ComReg’s Objectives and Strategy on Spectrum for

PPDR

Jim Connolly

Senior Spectrum Advisor (ComReg)

Contents

• Overview of Irish telecommunications market• ComReg’s objectives and strategy on spectrum for

PPDR• Overview of ComReg• Objectives, Tasks and Balancing Act• Six Spectrum Management Strategy Objectives• Next Spectrum Strategy for 2014 – 2016

• Emergency services digital network in Ireland • European developments on BB PPDR and Ireland’s

Interest• Conclusions

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Overview of Irish Communications Market

• €3.7 billion p.a. in electronic comms revenues, nearly a further €1 billion in postal, total direct employment c. 25,000

• Electronic communications market liberalised over 10 years ago, now over 50 operators actively competing

• Users have wide choice of devices (eg smartphones) and technology platforms (copper, wireless, fibre, cable)

• Technology, competition and regulation are driving down prices• Firms are becoming more efficient and fighting harder for

customers• Litigious environment – challenges, appeals, enforcement

actions, judicial reviews are common• Challenge to maintain/extend investment (currently c. €420M

p.a.) needed for next generation networks

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ComReg’s Objectives and

Strategy on Spectrum for PPDR

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Overview of ComReg• Commission for Communications Regulation established in Dec

2002 (Communications Act) – in place of ODTR (1997)• Headed by Commission (currently 1 Commissioner (2 vacancies)),

supported by expert staff (105) - engineers, economists, lawyers, accountants …

• ComReg regulates under Irish and EU law• ComReg responsibilities in Electronic Communications and Postal

sectors:• Promote competition• Safeguard consumer interest• Facilitate investment, innovation, and efficient use of spectrum• Ensure maintenance of Universal Service in telecoms and post• 2009-2012 - New responsibilities: Emergency Call Answering

Services, Domain Registry, Premium Rate Services Regulation, New postal directive and revised EU telecoms framework

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ComReg: Objectives, Tasks and Balancing Act

Balance the often competing requirements of all radio servicesBalance commercial and public policy requirementsEnhance Ireland’s competitiveness:

• Ensure adequate spectrum is made available• Assign spectrum to users who derive the highest economic benefit• Wireless Telegraphy (WT) Act 1926 governs possession and use of WT

apparatus

Key Objective ENSURE THE EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT AND USE OF THE RADIO

FREQUENCY SPECTRUM

Main Task

FACILITATE ACCESS TO IRELAND’S RADIO SPECTRUM RESOURCE

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Six Spectrum Management Strategy Objectives

1. Support industry in responding to consumer demands

2. Support industry as a consumer of spectrum

3. Directly support Consumers in Choice, Price and Quality of

services

4. Provide opportunities for competition

5. Provide spectrum on a timely basis and in a manner that

encourages and facilitates industry innovation

6. Develop and implement regulatory policies in accordance with

international and national standards

Spectrum Management Strategy (2011 – 2013) [ComReg Document 11/89]

Next Spectrum Strategy for 2014 - 2016

• ComReg’s next spectrum strategy for 2014 onwards is due end 2013

• May consider spectrum requirements for Broadband PPDR on the basis of developments at EU/ITU level?

• Draft strategy will be subject to Public Consultation• Final strategy depends on responses from

interested parties

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EMERGENCY SERVICES DIGITAL NETWORK IN IRELAND

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Emergency services digital network in Ireland

• In July 2008 ComReg authorised the nationwide Managed Digital Radio Services Network using TETRA technology in the 380-400 MHz band (2x 3.8 MHz including air-ground-air comms)

• Network is provided and managed by a third party operator

• Intended to carry police, security and other emergency services (fire, ambulance, etc) – voice and narrowband comms

• Some services still on county council or own private (analogue) networks

• ComReg publishes an agreed Register of Users authorised to be carried on the network (Document 08/68 Rev)

• Frequencies coordinated with UK for border activities

• No approach as yet from public safety/security sector in Ireland for access to spectrum for mobile broadband applications

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EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENTS ON BB PPDR &

IRELAND’S INTEREST

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European developments on BB PPDR (1)European Commission Mandate

• Mandate from EC to CEPT on 700 MHz band aims at:

• developing technical conditions for the introduction of wireless broadband in the 700 MHz band by also studying the possibility of shared spectrum use with certain incumbent uses such as PMSE.

• The technical conditions should ensure the deployment of wireless broadband services while also taking into account other priority areas of EU spectrum policy such as public protection and disaster relief (PPDR)

• The results of this mandate should also complement high level deliverables of the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG), in particular the RSPG Opinions on wireless broadband and common policy objectives for WRC-15

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European developments on BB PPDR (2)EC Mandate (cont)

• EC requested CEPT to take into account that use of the 700 MHz band should contribute to several important EU policy objectives, namely:

• meet spectrum demand in support of specific Union policies, in particular wireless broadband, public safety, civil protection and disaster relief, and PMSE

• In particular, broadband PPDR may in the future be deployed based on commercial WBB technology, which could result in synergies inter alia for spectrum designation and use. Different options for spectrum use are currently under consideration for broadband PPDR, including the 700 MHz band.

• Final report requested by July 2016 (following WRC-15)

• IRL participates in RSCOM (source of the mandate)

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European developments on BB PPDR (3)CEPT• FM-Project Team 49

• Draft ECC Report 199 under public consultation until 12 April• Report addresses user requirements and spectrum needs for

the future European broadband PPDR system • Envisages that a subsequent ECC Report will address

possible harmonisation options to meet those needs• Focuses on the need for interoperability between European

PPDR organisations• Assumes use of LTE - a widely used technology - to achieve

economies of scale • 2x10 MHz is needed for the future European broadband PPDR

wide area network (WAN)

• ComReg active in WGFM (oversight of outputs from FM49)

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European developments on BB PPDR (4)Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG)• High Level representatives from Member States advising EC on

spectrum policy• WG on Strategic Sectoral Spectrum Needs

• RSPG examining from strategic point of view likely development of each sector listed in the RSPP in order to identify emerging spectrum needs and demand over the coming years.

• Includes consideration of the potential for commercial or other types of networks to provide capacity for some of the identified policy areas

• ComReg participates in RSPG, including WG on Strategic Sectoral Spectrum Needs. Also chairs WG on Wireless Broadband (not specifically looking at PPDR)

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European developments on BB PPDR (5)RSPG (cont)• Draft Report (work in progress) includes elements on

PPDR:• Assumes that future European BB PPDR system will

consist of the following two basic elements:• Wide Area Network (WAN), and• Temporary additional capacity at scene of an

incident • Notes (based on FM-PT49 work) that amount of

spectrum for PPDR needs to be flexible to fit each country’s needs

• Amount of spectrum to meet BB PPDR needs ranges from 0 MHz (if commercial networks used) to more than 2 x 10 MHz

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CONCLUSIONS

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Conclusions• European regulators recognise need for spectrum

for BB PPDR• EC, CEPT and RSPG all studying issue• ComReg actively involved in these activities at

various levels• Full picture re BB PPDR may not be known until

post-WRC15• No approach as yet from public safety/security

sector in Ireland for access to spectrum for mobile broadband applications.

• ComReg’s next spectrum strategy for 2014 onwards due end 2013: spectrum requirements for BB PPDR? – public consultation

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