A snapshot of LTE 800 in EuropeLegal framework and interference cases

Michel Gascoin, NRK, Norway

ITVF Conference, Istanbul 28.04.2015

• Launch of LTE services in the 800 MHz band

• Future clearance of the 700 MHz band

• UHF band in the long run

FREQUENCY ISSUES with an impact on DTT

We must protect today's viewers from tomorrow's interference

• Generate revenue for governments

• Face an increasing need for mobile broadband

• Reduce the digital divide within a country

• New source of income for Mobile Network Operators (MNO)

Political arguments for releasing spectrum

Prerequisite:Existing digital TV (DTT) services must be safeguarded

Countries with LTE800 in Europe

AustriaBelgiumCroatiaCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreenlandIcelandItalyLithuaniaMacedoniaMoldovaMonaco

NetherlandsNorwayPortugalRomaniaRussiaSlovakiaSloveniaSwedenSwitzerlandUnited Kingdom

Ireland(Spain)(Poland)

In operationPlanned in 2015No info

Time for evaluation !

Process for the release of the 800 MHz band

Co-primary assignment of 790-862 MHz

Co-existence studies, recommendations…

Commission decision 2010/267/EU

National spectrum licensing (LTE)

What legal framework/licensing conditions were chosen by each administration?

Are there best practices?

Any lessons to learn for future spectrum release?

Is DTT below 790 MHz safe?

Survey about national licensing conditions

10 participating countries

1. What 800 MHz spectrum is currently licensed and used in your country?

2. What are the protection requirements for LTE-DTT co-existence?

3. How interference cases are dealt with?

4. Economical aspects (who pays for what)?

5. What is the current situation concerning LTE800 interferences?

An extensive questionnaire…

1. WHAT SPECTRUM IS LICENSED AND USED FOR LTE800?

• Few license requirements to use all the released spectrum

• Some “priority coverage areas” are defined, but are limited in extent and in offered bandwidth

• Current deployment mainly in populated areas, densely in cities in some countries

Use of spectrum: findings

Efficient use of spectrum?Real intention to bridge the “digital divide”?

LTE800 used for… capacity? Coverage? As a replacement for Wifi?

2. WHAT ARE THE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR LTE-DTT CO-EXISTENCE?

• Administrations expressed a clear intention to protect DTT

• In practice:

• Not all TV installations and households are entitled to protection

• MNO are free to roll out without conformity check

• Only two countries have systematic procedures for checking the deployed mobile network

• MNOs roll out plans are not made public in most cases

Protection requirements: findings

MNOs have the sole responsibility to avoid or solve/mitigate interference problems

3. HOW ARE INTERFERENCE CASES DEALT WITH?

• Mitigation organisations/call centers exist in 7 out of 10 countries

• Filters is a preferred means of mitigation

• However:• To check if LTE is the cause of interference is difficult for a

call centre or the public, even for professionals!

• Unclear mechanisms to make sure that adequate filters are actually sent and fitted properly

Mitigating interference: findings

Who could/would DTT users call when TV reception is bad? How feasible and economically rational is it to check:

• if LTE is the cause?• if a filter actually solved the problem?

4. WHO PAYS FOR MITIGATION?

• MNOs are expected to cover the costs for:

• Mitigation org. /call center (6 countries out of 10)

• Filters (7 countries out of 10)

• Filter installation (4 countries)

• New antenna installation (2 countries)

• In 4 countries, it is unclear how costs are covered

Economical aspects: findings

Could one expect the viewer to find out a solution by himself and install it by himself properly?

What if a filter does not solve the problem? What would could a viewer do?

5. WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION CONCERNING LTE800 INTERFERENCES?

• No available information in the majority of countries

• Very few publications and official statements

• Rumours, rumours, rumours…

Publications…

Reported cases Period coveredGermany 20 cases (11/2014) 2012Norway 1332 cases (4/2015) 2014-2015 (1

year)UK 4825 cases (2/2015) 2013France 32000 cases

(11/2014)2012

Other countries No data

The situation in Franceas in CEPT report SE7(14)110* (oktober 2014)

*Information consistent with the announcement from ANFR about 32000 cases (Spectre & innovation, 27th November 2014)

Mainlyoverloading and receiver blocking

• Many cases of antenna amplifier overloading

• A majority of identified LTE problems are solved with a filter, if fitted properly (before the amplifier)

• Still:

• Very little information available

• Very large discrepancy: Germany vs. France

Interference: findings

Few interference cases?Unidentified cases?

Hidden figures/deliberate opacity?Or just no feedback from DTT users etc.?

YES!• Very few reported interference cases

• Filters seem to solve most problems

Is DTT below 790 MHz safe?

MAYBE NOT…

• FDD 1 not in use on a large scale yet

• Real technical challenge to assess LTE problems in practice

• Uncertainty that problems are reported by DTT users

• Opacity regarding real disturbance

We might face a silent migration from DTT to other platforms

BEST PRACTICE WHEN RELEASING SPECTRUM TO LTE

• A skilled mitigation organisation

• Requirement that DTT stakeholders and MNOs cooperate

• Right choice of filters

• Ways to assess possible LTE issues

• Low threshold to send and install filters

• Other mitigation methods (at the user or the base station)

• Clarification on economical aspects (costs to be borne)

• …

Success factors to protect TV viewers

It the regulator really mean to protect DTT, then all such aspects shall be mntioned in the license requirements…

…prior to auctioning the spectrum!

Yes, LTE is causing interference

Filters are helping, overload is manageable

Little transparency with regard to interference

Cooperation between MNOs and broadcasters givemore opportunity to avoid interference in the future

DTT can only be safeguarded if sufficient requirementsare specified on the license conditions by the regulator

CONCLUSIONSSimple messages your regulator need to be aware of

LOOKING INTO FUTURE SPECTRUM RELEASE (700 MHZ)

• Problems in 800 MHz will still be relevant in 700 MHz

• Mainly antenna amplifier overloading and receiver blocking

• Adjacent channel interference now caused by mobile terminals (difficult to assess and reproduce)

• Sufficient time to allow cross-country coordination to avoid cross-border interference from DTT to LTE

• The so-called “flexibility”

Issues to be considered… By your regulator…

Spanish DTT at 800 MHz into Portugal(until 31st March 2015)

“Flexibility” is not an option (real life example)

Simulations show why LTE700 launch requires cross-border coordination

Norwegian DTT will use the 700 MHz band until mid 2021

DTT 700 MHz calculated interference into mobile base stations in Sweden and Denmark

LTE… Don’t plug and pray!

The UK 4G/TV Co-existence Oversight Board has meeting reports made publically available

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/4gtv-co-existence-oversight-board

Where can I find updated information about interference?

Introducing TRUE 4G…

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