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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4
ComReg’s Objectives and
Strategy on Spectrum for PPDR
5
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
Key Objective
ENSURE THE EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT AND USE OF THE RADIO
FREQUENCY SPECTRUM
Main Task
FACILITATE ACCESS TO IRELAND’S RADIO SPECTRUM RESOURCE
Balance the often competing requirements of all radio services
Balance commercial and public policy requirements
Enhance 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
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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]
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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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