1. Session 3: Major topics on Spectrum
Peter Faris, European Communications Office
5th CEPT workshop on “European Spectrum Management and Numbering”
ECO, 26 October 2017

2. Spectrum topics in the ECC Strategic Plan
Implementation of a new digital dividend in the 700 MHz band
Spectrum for wireless broadband (including 5G)
Responding to the needs of short range devices including appropriate spectrum access for the Internet of Things
Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE)
Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR)

3. ECC Strategic Plan: principles to address challenges
The ECC identified the following core principles to address major spectrum challenges:
Spectrum sharing: More sophisticated sharing between licensed and unlicensed users (e.g. cognitive techniques, licensed shared access)
Receiver parameters: Improve harmonised standards to clearly specify minimum receiver performance requirements, and faciliate sharing by more accurate modelling of receiver performance in studies
Promote use of higher frequencies: Support innovation in the use of large contiguous blocks of spectrum in higher frequeuncy bands (e.g. millimetre wave bands above 20 GHz)

4. 5G – the next generation of mobile broadband
‘5G’ is a concept currently under development and discussion within academia, industry, regulation and standardisation
The aim is to provide:
Higher data-rates – peak rates of tens of Gbps
Low latency – order of 1 ms
Increased density of devices – 1 million per km2
Seamless connectivity and user experience
To support a range of ‘vertical’ applications (not just mobile broadband):
‘Internet of things’ and M2M
Automotive
Home automation
Industrial automation and sensors
Healthcare

5. 5G technical requirements
5G is aimed to be released around 2020
In order to meet the ambitious capacity targets, wide channel bandwidths are required – 100s of MHz or even several GHz!
Smart antenna technology (‘massive MIMO’) is being researched to provide localised coverage to individual users from a dense network of base stations
All of this points to a requirement for large amounts of spectrum in higher frequency bands – up to around 90 GHz

6. ECC activites - CEPT 5G roadmap
In November 2016 the ECC organised a workshop to idenify the CEPT priorites for 5G, with input from administrations and industry
As a result a CEPT roadmap for 5G was agreed
The roadmap idenities the following frequency bands as the CEPT priority bands for study for 5G:
GHz (‘C Band’)
GHz (‘26 GHz’)
GHz
GHz
A range of other tasks are identified, and the roadmap is regularly reviewed to monitor progress

7. Spectrum for 5G – Existing mobile bands
Regulation for mobile broadband is technology neutral
Bands already harmonised in Europe could be used for 5G
Some adaptations may be needed to accommodate 5G characteristics – e.g. review of block edge masks
ECC PT1 is reviewing existing regulations in several bands to ensure they are 5G compatible
The GHz band was identified as a CEPT priority band
Limited existing use and large bandwidths available
But there is a need to ‘de-fragment’ existing licences. ECC PT1 is working to provide guidance to administrations to assist with this

8. Spectrum for 5G – Additional bands under study
The following frequency ranges are being studied for future wireless broadband usage (including 5G) under WRC-19 Agenda Item 1.13:
 GHz (CEPT priority band)
 GHz (CEPT priority band)
GHz
 GHz (CEPT priority band)
 GHz
 GHz
66-76 GHz
81-86 GHz
ECC PT1 is conducting studies and contributing to ITU-R WP5D and TG 5/1

9. Other mobile spectrum issues – L Band (1.5 GHz)
In addition to the focus on 5G, there is demand for more mobile spectrum in the short term
ECC has recently worked to harmonise additional spectrum in the ‘L Band’ ( MHz) for supplemental downlink (SDL) services to complement capacity in other 4G bands
Existing harmonised spectrum: MHz (40 MHz)
New extension bands: MHz and MHz (91 MHz total spectrum)
This band was the subject of a recent EC Mandate to CEPT. ECC PT1 developed draft CEPT Report 65 in response to this Mandate (for approval by ECC in November)

10. Spectrum needs for short range devices and the Internet of Things
There is an ongoing need to provide spectrum for short range devices and the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT)
5G aims to include IoT, but dedicated spectrum is also needed
Applications include:
Smart energy grids
Smart meters
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
The ‘Internet of Things’
Machine to Machine Communications (M2M)

11. Spectrum needs for short range devices and the Internet of Things
The ECC organised a workshop on Machine-to-machine (M2M) communications in March 2016 to identify spectrum needs. The main results were:
MHz and MHz: need for dedicated spectrum for utilities
MHz and MHz: Better harmonisation needed
MHz: possibility for licence exempt usage
Commerical mobile networks can address some M2M needs
CEPT Report 59 Addendum was developed to address harmonisation in MHz and MHz
Revised regulations (frequency plans and power limits) provide opportunities for new applications
Geographical sharing with other existing users in some cases

12. Spectrum needs for short range devices and the Internet of Things
ECC Report 266 studied the feasibility of deploying LTE based M2M in mobile frequency bands:
LTE eMTC: M2M integrated in a normal LTE carrier
Stand-alone narrow-band NB-IoT: dedicated 200 kHz independent carrier
Guard-band NB-IoT: 200 kHz carrier within the guard band of a normal LTE carrier
The report concluded:
LTE eMTC can be deployed in any existing mobile frequency band – it is part of the system so there are no additional compatibility considerations
LTE stand-alone and guard band NB-IoT can be deployed in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, since the 200 kHz carriers are similar to GSM carriers

13. Spectrum needs for short range devices and the Internet of Things
MHz and MHz: PT SE7 is currently studying the possibiluty of introducing of LTE based M2M (NB-IoT and LTE eMTC) in these bands
Compatibility with a range of applications is under study, including:
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) above 470 MHz
Radars within MHz
Radio astronomy in MHz
...and several others

14. Other topics in the ECC strategic plan
Harmonisation of the 700 MHz band: ECC completed harmonisation in Administrations are currently clearing the band. ECO provides an information repository to facilitate cross-border co-ordination
Programme making and special events (PMSE): recent studies completed to facilitate additional spectrum for wireless microphones (various ranges from MHz) and video ( GHz), and work has started to study MHz in PT SE7
Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR): Harmonisation in 400 MHz and 700 MHz bands completed in 2016

15. Satellite spectrum – earth stations in motion
In the satellite sector there are developments to improve connectivity for ‘moving platforms’ (aircraft, ships, trains) – ‘earth stations in motion’ (ESIM)
Plans for large constellations (720 satellites) of low-orbiting (1200 km) satellites in GHz (‘Ku Band’)

16. Satellite spectrum – earth stations in motion
Sharing with existing services – including fixed links and radioastronomy is currently under study in PT SE40
PT FM44 is working to define new regulations for the use of these systems

17. Thank you - any questions?