COMMISSION DECISION
of 13 June 2008
on the harmonisation of the 2 500-2 690 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems capable of
providing electronic communications services in the Community
(notified under document number C(2008) 2625)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2008/477/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,
Having regard to Decision No 676/2002/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a regulatory
framework for radio spectrum policy in the European
Community (Radio Spectrum Decision) (1), and in particular
Article 4(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The Commission has supported a more flexible use of
spectrum in its Communication on ‘Rapid access to
spectrum for wireless electronic communicationsservices through more flexibility ’(
2), which, inter alia ,
addresses the 2 500-2 690 MHz band. Technologicalneutrality and service neutrality have been underlinedby Member States in the Radio Spectrum Policy Group(RSPG) opinion on Wireless Access Policy for ElectronicCommunications Services (WAPECS) of 23 November2005 as important policy goals to achieve a moreflexible use of spectrum. Moreover, according to this
opinion, these policy goals should not be introduced
abruptly, but in a gradual manner to avoid disruptionof the market.
(2) The designation of the 2 500-2 690 MHz band forsystems capable of providing electronic communicationsservices is an important element addressing theconvergence of the mobile, fixed and broadcastingsectors and reflecting technical innovation. The services
provided in this frequency band should mainly target
end-user access to broadband communications.
(3) It is expected that the wireless broadband electroniccommunications services for which the 2 500-2 690 MHz band is to be designated will to a large extent
be pan-European in the sense that users of such elec-tronic communications services in one Member Statecould also gain access to equivalent services in anyother Member State.
(4) Pursuant to Article 4(2) of Decision No 676/2002/EC, on5 July 2006 the Commission gave a mandate to theEuropean Conference of Postal and Telecommunications
Administrations (hereinafter the CEPT) to develop least
restrictive technical conditions for frequency bandsaddressed in the context of WAPECS.
(5) In response to that mandate, the CEPT has issued areport (CEPT Report 19) on least restrictive technicalconditions for frequency bands addressed in the contextof WAPECS. This report contains technical conditionsand guidance for the application of least restrictiveconditions to base stations and terminal stationsoperating in the 2 500-2 690 MHz band, which areappropriate to manage the risk of harmful interferencewithin as well as outside of national territories, withoutrequiring that any type of particular technology is used,based on optimised parameters for the most likely use ofthe band.
(6) In accordance with CEPT Report 19 this Decisionintroduces the concept of Block Edge Masks (BEM),which are technical parameters that apply to the entireblock of spectrum of a specific user, irrespective of the
number of channels occupied by the user's chosen tech-
nology. These masks are intended to form part of theauthorisation conditions for spectrum usage. They coverboth emissions within the block of spectrum (i.e. in-block power) as well as emissions outside the block(i.e. out-of-block emission). They are regulatoryrequirements aimed at managing the risk of harmfulinterference between neighbouring networks and arewithout prejudice to limits set in equipment standardsunder Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliamentand of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipmentand telecommunications terminal equipment and themutual recognition of their conformity (
3) (the R&TTE
Directive).EN 24.6.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 163/37
(1) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 1.
(2) COM(2007) 50.(3) OJ L 91, 7.4.1999, p. 10. Directive as amended by Regulation (EC)
No 1882/2003 (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).(7) The designation and making available of the 2 500-
2 690 MHz band in accordance with the results of themandate to CEPT recognises the fact that there are otherexisting applications. Appropriate sharing criteria forcoexistence between some systems have been developedin the Electronic Communications Committee's ECCReport 45. For other systems and services appropriatesharing criteria for coexistence may be based on
national considerations.
