Update on Europe and UK SRD and LE Activities

1. Update on Europe and UKSRD and LE Activities July 2007

2. Yearly review of EC SRD Decision • Update on UWB activities in UK/Europe • Update on ITS activities in UK/Europe • Update on Multi GBit Systems in 60GHz bands • Update on the UK LE SFR • Timescales for UK consultation on consolidated proposals for Licence Exemption Contents

3. EC mandate to ECC to review the technical annex in EC Short Range Devices Decision • The EC SRD Decision is mandatory for all member states to implement. • The Annex in the Decision covers different tables for specific SRD use in a number of different bands from kHz to 60 GHz including: • Generic or Non Specific SRD use • Alarms and Social Alarms • Inductive Applications • Active Medical Implants • Wireless Audio Applications • Changes been approved by ECC and sent to EC. Decision likely to be amended and approved in either October or December 07. • Member States usually given 6 months to implement from publication date.

4. Proposals for Generic SRD allocations • The proposals for changes to the Non Specific SRD use in the Decision include a number of new or changes to use in the following bands ; • New 30 KHz allocation in 6MHz band • New 14 KHz allocation in 13MHz band • Revised technical parameters between 433.050 – 434.790 MHz • 10 mW max e.r.p / Duty Cycle 10% 1 mW max e.r.p / Duty Cycle 100% for bandwidths > 250KHz the PSD limited is to -13dBm/10 kHz • New allocation between 434.040 – 434.790 MHz • 10 mW e.r.p / Duty Cycle 100% / max channel spacing 25kHz • New allocation 863 – 870 MHz • 25mW e.r.p / Duty Cycle 0.1% or LBT • Revised technical parameters to allow LBT 25mW e.r.p between • 868.000 – 868.600 MHz • 868.700 – 869.200 MHz • Revised technical parameters between 869.400 – 869.500 to allow LBT 500mW e.r.p • New allocation in 24.150 – 24.250 GHz up to 100mW e.i.r.p • New allocation in 61.000 – 61.500 GHz up to 100mW e.i.r.p

5. Other highlights in the changes to Specific Allocations • Various new allocations for Inductive applications • Includes RFIDs, devices for car immobilisation, animal identification, alarm systems, cable detection, waste management, personal identification, wireless voice links, access control, proximity sensors, anti-theft systems including RF anti-theft induction systems, data transfer to handheld devices, automatic article identification, wireless control systems and automatic road tolling. • Active Medical Implants • New allocation in 9 – 315 KHz, max power 30 dBµA/m at 10m, Duty Cycle 10% • Wireless Audio Applications • New Allocation in 87.5 – 108.0 MHz, 50nW e.r.p (I-trip)

6. Contents • Yearly review of EC SRD Decision • Update on UWB activities in UK/Europe • Update on ITS activities in UK/Europe • Update on Multi GBit Systems in 60GHz bands • Update on the UK LE SFR • Timescales for UK consultation on consolidated proposals for Licence Exemption

7. Update on UWB activities in UK/Europe • Last Implementation date for member states is August 21st • UK published proposals 5th June 2007 • 12 responses received • some editorial changes made • regs. will be complete by 21st August 07 • ECC have recommended changes to EC UWB Decision • limit between 2.7 – 3.4 GHz increased to -70dBm/MHz • limit between 3.4 – 3.8 GHz increased to -80dBm/MHz • restriction on usage in road and rail vehicles

8. Update on UWB activities in UK/Europe • ETSI standard in public enquiry stage has brought out an issue with EC Decision. • Wi-Media statement to UK consultation • “The draft regulation contains a definition of to be used in the assessment of peak power measurements and specifies a correction factor of 20log(50/x) db where bandwidths other than 50MHz have been used for measurement. Whilst WiMedia appreciates that the format of this correction is drawn form Article 2 of the EC decision, we would draw OFCOM’s attention to the fact that such a correction is valid only for UWB technologies that are pulse based. The technology used in WiMedia Alliance products is Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation which is Gaussian noise like in nature(1). Consequently a correction based on 10log(50/x) would be a more appropriate in this case. This technology distinction has been recognized by the ETSI and provision has been made in the draft EN for both classes of UWB devices to assure fair product assessment as a prerequisite to market access.”

