2008/477/EC: Commission Decision of 13 June 2008 on the harmonisation of the 2500 - 2690  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)
Date: 2008-06-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: harmonisation of standards, regulation of telecommunications, technical standard, waveband

24.6.2008

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 163/37

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
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Decision No 676/2002/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a regulatory
in the European
framework for
Community (Radio Spectrum Decision) (1), and in particular
Article 4(3) thereof,

radio spectrum policy

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

electronic

The Commission has supported a more flexible use of
spectrum in its Communication on ‘Rapid access to
communications
spectrum for wireless
services through more flexibility’ (2), which,
inter alia,
addresses
the 2 500-2 690 MHz band. Technological
neutrality and service neutrality have been underlined
by Member States in the Radio Spectrum Policy Group
(RSPG) opinion on Wireless Access Policy for Electronic
Communications Services (WAPECS) of 23 November
2005 as important policy goals to achieve a more
flexible use of spectrum. Moreover, according to this
opinion,
these policy goals should not be introduced
abruptly, but in a gradual manner to avoid disruption
of the market.

is

an important

the 2 500-2 690 MHz band for
The designation of
systems capable of providing electronic communications
services
the
convergence of
fixed and broadcasting
sectors and reflecting technical innovation. The services
provided in this frequency band should mainly target
end-user access to broadband communications.

the mobile,

addressing

element

is expected that

It
communications

the wireless broadband electronic
2 500-

for which

the

services

(4)

(5)

(6)

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 State
could also gain access to equivalent services in any
other Member State.

Pursuant to Article 4(2) of Decision No 676/2002/EC, on
5 July 2006 the Commission gave a mandate to the
European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications
Administrations (hereinafter the CEPT) to develop least
restrictive
frequency bands
for
conditions
addressed in the context of WAPECS.

technical

the application of

the CEPT has issued a
In response to that mandate,
report
(CEPT Report 19) on least restrictive technical
conditions for frequency bands addressed in the context
of WAPECS. This report contains technical conditions
restrictive
and guidance for
conditions
stations
operating in the 2 500-2 690 MHz band, which are
interference
appropriate to manage the risk of harmful
within as well as outside of national territories, without
requiring that any type of particular technology is used,
based on optimised parameters for the most likely use of
the band.

and terminal

to base

stations

least

In accordance with CEPT Report 19 this Decision
introduces the concept of Block Edge Masks (BEM),
which are technical parameters that apply to the entire
block 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 the
authorisation conditions for spectrum usage. They cover
both emissions within the block of spectrum (i.e.
in-
block power) as well as emissions outside the block
(i.e.
regulatory
requirements aimed at managing the risk of harmful
interference between neighbouring networks and are
without prejudice to limits set in equipment standards
under Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment
and telecommunications terminal equipment and the
mutual recognition of their conformity (3)
(the R&TTE
Directive).

out-of-block

emission).

They

are

(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).

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Official Journal of the European Union

24.6.2008

(7)

(8)

(9)

the 2 500-
The designation and making available of
2 690 MHz band in accordance with the results of the
mandate to CEPT recognises the fact that there are other
existing applications. Appropriate sharing criteria for
coexistence between some systems have been developed
in the Electronic Communications Committee's ECC
Report 45. For other systems and services appropriate
sharing criteria
coexistence may be based on
national considerations.

for

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. Such
separation should be achieved by either leaving these 5
MHz blocks unused as guard blocks; or through usage
that complies with parameters of
the restricted BEM
to an FDD (uplink) or between two
when adjacent
TDD 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 of
interference.

The results of the mandate to the CEPT should be made
applicable in the Community and implemented by the
increasing
Member States without delay given the
requirements
identified in studies at European and
global
levels for terrestrial electronic communications
services providing broadband communications.

(10) Harmonisation under this Decision should not exclude
the possibility for a Member State to apply, where
justified,
transitional periods that could include radio
spectrum 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 MHz
band also in the longer term, administrations should
continue with studies that may increase efficiency and
innovative use. Such studies
should be taken into
account when considering a review of this Decision.

(12)

The measures provided for
accordance with the opinion of
Committee,

in this Decision are in
the Radio Spectrum

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 for
terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communi-
cations services in the Community.

Article 2

available, on a non-exclusive

1.
No later than six months after entry into force of this
Decision Member States
shall designate and subsequently
the 2 500-
make
basis,
2 690 MHz band for terrestrial systems capable of providing
electronic communications services,
in compliance with the
parameters set out in the Annex to this Decision.

By way of derogation from paragraph 1, Member States
radio
to Article 4(5) of

2.
may request
spectrum sharing arrangements, pursuant
Decision No 676/2002/EC.

transitional periods

that may include

3. Member States shall ensure that systems referred to in
paragraph 1 give
in
adjacent bands.

appropriate protection to systems

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 to
allow 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 Commission

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Official Journal of the European Union

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ANNEX

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 to
develop less stringent technical parameters and,
if agreed among all affected parties, these less stringent technical
parameters 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.

1. The assigned blocks shall be in multiple of 5,0 MHz.

A. GENERAL PARAMETERS

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 of
2 570 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.

Baseline requirements — Base Station out-of-block e.i.r.p. BEM

Table 1

Frequency range in which out-of-block emissions are received

Maximum 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

Block specific requirements — Base Station in-block e.i.r.p. BEM

Table 2

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.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Block specific requirements — base station out-of-block e.i.r.p. BEM

Table 3

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)

– 0,2 to 0,0 MHz (lower edge)

0,0 to + 0,2 MHz (upper edge)

+ 3 + 15(Δ

F + 0,2) dBm/30 kHz

+ 3 dBm/30 kHz

+ 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: Δ

F is the frequency offset from the relevant block edge (in MHz).

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.

C. RESTRICTED BEM FOR BASE STATIONS

Block specific requirements — base station in-block e.i.r.p. BEM for restricted block

Table 4

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 1
applies and that Table 4 remains valid nationwide.

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.

Table 5

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)

– 0,2 to 0,0 MHz (lower edge)

0,0 to + 0,2 MHz (upper edge)

+ 0,2 to + 1,0 MHz (upper edge)

+ 1,0 to + 5,0 MHz (upper edge)

+ 5,0 MHz (upper edge) to end of band (2 690 MHz)

– 19 + 15(Δ

F + 0,2) dBm/30 kHz

– 19 dBm/30 kHz

– 19 dBm/30 kHz

– 19-15(Δ

F - 0,2) dBm/30 kHz

– 18 dBm/MHz

– 22 dBm/MHz

Where: Δ

F is the frequency offset from the relevant block edge (in MHz).

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E. 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)

e.i.r.p.

31 dBm/5 MHz

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.