Brussels, 14/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - Two factors are currently hampering the deployment of innovative wireless services and technologies: the reservation of certain spectrum bands for narrowly defined services, and rigid usage conditions that unduly constrain spectrum use. The Commission also considers that flexibility in the use of the spectrum, implemented through an approach to issuing spectrum rights of use that is technology and service neutral, is a pre-requisite for harnessing ability of the wireless electronic communications sector to innovate and provide new and diversified services. It could “do a great deal to boost Europe's economic growth,” the Commission says in a communication adopted last week, which proposes a new approach with practical steps to be implemented in order to permit rapid access to the spectrum for wireless electronic telecommunications services.
The Commission believes that implementing this approach will require the introduction of regulatory provisions to make technology -and service- neutrality the basic approach. Technical constraints of a generic nature will continue to apply as a means of safeguarding against harmful interference and appropriate Community measures will be used to define these essential technical parameters. The more flexible approach to spectrum management forms part of the review of the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications, which will only come into force in 2010, the Commission says.
In the meantime, the new approach to spectrum management will be introduced gradually, on the basis of existing regulatory provisions. The Commission intends to bring forward a recommendation in 2007 to provide guidance on authorisation conditions for a first set of bands for which flexible usage is to be applied. This will allow all parties to address specific issues for which an urgent solution is needed.
Flexible spectrum usage allows market players to make their own choices, and it also requires them to ensure seamless and interoperable communication systems. In its communication, the Commission says it is committed to “proactively facilitating cooperation amongst market players to this end”.
In concrete terms, in relation to a number of frequency bands (470-862 MHz; 880-915 MHz/925-960 MHz and 1710-1785 MHz/1805-1880 MHz; 1900-1980 MHz/2010-2025 MHz/2110-2170 MHz; 2500-2690 MHz (the 2.6 GHz band); 3.4-3.8 GHz), the Commission believes the following courses of action will ensure a step-by-step introduction of the new approach: 1) member states are asked to clarify existing (technical and non-technical) authorisation conditions wherever possible in order to facilitate flexibility, rapid access to the spectrum and competition, including in the area of radio infrastructure. In the bands that are identified for flexible use, the common and minimum necessary conditions attached to the rights of use should be set out by the end of 2007 in a Commission recommendation. 2) The European Commission will make use of current mechanisms to carry out a thorough investigation and propose practical implementation measures within the package of bands, in particular for those cases awaiting urgent solutions and with a view to implementing a more flexible spectrum management approach consistently across Europe. In this context, the Commission will review the validity of the GSM Directive (880-915 MHz/925-960 MHz and 1710-1785 MHz/1805-1880 MHz bands used for GSM mobile telephony services; the Commission considers that the issues surrounding the introduction of third-generation mobile services and continuing restrictions in the GSM Directive require measures to be taken) and push for a common European approach to the 2.6 GHz band (a band - which has still to be licensed - which is intended for use by third generation mobile services (IMT-2000/UMTS), but it is of equal interest for the provision of broadband using other technologies) in order to find a proportionate and consistent solution for these two bands, while taking account of the need for innovative technologies and services to prosper in urban, as well as rural, areas. 3) Standardisation organisations, notably ETSI, will be mandated to develop adequate harmonised standards for equipment operating in flexible bands so as to ensure avoidance of interference. 4) Industry is invited to exchange views and identify best practices on spectrum issues, on the basis of a flexible framework for spectrum use that continues to ensure avoidance of interference and interoperability for the consumer. Discussion will initially focus on the above-mentioned frequency bands. These bands cut across all three sectors, which are called upon to actively engage in the proposed dialogue. The full test of the communication can be found at: http: //eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0050en01.pdf (ol)