ECC monthly news summary for January 2015

This summary provides a round up of the main outcomes of ECC Working Group and Project Team meetings and events which have taken place in January 2015.

Included this month:

7-9 January 2015 – The Frequency Management Project Team FM 44, dealing with satellite communications, met in The Hague, the Netherlands

FM 44 resolved the comments received during the public consultation on the draft ECC Report 217 on the regulatory and technical aspects applicable to the use of Earth Stations on Mobile Platforms (ESOMPs) operating in non- geostationary (NGSO) networks in the Ka-band. The resulting revised Report will be submitted to the next WG FM meeting on 9-13 February 2015 for final approval for publication.

As a follow-up activity, FM 44 completed the development of a new draft ECC Decision on NGSO ESOMPs in the bands 17.3-20.2 GHz, 27.5-29.1 GHz and 29.5-30.5 GHz. It will be considered by the February 2015 meeting of WG FM for approval for public consultation.

FM 44 resolved the comments received during the public consultation on the draft revision of ECC Decision(05)11 related to Aircraft Earth Stations (AES) in the frequency bands 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space), 10.7-11.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 12.5-12.75 GHz (space-to-Earth). It will be sent to the February 2015 meeting of WG FM for approval and submission to the ECC for publication.

FM 44 further developed the draft ECC Report on enhanced operating conditions for uncoordinated Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) earth stations in the band 17-19.7 GHz, focussing in particular on the assessment of a database approach for the coexistence between the Fixed Service and uncoordinated FSS earth stations.

FM 44 also analysed the responses from CEPT administrations to the questionnaire on the Iridium national authorisation conditions and prepared a summary to WG FM for further actions.

Details on these items and on other activities are available on the FM 44 webpage.

13-16 January 2015 – The Conference Preparatory Group Project Team A, (which is preparing for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) focussing mainly on general regulatory issues and on items related to science services) had a meeting in Sliema, Malta

CPG PTA further developed the draft ECPs (European Common Proposals) on the following WRC-15 items under its responsibility: 

• Concerning broadband public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) dealt with under agenda item 1.3, PTA proposes to review Resolution 646 with the intention to nominate ranges of suitable spectrum for PPDR operations with specific frequency arrangements through non-mandatory reference to Recommendation ITU‑R M. 2015.
• PTA refined its proposal for a primary allocation for the EESS (Earth exploration-satellite service) (Earth-to-space) in the 7190-7250 MHz band, limited to non-geostationary (NGSO) satellite systems, under WRC-15 agenda item 1.11;
• Extension of the current allocation to the EESS (active) in the frequency band 9300-9900 MHz by up to 600 MHz (agenda item 1.12): PTA agreed on a 600 MHz extension, which would include the 9.2-9.3 GHz and the 9.9-10.4 GHz bands.

Concerning the studies on the feasibility of achieving a continuous reference time-scale (agenda item 1.14), no consensus has been reached yet within PTA and two alternative ECPs are currently being developed for further consideration.

PTA updated the draft ECPs for the WRC permanent agenda items 2 (review of ITU-R Recommendations incorporated by reference) and 4 (review of Resolutions and Recommendations of previous conferences).

PTA further developed the CEPT position on the regulatory aspects for nanosatellites and picosatellites considered under agenda item 9.1.8. PTA agreed to continue developing ITU-R Resolution to be submitted to the Radiocommunication Assembly 2015.

PTA continued its activities on the consideration of proposals for WRC-19 agenda items and updated the relevant draft CEPT brief and the working document gathering the relevant proposals.

PTA also reviewed the preliminary CEPT positions and the associated CEPT briefs for all the agenda items within its scope.

Further details are available on the CPG PTA webpage. Please check the CPG page for additional information about CEPT preparation for WRC-15 (including the latest versions of draft ECPs and CEPT Briefs).


15-16 January 2015 – The ECO Frequency Information System Maintenance Group (EFIS/MG) met at the ECO, Copenhagen, Denmark

EFIS/MG agreed on a revision of ECC Decision (03)05 on the publication of national tables of frequency allocations and utilisations (NTFAs) for submission to the next WG FM meeting on 9-13 February 2015 for public consultation approval. 

EFIS/MG revised the Annexes 4 (right of use information) and 5 (data formats) of the ECC Decision (01)03 for EFIS. They will be submitted to the next WGFM for consultation with administrations.

EFIS/MG also initiated a revision of ECC Report 180 on guidance on the interpretation of the requirements of ECC/DEC/(01)03 on EFIS and identified the tasks to be done during the revision. It is planned to have the revised ECC Report 180 available for public consultation approval in May 2015. 

Further details are available on the EFIS/MG webpage.


