ANACOM - 4th meeting of CPG PTD

The fourth meeting of project team D (PTD) of the Conference Preparatory Group (CPG) was held last 12-14 September in Vilnius, Lithuania, attended by nearly 62 participants, including the observer from the European Communications Office (ECO), as well as representatives of industry and/or operators.

CPG PTD is responsible for the following work items of the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) agenda:

Agenda item: 1.1 (Amateur)

CPG PTD received various contributions, specifically from Switzerland, Russia, France and Germany, containing compatibility studies concerning changes to the CEPT/Brief from Switzerland and contributions to the working document toward preliminary draft new report ITU-R M.[Amateur_50_MHZ] (IARU-R1).

For the time being the CEPT Brief considers that radio amateur service, besides protecting broadcasting, should also protect and not claim protection from fixed and mobile service and wind profile radars, noting also the need to justify spectrum needs in more detail.

The Brief currently contains two options for broadcasting protection, given that Russia wants the limit of 6 dBμV/m for 10 percent of the time to be complied with on its country’s border rather than on the border of the broadcasting reception area.

Agenda item: 1.11 (Tracksides)

Various contributions were received, specifically proposals for the CEPT Brief from Russia and Switzerland and proposals for the new report of the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) on road transport and traffic telematics - RSTT - .USAGE, from project team 56 of the Frequency Management working group (WGFM56), proposals to modify the European common position (ECP) from Germany and proposals to modify the German ITU-R report [RSTT.DESCRIPTION].

Regarding the contributions with a view to revising recommendation UIT-R M. [RSTT FRQ], the introduction of text on the sub-bands 873-876/918-921 MHz and 876-880/921-925 MHz used by RSST in CEPT is proposed for the various applications based on GSM Railway (GSM-R), or other standards (mindful of Russia’s contribution). However, owing to the lack of consensus the United Kingdom was tasked with sending the contribution as a multi-country proposal (MCP).

Regarding the ITU-R report, preliminary draft of new recommendation (PDNR) M.[RSTT_DESCRIPTION], it was updated with a figure containing the applications associated to RSTT.

Regarding the report UIT-R PDNR M.[RSTT_USAGE], a proposal was drawn up based on contributions from WGFM56 in order to include parameters and standards (International Union on Railways, GSM-R, Eurobalises, Euroloop) for the various RSTT applications. Also introduced was a summary of the 2015 questionnaire on use of spectrum and GSM-R technology in CEPT.

A liaison statement was drawn up for WGFM 56 to indicate that the discussions concluded that the amount of 2x4 MHz (876-880/921-925 MHz) + 2x3 MHz (873-876/918-921 MHz) spectrum will be requested to support future use (national, regional and/or partial) of radio systems and/or migration of systems currently in use to their successors.

The CEPT Brief was meanwhile updated based on the contributions received:

CEPT proposes considering harmonisation of RSTT based on rules in the area of mobile service and determining the spectrum requisites for interoperable railway operations;
CEPT considers that it is not necessary to revise the Radio Regulations (RR), as RSTT operates in the area assigned to mobile service;
this agenda point does not cover passenger communications, only critical applications and those concerning performance and vigilance;
as for technical and operational characteristics, an idea was introduced whereby to meet the spectrum needs of railway applications in Europe a maximum of 2x7 MHz will be needed; the 873-880/918-925 MHz band was indicated as the preferred candidate;
there was a great deal of discussion about the introduction of WGFM56’s work in the CEPT Brief. Germany holds that this agenda point is not meant to foresee technologies and bands that can be used in the future but rather what is currently used. The meeting nevertheless considered that CEPT should recognise that there are other technologies (based on other standards) operating in other frequency bands and which can make applications available for RSTT.

A proposed ECP was drawn up which proposes that no discussion is needed, considering that harmonisation by means of a recommendation is sufficient and thereby eliminating Resolution 236 (WRC-15).

A proposed revision was drawn up for Conference Preparatory Meeting (MFB1) (CPM), which currently contains two methods for dealing with this agenda point:

Method A: no discussion;
Method B: produce a new Resolution XXX (WRC-19) modifying the text of Method A in order to include elimination of Resolution 236 (WRC-15).

The proposal will be sent by Germany, which requested the support of other administrations for an MCP, given that Russia cannot commit to this position owing to the lack of internal coordination between the administration and the body responsible for railway-related matters.

