The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency for digital technologies, has announced that the next Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-27) and World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) will take place in Shanghai, China, from 11 October to 12 November 2027.
Held every four years, the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) reviews and revises the ITU Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of radio frequency spectrum and associated satellite orbits.
During the four-week conference, ITU member states will consider the results of technical studies and adopt decisions that shape the future use of spectrum for a wide range of radiocommunication services and applications, including mobile, satellite, radiolocation, radio astronomy, and space research services that support lunar communications.
All of which may sound a touch dry, but it’s definitely not. It’s likely there will be decisions or discussions about identifying and allocating frequency bands for 6G service, D2D satellite communications, spectrum sharing and more that will affect the telecommunications community – and end users – worldwide.
Which is why over 4,000 delegates are expected to attend the WRC-27 and RA-27 meetings. In addition to the ITU's 194 member states, representatives from sister United Nations agencies, regional telecommunication organisations, and ITU radiocommunication sector members will participate as observers.
The WRC preparatory process spans a four-year study cycle, involving extensive studies and technical discussions among governments, regulators, equipment manufacturers, telecommunication operators and industry forums at national, regional, and global levels.
And then comes the event itself. "WRC-27 will be a defining moment in making universal, meaningful connectivity a reality," says ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. "The conference will make critical decisions about sharing spectrum and satellite orbit resources efficiently and equitably, on Earth and in space, in ways that benefit all of humanity."
