‘ANNEX

PARAMETERS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 3

1. Definitions

Active antenna systems (AAS) means a base station and an antenna system where the amplitude and/or phase between antenna elements is continually adjusted, resulting in an antenna pattern that varies in response to short-term changes in the radio environment. This excludes long-term beam shaping such as fixed electrical down tilt. In AAS base stations the antenna system is integrated as part of the base station system or product.

Non-active antenna systems (non-AAS) means a base station and an antenna system that provides one or more antenna connectors, which are connected to one or more separately designed passive antenna elements to radiate radio waves. The amplitude and phase of the signals to the antenna elements is not continually adjusted in response to short-term changes in the radio environment.

Equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) is the product of the power supplied to the antenna and the antenna gain in a given direction relative to an isotropic antenna (absolute or isotropic gain).

Total radiated power (TRP) is a measure of how much power a composite antenna radiates. It equals the total conducted power input into the antenna array system less any losses in the antenna array system. TRP means the integral of the power transmitted in different directions over the entire radiation sphere, as shown in the formula:

where P(θ,φ) is the power radiated by an antenna array system in direction (θ,φ) given by the formula:

where PTx denotes the conducted power (measured in Watts), which is input to the array system, and g(θ,φ) denotes the array systems directional gain along the (θ, φ) direction.

Narrowband system is a terrestrial system capable of providing electronic communications services operating in a 200 kHz channel (1), excluding any GSM system.

Broadband system is a terrestrial system capable of providing electronic communications services operating in a channel larger than 200 kHz (2).

2. Frequency arrangement

Within the 900 MHz band, the frequency arrangement shall be as follows:

(1) The duplex mode of operation is Frequency Division Duplex (FDD). The duplex spacing shall be 45 MHz, with terminal station transmission (“900 MHz FDD uplink”) located in the lower part of the band starting at 880 MHz and finishing at 915 MHz (“900 MHz lower band”) and base station transmission (“900 MHz FDD downlink”) located in the upper part of the band starting at 925 MHz and finishing at 960 MHz (“900 MHz upper band”).

(2) The assigned block size shall generally provide the opportunity to access at least 5 MHz of contiguous spectrum. If smaller block sizes are assigned, they shall be in multiples of 200 kHz.

(3) The 900 MHz lower band, or portions thereof, can be used for uplink-only operation (3) without paired spectrum within the 900 MHz upper band.

(4) The 900 MHz upper band, or portions thereof, can be used for downlink-only operation (4) without paired spectrum within the 900 MHz lower band.

(5) Base station and terminal station transmission shall comply with the technical conditions specified in Sections 4, 5 and 6, respectively. Within the 1 800 MHz band, the frequency arrangement shall be as follows:

(6) The duplex mode of operation is Frequency Division Duplex (FDD). The duplex spacing shall be 95 MHz, with terminal station transmission (“1 800 MHz FDD uplink”) located in the lower part of the band starting at 1 710 MHz and finishing at 1 785 MHz (“1 800 MHz lower band”) and base station transmission (“1 800 MHz FDD downlink”) located in the upper part of the band starting at 1 805 MHz and finishing at 1 880 MHz (“1 800 MHz upper band”).

(7) The assigned block size shall generally provide the opportunity to access at least 5 MHz of contiguous spectrum. If smaller block sizes are assigned, they shall be in multiples of 200 kHz.

(8) The 1 800 MHz lower band, or portions thereof, can be used for uplink-only operation3 without paired spectrum within the 1 800 MHz upper band.

(9) The 1 800 MHz upper band, or portions thereof, can be used for downlink-only operation4 without paired spectrum within the 1 800 MHz lower band.

(10) Base station and terminal station transmission shall comply with the technical conditions specified in Sections 4, 5 and 6, respectively.

3. Frequency separation

Frequency separations are required to ensure coexistence in the absence of bilateral or multilateral frequency coordination agreements between neighbouring systems, without precluding less stringent technical parameters if agreed among the operators of such systems.

