Frequency Bands [EU]

Frequency bands for electronic communication

Directive 87/372/EEC sets out in general terms the frequency bands to be reserved for a public European cellular digital mobile communications service by 1 January 1991 and calls upon EU countries to make the necessary preparations as quickly as possible.

EU legislation, through this series of decisions relating to frequency bands used for electronic communications services and networks, as well as other applications relating to the internal market seeks to harmonise technical allocation and coordinate the authorisation of the use of the radio spectrum.

1987 Directive

Directive 87/372/EEC, as amended by Council Directive 2009/114/EC

EU countries must make the 880-915 MHz and 925-960 MHz frequency bands (the 900 MHz band) available for GSM and UMTS systems, as well as other terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services that can coexist with GSM systems, in accordance with radio spectrum policy in the EU. The directive is amended by Council Directive 2009/114 which confirms the allocation of the 900 MHz band for GSM as the system of technical reference in that band.

EU countries must also examine whether the existing assignment of the 900 MHz band to the competing mobile operators in their territory is likely to distort competition in the mobile markets concerned.

EU bandwidth decisions

EU legislation relating to bands used for electronic communications services and networks can be divided into those seeking to harmonise technical allocation and those coordinating the authorisation of the use of the spectrum.
Flexibility is achieved through authorisations that are as technology and service-neutral as possible so that radio spectrum users may choose the best technologies and services to apply in the spectrum bands declared available for electronic communications services in the relevant national frequency allocation plans.

Restrictions to the principles of technology and service neutrality apply only in a limited number of cases, in particular where it is necessary to avoid harmful interference, to protect public health, to ensure an adequate level of technical quality of service or when general interest objectives are at stake.

A number of these measures also seek to coordinate the timing of the granting, by EU countries granting rights to use harmonised spectrum in relation to electronic communications services and networks. This includes the European Electronic Communications Code which sets general rules for any radio spectrum that has been harmonised pursuant to radio spectrum policy and the pioneer bands for 5G very high speed wireless broadband communications (3.6 GHz and 26 GHz bands).

Bands

Council Decision 2017/899 legislates on the 700 MHz band, while Article 6 of Council Decision 243/2012/EU establishes a multiannual radio spectrum policy programme for 800 MHz and other harmonised bands (3.6 GHz, 2.6 GHz, 900 and 1800 MHz).

The radio spectrum and frequency bands discussed in these decisions are as follows:
frequency bands to be reserved for cellular digital land-based mobile communications in the EU;
radio spectrum for use by short-range devices;
spectrum use for mobile communication services on aircraft (MCA services);
the 3400-3800 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems;
the 2500-2690 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems;
the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands for terrestrial systems;
radio spectrum for mobile communication services on board vessels (MCV services);
the 790-862 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems;
the 1920-1980 MHz and 2110-2170 MHz frequency bands for terrestrial systems;
the 1452-1492 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems and its extension in the 1427-1452 MHz and 1492-1517 MHz frequency bands;
the 694-790 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems;
the 470-790 MHz frequency band;
the 24,25-27,5 GHz frequency band for terrestrial systems.

Radio Spectrum Policy

Radio Spectrum: coordination, harmonisation and information (European Commission).

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/784 of 14 May 2019 on harmonisation of the 24,25-27,5 GHz frequency band for terrestrial systems capable of providing wireless broadband electronic communications services in the Union (OJ L 127, 16.5.2019, pp. 13-22)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/235 of 24 January 2019 on amending Decision 2008/411/EC as regards an update of relevant technical conditions applicable to the 3400-3800 MHz frequency band (OJ L 37, 8.2.2019, pp. 135-143)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/661 of 26 April 2018 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/750 on the harmonisation of the 1452-1492 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services in the Union as regards its extension in the harmonised 1427-1452 MHz and 1492-1517 MHz frequency bands (OJ L 110, 30.4.2018, pp. 127-133)

