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International
coordination of spectrum
Joint
RSPG-BEREC work programme
The overview of the other ongoing RSPG activities will be posted here shortly.
Background:
In its Opinion in 2010 (Document
RSPG10-330), the RSPG proposed that an essential part of the RSPP should be
to “identify developing and potential future significant uses of spectrum,
taking into account demand and technology trends”. As stated in this Opinion,
the RSPG believes that, with a view to releasing more “new” spectrum, the EC
should take into account an analysis of the market/societal demand and
technology trends, in order to identify developing and potential future
significant uses of spectrum."
Furthermore, the Commission proposal for a
Radio Spectrum Policy Programme features the establishment of an inventory,
which should allow the assessment of the technical efficiency of existing
spectrum uses and the identification of inefficient technologies or obsolete
applications, as well as unused or inefficiently-used spectrum and spectrum
sharing opportunities. It should also take into account future needs for
spectrum, based on consumers' and operators' demands, and of the possibility to
meet such needs.
The challenge:
The RSPG will investigate the best process for analysing spectrum demand and the
impact of technology trends on such demand. The challenge will be to find the
right scope and to feed this activity into the planned work on the inventory,
under the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme.
Current work and planned deliverables:
• Deliverable: RSPG Opinion on the "Review of spectrum use in the EU"
• A public consultation will take place. The precise timing of the consultation
will have to be planned in due time.
• The expected delivery date for the RSPG opinion is November 2011.
Background:
One of the main strategic objectives of the Digital Agenda for Europe is to ensure that "All EU citizens will have access to high-speed broadband". In this context, wireless networks have been widely recognised to have an essential role to play to meet this objective, especially where the deployment of the fixed broadband infrastructure is impractical or uneconomical. This is also why one of the main policy objectives identified in the RSPG Opinion on the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (Document RSPG10-330) is to ensure that sufficient spectrum for coverage and capacity purposes is allocated within the EU so that all citizens can have access to ubiquitous high-speed broadband. This recommendation was followed-up by the Commission in its proposal for the first Radio Spectrum Policy Programme which is now in the legislative process with the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2010) 471 final).
The challenge:
Through this initiative, the RSPG
wishes to address the spectrum implications and challenges of deploying wireless
access capabilities and to identify existing best practices. The activity will
also examine any related policy issues that would require further attention at
EU level.
History of RSPG action in the field:
This initiative is a follow up to the RSPG Position Paper on Wireless Broadband
(Document
RSPG09-284 Final).
In this Position Paper, the RSPG examined the benefits of a coordinated approach
on wireless broadband deployment, including harmonisation where appropriate, and
suggested to focus further policy work on areas where market forces may have
difficulties to deliver on the ubiquitous broadband access objectives of the
Digital Agenda, including situations where competition issues are at stake.
Overview of the planned work:
This RSPG activity
will examine the spectrum implications of meeting the stated objective of
ubiquitous high-speed broadband access, noting the key role to be played by
wireless networks in supporting this objective. The task will include inter
alia:
An
analysis of the impact of coverage obligations on competition in the
wireless broadband market;
An analysis of
conflict between demand for more spectrum for broadband applications at the
European level and the under-utilisation of current bands in some Member
States as a result of extensive broadband penetration by other platforms.
A proper liaison with BEREC will be achieved concerning all market-related
aspects.
Milestones and deliverables:
Final deliverable: RSPG Opinion on "Improving broadband coverage in the EU"
A public consultation will take place. The precise timing of the consultation will have to be planned in due time.
The expected delivery date for the RSPG opinion is November 2011.
Background:
There is a necessity to strengthen the representation of EU radio spectrum
policy interests in international forums such as the ITU Radiocommunications
Conferences, regional and international negotiations as well as in multinational
spectrum coordination involving neighboring third countries. As part of the
preparation for the next World Radio Conference in 2012 (WRC-12) the RSPG has
already adopted an Opinion suggesting common policy objectives for the EU.
The WRC is however only one venue for international spectrum coordination, and
the RSPG working group will now look at the wider context of outer border
spectrum coordination and other forms of international spectrum coordination.
The challenge:
The European Union is not a member of the ITU (while individual EU Member States
are members). The EU preparation for international conferences is normally
mainly conducted within the framework of the CEPT, which has a wider membership
than the EU Member States combined with other European states that apply EU Law.
To reconcile the obligations EU Member States have assumed under the ITU Radio
Regulations and the obligations to apply EU Law, in a manner that brings the
widest benefit possible, there is a need for a strategic re-thinking of ways and
means to strengthen the promotion of EU interests in international negotiations
within existing structures. This activity should also include the issue of
spectrum coordination in bilateral negotiations with third countries and between
EU countries.
History of RSPG's action in the field:
The RSPG has already adopted Opinions on Common Policy objectives for WRC-12 and
previous conferences. The latest RSPG Opinion served as a major input for the
Commission Communication that was adopted on 6 April 2011.
Current work and planned deliverables:
The RSPG has created a working group on international coordination, chaired by
Mr. Eric Fournier, ANFR (France), which will draft an Opinion on the process for
EU assistance in bilateral negotiations with third countries and between EU
countries. The group will also monitor and, where necessary, report on any
additional elements relating to WRC-12 not already covered by the RSPG Opinion
mentioned above.
Planned adoption of the opinion: RSPG #26, November 2011
Background:
For 2011, in accordance with the BEREC and RSPG Work Programmes, the joint
working group has identified one new area of work and will produce a report on
the economic and social value of spectrum. This is a continuation and expansion
of the current cooperation between RSPG and BEREC on the competition aspects of
the liberalisation of spectrum use in the EU.
The challenge:
The Joint BEREC-RSPG Working Group, benefiting from the respective expertise in
the parent groups, will analyse assignment processes in Member States with the
emphasis on liberalisation of spectrum, assessing how spectrum value, coverage
obligations or the conditions for infrastructure sharing are established - all
with the aim of identifying best practices.
Overview of planned work:
The scope of the report will include inter alia the following points:
Background:
In 2008 the RSPG in its Opinion on the Collective Use of Spectrum (RSPG08-244)
concluded that "there may be opportunities to exploit the relatively low
opportunity cost of high frequency spectrum as well as sharing opportunities
across the entire frequency range for very low power devices." Since then,
market development in sectors – such as SRDs – that benefit from collective use
of spectrum approaches indicate that these opportunities can indeed be realized.
Furthermore, in the context of the recent advances in Cognitive Technologies
(see for example
RSPG10-348 and
RSPG10-306) the RSPG considers that collective use of spectrum is an
underexplored approach to promote efficient use of spectrum in appropriate
circumstances.
The challenge:
RSPG will investigate high frequency bands to which the CUS approach could
potentially be applied and further explore the policy implications of the use of
white space spectrum. Based on the analysis a set of concrete recommendations
will be prepared on how to implement or further improve the regulatory framework
for collective use of spectrum approaches and which steps are necessary to
facilitate the uptake.
Current work and planned deliverables:
• Deliverable: RSPG Report on "Collective Use of Spectrum Approaches in the EU"
• The expected delivery date was preliminary defined as June 2011 and is
currently subject to a review.