(8) To achieve compatibility a separation of 5 MHz is needed
between the edges of spectrum blocks used for unrest-ricted TDD (time division duplex) and FDD operation(frequency division duplex) or in the case of two unsyn-chronised networks operating in TDD mode. Suchseparation should be achieved by either leaving these 5MHz blocks unused as guard blocks; or through usagethat complies with parameters of the restricted BEMwhen adjacent to an FDD (uplink) or between twoTDD blocks; or through usage that complies with para-meters of either restricted or unrestricted BEMs when
adjacent to an FDD (downlink) block. Any usage of a
5 MHz guard block is subject to an increased risk ofinterference.
(9) The results of the mandate to the CEPT should be madeapplicable in the Community and implemented by theMember States without delay given the increasingrequirements identified in studies at European andglobal levels for terrestrial electronic communicationsservices providing broadband communications.
(10) Harmonisation under this Decision should not excludethe possibility for a Member State to apply, wherejustified, transitional periods that could include radiospectrum sharing arrangements, pursuant to Article 4(5)of the Radio Spectrum Decision.
(11) In order to ensure effective use of the 2 500-2 690 MHzband also in the longer term, administrations shouldcontinue with studies that may increase efficiency andinnovative use. Such studies should be taken intoaccount when considering a review of this Decision.
(12) The measures provided for in this Decision are inaccordance with the opinion of the Radio SpectrumCommittee,HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
This Decision aims at harmonising the conditions for the availa-
bility and efficient use of the 2 500-2 690 MHz band forterrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communi-cations services in the Community.
Article 2
1. No later than six months after entry into force of this
Decision Member States shall designate and subsequentlymake available, on a non-exclusive basis, the 2 500-2 690 MHz band for terrestrial systems capable of providingelectronic communications services, in compliance with theparameters set out in the Annex to this Decision.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, Member States
may request transitional periods that may include radiospectrum sharing arrangements, pursuant to Article 4(5) ofDecision No 676/2002/EC.
3. Member States shall ensure that systems referred to in
paragraph 1 give appropriate protection to systems inadjacent bands.
Article 3
Member States shall keep the use of the 2 500-2 690 MHz band
under scrutiny and report their findings to the Commission toallow regular and timely review of this Decision.
Article 4
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 13 June 2008.
For the Commission
Viviane REDING
Member of the CommissionEN L 163/38 Official Journal of the European Union 24.6.2008ANNEX
PARAMETERS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 2
The following technical parameters called Block Edge Mask (BEM) shall be applied as an essential component of
conditions necessary to ensure coexistence in the absence of bilateral or multilateral agreements between neighbouring
networks, without precluding less stringent technical parameters if agreed among the operators of such networks.
Member States should ensure that network operators are free to enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements todevelop less stringent technical parameters and, if agreed among all affected parties, these less stringent technicalparameters may be used.
Equipment operating in this band may also make use of equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) limits other than
those set out below provided that appropriate mitigation techniques are applied which comply with Directive 1999/5/EC
and which offer at least an equivalent level of protection to that provided by these technical parameters.
A. GENERAL PARAMETERS
1. The assigned blocks shall be in multiple of 5,0 MHz.
2. Within the band 2 500 –2 690 MHz, the duplex spacing for FDD operation shall be 120 MHz with terminal station
transmission (up link) located in the lower part of the band starting at 2 500 MHz (extending to a maximum limit of2 570 MHz) and base station transmission (down link) located in the upper part of the band starting at 2 620 MHz.
3. The sub-band 2 570 –2 620 MHz can be used by TDD or other usage modes complying with the BEMs in this Annex.
Outside of the sub-band 2 570 –2 620 MHz such usage can be decided at national level and shall be in equal parts in
both the upper part of the band starting at 2 690 MHz (extending downwards) and the lower part of the band starting
at 2 570 MHz (extending downwards).
B. UNRESTRICTED BEM FOR BASE STATIONS
The BEM for an unrestricted spectrum block is built up by combining Tables 1, 2 and 3 in such a way that the limit for
each frequency is given by the higher value out of the baseline requirements and the block specific requirements.
Table 1
Baseline requirements —Base Station out-of-block e.i.r.p. BEM
Frequency range in which out-of-block emissions are receivedMaximum mean e.i.r.p.
