The 45th ECC meeting was held last 27-30 June in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, attended by 80 participants representing 30 administrations, the European Commission (EC), the European Communications Office (ECO) and 13 observers.
The ECC approved for public consultation a number of documents concerning harmonised technical conditions for mobile/fixed networks (MFCNs) in the 1427-1452 MHz and 1492-1518 MHz bands. The Committee also decided on spectrum matters, particularly regarding machine-to-machine (M2M) applications and fixed earth stations operating with non-geostationary satellite systems. The ECC furthermore agreed to support the ECO’s development of a directory for E.164 numbers, to facilitate contact between public safety and emergency answering points (PSAPs), ordinarily 112, in different European countries.
The following decisions stand out among the topics considered at the Committee’s meeting:
- Approval for publication of ECC Decision (17)04 on harmonised use and individual licence exemption of fixed earth stations operating with non-geostationary satellite fixed service systems in the 10.7-12.75 GHz and 14.0-14.5 GHz frequency bands;
- Approval for publication of ECC Decision (17)03 on revocation of Decision ERC/DEC/(98)15 on individual licence exemption of Omnitracs terminals for the Euteltracs system. This decision was motivated by the fact that the Euteltracs system stopped operating in 2016;
- Approval for public consultation of a set of documents concerning MFCNs in the 1427-1452 MHz and 1492-1518 MHz bands, namely:
- the draft ECC decision on harmonised use of the 1427-1452 MHz and 1492-1518 MHz frequency bands for MFCN/fixed supplemental downlink (SDL). This ECC draft decision complements ECC Decision (13)03 on harmonised use of the 1452-1492 MHz band for MFCN SDL;
- the ECC report in which the aforementioned ECC draft decision is supported. Harmonised technical conditions for MFCNs in the 1427-1452 MHz and 1492-1518 MHz bands are identified;
- The CEPT report in response to a recently-issued EC mandate on harmonised technical conditions in the 1.5 GHz band.
- Approval for publication of ECC Report 266 on the appropriateness of frequency bands currently used in the MFCN context for future use of broadband and narrowband M2M. The ECC report particularly considers three technologies for M2M (GSM internet of things (GSM IoT), long-term evolution machine-type communication (LTE (e)MTC) and narrowband IoT (NB-IoT)). The report concludes that no change in the ECC regulatory framework is needed to implement LTE (e)MTC and EC-GSM-IoT. NB-IoT will still be subject to future discussion.
The ECC considered ongoing activities concerning broadband networks for private mobile radio/public access mobile radio and M2M in the 400 MHz bands and agreed that studies should be based on LTE technology or any other technology suitable for such applications. It also approved the CEPT Roadmap for 5G and considered various ongoing ECC activities related to 5G, especially in the 3.6 GHz and 26 GHz bands.
The EC presented the new permanent mandate to CEPT concerning identification of technical conditions with a view to harmonised introduction in the EU of radio applications based on ultra wideband technology (UWB). The matter is already being analysed by the Short Range Devices working group; the corresponding CEPT report, which will enable revision of EC Decision 2007/131/EC, should be completed in early November 2018. This process should also lead to revision of Decision ECC(06)04 on harmonised conditions for devices using UWB technology in bands below 10.6 GHz and of ECC Decision (07)01 on specific material-sensing devices using UWB technology.
Following the recent publication of ECC Report 264, evaluating the viability of an ECO-managed directory to facilitate contact between PSAPs in different European countries, the ECC agreed to support development of that PSAP directory by the ECO, at CEPT’s permanent office. In any case, the ECO Council must still pronounce on the project’s legal impact and cost.
Finally, note that the ECC approved a revision of its rules of procedure in order to streamline and make clear some of its processes, particularly concerning the principles for naming chairs and vice-chairs and the criteria for developing ECC decisions.
The next ECC plenary meeting will take place on 14-17 November 2017 in Bucharest, Romania.