Decision (EU) 2017/899 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the use of the 470-790 MHz frequency band in the Union (OJ L 138, 25.5.2017, pp. 131-137)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/191 of 1 February 2017 amending Decision 2010/166/EU, in order to introduce new technologies and frequency bands for mobile communication services on board vessels (MCV services) in the European Union (OJ L 29, 3.2.2017, pp. 63-68)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2317 of 16 December 2016 amending Decision 2008/294/EC and Implementing Decision 2013/654/EU, in order to simplify the operation of mobile communications on board aircraft (MCA services) in the Union (OJ L 345, 20.12.2016, pp. 67-71)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/687 of 28 April 2016 on the harmonisation of the 694-790 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems capable of providing wireless broadband electronic communications services and for flexible national use in the Union (OJ L 118, 4.5.2016, pp. 4-15)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/750 of 8 May 2015 on the harmonisation of the 1452-1492 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services in the Union (OJ L 119, 12.5.2015, pp. 27-31)

Successive amendments to Decision (EU) 2015/750 have been incorporated into the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

Commission Implementing Decision 2014/276/EU of 2 May 2014 on amending Decision 2008/411/EC on the harmonisation of the 3400 – 3800 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services in the Community (OJ L 139, 14.5.2014, pp. 18-25)

Commission Implementing Decision 2013/654/EU of 12 November 2013 amending Decision 2008/294/EC to include additional access technologies and frequency bands for mobile communications services on aircraft (MCA services) (OJ L 303, 14.11.2013, pp. 48-51)

Commission Implementing Decision 2012/688/EU of 5 November 2012 on the harmonisation of the frequency bands 1920 – 1980 MHz and 2110 – 2170 MHz for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services in the Union (OJ L 307, 7.11.2012, pp. 84-88)

Commission Implementing Decision 2011/251/EU of 18 April 2011 amending Decision 2009/766/EC on the harmonisation of the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands for terrestrial systems capable of providing pan-European electronic communications services in the Community (OJ L 106, 27.4.2011, pp. 9-10)

Commission Decision 2010/267/EU of 6 May 2010 on harmonised technical conditions of use in the 790-862 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services in the European Union (OJ L 117, 11.5.2010, pp. 95-101)

Commission Decision 2010/166/EU of 19 March 2010 on harmonised conditions of use of radio spectrum for mobile communication services on board vessels (MCV services) in the European Union (OJ L 72, 20.3.2010, pp. 38-41)

Commission Decision 2009/766/EC of 16 October 2009 on the harmonisation of the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands for terrestrial systems capable of providing pan-European electronic communications services in the Community (OJ L 274, 20.10.2009, pp. 32-35)

Directive (EU) 2018/1972 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code (Recast) (OJ L 321, 17.12.2018, pp. 36-214)

Decision No 676/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a regulatory framework for radio spectrum policy in the European Community (Radio Spectrum Decision) (OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, pp. 1-6)

last update 10.12.2019

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Short range devices

RLAN (WiFi), Internet of Things, ultra-wide band (UWB) equipment and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

 

The implementing decisions mostly concern harmonisation, while others deal with specific frequency bands for specific purposes, in addition to limits on signal strength and harmful interference where applicable. EU countries are responsible for radio spectrum management, and the amendments reflect how European and international harmonisation and technical agreements have evolved.
The ‘DECT’ directive designates the 1880-1900 MHz frequency band for digital cordless communications by 1 January 1992 and obliges EU countries to bring into force the necessary national laws, regulations and administrative rules.
KEY POINTS

The decisions

The implementing decisions cover radio equipment devices that are operated through general authorisation or on an unlicensed or shared basis by end-users. This includes radio local access network devices (wi-fi) devices which have shown massive growth in demand for radio spectrum, as acknowledged in the 2018 European Electronic Communications Code.

Many of these acts are harmonisation decisions. Others deal with frequency bands for different purposes, such as a huge variety of short range devices, Internet of Things (IoT) equipment, ultra-wide band equipment, alarms, door openers, medical implants, intelligent transport systems, radio frequency identification devices (RFID), radio determination, ground probing, and new types of machine-to-machine devices, as well as equipment for programme making and special events (PMSE) such as wireless video links or microphones and digital cordless telephones.

