RD316 - ETNO Reflection Document on a possible revision of the 18 GHz band regulatory framework in Europe

The 18 GHz band is heavily used by the fixed service in Europe, providing operators with a unique opportunity to implement very high capacity links with long hop length. The ERC Decision (00)07 defines the rules for the use of the band, which was the result of a long debate. ETNO therefore opposes any reopening of the discussion on the band and in particular any revision of the ERC Decision (00)07 that will constrain the radio relay network development.

• The 18 GHz band is heavily used by the fixed service in Europe for the terrestrial network infrastructure. And the use of this band is growing.
• Considering that lower frequency bands are more and more saturated, it provides operators with a unique opportunity to implement very high capacity links with long hop length.
• The ERC Decision (00)07 defines the rules for the use of the band, which was the result of a long debate. ETNO accepted it in a spirit of compromise, because we believed it would have given the opportunity of good deployment to both terrestrial and satellite communities.
• ETNO therefore opposes any reopening of the discussion on the band and in particular any revision of the ERC Decision (00)07 that will constrain the radio relay network development.