Global Telecommunication System

The Global Telecommunication System (GTS) is the communications and data management component that allows the World Weather Watch (WWW) to collect and distribute information critical to its processes. It is implemented and operated by National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of Members and by international organizations, such as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and EUMETSAT. The Global Telecommunications System also provides support to other programmes, facilitating the flow of data and processed products to meet the requirements of Members in a timely, reliable and cost-effective way, ensuring that all have full access to meteorological and related data, forecasts and alerts. This secured communication network enables real-time exchange of information, critical for forecasting and warnings of hydrometeorological hazards in accordance with approved procedures.

The Global Telecommunication System (GTS) is an integrated network of surface-based and satellite-based telecommunication links of point-to-point circuits and multi-point circuits, interconnecting meteorological telecommunication centres operated by countries for round-the-clock reliable and near-real-time collection and distribution of all meteorological and related data, forecasts and alerts. This secured communication network enables the real-time exchange of information that is critical for forecasting and warning of hydrometeorological hazards.

The Global Telecommunication System is the backbone system for the exchange of data and information that supports multi-hazard, multi-purpose early warning systems. This includes all meteorological and related data; weather, water and climate analyses and forecasts; tsunami related information and warnings; and seismic parametric data. WMO is building on its Global Telecommunication System to achieve an overarching WMO Information System (WIS) that enables systematic access, retrieval, dissemination and exchange of all WMO data and information as well as that of related international programmes.

The Global Telecommunication System has a hierarchical structure on three levels:

Satellite-based data collection and/or data distribution systems are also integrated in the Global Telecommunication System as an essential element of the global, regional and national levels of the Programme. Data collection systems operated via geostationary or near-polar orbiting meteorological/environmental satellites, including ARGOS, are widely used for the collection of observational data from Data Collection Platforms. Marine data are also collected through the International Maritime Mobile Service and through INMARSAT. International data distribution systems operated either via meteorological satellites such as the Meteorological Data Distribution (MDD) of METEOSAT, or via telecommunication satellites, such as RETIM or FAX-E via EUTELSAT, are efficiently complementing the point-to-point GTS circuits. Several Countries, including Argentina, Canada, China, France, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and the USA, have implemented satellite-based multi-point telecommunication systems for their national Meteorological Telecommunication Network.

The function of the Meteorological Telecommunication Centres is to accommodate the volume of meteorological information and its transmission within the required time limits for global and interregional exchange of observational data, processed information and any other data required by its Members. Regional Telecommunication Hubs (RTHs) on the Main Telecommunication Network (MTN) perform an interface function between the Regional Meteorological Telecommunication Networks and the MTN.