Harmonised duplex arrangements and additional spectrum for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services in the 3.4 GHz band

Subject: Harmonised duplex arrangements and additional spectrum for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services in the 3.4 GHz band

Date: 26 March 2001

In response requests for harmonised duplex arrangements and for additional spectrum for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services in the 3.4 GHz band, the Radiocommunications Agency has commissioned a series of urgent studies to establish whether 2 x 20 MHz with a 100 MHz duplex arrangements at 3.4 GHz is feasible given that other radio services (including outside broadcast systems) operate in this waveband. The benefits to industry, assuming successful completion of the studies would be:

Improved economies of scale
alignment with use in other European countries
additional 2x3 MHz raising the total spectrum that we hope to make available to FWA to 2x20 MHz.

We aim to release details of the studies as soon as they can be concluded.

Steve Jones
Chairman

Technical Notes:

1. Existing duplex arrangements and 100 MHz option for FWA at 3.4 GHz can be explained as follows: The 100 MHz duplex spacing option of the CEPT Rec. 14-03 is the current standard being used by those European countries that have or are implementing FWA services in the band 3400 - 3600 MHz.

For the UK to adopt this option would require the interchange of the current FWA lower sub-band 3425 - 3422 MHz to 3580 - 3600 MHz, and the upper channel of the current ENG/OB allocation of 3580 - 3600 MHz moving to 3420 - 3440 MHz. This would provide a 2 MHz guard band between the upper frequency of the proposed new ENG/OB allocation of 3440 MHz and the lower frequency of the Home Office allocation. In addition it would provide a 5 MHz guard band between the upper frequency of the proposed new FWA allocation of 3480 - 3600 MHz and the upper frequency of the Home Office allocation.

Current UK Use Of The Band 3400 - 3600 MHz.

Proposed Change To The UK Use Of The Band 3400 - 3600 MHz Using A 100 MHz Duplex Spacing.