Consultation on proposals for Technical Requirements for Short Range, High Data Rate Equipment operating in the frequency range 5150 to 5875 MHz - Final Stage

1. Introduction

This consultation document is the final stage in a process that began in October 1999 with the publication of a consultation document "Short Range, High Data Rate, Nomadic Equipment operating in the frequency range 5.150 to 5.875 GHz". The results of that consultation led to the 5GHz Consultation Event organised by Spectrum Management Advisory Group (SMAG), held at the DTI on Friday 2 June 2000.The recommendations of the conference led to the formation of the 5 GHz Advisory Group. That group delivered its findings and recommendations to RA in February 2001 in the form of a report entitled "Recommendations on the Licensing of the 5GHz (5150-5350, 5470-5725, 5725-5875 MHz) frequency bands-A submission by the UK 5GHz Advisory Group".

The RA has considered all the submissions presented during the full course of the Consultation Exercise and is now ready to present detailed proposals on the technical requirements for the regulation of the 3 bands in question. This consultation is part of a wider exercise being undertaken by the Agency looking at the current legislation on the provision of public services in licence exempt spectrum. Any comments or submissions on these technical requirements made during this final stage will be considered and, where possible, incorporated, in the final regulatory documents.

2. Scope

This stage of the 5 GHz Consultation Exercise is a short consultation period on the final proposals for implementation of the technical requirements to operate in 3 frequency bands in the range 5-6 GHz; Band A: 5150-5250 MHz, Band B: 5470-5725 MHz and Band C: 5725-5875 MHz. Comments are invited on this document and the two draft documents appended to this Consultation Document. These documents are IR 2006 and the Consultation Document on Use of Licence-Exempt Spectrum For Provision of Public Telecommunication Services (published October 2001). All comments will be considered and the final documents will be published and the bands opened in the period following the conclusion of this consultation.

3. Licence Exemption

Currently under the present Statutory Instrument equipment operating under the licence exemption rules cannot provide a telecommunication service by way of business to another person. This prevents any provision of public telecommunication services in the bands that are covered by the Statutory Instruments unless a WT act licence is issued. These rules for Licence Exemption under the present Statutory Instruments SI 1999 No.930 amended by SI 2000 No.1012 and SI 2001/730 are being reviewed at present in the Consultation on the Use of Licence-Exempt Spectrum For Provision of Public Telecommunication Services (published October 2001). Until the Consultation on the Use of Licence-Exempt Spectrum For Provision of Public Telecommunication Services is completed equipment operating in the 3 bands in the 5GHz covered by this consultation shall only be able to operate under the current licence exemption rules (i.e. no provision of public services).

4. Ongoing Studies

A world-wide allocation of spectrum for both Bands A & B is to be discussed under agenda item 1.5 at the ITU World Radio Conference 2003. These technical requirements may updated after the resolution of this agenda item.

Further studies in Band C are being undertaken within UK, CEPT and ETSI BRAN. These studies are looking at further sharing analysis between outdoor fixed services and the present incumbents of the band. If needed the technical requirements for this band will be updated once these sharing studies have been completed.

5. Summary of Proposals

5.1 Proposal 1

The proposals for this frequency range are to make licence exempt a range of equipment providing short range, broadband services in all three bands. The individual technical requirements for operation are different for each band and, when finalised, must be met by ALL equipment operators providing services in these bands.

5.2 Proposal 2

In Bands A and B all devices will be nomadic/mobile and be compliant to ERC Decision 99(23) and IR 2006.

In Band C equipment compliant with IR2006 may be used to provide fixed services with a maximum EIRP of 2W. Devices compliant to IR 2030 may continue to use this band up to a maximum EIRP of 25 mW.

5.3 Proposal 3

In addition RA considers that, for the purpose of aiding planning and promoting efficient use of the radio spectrum this band would be an ideal candidate to implement a database showing the locations and other technical parameters of outdoor fixed service stations deployed in this band. It is further proposed that RA would ensure that the information is made publicly available on the database. The identities of operators would not form part of the publicly available material.

5.4 Proposal 4

In ERC decision 99-23 a dispensation is given for HIPERLAN Type 1 without DFS/TPC. This dispensation allows devices to operate in the band 5150 - 5250 MHz at 200mW EIRP without DFS/TPC. The UK considers that allowing 200mW devices without TPC in this band would discriminate against future devices in the band who have TPC as a mandatory requirement. Therefore until this decision is reviewed RLAN products without DFS/TPC as standard will be able to operate with a maximum EIRP of 50mW or products with TPC as standard will be able to operate with a maximum EIRP of 200mW. This dispensation applies to indoor only usage in the band 5150-5250 MHz. This proposal will be reviewed at a suitable time after this regulation comes into force.

5.5 Summary Table of Proposals

6. Responses to the Consultation

Responses to this consultation should be sent, to arrive no later than Friday 15th February 2002, to:

Andrew Gowans
Radiocommunications Agency
11G/6C Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
LONDON E14 9SX
Or, alternatively, electronically to: 5ghzconsultation@ra.gsi.gov.uk

For responses to the Consultation Document on Use of Licence-Exempt Spectrum For Provision of Public Telecommunication Services (published October 2001) should be sent, to arrive no later than Friday 15th February 2002, to:

Mrs. Sallyanne Miller
Technology Sectors Unit
Radiocommunications Agency
10R/2E
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
London E14 9SX
Or, alternatively, electronically to: Technology.Sectors@ra.gsi.gov.uk

Any comments or complaints about the conduct of this consultation should be addressed to :

Julia Fraser
Information and Publicity Manager
Radiocommuncations Agency
9Y/14B
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
London E14 9SX
Or, alternatively, electronically to: Julia.fraser@ra.gsi.gov.uk

7. Publication of Responses

Respondents to this consultation should note that in the interests of open government:

Unless confidentiality is expressly requested, individual responses will be placed in the public domain in printed or electronic form, together with the names and contact details of authors. Respondents are requested to make it very clear if they wish to keep some or all of their response confidential.

Unconditional permission to publish responses will be assumed unless the author expressly states otherwise.

Any copyright attached to responses will be assumed to have been relinquished unless it is expressly reserved.

The provisions of the Data Protection Act will apply to information in electronic form.

If you have any queries concerning this consultative document please contact Andrew Gowans on 020 7211 0309

8. Glossary of Terms

DFS -Dynamic Frequency Selection
TPC -Transmitter Power Control
IR -Interface Requirement
SI -Statutory Instrument
HIPERLAN -High Performance Radio LAN
Broadband -Service provision at data rates of at least 2Mbits/second
Mobile/Nomadic - A station in the mobile service intended to be used while in motion or during halts at unspecified points.
Mobile Service - A radiocommunication service between mobile and land stations, or between mobile stations.
Fixed - A station in the fixed service.
Fixed Service - A radiocommuniction service between specified fixed points.