Paris, 6 April 2007
- Context of the Community public consultation
Several major satellite systems projects plan to use the 2 GHz S frequency band in Europe (more specifically the 1980-2010 MHz and 2170-2200 MHz bands). Some of these projects include the implementation of a ground network complementary to the satellite system in order to increase the availability of the mobile satellite service in areas where communications cannot be guaranteed with required quality, especially in urban areas.
Most of these projects have an intrinsic European scope. This is not only due to to the fact that the satellite service allows broad coverage which goes beyond national borders, but also because, to be cost effective, the system has to be pan-European.
On 14 February 2007, the Commission adopted Decision 2007/98/EC designating the 2 GHz frequency band as the band of choice for systems providing mobile satellite services, in order to guarantee the availability of the spectrum resources at the European Union level for the implementation of these systems. In application of article 3 of this decision, Member States shall designate frequency bands 1980-2010 MHz and 2170-2200 MHz for systems providing mobile satellite services beginning 1st July 2007.
Following this decision, the Commission, in conjunction with the Member States, is launching a public consultation on the means of implementing a European process to select and authorise mobile satellite systems in the 2 GHz band. The public consultation document has been prepared by an expert group composed of representatives of the CoCom (Communications Committee) and RSCom (Radio Spectrum Committee).
- Purpose of the public consultation
The selection and authorisation process proposed by the public consultation document aims to guarantee access for a certain number of projects to a sufficient radio resources in all countries of the Union under objective, transparent and non discriminatory conditions, which are essential conditions to their industrial success. The European Commission expects to finalise the selection of applicant systems by the end of 2009.
The public consultation aims to collect the opinions of all interested parties on the proposed selection and authorisation process, in particular on the following points:
- the relevance of a coordinated process at the European Union level
- the proposed selection and authorisation process timetable
- the planned milestones used to evaluate the maturity of applicant systems
- the spectrum assignment mechanism to selected systems, and primarily the limitation of the quantity of spectrum assigned to each system
- the proposed selection criteria
- the conditions which may be linked to the frequency usage rights
- the authorisation conditions of the complementary ground components
Furthermore, the public consultation aims to collect information from industry and candidate mobile satellite service operators on the following points:
- the coverage area and service area of their project, and their planned extension timetable
- planned services, commercial opening dates and the infrastructure deployment timetable
- minimum spectrum needs
- Practical information
The public consultation is available on the Commission’s web site, at the following address:
Interested parties are invited to send their contributions via e-mail to the Commission by 30 May 2007 at the latest to INFSO-B-2GHZMSS(@)ec.europa.eu.
At the European Union level, additional information on the content of the public consultation is available from:
Audrius Perkauskas B3 – Implementation of Regulatory Framework Telephone: +32 2 298 00 82 Fax: +32 2 296 90 09 | Ari Sorsaniemi B4 – Radio Spectrum Policy Telephone: +32 2 299 25 44 Fax: +32 2 296 83 95 E-mail: Ari.SORSANIEMI(@)ec.europa.eu |
Questions of an administrative nature can be sent to: INFSO-B-2GHZMSS(@)ec.europa.eu.
ARCEP published a French version of the Commission’s consultation (pdf - 324KB) 
ARCEP's contact :
Florence Erpelding
Service Opérateurs et Régulation des ressources rares
Unité Fréquences
Téléphone : +33 1 40 47 71 18
Télécopie : +33 1 40 47 72 06
Mail : florence.erpelding@arcep.fr