4.5.1.3 Guard band 31 4.5.2 Spectrum between 470 and 790 MHz 32 4.5.3 White Spaces and Interleaved Spectrum 33 4.6 870 – 876 paired with 915 – 921 MHz 35 4.7 1452 – 1492 MHz 36 4.8 1670 – 1675 MHz 38 4.9 1785 – 1805 MHz 38 4.10 1710 – 1880 MHz 39 4.11 2025 – 2110 MHz and 2200 – 2290 MHz 42 4.12 2300 – 2400 MHz 43 4.13 2500 – 2690 MHz 45 4.14 3400 – 3800 MHz 46 5 49 5.1 Auctions 49 5.2 Economies of scale 50 6 52 6.1 Australia 52 6.2 Canada 52 6.3 USA 54 7 58 A A: 470 – 862 64
Service Purpose Allocated frequencies Is there sufficient spectrum? (Yes or No) / Reason for insufficient spectrum Spectrum only allocated to Utilities? (Yes or No) Spectrum licensed and shared with other users? (Yes or No) Spectrum shared with other users and no requirement for a licence? (Yes or No) Point to multipoint fixed links SCADA ; 440-445 MHz No. No specific broadband spectrum for monitoring of critical network infrastructure components is available for utilities No No Yes Monitoring of critical network infrastructure component Remote switching / emergency shut down No frequencies are allocated! Currently use 900 /1800MHz (public GSM) No. No specific broadband spectrum for remote switching / emergency shut down is available for utilities No - - Security (e.g. CCTV) Point to point fixed links Backhaul 22-22,6GHz/ 23-23,6GHz 37-39,5GHz Yes No Yes, 6 users; 18 users; 12 users; 6 users (ISP, Telco operators). No No Inter-site data links Wide area data comms. Automatic meter reading No frequencies are allocated. Currently use 900 /1800MHz (public GSM) No. No specific broadband spectrum for AMR and Smart Metering is available for utilities No - - Control of smart meters (e.g. switching tariffs or supplier at specified times) Mobile Radio Emergency mobile radio 162-173 MHz Yes No No Yes Worker safety 162-173 MHz Yes No No Yes Table 2.1: Summary of current communications needs and spectrum availability in Latvia
There are also a number of operators that have access to more than 2 x 20 MHz of 1800 MHz spectrum, but that may mean they have less or no 900 MHz spectrum. The figure below shows some examples: Figure 4.6: Operators with more than 2 x 20 MHz of GSM 1800 MHz spectrum in a country In some cases there is more than one entry per country and that is because there is more than one operator with more than 2 x 20 MHz of spectrum. For example in the UK T-Mobile and Orange each has 2 x 30 MHz. There is also the possibility for further market consolidation with the number of competing network operators reducing and so providing the potential to release some spectrum – again T-Mobile and Orange are an example of this scenario with the merger being agreed on the basis that 2 x 15 MHz of the 1800 MHz spectrum is handed back.. At the moment with many administrations considering the issues of licence renewal / re-award of 900 and 1800 MHz frequencies, and spectrum liberalisation there may be the potential to release some paired spectrum for Smart Grids. However with the pressure on cellular operators to support the rapidly increasing demand for broadband mobile services any reduction in spectrum is likely to be strongly contested but there may still be the potential with spectrum becoming available in lower bands to release some bandwidth . 2025 – 2110 MHz and 2200 – 2290 MHz The frequency bands 2.025 – 2.11 GHz and 2.2 – 2.29 GHz may offer a possible solution to providing limited spectrum for mission critical applications. The table below provides information on the use of the bands according to EFIS: Frequency band Allocations Applications 2.025 – 2.11 GHz EARTH EXPLORATION SATELLITE (E-S) (S-E) FIXED MOBILE SPACE OPERATION (E-S) (S-S) SPACE RESEARCH (E-S) (S-S) Defence Systems Fixed Links SAP/SAB telecommand Space Research 2.2 – 2.29 GHz EARTH EXPLORATION SATELLITE (S-E) (S-S) FIXED Fixed links SAP/SAB & ENG OB Space Research
– 921 MHz for the introduction of wideband PMR / PAMR it appears that a number of initiatives have taken place that mean there is a good probability part will be used for GSM-R in some countries and the rest for SRDs and RFIDS 1452 – 1492 TDD Low - medium Band is currently harmonised for terrestrial and satellite digital audio broadcasting < 5 years Medium - high The band is not the only one available to provide terrestrial digital audio broadcasting, so potential to release some spectrum. Limited licences for T-DAB issued. RSPG Opinion in 2006 considered high probability for Europe wide availability of common spectrum for the introduction of multi media services. Possible cross border interference issues. 1670 – 1675 MHz TDD Very low Band harmonised for mobile satellite service Unknown Very low Significant number of satellite filings so band unlikely to be an option 1785 – 1805 MHz TDD Low - Medium Unknown Low – Medium The band is identified for use for PMSE but to date there appears to be no use of the band but equipment is available. Also used for governmental applications and being considered for WAPECS in some countries. 1710 – 1880 MHz FDD Low Band is harmonised for IMT Possibility of gaining access when licences are renewed or Low - Medium Spectrum identified for use in Canada for smart grids. The cellular operators are likely to
now if spare spectrum is available. Cellular operators will be gaining access to further spectrum so might be able to release some bandwidth. react strongly and adversely to any suggestions to allocate spectrum to the utilities on a country by country basis due to the considerable growth seen in the take up of data services 2025 -2110 and 2200 – 2290 MHz FDD / TDD Medium to high < 5 years High for low density applications. Would need to convince the space community and military users that it is possible to share spectrum 2300 – 2400 MHz FDD / TDD Medium to high Unknown Medium. Mixed use of the band across Europe but might be potential to release quickly in some countries. WiMAX equipment already available. 2500 – 2690 MHz FDD / TDD Medium Band harmonised for IMT Spectrum already awarded in some European countries Medium Potential to acquire spectrum via licence tenders or trading WiMAX equipment already available for TDD. FDD LTE equipment already available but paired spectrum likely to be prohibitively expensive 3400 – 3600 MHz FDD / TDD Medium Spectrum already awarded in some European countries Medium Potential to acquire spectrum via licence tenders or trading WiMAX equipment already available for FDD and TDD. Will need to co-ordinate with satellite earth stations 3600 – 3800 FDD / TDD Medium to high Spectrum to be Medium