In the absence of frequency coordination, a frequency separation of 200 kHz shall be applied between the nominal channel edges of adjacent systems as follows:

(1) a narrowband system and a broadband system, both complying with the block edge mask (5);

(2) two different types of narrowband systems, both complying with the block edge mask;

(3) a GSM system, and either a narrowband system or a broadband system, both complying with the block edge mask.

In the case of a narrowband system operating in the guard-band mode (6) of a relevant broadband system, a frequency separation of 200 kHz or more shall be applied between the channel edge of that narrowband system and the edge of the operator’s block, taking into account existing guard bands between operators’ block edges or the edge of the operating band (adjacent in frequency to other services). That narrowband system shall operate only in channel bandwidths of the relevant broadband system of 10 MHz or higher.

Depending on the national circumstances as regards the deployment of terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services and railway mobile radio (7) systems, a frequency separation of 200 kHz may be applied between the nominal channel edges of those systems at the frequency border of 925 MHz in the following cases:

(a) a railway mobile radio system operating in a 200 kHz channel, which is adjacent in frequency to a broadband system;

(b) a railway mobile radio system operating in a channel larger than 200 kHz, which is adjacent in frequency to a narrowband system;

(c) a railway mobile radio system operating in a 200 kHz channel, which is adjacent in frequency to a narrowband system of a different type.

The implementation of the frequency separation of 200 kHz shall be managed at national level (8), with the objective of ensuring efficient spectrum use.

4. Technical conditions for base stations – block edge mask

The technical parameters for base stations, called block edge mask (BEM) set out in this section, are essential to ensuring coexistence between neighbouring electronic communications networks in the absence of bilateral or multilateral agreements between operators of such neighbouring networks. BEMs relate to technical conditions attached to the rights of use of radio spectrum and the avoidance of interference between radio spectrum users who benefit from such rights.

Operators of electronic communications networks in the 900 MHz or 1 800 MHz frequency bands may agree, on a bilateral or multilateral basis, less stringent technical parameters provided that they continue to comply with the technical conditions applicable for the protection of other services, applications or networks and with their obligations resulting from cross-border coordination.

A BEM is an emission mask that defines power levels as a function of frequency relative to the edge of a block of spectrum assigned (or licensed) to an operator. It consists of several elements, as defined in Table 1.

The baseline power limit ensures that the spectrum of other operators within either the 900 MHz or the 1 800 MHz frequency band is protected. The additional baseline power limit is an out-of-band limit, which ensures that spectrum for services and applications outside either the 900 MHz or the 1 800 MHz frequency band is protected. The transitional region power limit enables a roll-off of power levels from the in-block to the baseline power limit and ensures co-existence with other operators in adjacent blocks.

The BEMs set out in this Annex do not apply to GSM systems.

Table 1

Definition of BEM elements

BEM element Definition In-block Assigned spectrum block for which the BEM is derived. Baseline Spectrum within either the 900 MHz or 1 800 MHz frequency band used for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services, not including the operator’s block under consideration and corresponding transitional regions. Transitional region Spectrum adjacent to an operator’s block. Additional baseline Spectrum within bands adjacent to either the 900 MHz or the 1 800 MHz frequency band, where specific power limits apply for the protection of other services.

Figure 1 shows a general BEM applicable to either the 900 MHz or the 1 800 MHz frequency band.

Power limits are provided separately for non-AAS and AAS. For non-AAS, the power limits apply to the mean EIRP; for AAS, they apply to the mean TRP. The mean EIRP or mean TRP are measured by averaging over a time interval and over a frequency bandwidth. In the time domain, the mean EIRP or mean TRP is averaged over the active portions of signal bursts and corresponds to a single power control setting. In the frequency domain, the mean EIRP or mean TRP is measured over a frequency bandwidth as given in Tables 3, 4 and 5 below. In general, and unless stated otherwise, the BEM power limits correspond to the aggregate power radiated by the relevant device including all transmit antennas, except in the case of baseline, transition and additional baseline power limits for non-AAS base stations, which are specified per antenna.