9. Contents • Yearly review of EC SRD Decision • Update on UWB activities in UK/Europe • Update on ITS activities in UK/Europe • Update on Multi GBit Systems in 60GHz bands • Update on the UK LE SFR • Timescales for UK consultation on consolidated proposals for Licence Exemption

10. Update on ITS activities in UK/Europe • ECC draft response to EC Mandate submitted including an Impact Assessment • Final Response to be approved @ WGFM meeting September, possible allocations in these bands to ITS • 5850 – 5925 MHz • 63.0 – 64.0 GHz • Response to be discussed @ EC RSC December • Possible outcome is EC Decision for both or any of the bands mentioned.

11. Contents • Yearly review of EC SRD Decision • Update on UWB activities in UK/Europe • Update on ITS activities in UK/Europe • Update on Multi GBit Systems in 60GHz bands • Update on the UK LE SFR • Timescales for UK consultation on consolidated proposals for Licence Exemption

12. Update on Multi GBit systems in 60GHz • ECC WGSE have completed a number of Reports • Competing Demand for Spectrum between • Fixed PtP links (57 – 66 GHz) • WPAN/WLAN (57 – 66 GHz) • ITS (63.0 – 64.0 GHz) • Discussion on allocations to take place @ WGFM • At present strong lobby in UK/Europe from both PtP and ITS communities • Ofcom LEFR consultation promotes possibility of generic LE allocations in these bands.

13. Contents • Yearly review of EC SRD Decision • Update on UWB activities in UK/Europe • Update on ITS activities in UK/Europe • Update on Multi GBit Systems in 60GHz bands • Update on the UK LE SFR • Timescales for UK consultation on consolidated proposals for Licence Exemption

14. Delivering on the vision of the SFR • In the SFR we suggested an increase in LE spectrum of 1%, relating perhaps to an additional 200MHz at 5GHz • Our recent measurements suggest a low level of utilisation of LE spectrum, especially in the existing 5GHz bands • Hence, there seems little reason at this stage to extend the LE allocation in these bands • We will keep this under review but at present do not expect to provide additional LE spectrum by 2010 at 5GHz

15. Licence exemption may be appropriate in some cases to maximise the efficient use of the spectrum • Ofcom’s main objective is to maximise the efficient use of the spectrum – measured in terms of economic efficiency • There are two reasons why making a band licence-exempt might achieve this 1: Higher economic value Making a band LE might result in more economic value than licensing it. To test this we need to make a forward prediction of use under licensed and LE usage 2: Supply exceeds demand In some bands, particularly at very high frequencies, there is more supply than demand and hence licensing imposes an unnecessary bureaucratic burden

16. A preference for international coordination • In general, we prefer the market to achieve coordination and harmonisation through trading and change of use of spectrum in multiple countries • However, LE spectrum requires regulatory intervention to identify the spectrum and establish the rules for its operation giving little opportunity for market forces to modify parameters • As a result, it would generally be preferable for regulators to coordinate internationally as far as possible in order to achieve harmonised strategies and allocations • We will work with CEPT, EC and ITU to aim for a harmonised approach to LE spectrum as far as possible although equally we will not unduly delay our initiatives if harmonisation appears difficult to achieve

17. Better use of LE spectrum LE above a given frequency LE below a given power level Adoption of shared LE bands but with zoning by power and use of politeness protocols Above 60GHz most of the spectrum can be made LE At similar power levels to UWB usage can be made exempt Our proposals fall into three key areas

18. LE above a given frequency • At higher frequencies the spectrum is increasingly little used • This is due to the poor propagation and high equipment costs • The probability of interference is low because of the low range of devices • This results in an area of spectrum where supply exceeds demand and hence licensing is unnecessary • There is some use in these bands, and given that there is excess supply we propose to leave existing use unchanged Licence-exempt Light-licensed Licensed

19. Contents • Yearly review of EC SRD Decision • Update on UWB activities in UK/Europe • Update on ITS activities in UK/Europe • Update on Multi GBit Systems in 60GHz bands • Update on the UK LE SFR • Timescales for UK consultation on consolidated proposals for Licence Exemption

20. Timescales for UK consultation on consolidated proposals for Licence Exemption • Consultation due out in September on what we will be proposing to implement. • Will include any updates as a result of EC SRD Decision changes. • Only LEFR proposal likely to be included in the short term is LE allocations around 60GHz.

21. Consultation Info • For more information on the LEFR consultation • http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/lefr/ • For more information on other open Ofcom Consultations • http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/?sector=Radiocommunications&open=Yes&submit=Go • For more information on closed Ofcom Consultations or regulatory statements • http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/?open=No&sector=Radiocommunications