1. Thomas Weilacher WG FM Chairman
Broadband Direct-Air-to-Ground Communications
(DA2GC)
Thomas Weilacher WG FM Chairman
CAN/US/CEPT/ECC
Spectrum Management Consultation
Maisons-Alfort, May 2015 1

2. 3 ETSI System Reference Documents:
Trigger
3 ETSI System Reference Documents:
ETSI TR V1.1.1 ( ), System Reference Document on Broadband Direct-Air-to-Ground Communications operating in part of the frequency range from 790 MHz to 5150 MHz;
ETSI TR V1.1.3 ( ), System Reference Document on Broadband Direct-Air-to-Ground Communications System employing beamforming antennas, operating in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands;
ETSI TR V1.1.1 ( ), System Reference Document on Broadband Direct-Air-to-CEPT Ground Communications System operating in the GHz to GHz band using 3G technology.
SRDocs also describe the addressable market ‘over Europe’

3. Activities in CEPT
Various frequency bands below 6 GHz were identified which could be suitable for fulfilling the spectrum requirements for the BDA2GC systems
Some frequency bands were selected for detailed investigations and for conducting compatibility and sharing studies. Some bands were considered less suitable after initial studies or considerations
A short term solution for BDA2GC (by end of 2017) could not be realised in a frequency band above 6 GHz
However, higher frequency bands could be considered in the future for next generation Broadband DA2GC systems
Finally, two frequency bands were selected: MHz and MHz

4. Published ECC Reports
ECC Report 209: Studies related to Broadband DA2GC in the bands MHz / MHz and in the adjacent bands
ECC Report 210: Studies related to BDA2GC in the bands MHz (and MHz and MHz)
ECC Report 214: Broadband Direct-Air-to-Ground Communications (DA2GC) – Frequency regulatory concept
ECC Report 220: Compatibility/sharing studies related to PMSE (programme making and special events, e.g. video links, cordless cameras in this context), DECT and SRD (Short Range Devices) with DA2GC in the ‘unpaired 2 GHz bands’ and MFCN in the adjacent 2 GHz paired band

5. New draft ECC Decision (15)AA on 1920-1920 MHz
Broadband DA2CG on a non-exclusive basis
exempt from individual licensing and free circulation and use of DA2GC Aircraft stations under the control of a network
common technical framework for DA2GC
co-existence/coordination between DA2GC Ground Stations and MFCN BS
only 1 DA2GC in the band (TDD)
SRDs/DECT are indoor limited
Existing license situation (34 countries have licenses for UMTS/IMT in all or parts of the band) needs to get resolved

6. New draft ECC Decision (15)BB on 5855-5875 MHz
Broadband DA2CG on a non-exclusive basis
exempt from individual licensing and free circulation and use of DA2GC Aircraft stations under the control of a network
technical framework covers 2 technical options: usage of fixed antennas or beamforming antennas
co-existence/coordination between DA2GC and existing applications: FSS, ITS and Broadband Fixed Wireless Access (BFWA)
only 1 DA2GC in the band (TDD)

7. European Commission Activities
Mandate to CEPT «To undertake studies on the harmonised technical conditions for the MHz and MHz frequency bands (“Unpaired terrestrial 2 GHz bands”) in the EU». Proposal to use MHz for Broadband DA2GC and MHz for Video PMSE -> CEPT Report 52 published -> Draft EC Decision on the usage of MHz and MHz frequency bands under development
Mandate to CEPT «To study and identify harmonised compatibility and sharing conditions for Wireless Access Systems including Radio Local Area Networks in the bands MHz and MHz ('Wireless Access Systems/RLAN extension bands‘» -> Mandate not on BDA2GC, but BDA2GC is compatible with existing radio services and WAS/RLAN – long timetable of the mandate
Considers usage of MSS and Aeronautical CGC (Complementary Ground Component) in the MHz and MHz (2009/449/EC in place; 2 MSS licences awarded - INMARSAT and Solaris, each 2x15 MHz duplex; Aero CGC authorisation - national decisions); ECC Report Adjacent band compatibility studies for aeronautical CGC systems operating in the bands / MHz