The French city of Maisons-Alfort hosted on 12-15 June the 15th meeting of the ECC TG3-UWB (Ultra Wide Band) working group, which is mandated to find regulatory solutions for devices that use UWB technology in bands below 10.6 GHz.
Regarding specific UWB applications, the proposed decision and the technical report with compatibility studies for BMA (building material analysis) systems was finalised, along with the report to submit to the European Commission (EC) on specific UWB applications in response to the second mandate. Based on the results indicated in the technical report, it was possible to reach agreement on almost all the emission limits for BMA devices. Nevertheless, there is still no consensus on the limits to adopt for radio-astronomy service and for UMTS. The proposed ?ECC Decision of xx 2006 on building material analysis (BMA) devices using UWB technology in bands below 8 GHz? will be submitted for consideration at the next ECC meeting, to be adopted and placed in public consultation.
The meeting also saw the determination of requirements for the low duty cycle (LDC) mitigation technique, from 3.4 to 4.2 GHz, finalised, as the generic UWB devices with the associated LDC technique were verified to not cause meaningful interference in WiMAX systems. For the time being it may be assumed that the future mobile systems (which are envisaged above 4.2 GHz) will be protected, given the trials carried out with WiMAX systems, although the need was identified to undertake new studies when this system?s parameters become available. The technical report on the LDC mitigation technique will be submitted to the ECC as a proposed recommendation, for placement in public consultation. The editing of the technical report on the detect and avoid (DAA) mitigation technique was revised; it is expected that this working item will be closed this coming October.
Also, the comments received in the public consultation on the proposed decision ECC/DEC/(06)EE, proposed decision complementing Decision ECC/DEC/(06)04, open until last 29 May, were considered in this TG3 meeting. One of the hottest issues debated was whether or not to adopt the phased approach. Switzerland and the Netherlands were in favour, while Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Poland, Slovenia and Sweden were against. A document reflecting the most significant comments on the proposed decision DEC/ECC/(06)04 and the work needed in the future to regulate generic UWB devices was produced. The adoption or not of the phased approach should be decided at the next ECC meeting.