A further general authorisation band relates to vehicle safety, in particular to the operation of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).

The various implementing decisions cover the following radio spectrum, in addition to limits on signal strength and harmful interference where applicable:

the 5 GHz frequency band (5150-5350 MHz and 5470-5725 MHz) for wireless access systems, including radio local area networks (WAS/RLANs — wi-fi broadband);
the 3400-3800 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems for ‘fixed, nomadic and mobile electronic communications networks’;
the 5875-5905 MHz frequency band for safety-related applications of Intelligent Transport Systems;
the radio spectrum for use by short-range devices;
the 24 GHz range radio spectrum band for the time-limited use by automotive short-range radar equipment;
radio spectrum use by wireless audio programme-making and special events equipment;
the 2010-2025 MHz frequency band for portable or mobile wireless video links and cordless cameras used for programme making and special events;
the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services in relation to the Internet of Things;
radio spectrum for use by short-range devices within the 874-876 and 915-921 MHz frequency bands;
radio spectrum for equipment using ultra-wideband technology, such as vehicle and aircraft location tracking.
Directive 91/287/EEC

The directive obliges EU countries to designate the 1880-1900 MHz frequency band for digital cordless communications by 1 January 1992.

Radio Spectrum Policy Group

Decision setting up the Radio Spectrum Policy Group sets up the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG), a high-level advisory group designed to assist the European Commission in developing radio spectrum policy.
It takes into account technical, economic, political, cultural, strategic, health and social considerations, along with the potentially conflicting needs of radio spectrum users, and is designed to ensure that a fair, non-discriminatory and proportionate balance is achieved.

The RSPG assists and advises the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union upon their request, at strategic level on:

radio spectrum policy and coordinating policy approaches;
coordination and cooperation between the Commission, European Union (EU) Member States and their relevant authorities on implementing existing EU radio spectrum legislation, programmes and policies, including Directive (EU) 2018/1972 (see summary) establishing the European Electronic Communications Code that extended the role of the RSPG;
coordinating or harmonising conditions, where appropriate, relating to the availability and efficient use of radio spectrum;
legislative proposals for multiannual radio spectrum policy programmes and releasing spectrum for shared use;

RSPG

Commission recommendations regarding the regulatory framework as it affects the radio spectrum, without prejudice to the role of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC), set up under Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 (see summary).

The RSPG membership comprises Member States’ authorities, with the Commission participating in all meetings and providing the secretariat. Each Member State appoints a high-level representative with overall responsibility for strategic radio spectrum policy.

The RSPG may invite observers, including from:

• European Economic Area countries;
• candidate countries;
• the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations;
• the European Telecommunications Standardisation Institute;
• other interested parties, such as national regulatory bodies or BEREC.

The observers may be allowed to take part in discussions and share their expertise but do not have voting rights and do not participate in formulating recommendations or advice. The RSPG may also invite industry representatives to present positions.

Operation

As part of its advisory function, the RSPG covers a variety of technological, market and regulatory developments relating to the use of radio spectrum in the context of relevant EU internal market policies in fields such as electronic communications, the information society and other sectors and activities such as transport, research and development, or health.

At the request of the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament, or on its own initiative, the RSPG adopts opinions and reports.
The adoption is based on consensus or on a simple majority. Members who vote against the adoption have the right to have a statement attached summarising the reasons for their position.

The Commission may set up sub-groups to examine specific questions and order external studies to support the RSPG’s work. Participants in RSPG activities and sub-groups are unpaid.

The RSPG consults widely at an early stage with market participants, consumers and end-users. Such consultations are carried out with the objective of involving all relevant stakeholders, radio spectrum users, both commercial and non-commercial, and any other interested party. In addition, most of the deliverables of the RSPG are subject to formal public consultations.

The RSPG publishes an annual work programme and most official deliverables of the RSPG are made public.

The decision repeals and replaces Decision 2002/622/EC, which originally established the RSPG.

It has applied since 2 July 2019.