ECC Meeting, Kazan, Russian Federation, 6-9th December

Harmonised framework in 3.4 to 3.8 GHz adds 400 MHz bandwidth to the supply side for mobile broadband/promoting and protecting medical implants/ ECC launches study for better use of 2 GHz ‘unpaired bands’

New framework provides 400 MHz of radio spectrum for ultra-fast mobile broadband

The Electronic Communications Committee (ECC), the expert group responsible for harmonising the efficient use of the radio spectrum across Europe, has set out a new framework to enable 400 MHz of new frequencies to be used by mobile broadband services, including ultra-fast services.  The decision, taken at its meeting in Kazan, Russian Federation, signifies a major step forward for wireless broadband. 

Following its public consultation, on the options for frequency arrangements suitable for the development of mobile broadband systems using larger bandwidth (more than 5 MHz), the ECC has agreed a single harmonisation approach for Time Division Duplex (TDD) systems in the frequency range 3.6 to 3.8 GHz.  It has also decided to put in place two alternative options based on TDD or Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems in the 3.4 to 3.6 GHz frequency range.  The ECC will review the frequency arrangements in the 3.4-3.6 GHz band by the end of 2013 at the latest to identify a preferred frequency arrangement (either FDD or TDD technology) over time.

These harmonised frequency arrangements will facilitate high data rate International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) services supported by larger channel bandwidths (up to 40 MHz). Currently, this bandwidth is harmonised for fixed broadband access services.  However, demand for such services has been low. By contrast, the pressure for bandwidth for ultrafast mobile broadband services is building rapidly with the increasing prevalence of internet use on mobile devices (e.g. iPads). These high capacity requirements need higher frequencies to support them, whereas lower frequencies are mainly used to bring mobile broadband coverage to more of the population.

This harmonised approach will bring significant benefits to end users and society by reducing development and implementation costs of manufacturing equipment, securing future long terms investments by providing economies of scale, as well as reducing the complexity in cross border coordination.

Next steps

The CEPT’s 48 member countries are responsible for implementing this Decision at their own discretion. The 27 CEPT countries which are also EU members will need to ensure consistency with any prevailing requirements of the European Commission.  Implementation of the Decision means that any national regulator granting licences for mobile broadband in this frequency range will need to apply the common technical framework set out in the Decision.

This measure will be complemented by further work in the ECC on other technical aspects of the use of these frequencies for mobile broadband as, for example, the relevant least restrictive technical conditions (BEM) providing necessary conditions for the coexistence in the absence of bilateral or multilateral agreements between neighbouring mobile networks.

As you can read in last June's ECC newsletter (link), ultra-low-power active medical implants are tiny sophisticated devices which get less attention in the spectrum media but which play a massive role in keeping people alive or hugely improving their quality of life. The ECC approved a decision to harmonise a highly suitable range of frequencies (401-406 MHz) for some of these devices which can operate safely in frequencies already allocated to certain other services  (earth exploration and meteorological satellites).

The decision provides for widespread use of these devices by removing the need for individual licensing.  It also safeguards the medical implants from interference from other short range devices which may have otherwise been brought into use in these frequencies.

Widening the options for underused unpaired spectrum at 2 GHz

The ECC is responding to a lack of take-up of some specific frequencies around 2 GHz; the so-called “unpaired[1] bands”. Despite being licensed[2], they are largely unused in most CEPT countries, even where there are few technical constraints applicable. The ECC recognises that the current framework already provides room for low-power TDD and mobile downlink services, but services have not been introduced. In order to use the spectrum efficiently, the ECC started an investigation to identify common scenarios of usage for both bands, including for possible applications other than MFCN/IMT.

Therefore the ECC agreed to revise the regulatory framework for paired bands only (1920-1980 and 2110-2170 MHz) and to continue its investigation on usage scenarios for the unpaired bands.

Keeping on track: follow up to the June meeting:

Following the public consultation agreed at the June meeting, the ECC updated recommendations for frequencies used for railway signalling, including in Europe's growing very high-speed train network.  These frequencies use an adaptation (‘GSM-R’) of the well established GSM system used for mobile phones since the 1990s.