Helsinki hosted last 4-8 May the 70th meeting of the ECC’s Spectrum Engineering working group (WG SE). It was attended by 57 participants, including the observer from the European Communications Office (ECO) and representatives from industry and operators (ANITEC, APWPT, Airbus Defence and Space, Arqiva, Car2Car Communication Consortium, CRAF, EBU, Ericsson, Inquam Deutschland GmbH, Inmarsat, Orange, Ring Advocacy, Robert Bosch GmbH, TeliaSonera AB, Thales Alenia Space and Wi-Fi Alliance).
The following documents were approved, after the consultation phase:
- 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 5.925-6.425 GHz and 6.425-7.125 GHz for P-P links.
The following documents were adopted on a preliminary basis and forwarded for public consultation:
- Draft ECC Report 239 on Compatibility and sharing studies for BB PPDR systems operating in the 700 MHz range;
- Draft ECC Report 240 on Compatibility studies regarding Broadband PPDR and other radio applications in 410-430 and 450-470 MHz and adjacent bands.
The work of WG SE’s spectrum Engineering project team 7 (PT SE7) regarding compatibility for the introduction of programme making and special events (PMSE) equipment in the 694-703 MHz, 733-758 MHz, 1350-1400 MHz and 1492-1525 MHz bands is under way. A number of contributions must still be considered and the respective conclusions reconciled, which is expected to be done by this September.
Regarding the work of Spectrum Engineering project team 19 (PT SE19) with respect to fixed service, it is drawing up the report on a distributed questionnaire concerning the eventual use of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) technologies for fixed service, due to interest shown by operators and manufacturers.
As for the work concerning low power short range devices (SRDs) under way in Spectrum Engineering project team 19 (PT SE19), the work regarding the mandate on 5 GHz for wireless access systems/radio local area network (WAS/RLAN) is not yet finished. The CEPT’s ECC and the European Commission (EC) have provided some guidelines, specifically phasing the work still to be completed; the EC maintains its position on the 2016 deadline for completing all the work. Also discussed was the possibility of analysing the introduction of long term evolution - unlicensed/long term evolution – license assisted access (LTE-U/LTE-LAA) as an alternative to Wi-Fi; it was concluded that the group would examine the contributions received concerning this technology. Also noteworthy regarding broadband radio access networks (BRANs) is that the European Telecommunications Standardisation Institute (ETSI) indicated it was not analysing compatibility between 5 GHz Wi-Fi and broadband fixed wireless access (BFWA), considering the technologies to be similar. Because the matter involves inter-system compatibility, ETSI BRAN therefore introduced the adaptability requisite in standard EN 301 893 v.1.8.1.
Regarding satellite issues pertaining to Spectrum Engineering project team 40 (PT SE40), this group was mandated to draw up a report based on the new campaign to measure emissions from the latest Iridium satellites to ascertain whether they protect radio astronomy service.
The next WG SE meeting will be held from this coming 28 September to 2 October in France.
