ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
ECC Decision
of 17 October 2003
on the withdrawal of the
ERC Decision (97)08
''Decision on management of the Schiever Plan
for the Terrestrial Flight Telecommunications System"
(ECC/DEC/(03)03)
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1 INTRODUCTION
Based on market forecasts and requests from industry, CEPT designated spectrum and provided relevant regulatory provisions for TFTS in a number of ERC recommendations and ERC decisions. Although TFTS networks were licensed in many CEPT countries, the poor growth in subscriber numbers has shown them not to have been an economic success in Europe. ''Based on a recent survey carried out by the ERO the vast majority of CEPT administrations indicated that there is no further interest in TFTS in the bands 1670 - 1675 MHz / 1800 - 1805 MHz.
ERC Decision ERC/DEC/(92)01 ''Decision on the frequency bands to be designated for the coordinated introduction of the Terrestrial Flight Telecommunications System (TFTS)'' was developed during 1992 to enhance the development of an Aeronautical Public Correspondence (APC) service providing public telecommunications facilities between passengers on aircraft and users on the ground. With that ERC Decision as a basis, ERC/DEC/(97)08 outlined the procedures for co-ordination and management of the frequencies used for TFTS and provided the factual TFTS Ground –Station Plan (Schiever Channel Assignment Plan) in Annex 2 of the ERC Decision. The ECC Plenary withdrew ERC/DEC/(92)01 in November 2002. With the withdrawal of ERC/DEC/(92)01, and in consideration of the actual development of TFTS networks and licenses, ERC/DEC/(97)08 may also be withdrawn.
2 BACKGROUND
The WARC92 allocated frequency spectrum for the Terrestrial Flight Telecommunication System (TFTS) within the frequency bands 1670 - 1675 / 1800 - 1805 MHz (see FN 5.380) based on proposals from the CEPT administrations. Within CEPT, spectrum for TFTS was identified by Recommendation T/R 42-01 and ERC Decision (92)01. Furthermore, CEPT administrations agreed on a detailed frequency plan for the deployment of the TFTS system in Europe - the Schiever Plan (see ERC Decision (97)08). This ERC Decision has been implemented by 24 administrations.
3 REQUIREMENT FOR AN ECC DECISION
The poor growth in subscriber numbers in TFTS networks in all CEPT countries has clearly shown that the earlier market estimates were far too optimistic. Based on a survey carried out by the ERO the vast majority of CEPT countries have indicated that there is no further interest in TFTS within CEPT. In order to allow for new applications in the bands currently reserved for TFTS, the existing ERC Decision was abrogated by ECC in November 2002. Consequentially the ERC/DEC(97)08 is to be withdrawn.
ECC Decision
of 17 October 2003
on the withdrawal of the ERC Decision (97)08
''Decision on management of the Schiever Plan
for the Terrestrial Flight Telecommunications System''
(ECC/DEC/(03)03)
''The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations,
considering
a) that CEPT had designated spectrum and provided relevant regulatory provisions for TFTS in a number of ERC Recommendations and ERC Decisions over many years;
b) that actual subscriber numbers in TFTS networks did not meet the forecasted numbers and consequentially the TFTS networks were not an economic success;
c) that many CEPT administrations have indicated that there is no further interest in TFTS in the frequency bands 1670 - 1675 / 1800 - 1805 MHz;
d) that CEPT administrations intend to use those bands in the future for new harmonised applications within CEPT;
e) that CEPT withdrew the ''ERC Decision on the frequency bands to be designated for the coordinated introduction of the Terrestrial Flight Telecommunications System (TFTS)'' (ERC/DEC/(92)01) in November 2002;
DECIDES
1. to withdraw the ERC Decision of 30 June 1997, ''Decision on management of the Schiever Plan for the Terrestrial Flight Telecommunications System'' (ERC/DEC/(97)08);
2. that this Decision shall enter into force on 17 October 2003;
3. that CEPT administrations shall communicate the national measures implementing this Decision to the ECC Chairman and the Office when the Decision is nationally implemented.''
Note:
Please check the CEPT web site (CEPThttps://www.cept.org/) for the up to date position on the implementation of this and other ERC / ECC decisions.
Consult:
- ECC/DEC/(03)03 https://docdb.cept.org/download/1707