19-23 January 2015 – The ECC Project Team PT1 on IMT and other communications networks in the mobile and fixed services met in Edinburgh, United Kingdom

ECC PT1 addressed all the comments received during the public consultation related to draft ECC Decision (15)CC (harmonised technical conditions for MFCN in 700 MHz) and developed a revised version. Specifically, the draft Decision was updated to incorporate information regarding protection of Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) applications in guard bands and duplex gaps. It will be submitted to the next ECC Plenary meeting on 3-6 March 2015 for approval for publication.

ECC PT1 resolved the comments received during the public consultation on Draft ECC Report 231 on coverage obligations. The amended draft ECC Report 231 will be further considered by the ECC for final approval for publication.

ECC PT1 also reviewed the responses provided during the public consultation on the draft ECC Recommendation (15)01 on ‘Cross-border coordination for mobile/fixed communications networks (MFCN) in the frequency bands 1452-1492 MHz, 3400-3600 MHz and 3600-3800 MHz’. The revised draft ECC Recommendation will be considered for approval for publication at the next WG FM meeting on 9-13 February 2015.

ECC PT1 completed the draft revision of ECC Decision (05)05 on harmonised utilisation of spectrum for Mobile/Fixed Communications Networks (MFCN) operating within the band 2500-2690 MHz. The updated draft Decision contains the least restrictive technical conditions for MFCN as previously reflected in CEPT Report 19 and in the corresponding European Commission Decision from 2008. The draft revised ECC Decision will be submitted to the ECC meeting in March 2015 for approval for public consultation. 

More details are available on the ECC PT1 webpage.


19-23 January 2015 – The Conference Preparatory Group Project Team D (which is preparing for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) on WRC-15 agenda items 1.1 and 1.2) had its eighth meeting in Edinburgh, United Kingdom

The meeting made good progress on WRC-15 Agenda Items 1.1 (additional spectrum for the mobile service and IMT) and 1.2 (use of the frequency band 694-790 MHz by the mobile service) and amended the draft CEPT Briefs for both items.

• For AI 1.1, CPG PTD further developed the draft European Common Proposals (ECPs) covering the supported bands for IMT (1427-1452, 1452-1492, 1492-1518 MHz, 3400-3600 and 3600-3800 MHz). Studies are ongoing to identify the conditions for the adjacent band compatibility between IMT and the Mobile-Satellite service around 1518 MHz.

  Concerning the bands not supported by CEPT, new ECPs proposing no change for these bands have been developed for the bands 470-694 MHz, 3800-4200 MHz, 5725-5850 MHz, 5925-6425 MHz in addition to the bands already addressed at previous meetings (i.e. 1300-1350 MHz, 1518-1525 MHz, 1695-1710 MHz, 2025-2110 MHz, 2200-2290 MHz,  2900-3100 MHz, 3300-3400 MHz, 4400- 4500 MHz, 4500 - 4800 MHz, 4800 - 4990 MHz and 5350 - 5470 MHz).

• For AI 1.2, CPG PTD updated the draft ECP confirming the proposed lower band edge of the considered mobile allocation (i.e. 694 MHz) and the conditions for compatibility between the mobile service and the broadcasting service. Additional consideration is required on the conditions for compatibility between the mobile service and the aeronautical radionavigation service and on the means to accommodate Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE) applications.

Further details are available on the CPG PTD webpage. Please check the CPG page for additional information about CEPT preparations for WRC-15 (including latest versions of draft CEPT Briefs).

20-22 January 2015 – The Frequency Management Project Team FM 49, dealing with spectrum for Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) applications, met in Maisons-Alfort, France

FM 49 completed its work on the development of a draft ECC Report on the harmonised conditions and spectrum bands for the implementation of future European broadband PPDR systems. The available results of the ongoing spectrum compatibility studies in Working Group Spectrum Engineering (Project Team SE 7) have been taken into account for both PPDR at 400 MHz and at 700 MHz.

The draft Report will be submitted to the next WG FM meeting on 9-13 February 2015 for consideration.

Further information is available on the FM 49 webpage.


20-23 January 2015 – The Conference Preparatory Group Project Team C, preparing for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) on items related to aeronautical, maritime, radiodetermination and radio amateur issues, had a meeting in Budapest, Hungary

CPG PTC made significant progress on the draft ECP (European Common Proposal) on WRC-15 agenda item 1.17 with the development of the regulatory provisions associated to the new proposed allocation to the Aeronautical Mobile (Route) Service in the band 4200-4400 MHz to support wireless avionics intra-communications (WAIC).

CPG PTC updated the quite stable draft ECPs on WRC-15 agenda items 1.15 (provisions for a more efficient usage of the existing frequencies for on-board communication stations in the maritime mobile service for safe ship operations) and 1.16 (new Automatic Identification System (AIS) technology applications for maritime radiocommunication).