(integrated over a 1 MHz bandwidth)
Frequencies allocated to FDD down link and ± 5 MHz
outside the range of frequency blocks allocated to FDD
down link.+ 4 dBm/MHz
Frequencies in the band 2 500-2 690 MHz not covered by
the definition above.–45 dBm/MHz
Table 2
Block specific requirements —Base Station in-block e.i.r.p. BEM
Maximum in-block e.i.r.p. + 61 dBm/5 MHz
NB: Member States can relax this limit to 68 dBm/5 MHz for specific deployments e.g. in areas of low population density provided that
this does not significantly increase the risk of terminal station receiver blocking.EN 24.6.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 163/39Table 3
Block specific requirements —base station out-of-block e.i.r.p. BEM
Offset from relevant block edge Maximum mean e.i.r.p.
Start of band (2 500 MHz) to –5 MHz (lower edge) Baseline requirement level
–5,0 to –1,0 MHz (lower edge) + 4 dBm/MHz
–1,0 to –0,2 MHz (lower edge) +3+1 5 ( ΔF+ 0,2) dBm/30 kHz
–0,2 to 0,0 MHz (lower edge) + 3 dBm/30 kHz
0,0 to + 0,2 MHz (upper edge) + 3 dBm/30 kHz+ 0,2 to + 1,0 MHz (upper edge) + 3-15( Δ
F–0,2) dBm/30 kHz
+ 1,0 to + 5,0 MHz (upper edge) + 4 dBm/MHz
+ 5,0 MHz (upper edge) to end of band (2 690 MHz) Baseline requirement level
Where: ΔFis the frequency offset from the relevant block edge (in MHz).
C. RESTRICTED BEM FOR BASE STATIONS
The BEM for a restricted spectrum block is built up by combining Tables 1 and 4 in such a way that the limit for each
frequency is given by the higher value out of the baseline requirements and the block specific requirements.
Table 4
Block specific requirements —base station in-block e.i.r.p. BEM for restricted block
Maximum in-block e.i.r.p. + 25 dBm/5 MHz
D. RESTRICTED BEM FOR BASE STATIONS WITH RESTRICTIONS ON ANTENNA PLACEMENT
In cases where antennas are placed indoors or where the antenna height is below a certain height, a Member State may
use alternative parameters in line with Table 5, provided that at geographical borders to other Member States Table 1applies and that Table 4 remains valid nationwide.
Table 5
Block specific requirements —base station out-of-block e.i.r.p. BEM for restricted block with additional
restrictions on antenna placement
Offset from relevant block edge Maximum mean e.i.r.p.
Start of band (2 500 MHz) to –5 MHz (lower edge) –22 dBm/MHz
–5,0 to –1,0 MHz (lower edge) –18 dBm/MHz
–1,0 to –0,2 MHz (lower edge) –19 + 15( ΔF+ 0,2) dBm/30 kHz
–0,2 to 0,0 MHz (lower edge) –19 dBm/30 kHz
0,0 to + 0,2 MHz (upper edge) –19 dBm/30 kHz
+ 0,2 to + 1,0 MHz (upper edge) –19-15( ΔF- 0,2) dBm/30 kHz
+ 1,0 to + 5,0 MHz (upper edge) –18 dBm/MHz
+ 5,0 MHz (upper edge) to end of band (2 690 MHz) –22 dBm/MHz
Where: ΔFis the frequency offset from the relevant block edge (in MHz).EN L 163/40 Official Journal of the European Union 24.6.2008E. LIMITS FOR TERMINAL STATIONS
Table 6
In-block power limits for terminal stations
Maximum mean power
(including Automatic Transmitter Power Control (ATPC) range)
Total radiated power (TRP) 31 dBm/5 MHz
e.i.r.p. 35 dBm/5 MHz
NB: E.i.r.p. should be used for fixed or installed terminal stations and the TRP should be used for the mobile or nomadic terminal stations.
TRP is a measure of how much power the antenna actually radiates. The TRP is defined as the integral of the power transmitted in
different directions over the entire radiation sphere.EN 24.6.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 163/41