LSA Implementation
This page contains information on:
1 Background information on LSA
Licensed Shared Access is national issue and defined in the RSPG Opinion as follows:
“A regulatory approach aiming to facilitate the introduction of radiocommunication systems operated by a limited number of licensees under an individual licensing regime in a frequency band already assigned or expected to be assigned to one or more incumbent users. Under the Licensed Shared Access (LSA) approach, the additional users are authorised to use the spectrum (or part of the spectrum) in accordance with sharing rules included in their rights of use of spectrum, thereby allowing all the authorized users, including incumbents, to provide a certain Quality of Service (QoS)”.
Within ECC, it has been the subject of extensive studies within the Project Teams FM 53 (regulatory conditions for LSA) and FM 52 (implementation of LSA for the shared use of the band 2.3-2.4 GHz).
With the completion of these activities, WG FM decided, at its 83rd meeting in May 2015, to create a new work item on the exchange of information on LSA implementation. The objective is to share experience on LSA implementation and testing (e.g. measurement results) by NRAs.
Relevant information on LSA implementation and testing provided by CEPT administrations should be sent to ECO ([email protected]).
2 Information on LSA testing
Spain (October 2015)
In 2014-2015, the State Secretariat for Telecommunications and Information Society of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain (SETSI) commissioned a study whose aim was to identify spectrum availability for mobile broadband services in Spain in the 2.3 - 2.4GHz band based on LSA on a shared basis with video PMSE.
The last stage of this study was an experimentation carried out at the GSMA Mobile World Congress, Barcelona (March 2015). Its purpose was to demonstrate LSA options facilitating sharing between Mobile Services (as the LSA Licensee) and PMSE video links (as the Incumbent) both using the 2.3 GHz band. A summary of this test can be found here.
Italy (November 2016)
In 2015, the Italian Ministry for Economic Development has started a pilot project in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission to test the sharing of radio spectrum (https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/news/project-testing-radio-spectrum-mobile-broadband). It is conducted under the technical coordination of Fondazione Ugo Bordoni.
The pilot project is intended to be a field test of LSA approach for wireless broadband telecommunications in the 2.3-2.4 GHz band. It is being realised in Rome at the Ministry premises, where a confined mobile LTE TDD network at 2.3-2.4 GHz is deployed and a proper architecture enabling the LSA concept is implemented.
The final results of the LSA Pilot in Rome were presented in Rome on 23 September 2016.
In addition, the Italian regulatory authority AGCOM issued in 2016 a public consultation on LSA. Related information, including the overview of the responses, is available here (in Italian).
France (October 2016)
A technical report has been published by ANFR in March 2015 to assess the technical conditions of the shared use of the band 2.3-2.4 GHz, through LSA, between broadband wireless systems and the incumbent users of the band.
An LSA trial took place during the first semester 2016 in Paris managed by industry stakeholders. The analysis of result of this trial, provided by these stakeholders, is detailed here.
Finland (March 2016)
Finnish research institutes and industry members in co-operation with the Finnish Regulatory Authority (FICORA) launched the World’s first over-the-air LSA trials between PMSE and Mobile Service on a live commercial LTE network already in 2013. Since then, the trial environment has been constantly improved and seven LSA trials were shown during years 2014-2015 with advanced features such as TD-FDD handover, small cells, support of the incumbent mobility, integrated SON solution and protection zone concept based on total power radiated by the mobile network. These trials were shown to scientific, standardization (ETSI workshop) and regulatory (ECC meeting) audience.
The LSA trial environment consists of several TD-LTE 2.3 GHz macro eNBs and pico indoor eNBs as well as a small cell eNB, all operating on the 2.36-2.4 GHz band. Additionally, there are 2.1 GHz LTE FDD eNBs to support LSA band evacuation.
Some initial results on evacuation times and more detailed description of the trial environment were given already in CEPT Report 56 Annex 2 and the most up to date information can be found from project website.
The Netherlands (update April 2019)
The Netherlands started in 2015 a pilot for an on-line booking system for PMSE in the 2.3-2.4 GHz band. The web-application for the pilot was ready in May 2016 and has been tested extensively. Via the pilot practical user and development experience was gained.
The pilot entailed that temporary spectrum use for PMSE in the 2.3 – 2.4 GHz must be booked by users via a booking system. This booking system applies at this moment in time only for PMSE, but will be extended to other users in the future. The use of the LSA booking system has been made obligatory for licensees for PMSE.
The PMSE sector originally requested that the lead time for receiving spectrum assignments for temporary use would be shortened and that interference problems would be reduced. This booking system has been proven to fulfil this request.
Further development of the system will involve other existing users in the band, namely, government use and radio amateurs. A roadmap was drawn up to describe future possibilities and expected timelines of LSA in the Netherlands. This roadmap looks beyond the 2.3 - 2.4 GHz band and its users and will also consider other means of sharing the spectrum than via a manual booking in a web-application. Which other bands will be promising for LSA usage in the future is currently under investigation.
Portugal (March 2019)
Based on ETSI specifications TS 103 235, TS 103 154 and TS 103 379, ANACOM, the Portuguese regulator, finalized successfully an official LSA trial. This pilot project aimed to evaluate implementation of the LSA model in the 2.3 - 2.4GHz band, from a practical point of view and in the light of the realities of the Portuguese situation; a technological demonstrator was created as proof of concept for this purpose. Mobile operators, television operators, industry and R&D centres participated in the event. See Link to ETSI
3 Information on LSA national implementation
The Netherlands (April 2019)
LSA is now incorporated in the regular process of the Radiocommunications Agency: It is obligatory for the PMSE sector to use the LSA booking system in the 2.3-2.4 GHz band. This obligation is incorporated in the licenses of PMSE users in this band.
The LSA booking facility will be further embedded in the ICT landscape of the Dutch Radiocommunications Agency (Agentschap Telecom). Until this is realised, the existing pilot software will remain in use. It is expected that the new embedded LSA system is introduced in the last quarter of 2019. This embedded system will easily enable to widen the LSA scope to other bands and users.
4 Relevant ECC deliverables and documentation
5 Related technical specifications
Within ETSI, TC RRS (Reconfigurable Radio Systems) is developing technical specifications for the implementation of LSA. In November 2016, TC RRS approved TS 103 379 “Information elements and protocols for the interface between LSA Controller (LC) and LSA Repository (LR) for operation of Licensed Shared Access (LSA) in the 2300 MHz-2400 MHz band”, version 1.1.1. This stage-3 document completes the first release of LSA technical specification in ETSI.
Updated: 08 February 2023, 10:24