The work has mainly focussed on the further development of the draft CEPT brief for three agenda items where there are diverging options within the respective draft ECPs: agenda items 1.4 (amateur service within the band 5250-5450 kHz), 1.5 (use of frequency bands allocated to the fixed-satellite service for the control and non-payload communications of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)) and 1.18 (primary allocation to the Radiolocation service in the band 77.5 -78.0 GHz in support to automotive applications).

As a result of the decision from the ITU Plenipotentiary conference asking WRC-15 to consider the issue of global flight tracking, CPG PTC has initiated the development of a draft CEPT brief on the topic, which requires further work.

CPG PTC also updated CEPT briefs, including preliminary CEPT positions, on the six agenda items under its responsibility.

Further details are available on the CPG PTC webpage. Please check the CPG page for additional information about CEPT preparation for WRC-15 (including latest versions of draft CEPT Briefs).


26-27 January 2015 – The Frequency Management Project Team FM48 on spectrum issues concerning Broadband Direct-Air-to-Ground Communications (BDA2GC) met in Brussels, Belgium

FM48 completed the work on two draft ECC Decisions (15)AA and BB for broadband direct air to ground communications systems in the frequency bands 1900-1920 MHz and 5855-5875 MHz. The draft ECC Decisions will be submitted to next WG FM meeting on 9-13 February 2015 for approval for public consultation.

In addition, FM48 assessed the possibility of considering a DA2GC network or the DA2GC spectrum in order to provide broadband services to trains and concluded that this is very unlikely to be feasible.

Details on these activities are available on the FM48 webpage.


26-28 January 2015 – The Conference Preparatory Group Project Team B, preparing for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) on items dealing with satellite issues (both allocation and regulatory procedures), met at the ECO, Copenhagen, Denmark

CPG PTB developed new draft ECPs (European Common Proposal) on WRC-15 agenda items 1.6 (proposing additional allocations to the fixed-satellite service limited to geo-stationary satellite systems within the range 13-15 GHz with associated operational conditions) and 1.10 (proposing no additional allocation to the mobile-satellite service in the frequency range 22 to 26 GHz).

In addition, PTB updated the draft ECPS on agenda items:

• 1.8: review of the provisions related to earth stations located on board vessels (ESVs);

• 1.9.1: new primary FSS allocations in the bands 7150-7250 MHz and 8400-8500 MHz with associated provisions to ensure the protection of the Space Research service;
• 1.9.2: support for an allocation to the maritime-mobile satellite service (MMSS) (space-to-Earth) in the frequency band 7375-7750 MHz with provisions to ensure the compatibility with existing services;
• 9.1.1: protection of the mobile-satellite service in the band 406-406.1 MHz; and
• 9.2: proposed clarification to the application of the Radio Regulations for earth stations on mobile platforms (ESOMPs).

PTB also made some progress on agenda item 7, dealing with the review of the regulatory procedures for frequency assignments pertaining to satellite networks.

The draft CEPT briefs under PTB responsibility have been updated including, where appropriate, the respective preliminary CEPT positions.

Further details are available on the CPG PTB webpage. Please check the CPG page for additional information about CEPT preparation for WRC-15 (including latest versions of draft CEPT Briefs).

26-28 January 2015 – The Frequency Management Project Team FM 52, responsible for the development of implementation measures for MFCN in the frequency band 2300-2400 MHz, met in Bonn, Germany

FM 52 has completed its consideration on guidance for the implementation of a sharing framework under Licensed Shared Access (LSA) between Mobile/Fixed Communications Networks (MFCN) and Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE) applications within 2300-2400 MHz, leading to the development of a draft ECC Recommendation on the topic and draft CEPT Report B2, final report in response to the EC Mandate on the 2.3 GHz band. Both documents will be considered by the next WG FM meeting on 9-13 February 2015, which will have to decide whether they are ready for the approval process.

FM 52 also considered the comments received during the public consultation on the draft CEPT Report 56 in response to tasks 2.1 and 2.2 of the EC Mandate (options for shared use of the band 2.3-2.4 GHz). A revised version of the draft Report has been developed and will be sent to the February 2015 meeting of WG FM for approval for submission to the ECC for publication.

More details are available on the FM 52 webpage.


26-30 January 2015 – The Working Group Spectrum Engineering (WG SE) had its 69^th meeting in Salzburg, Austria

WG SE approved the following deliverables prepared within its Project Teams:

For publication on the ECO document database:

• ECC Report 226 on the unwanted emissions of IRIDIUM satellites in the band 1610.6-1613.8 MHz, monitoring campaign 2013;
• ECC Report 227 on compatibility studies for Mobile/Fixed Communication Networks (MFCN) Supplemental Downlink (SDL) operating in the 1452-1492 MHz band;
• ECC Report 228 on compatibility studies between Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in the band 5855-5925 MHz and other systems in adjacent bands;
• Revision of ERC/REC 12-11 on radio frequency channel arrangements for fixed service systems operating in the bands 48.5-50.2 GHz and 50.9-52.6 GHz. As a result ERC/REC 12-10 initially developed for the band 48.5-50.2 GHz is withdrawn;

• Revision of ERC/REC 12-12 on radio frequency channel arrangement for fixed service systems operating in the band 55.78-57.0 GHz.
  

