Brussels hosted last 14-15 July the 52nd meeting of the Radio Spectrum Committee (RSC).
The following stand out among the issues discussed:
1) Implementation of European spectrum legislation
The European Commission services (EC) presented the results of two questionnaires, one on application of Decision 2013/654/EU on mobile communications on board aircraft (MCA) and the other on application of Decision 2010/166/EU on mobile communications on board vessels (MCV).
Evaluation of the responses led to consensus about the need to update the 2010 EC Implementation Decision on MCV in order to add long term evolution (LTE) and third generation mobile communications (UMTS) system technologies to the global system for mobile communications (GSM).
The EC services will prepare a mandate for the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) with a view to examining whether to make network control unit (NCU) use optional on board MCA aircraft.
As with MCV, compatibility studies are under way at Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) level, on the latter’s own initiative. The member states therefore agreed to discuss a CEPT mandate text at the next RSC meeting.
2) Unpaired bands in 2 GHz
The EC presented the draft decision and request for comments from various countries, which almost unanimously indicated that there is no current demand for that band for direct air-to-ground communications (DA2GC) and likewise no interest in committing that band for the time being. On the other hand, there is a great deal of interest in using the proposed band for programme making and special events (PMSE) equipment as soon as possible.
The EC agreed to split the decision into two, going ahead during a first phase with the PMSE decision while leaving the DA2GC decision for a second phase, when it can be justified by real commercial demand for the system.
3) 2.7-2.9 GHz band
In compliance with the consultation procedure and under article 4 of Regulation 182/2011/EU and article 5.2 of the Spectrum Decision 676/2002/EC the draft mandate was approved for CEPT to study and identify compatibility and sharing conditions for wireless video cameras in the 2.7-2.9 GHz band, taking radar usage into account.
The mandate was approved with zero votes against; the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Ireland abstained.
4) 2.3 GHz band
Regarding the draft text of the decision on the 2.3 GHz band, some member states indicated it would be very difficult for them to make the band available for mobile communication services owing to existing usage, while others said they would make the entire band available for mobile communication services.
The diverse implementation scenarios envisaged in different member states are a major hurdle when it comes to drafting a suitable harmonised decision for this frequency band. In light of the observations put forward by member states the EC proposed postponing the process for adopting the EC Decision until after the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15).
5) Transport and Traffic Telematics (TTT)
The EC presented a document in response to a number of questions from Germany about the future introduction of new TTT applications. It was explained that the current version of the decision on low power short range devices (SRD) does not cover new TTT applications such as the e-tachograph, among others. The compatibility parameters should therefore be included in the annex to the SRD Decision, in the context of its seventh update, in time for those applications to be implemented starting in 2019.
6) Joint TCAM-RSC meeting
The joint meeting of the RSC and the Telecommunications Conformity Assessment and Market Surveillance Committee (TCAM) is scheduled for 8 October 2015. The updated draft agenda was presented at this RSC meeting.
The next RSC meeting (RSC#53) is scheduled for 7 October 2015 in Brussels.
