1. Carrier Identification (CID) (FM44_24)
Meeting considered an outcome of the previous FM44 meeting (doc. FM44(16)017_Annex 5). Meeting noted that this draft ECC Report was not elaborated further since its last meeting. FM44 participants noted also that the process has already taken a lot of time and not much interest from administrations and satellite operators have been demonstrated. Therefore meeting decided not to develop draft ECC Report on CID further and keep all material in the FM44 document area.
FM44 chairman will propose at the next WGFM meeting to remove WI FM44_24 from its Work Programme.
2. Earth stations near airfields (FM44_27)
FM44 considered EASA letter sent to the ECC officials prior this meeting. Letter confirms that the separation distances given in ECC Report 066 ‘Protection of Aircraft from Satellite earth Stations operating on the ground in the vicinity of Airfields’ have been derived from criteria that are too conservative or even incorrect. It also proposes methodology to calculate separation distances necessary to protect aircraft from Ku- and Ka-band FSS earth stations operating in the vicinity of an airfield.
Due to the importance of this issue as it affects a number of ECC Decisions, FM44 decided to start developing a LS to SE40 and NATO (addressing military applications). Web-meeting dedicated solely to this subject was scheduled on 6th October 2016 (13:00 – 16:00 CET).
3. Ku Band NGSO ESIM (FM44_28)
FM44 considered two contributions related to:
- development of a new ECC Decisions on the harmonised use and exemption from individual licensing of Fixed Earth Stations operating with NGSO FSS satellite systems in 10.7-12.75 GHz (space to Earth) and 14-14.5 GHz (Earth to space).
- A draft new ECC Report regarding the use of Earth Stations in-Motion (ESIMs) operating with NGSO FSS satellite systems in the frequency bands 10.7-12.75 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 14.0 – 14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space).
Draft ECC Report contains initial information regarding usage of the bands under consideration and listing existing regulatory frameworks established by the CEPT for other FSS applications in the Ku band. Draft ECC Report will be developed further at the subsequent FM44 meetings.
FM44 also decided to send a LS to SE40 requesting based on the current assumptions of ECC Report 066 to calculate distances required for the protection of aircraft from fixed earth stations operating with Ku band NGSO satellite systems and located inside or in the vicinity of an airfield.
4. ECC Decision revision process
Following decision of the ECC meeting in June 2016, FM 44 considered package of documents prepared by the ECO and decided to propose to WGFM to consider and agree on the following draft decisions as follows:
- to withdraw of ECTRA DEC(97)02 as it was superseded by ECC/DEC/(06)09 and ECC/DEC/(069)02;
- to amend ECC/DEC(05)09 on ESVs according to the outcome of WRC-15 (AI 1.8);
- to amend ECC/DEC(11)01 related to the protection of EESS passive in 1.4 GHz range according to the WRC-15 decision on AI 1.1;
- to amend ECC/DEC(06)10 in order to allow more time for administration to finalise transition period and remove FS and tactical relay systems from 2 GHz band.
FM44 will also request WGFM to submit ECC decisions to ECC plenary for public consultations.
5. Protection of the RAS (IRIDIUM NEXT Constellation)
Meeting considered contribution from a number of CEPT administrations to FCC requesting official clarifications/confirmations on the RAS protection status from the IRIDIUM NEXT satellites. IRIDIUM submitted contribution specifying modifications to the launch schedule and detailed description of the mechanisms of RAS protection. Meeting discussed and agreed that CEPT administrations should continue collaboration with FCC within the ITU coordination process as this kind of discussion shall give better results than sending requests on behalf of ECC.
6. Any other Business
FM 44 considered a French contribution related to a creation of draft ECC Report on M2M via satellite below 1GHz. The idea of the contribution is to start exploring frequency band opportunities for the introduction of space M2M applications based on direct transmission between SRD terminals an satellite in order to extend terrestrial coverage and create complementary services.
An initial analysis came to the conclusion that existing SRD operating in the 915-921 MHz and more specifically in the 862-863 MHz frequency ranges would be of interest for collect of data via satellite in Europe.
Despite the lack of satellite allocation in the Radio Regulation for those frequency bands in the entire Europe, the discussions in FM44 revealed that reception of SRD transmissions via satellite is allowed in those bands within the current regulatory framework of the ITU but the protection could not be claimed by the receiving space station.
Granting a new satellite allocation on a worldwide basis may be a very long process implicating CPG, and duty cycle limitations on SRD could manage a density of SRD terminals that would be compatible with the receiving performance of such a space application. There would be an interest for ECC to have a clear identification of the regulatory measures that could support the deployment of new space applications in Europe to cover the needs for collecting SRD's data via satellite in the next few years.
This work might also require expertise from SRD/MG colleagues, therefore it was decided to seek guidance from WGFM whether this should be studied within a WI of a dedicated group or within a correspondence group with involvement of satellite and SRD experts.
FM44 agreed to send to WGFM draft new WI and supporting material for consideration.