The Russian city of Kazan hosted last 6-9 December 2011 the 30th meeting of the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC), attended by 52 participants representing 26 administrations, the European Commission (EC) and the European Communications Office (ECO), plus three observers.
The following decisions stand out among the items covered at the meeting:
- Final approval of the new Decision ECC/DEC/(11)HH on "Harmonised frequency arrangements for mobile/fixed communications networks (MFCN) (including IMT) operating in the bands 3400-3600 MHz and 3600-3800 MHz". As two options were under discussion, concerning whether or not to indicate a preferential channel, the plenary session concluded that there was no majority in favour of the option B preference for channelling via time division multiplexing (TDD) and thus adopted option A in Decides 2, which favours neither TDD nor FDD (frequency division multiplexing) channelling. However, a Decides 3 was added and determines that the 3.4-3.6 GHz channel should be re-evaluated by the end of 2013 to identify a preferential channel. A total of 16 administrations indicated their intention to apply this decision. Three (Russia, Poland and Norway) stated that they did not have conditions to proceed with its implementation. Given the changes, Portugal also indicated that it did not at present have a final position on the future implementation;
- Final approval of amended Decision ECC/DEC/(02)05 on "The designation and availability of frequency bands for railway purposes in the 876-880 MHz and 921-925 MHz bands" - changes only of an editorial nature, concerning the inclusion of references to Report ECC 162 in the decision text. Russia implemented this decision in the current year, meaning that 27 administrations have now done so;
- Final approval of amended Decision ECC/DEC/(04)06 on "The availability of frequency bands for the introduction of Wide Band Digital Land Mobile PMR/PAMR in the 400 MHz and 800/900 MHz bands". Given the editorial nature of the amendments, it was not necessary to re-evaluate the respective implementation status;
- Final approval of amended Decision ECC/DEC/(06)04 on "The harmonised conditions for devices using Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology in bands below 10.6 GHz". This decision was along with the complementary Decision ECC/DEC/(06)12 on specific mitigation techniques for UWB applications operating in bands below 10.6 GHz merged into a single decision. The plenary session also agreed on a Liaison Statement to submit to the European Commission. The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) will likewise be informed. A total of 20 administrations (among them Portugal) indicated their intention to implement this decision, while Russia indicated the contrary;
- Final approval of amended Decision ERC/DEC/(01)17 on "Harmonised frequencies, technical characteristics and exemption from individual licensing of Ultra Low Power Active Medical Implant (ULP-AMI) communication systems operating in the frequency band 401-406 MHz on a secondary basis", following Sweden’s request for a clarification of the status of the applications in question. A total of 20 administrations (among them Portugal), indicated their intention to eventually implement this decision, while four administrations (United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden and Russia) said they could not do so, presenting written statements to that effect;
- Final approval of the new Decision ECC/DEC/(11)GG concerning the revocation of Decisions ERC/DEC/(01)02, ERC/DEC/(01)03, ERC/DEC/(01)07, ERC/DEC/(01)10 and ERC/DEC/(01)16. As no objections or comments were received during the public consultation phase, these five decisions concerning low power short range devices (SRDs) were revoked;
- Final approval of the new Decision ECC/DEC/(11)DD on "Exemption from individual licensing of digital terminals of circulation and use of digital terminals of narrowband or wideband PPDR systems operating in the 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 380-470 MHz and 800/900 MHz bands". During the public consultation phase only one comment (from Portugal) was submitted, suggesting the inclusion of direct mode operation (DMO) terminals in the Decision. But the working group on Regulatory Affairs (WG RA) concluded that since the same DMO channels were not used in the various countries it was better not to include them, as there was no harmonisation on that specific question. Twenty administrations (among them Portugal) indicated their intention to eventually implement the decision, versus six that indicated the contrary (including Germany, Belgium, France and Russia, which presented written statements);
- Final approval of the new Decision ECC/DEC/(11)EE concerning the revocation of Decisions ECTRA/DEC/(96)01 regarding a European Telephony Numbering Space (ETNS), ECTRA/DEC/(96)48 regarding a European Telephony Numbering Space (ETNS) and ECC/DEC/(04)07 on the European Telephony Numbering Space (ETNS) Convention. Given that the revised Universal Service Directive takes effect in May and that Code ETNS 3883 devolves to ITU-T on 31 December 2010, the plenary session agreed to revoke the three above decisions on numbering;
- Approval for public consultation of draft Decision ECC/DEC/(12)AA on "Exemption from individual licensing and free circulation and use of terrestrial and satellite mobile terminals operating under the control of networks". This decision, which the United Kingdom objected to before its submission to consultation, led to a new review exercise parallel to the plenary session, and it was possible to reach consensus. Portugal submitted a written statement explaining that it was not possible on a national basis to fully implement the decision with respect to the 1518-1525 MHz frequency bands mentioned in Appendix I. The consultation on this decision will last for three months.
The Committee noted the new EC mandates, namely the fifth update of the technical appendix to the permanent mandate on SRDs (SRD Decision) and the new mandate concerning mobile communications on board aircraft (MCA), which project team 1 (IMT Issues) is working on, already formally approved in the Radio Spectrum Committee (RSC). The roadmap presented by PT1 was approved.
In procedural terms, the ECC approved changes to the rules of procedure (RoP) and working methods (WM), including those resulting from the disbandment of WG RA. It also agreed that the WMs would henceforth only contain one link to the ECC website, where the new templates of the various ECC deliverables are to be housed.
The plenary session approved, with slight changes, the recommendations contained in the ECC report drawn up by WG Ra on, "Implementation of virtual participation Electronic Working Methods in the ECC working process", which acknowledges widespread use of two electronic working methods - web meetings and webinars. Virtual participation in physical meetings is recommended only on an ad hoc basis and upon request by the group chairperson addressed to potential key contributors to a given meeting. To introduce electronic working methods (EWMs) the administrations should use the GotoMeeting tool; the ECO should follow and monitor this issue in the future by updating the respective guidelines. Sweden suggested that the Office should also analyse benefits of the Adobe Connect platform, also for improved connection to the ITU.
Specific proposals from the WG FM and ECC PT1 groups were generally endorsed by the ECC.
The plenary session also backed the proposals put forward by the Think Tank (ECC TT) regarding procedures for the creation of new working items (WI), namely the identification of administrations supporting that new WI, the respective rapporteurs and the respective information’s inclusion in the ECC working programme database.
The Committee decided to disband the ECC Think Tank, considering that it had finished its mission. The ECC TT may be summoned again when justified, especially if there is a need for high-level discussion of strategic issues.
Per a proposal by the chairman of the Numbering and Networks working group (WG NaN), the ECC Steering Group was given the task of analysing the possibility of publicising the Committee’s activity in social networks, namely Twitter.
ECO director Mark Thomas of the United Kingdom reported on developments in other regions or organisations, especially the Asia-Pacific region, including European standardisation in terms of intelligent transport systems (ITS) and use of the SEAMCAT spectrum engineering tool outside Europe.
The next ECC plenary meeting will be held in Tallinn, Estonia, from 29 May to 1 June 2012.
