The Swiss town of Pratteln hosted last 14-18 May the 91st meeting of CEPT’s WG FM.
The meeting was chaired by Thomas Weilacher of Germany and attended by 94 delegates from 34 CEPT administrations, the European Commission (EC), the European Communications Office (ECO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other international organisations and companies.
Several major decisions from the meeting are presented below:
- comments received during the public consultation on the new draft ECC Report 280 about satellite solutions for 5G were analysed and the final document approved by WG FM for publication;
- the draft of the new ECC Report 279 on in-motion NGSO earth stations operating with NGSO satellite systems which was under public consultation raised no comments at this meeting, whereby it was approved by WG FM for publication. Agreement was likewise reached for the new Decision ECC/DEC/(18)05, also on in-motion NGSO earth stations operating with NGSO satellite systems in the Ku band, to be submitted to the ECC for final approval and publication;
- the ongoing study on potential sharing of the 960-1164 MHz band between aeronautic services and low-power programme-making and special events (PMSE) equipment was once again controversial. The technical studies (sharing and compatibility) are awaited, without which several administrations considered it would not be possible to make an informed decision on the matter;
- two new frequency bands were considered for railway mobile radio (RMR) as an alternative to 900 MHz and 1900-1920 MHz. The ranges put forward are 2290-2400 MHz and 2700-2900 MHz. The respective debate excluded the latter band, whereby the main elements to study will now be identified as well as the amount of spectrum needed in the 2290-2400 MHz range for future railway systems;
- CEPT’s response to the EC permanent mandate on ultra-wide band (UWB), draft CEPT Report 69, was completed. The report will be submitted to the ECC to be validated and placed in public consultation for submission to the EC;
- agreement was also reached to submit to the ECC for final approval and publication three new ECC decisions meant to revoke three obsolete decisions, specifically ECC/DEC/(15)02 on broadband direct-air-to-ground in 1900-1920 MHz, ECC/DEC/(07)02 on broadband wireless access in 3.4-3.8 GHz and ERC/DEC/(01)08 on 2.4 GHz movement detectors.
The next WG FM meeting will be held this coming 24-28 September in Vilnius, Lithuania.
