POLICIES :: eCommunications :: GSM 900/1800

Getting more from your mobile

There is growing demand for the new electronic communications services possible with the latest mobile phone technologies (3G/ 4G) which offer hugely increased data transmission rates. Introducing these new services across Europe without disrupting the current GSM services is now possible.

The new generations of mobile phone technology, 3G systems (using the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System - UMTS) and 4G mobile technology (using the LTE or WiMAX systems) offer innovative possibilities for innovative electronic communications services with hugely increased data transmission rates. But how can these new services use economically attractive spectrum without disrupting the current GSM network?

In Europe, mobile phones operate under GSM (Global System for Mobile or originally Groupe Spécial Mobile) protocol over two bandwidths: the 900 MHz bands (880 – 915 MHz and 925 – 960 MHz) and the 1800 MHz bands (1710 – 1785 MHz and 1805 – 1880 MHz) collectively known as GSM 900/1800.

These two frequencies have been reserved for use by public pan-European cellular digital mobile communications services since the successful, coordinated introduction of the system across Europe in the 1990s. GSM technology has served Europe well, establishing a harmonised framework for mobile voice and digital communications right across the continent; allowing consumers to move seamlessly from country to country without loss of services.

Enabling new technologies

In order to unlock the full potential of innovative 3G and 4G systems, the Commission ensures through harmonised technical parameters that wireless communications gain access to the radio spectrum. The technical rules enable the co-existence of GSM (2G mobile phones), 3G systems that add mobile internet to regular phone services (UMTS) and 4G mobile technology delivering high speed broadband (LTE and WiMAX) in the 900 and 1800 MHz radio frequency bands.

In 2009, technical studies were undertaken to demonstrate that LTE and WiMAX could safely coexist with the other systems already using the same bandwidth. These studies also clarified the technical conditions under which the systems using the 900 and 1800 MHz bands will be able to protect systems in neighbouring frequency bands, such as GSM for railways and aeronautical services, from interference. Member States are obliged to give appropriate protection to systems in adjacent frequency bands

Background

In 1987 the GSM Directive reserved the use of part of the 900MHz spectrum band for GSM (Global System for Mobile) access technologies such as mobile phones. Responding to the development of new wireless technologies, the GSM Directive was updated in September 2009 by Directive 2009/114/EC to allow more advanced, next generation wireless technologies to also use this band of the radio spectrum, starting with 3G (UMTS) mobile broadband technology.

The technical rules to do so have been harmonised by Commission Decision 2009/766/EC which clarified the technical conditions necessary to enable the coexistence of those technologies. This Decision was updated in 2011 in order ensure that also 4G systems can be used to bringing wireless broadband access to more EU citizens and businesses. This latest Commission Decision must be implemented by Member States by the end of 2011 in order to help to achieve the broadband targets of the Digital Agenda for Europe.

Finding the right technical parameters

In July 2006, the CEPT was mandated by the Commission to develop appropriate technical conditions for frequency bands in the context of WAPECS (Wireless Access Policy for Electronic Communications Services) that included the 900 and 1800 MHz bands.

Key points to be considered were the need for harmonised conditions of use to facilitate pan-European services, and to allow consumers freedom of choice both in terms of services and technologies provided. Moreover, the current use of the two bands for GSM services should be protected for as long as there is reasonable demand for these services.

Following technical investigation, the CEPT concluded that UMTS 900/1800 networks can be deployed in parallel with GSM 900/ 1800 networks in urban, semi-urban and rural areas given appropriate measures to avoid possible interference, called “carrier frequency separations”.

A carrier separation of 5MHz or more between two neighbouring UMTS networks and a carrier separation of 2.8 MHz or more between a neighbouring UMTS network and a GSM network is required.

In September 2009, the European Parliament and the Council have modernised the GSM Directive so that the 900 MHz frequency band can now be used to provide faster services. In parallel, the Commission has adopted technical regulations for the 900 and 1800 MHz bands to allow the coexistence of new terrestrial systems that can provide pan-European electronic communications services with current GSM services without interference.

The propagation characteristics of the 900 MHz bands allow longer range coverage than the 1800 MHz or higher frequencies currently used for 3G technologies. This makes it more appropriate for terrestrial systems capable of providing pan-European electronic communications services, including GSM and UMTS, to large, less densely populated and rural areas.