The technical conditions for non-AAS base stations apply to terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services using both the 900 MHz and 1 800 MHz frequency bands. The technical conditions for AAS base stations apply to terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services using the 1 800 MHz frequency band. AAS base stations shall not be used in the 900 MHz frequency band.

Equipment operating in either the 900 MHz or 1 800 MHz frequency band may also make use of technical parameters other than those set out below, provided that appropriate mitigation techniques are applied. These mitigation techniques must comply with Directive 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (9) and offer at least an equivalent level of protection to that provided by the essential requirements of that Directive.

Table 2

In-block power limits for non-AAS and AAS base stations

BEM element Non-AAS EIRP limit AAS TRP limit (only for the 1 800 MHz frequency band) In-block Not obligatory. If an upper limit is set by a Member State, a value between 63 dBm/(5 MHz) and 67 dBm/(5 MHz) per antenna may be applied for a broadband system, and a value between 60 dBm/(200 kHz) and 69 dBm/(200 kHz) per antenna may be applied for a narrowband system. Not obligatory. If an upper limit is set by a Member State, a value of 58 dBm/(5 MHz) per cell (*1) may be applied.

Explanatory note to Table 2

For locations where a coordination procedure with adjacent services applies, Member States can set an upper limit to the radiated power.

Table 3

Baseline power limits for non-AAS and AAS base stations

BEM element Frequency range Non-AAS maximum mean EIRP limit per antenna AAS maximum mean TRP limit per cell (only for the 1 800 MHz frequency band) (*2) Baseline FDD downlink blocks + 3 dBm/MHz - 6 dBm/MHz





Table 4

Transitional region power limits for non-AAS and AAS base stations

BEM element Frequency range Non-AAS maximum mean EIRP limit per antenna (*3) AAS maximum mean TRP limit per cell (only for the 1 800 MHz frequency band) (*4) Transitional region 0 to 0,2 MHz offset from block edge 32,4 dBm/(0,2 MHz) 17,4 dBm/(0,2 MHz) 0,2 to 1 MHz offset from block edge 13,8 dBm/(0,8 MHz) 4,7 dBm/(0,8 MHz) 1 to 5 MHz offset from block edge 5 dBm/MHz – 4 dBm/MHz 5 to 10 MHz offset from block edge 12 dBm/(5 MHz) 3 dBm/(5 MHz)





Table 5

Additional baseline power limits for non-AAS base stations

BEM element Applicable frequency range Non-AAS maximum mean EIRP limit per antenna (*5) (*6) Additional baseline 0 to 0,2 MHz offset from block edge 32,4 dBm/(0,2 MHz) 0,2 to 1 MHz offset from block edge 13,8 dBm/(0,8 MHz) 1 to 5 MHz offset from block edge 5 dBm/MHz 5 to 10 MHz offset from block edge 12 dBm/(5 MHz) > 10 MHz offset from block edge (*7) 3 dBm/MHz

Explanatory note to Table 5

Table 5 applies only to the out-of-band domain in line with Figure 1 and Table 1. This implies that the applicable frequency range entirely falls within the out-of-band domain.

For AAS base stations, the out-of-block limits given in Tables 3 and 4 also apply to the out-of-band domain in the range of 0 to 10 MHz from the band edge, as appropriate, considering the position of the assigned spectrum block.

5. Other conditions

The spurious emission domain for base stations in the 900 MHz and 1 800 MHz frequency bands starts at a frequency spacing of 10 MHz from the respective band edge (10).

Terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services using AAS shall not be granted more protection from systems in adjacent bands than terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services using non-AAS.

6. Technical conditions for terminal stations

AAS terminal stations shall not be used in the 900 MHz or 1 800 MHz frequency bands.

Table 6

In-block power limit for terminal stations