC-07)
20 – 70 kHz
WRC-07: Footnote 5.56 revised (Condition)
Footnote text
5.56 The stations of services to which the bands 14-19.95 kHz and 20.05-70 kHz and in Region 1 also the bands 72-84 kHz and 86-90 kHz are allocated may transmit standard frequency and time signals. Such stations shall be afforded protection from harmful interference. In Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, the Russian Federation, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Slovakia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, the frequencies 25 kHz and 50 kHz will be used for this purpose under the same conditions. (WRC-07)
WRC-03
20 – 70 kHz
WRC-03: Footnote 5.56 revised (Condition)
Footnote text
5.56 The stations of services to which the bands 14-19.95 kHz and 20.05-70 kHz and in Region 1 also the bands 72-84 kHz and 86-90 kHz are allocated may transmit standard frequency and time signals. Such stations shall be afforded protection from harmful interference. In Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, the Russian Federation, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Slovakia, the Czech Rep., Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, the frequencies 25 kHz and 50 kHz will be used for this purpose under the same conditions. (WRC-03)
WRC-2000
14 – 17 kHz
WRC-2000: Footnote 5.55 revised (Additional allocation)
Footnote text
5.55 Additional allocation: in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, the band 14-17 kHz is also allocated to the radionavigation service on a primary basis.
67 – 70 kHz
WRC-2000: Footnote 5.58 revised (Additional allocation)
Footnote text
5.58 Additional allocation: in Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, the band 67-70 kHz is also allocated to the radionavigation service on a primary basis. (WRC-2000)
84 – 86 kHz
WRC-2000: Footnote 5.59 revised (Different category)
Footnote text
5.59 Different category of service: in Bangladesh and Pakistan, the allocation of the bands 70-72 kHz and 84-86 kHz to the fixed and maritime mobile services is on a primary basis (see No. 5.33). (WRC-2000)
WRC-97
14 – 17 kHz
WRC-97: Footnote 5.55 revised (Additional allocation)
Footnote text
5.55 Additional allocation: in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine, the band 14-17 kHz is also allocated to the radionavigation service on a primary basis.
20 – 70 kHz
WRC-97: Footnote 5.56 revised (Condition)
Footnote text
5.56 The stations of services to which the bands 14-19.95 kHz and 20.05- 70 kHz and in Region 1 also the bands 72-84 kHz and 86-90 kHz are allocated may transmit standard frequency and time signals. Such stations shall be afforded protection from harmful interference. In Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine, the frequencies 25 kHz and 50 kHz will be used for this purpose under the same conditions. NOC S5.57
67 – 70 kHz
WRC-97: Footnote 5.58 revised (Additional allocation)
Footnote text
5.58 Additional allocation: in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine, the band 67-70 kHz is also allocated to the radionavigation service on a primary basis. NOC S5.59 to S5.62