The 40th RSPG meeting was held last 8 June in Brussels, chaired by Philip Marnick of the United Kingdom. Portugal was represented by ANACOM’s Hélder Vasconcelos and Luísa Mendes and the European Commission (EC) by Anthony Whelan.
The following issues were discussed:
1. Update on EC initiatives
The EC presented document 15 on its activities regarding spectrum policy carried out since the last meeting.
2. RSPG workshop with stakeholders
The chair gave a presentation on this workshop held in London on 30 March with the aim of publicly presenting the RSPG’s working programme. Various RSPG members took part in the meeting along with a broad variety of stakeholders.
The meeting’s results were very positive, whereby the chair considered the possibility of going ahead with other meetings of this kind.
3. 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19)
Conference Preparatory Group chair Alexander Kuhn presented its progress report as well as the draft report on WRC-15.
The EC presented several requests to modify the text of the latter report. The changes were discussed at length and an attempt was made to find a compromise solution. However, it was not possible to reach agreement, whereby the report was approved without changes with the EC voting against. The Commission was to send the text to annex to the meeting minutes.
4. Good offices
Electronic Communications Committee chair Eric Fournier presented the report concerning the group’s work on bilateral negotiations between some European Union (EU) countries. He also presented a new working item on freeing up the 700 MHz band.
The chair once again regretted that Italy had not fulfilled the commitments it took on at the last meeting, bearing in mind the situation’s negative impact on citizens of neighbouring countries.
The group’s rapporteur was asked to present the final report at the next meeting if this cannot meanwhile be resolved in writing.
5. Programme making and special events (PMSE) equipment
The EC presented its document with the opinion request for establishment of a long-term strategy regarding future needs associated to the use of radio systems for audio and video PMSE applications.
The text now presented includes contributions from various RSPG members, following on suggestions presented during the February 2016 RSPG meeting.
It was agreed that this item will be added to the current working programme. Austria offered to lead this work.
6. Framework Review
The first progress report of the RSPG working group (WG) on the regulatory framework review was presented.
The draft RSPG report on results of the EC public consultation on the review of the EU’s telecommunications regulatory framework was approved.
7. Digital single market (DSM)
The WG’s progress report concerning matters associated to the digital single market was presented. The RSPG members expressed support for the peer review proposal presented and agreed to further develop it; a specific plan should be presented at the next RSPG meeting so that it can be implemented by the end of 2016.
8. 5G
The report on the WG developments was presented along with a draft opinion for approval for public consultation. After some changes proposed by the RSPG members, agreement was reached to submit the draft opinion for public consultation.
9. Intelligent transport systems (ITS)
The United Kingdom presented the RSPG WG’s report on spectrum requirements and aspects of intelligent transport systems for the next generation of railway and traffic management communication systems.
10. Internet of things
The progress report of the group in charge of spectrum aspects of the internet of things, including machine-to-machine, was presented.
11. Work with BEREC
Sweden presented the report on the high-level BEREC-RSPG joint workshop on spectrum concessions, held on 24 May in Brussels.
The next RSPG meeting will be held in Brussels this coming 9 November.
The following dates have been put forward for the RSPG’s meetings in 2017: 7 February, 6 June and 21 November.