  
  For public consultation:
  

• Draft ECC Report 232 on ‘Compatibility between Fixed-Satellite Service uncoordinated receive Earth Stations and the Fixed Service in the band 17.7-19.7 GHz’;
• Draft ECC Report 233 on ‘Adjacent band compatibility studies for aeronautical CGC systems operating in the bands 1980-2010 MHz and 2170-2200 MHz’;
• Draft ECC Report 234 on ‘Analyses of LDC UWB mitigation techniques with respect to incumbent radiocommunication services within the band 3.1 to 3.4 GHz’;
• Draft ECC Report 235 on ‘Assessment of the feasibility of the possible joint use, on a long term basis, of the adjacent bands 5925-6425 MHz and 6425-7125 MHz for P-P links’.

WG SE also approved two new work items for inclusion in its work programme on compatibility studies for wireless microphones in the 1350-1400 MHz band and on receiver parameters respectively.

Details on these items and on other activities are available on the WG SE webpage.


27 January 2015 – The Frequency Management Project Team FM53, dealing with Reconfigurable Radio Systems (RRS) and Licensed Shared Access (LSA), met in London, United Kingdom

FM53 completed the development of the draft ECC Report addressing the regulatory framework for TV White Space Devices (TV WSD) using geolocation database and guidance for its national implementation. It will be submitted to the next WG FM meeting on 9-13 February 2015 for approval for public consultation.

FM53 has gathered information related to geolocation database TV WSD regulations and trials outside Europe. It plans to release this information on the ‘topic’ area of the ECC website. 

Further information is available on the FM53 webpage.


27 January 2015 – The Working Group Numbering and Networks (WG NaN) organised a public workshop on the extra-territorial use of E.164 numbers in Brussels, Belgium.

The workshop followed the publication of ECC Report 194 on Extra-Territorial Use of E.164 Numbers and its objective was to gather additional insights from external stakeholders in order to fully inform the discussion and the future direction of the work within WG NaN. The workshop proved to be successful with 56 participants from public and private entities contributing to the discussion. Work will now continue with PT FNI on the development of an appropriate follow-up deliverable to ECC Report 194.

The presentations made at the workshop are available here.


28-29 January 2015 – The Numbering and Networks Project Team FNI, responsible for future numbering issues, met in Brussels, Belgium

PT FNI considered the two responses received to the public consultation on Draft ECC Recommendation (15)02 on 'Guidelines for Major Changes to National Numbering and Dialling Plans concerning E.164 Numbers' and the document was amended based on these inputs. The revised document will now be proposed for final adoption at the next meeting of WG NaN in Sophia-Antipolis in April 2015.

Following the very successful Public Workshop on Extra-territorial Use of E.164 Numbers (see section above), PT FNI considered the inputs received from external stakeholders at the workshop and will now use these valuable insights to table a draft Recommendation on the exceptional use case for M2M services at its next meeting in Rome on 4-5 March 2015.

PT FNI continued its work on the development of an ECC Recommendation on Numbering for eCall and an early draft was tabled. Discussions at the European-eCall Implementation Platform’s new taskforce on SIM Lifecycle Management will further inform work on this draft document. No date for the first meeting of the task force has been given yet and PT FNI is following up with the European Commission on that.

Further information on these items and on other activities is available on the PT FNI webpage.


28-29 January 2015 – The Frequency Management Project Team FM 54, dealing with Private/Professional Land Mobile Systems, especially for the Railways, had its fourth meeting in Maisons-Alfort, France

FM 54 completed the work on the draft ECC Report on Guidance for improving coexistence between Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway (GSM-R) and MFCN. The Report will set out the concept for coordination processes between GSM-R and MFCN operators including the applicable technical conditions. The draft ECC Report has been agreed for submission to the next WG FM meeting on 9-13 February 2015 for public consultation approval.

More details are available on the FM 54 webpage.


29-30 January 2015 – The Frequency Management Project Team FM 55, dealing with Wireless Access Systems, including Radio Local Area Networks (WAS/RLANs), in the 5 GHz band, had its second meeting in Salzburg, Austria

FM55 has considered the three responses from the public consultation on draft CEPT Report 57 (Report A) in response to the EC Mandate on the 5 GHz extension bands. As a result, FM55 amended slightly the draft Report, which will be sent to the next WG FM meeting on 9-13 February 2015 for approval for submission to the ECC for publication.

More details are available on the FM55 webpage.