Agenda item: 1.12 (Intelligent transport system - ITS)

Several contributions were received containing proposals for the ECP from Germany, for the CPM text from Luxembourg and for recommendation ITU-R [ITS.FRQ] from Luxembourg, as well as parameters on ITS for analysis and research regarding compatibility with fixed satellite service (FSS) from Germany.

The draft CEPT Brief was updated based on the contributions received:

CEPT’s position considers that the existing harmonisation measures in each region are sufficient, whereby there is no need to modify the RR. It is proposed that harmonisation be done via an ITU recommendation;
Harmonisation for ITS is considered not to cover applications in the scope of RTTT (road tolling - a.k.a. electronic toll collection (ETC)).

An ECP version was drawn up to propose no discussion, thereby indicating that CEPT does not accept modification of the RR, and eliminating Resolution 237 (WRC-15). Text with background was introduced during the plenary session.

A modified version of the CPM text was drawn up, indicating only one method: no discussion vis-à-vis the RR.

A contribution for working party 5A was produced, containing a comparison between the ITS parameters when ECC Report 101 was drawn up and the parameters of standard IEEE 802.11p.

Agenda item: 1.16 (Radio Local Area Network - RLAN - 5 GHz)

Regarding agenda point 1.16 (RLAN in 5 GHz), 21 contributions were received and a substantial number of informative documents.

Based on the discussions the draft brief was updated, taking into account the documents submitted:

break the 5150-5350 MHz band down into the sub-bands 5150-5250 MHz and 5250-5350 MHz;
due to the protection of aeronautic radars, the 5150-5250 MHz band is considered inappropriate for changes to the current regulatory framework for RLANs. CEPT’s position is to support relaxing the conditions for operating RLANs if the results show compatibility with mobile satellite service feeder links, radionavigation and aeronautic telemetry. However, up to now the studies have shown compatibility problems;
Radars operating in the 5250-5350 MHz frequency band will be much more affected if any change to the current regulatory framework for RLANs is implemented. CEPT’s position is to support relaxing the conditions for operating RLANs if the results show compatibility with Earth exploration satellite service, radionavigation and radiodetermination. However, up to now the studies have shown compatibility problems;
CEPT’s position is still to oppose the introduction of new RLANs in the 5350-5470 MHz band (i.e. without changes in the RR);
Studies with FSS indicate that it is not possible for RLANs to operate in the 5725-5850 MHz band. CEPT continues to uphold the position of waiting for the mitigation techniques. Some countries have nevertheless urged that the position be changed to opposition to RLAN introduction;
5850-5925 MHz band: studies have shown compatibility problems between RLAN and FSS, without the imposition of restrictions on incumbent services (FSS and ITS).

Agenda item: 9.1.5 (RR footnotes 5.447F and 5.450A)

Only one contribution was received, from Russia.

Based on the discussions the draft CEPT Brief was updated to indicate that:

Recommendation ITU-R M.1849-1 (on ground-based meteorological radars, met-based radars) can be introduced in footnote no. 5.450A. There are no changes to the conditions imposed on allocation of the band to protect incumbent services in the 5470-5725 Mhz band;
CEPT opposes the introduction of Recommendation ITU-R M.1849-1 in footnote no. 5.447F, as the imposition of more restrictions on mobile service (especially aeronautic mobile) is foreseen in the 5250-5350 MHz sub-band;
considering the technical studies’ results, CEPT supports the reference of Recommendation ITU-R M.1638-0 in footnotes nos. 5.447F and 5.450A;
CEPT will continue to investigate the impact of introducing Recommendation ITU-R M.1638-1 (on radars except ground-based meteorological radars).

Agenda item: 9.1.6 (Wireless power transmissions)

Six contributions were received.

The draft CEPT Brief was updated, removing much of the text. For the time being CEPT’s position is to support the studies being done for electric vehicles (EV) and will only consider the bands for EVs.

The position of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) was updated. It supports studies to analyse the impact of WPT and find frequency bands that minimise impact on radiocommunication services. Also updated was the position of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which wants protection of aeronautic systems to be taken into account in the studies.

A contribution was also sent to working party 1B (WP1B) in order to review the working document from the report PDNR ITU-R SM [WPT-SPEC-MNGM], which included the parameters being considered in Spectrum Engineering project team 24.

Russia was opposed to sending that contribution, considering that there may be a contribution from that administration in WP1B with different parameters. It was therefore concluded during the plenary session that the contribution to WP1B will be sent by Germany, which asked other administrations to join in forming an MCP.

The next meeting will be held from 27 February to 2 March 2018 in Stavanger, Norway.