Copenhagen hosted last 12-13 November an extraordinary meeting of SRD/MG1, chaired by Thomas Weber (European Communications Office – ECO).
The meeting had been scheduled to resolve modification proposals under discussion concerning annexes 1, 2 and 11 of Recommendation ERC 70-03, especially for the 870-876 MHz and 915-921 MHz frequency bands, based on the approval of Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1538 of the Commission of 11 October 2018 on radio spectrum harmonisation with a view to its use by shortrange devices in the 874-876 MHz and 915-921 MHz frequency bands.
The meeting was also held because some administrations are supporting the alignment of that Commission decision with Recommendation ERC 70-03. However, given the track record of that recommendation, other administrations do not support it, because opportunities meant for those bands for shortrange devices (SRDs) are being removed, which very much limits the solution (e.g. the band’s lower limit in Recommendation ERC 70-03 is 870 MHz and not 874 MHz, as in the Commission decision). Also, some countries have already implemented the frequency bands at national level in accordance with the parameters currently set out in that recommendation.
Lastly, a proposal to simplify regulatory solutions for the 863-870 MHz frequency bands was also discussed.
1 SRD/MG focuses on issues concerning shortrange devices. Among other matters, it is responsible for updating Recommendation ERC 70-03, for the response to the permanent European Commission mandate on shortrange devices with a view to updating the Commission Decision on SRDs (Decision 2006/771/EC of 9 November 2006, amended by Decisions 2008/432/EC of 23 May 2008, 2009/381/EC of 3 May 2009, 2010/368/EU of 30 June 2010, 2011/829/EU of 8 December 2011, 2013/752/EU of 11 December 2013 and 2017/1483 of 8 August 2017), for the response to the permanent EC mandate on UWB (ultrawideband) technology and for the identification of new spectrum opportunities for SRD introduction. The group is also responsible for responding to the European Commission mandate on ITS.
