Radio Spectrum Q&A

This page attempts to answer the questions most frequently received by ETSI regarding radio spectrum matters in Europe.

Q1. What frequency can I use in Europe?

My equipment complies with the Radio & Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) Directive. But what frequency can it use?

A. It depends how and where you want to use it. Various possibilities exist:

  • There is a European Commission Decision under the Radio Spectrum Decision (676/2002/EC) or a specific Directive (e.g. DECTTM, GSM).
  • The European Commission has classified your equipment as Class 1 under the R&TTE Directive.
  • The use of the frequency bands is not formally harmonized.
  • There is a European Commission Decision under the Radio Spectrum Decision (676/2002/EC) or a specific Directive (e.g. DECTTM, GSM). All EU Member States are required to harmonize their spectrum regulations. Provided that you comply, your equipment may be marketed and used without restriction in all Member States.
Frequency BandCommission DecisionETSI Standard(s)Application
Unspecified 2007/131/EC EN 302 065 Ultra wide band (UWB): Consumer electronics Measurement, surveillance and location
1 980 to 2 010 MHz 2 170 to 2 200 MHz 2007/98/EC EN 302 574 Mobile Satellite Service
865 to 868 MHz 2006/804/EC EN 302 208 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Various bands from 20.05 kHz to 5.875 GHz 2006/771/EC EN 300 330
EN 300 440		 Short range devices
169.4 MHz to 169.8125 MHz (frequency band previously designated for the ERMES paging system) 2005/928/EC EN 300 422
EN 300 220		 Aids for the hearing impaired
Social Alarms
Meter Reading Systems
Tracking and asset tracing
Paging systems
5 150 MHz to 5 350 MHz
5 470 MHz to 5 725 MHz		 2007/90/EC
(previously 2005/513/EC)		 EN 301 893 Wireless Access Systems including Radio Local Area Networks
24 GHz
Automotive Short Range Radar
(until 30 June 2013)		 2005/50/EC EN 302 288 Road-vehicle based radar for collision mitigation and traffic safety applications
79 GHz
Automotive Short Range Radar		 2004/545/EC EN 302 264
(under development)		 Road-vehicle based radar for collision mitigation and traffic safety applications

Other European Commission Decisions are under development in the Commission's Radio Spectrum Committee (RSCOM).

b) The European Commission has classified your equipment as Class 1 under the R&TTE Directive. EU Member States have decided to harmonize their spectrum regulations.

Class 1 is divided into a number of subclasses, which are listed on the web site of the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO). The subclasses include the following (non-exhaustive). Provided that you comply, your equipment may be marketed and used without restriction. Note that the following table is for guidance only. Certain bands are restricted in the applications that may be used.

Frequency BandSubclass designationETSI Standard(s)Application

20.05 – 59.75 kHz

 36 EN 300 330 Inductive applications (42 dBµA/m at 10 m)

59.750 – 60.250 kHz

 37 EN 300 330 Inductive applications (42 dBµA/m at 10 m)

60.250 - 67 kHz

 38 EN 300 330 Inductive applications (69 dBµA/m at 10 m)

67 - 70 kHz

 39 EN 300 330 Inductive applications (42 dBµA/m at 10 m)

70 – 119 kHz

 40 EN 300 330 Inductive applications (42 dBµA/m at 10 m)

119 – 127 kHz

 41 EN 300 330 Inductive applications (66 dBµA/m at 10 m)

127 – 135 kHz

 42 EN 300 330 Inductive applications (42 dBµA/m at 10 m)

6765 - 6795 kHz

 44 EN 300 330 Inductive applications (42 dBµA/m at 10 m)

7400 to 8800 kHz

 45 EN 300 330 Inductive applications (9 dBµA/m at 10m)

13.553 - 13.567 MHz

 24 EN 300 330 Inductive applications (42 dBµA/m at 10 m)

26.995 MHz, 27.045 MHz
27.145 MHz 27.195 MHz

 25 EN 300 220 Non-specific short-range devices
(42 dBµA/m @ 10m, 1 mW erp)

40.665 MHz, 40.675 MHz,
40.685 MHz, 40.695 MHz

 19 EN 300 220 Non-specific short-range devices (10 mW)

380-385 MHz
390-395 MHz

 13 EN 303 035 TETRA (power classes up to 45 dBm (30W))

402 - 405 MHz

 47 EN 301 839 Medical Implants (25 µW)

433.050 MHz - 434.790 MHz

 20 EN 300 220 Non-specific short-range devices (10 mW)

863 - 865 MHz

 48 EN 301 357 Wireless Audio (10 mW)

868.0 MHz - 868.6 MHz

 28 EN 300 220 Non-specific short-range devices (25 mW)

868.7 MHz – 869.2 MHz

 29 EN 300 220 Non-specific short-range devices (25 mW)

869.2 MHz – 869.25 MHz

 35 EN 300 220 Social Alarms (10 mW)

869.25 MHz – 869.3 MHz

 33 EN 300 220 Alarms (10 mW)

869.4 MHz – 869.65 MHz

 30 EN 300 220 Non-specific short-range devices (25 mW)

868.6 MHz – 868.7 MHz

 32
34		 EN 300 220
EN 300 220		 Alarms (10 mW)
Alarms (25 mW, 869.65 MHz – 869.7 MHz)

869.7 MHz – 870.0 MHz

 31 EN 300 220 Non-specific short-range devices (5 mW)

876-880/921-925 MHz

 9 EN 301 419-7 GSM-R (Rail) (power classes up to 39 dBm (8W))

880-890/925-935 MHz
890-915/935-960 MHz
 

 9 EN 301 419-1
EN 301 419-2
EN 301 419-3		 GSM (power classes up to 39 dBm (8W))

1525.0-1544.0 MHz
1555.0-1559.0 MHz

 11
16		 EN 301 444
EN 301 426		 Land Mobile Earth Stations (LMES)
Low data rate LMES

1610-1613.5 MHz
1613.8-1626.5 MHz

 14 EN 301 441 Satellite-Personal Communications earth stations

1 626.5 MHz - 1 645.5 MHz

 16 EN 301 426 Low data rate LMES

1631.5-1634.5 MHz

 11 EN 301 444 Land Mobile Earth Stations (LMES)

1 656.5 MHz - 1 660.5 MHz

 11
16		 EN 301 444
EN 301 426		 Land Mobile Earth Stations (LMES)
Low data rate LMES

1710-1785/1805-1880 MHz

 9 EN 301 419-1
EN 301 419-2
EN 301 419-3		 GSM (power classes up to 36 dBm (4W))

1880 MHz – 1900 MHz

 18 EN 301 406 DECTTM (250 mW)

1 980 - 2 010 MHz
2 170 - 2 200 MHz

 15 EN 301 442 Satellite-Personal Communications earth stations

2400 – 2483.5 MHz
 

 21
22

26

 EN 300 440
EN 300 328

EN 300 440

 Non-specific short-range devices (10 mW)
Wideband Data Transmission Systems incl. RLANs (10 mW, 100 mW in the band 2400 – 2454 MHz)
Movement Detection (25 mW, 2446 - 2454 MHz)

2 483.5 - 2 500 MHz

 14 EN 301 441 Satellite-Personal Communications earth stations

5725 – 5875 MHz

 43 EN 300 440 Non-Specific Short Range Device (25 mW)

10.7-11.7 GHz
12.5-12.75 GHz
14.0-14.25 GHz

 12 EN 301 427 Land Mobile Earth Stations

24.15 - 24.175 GHz

 27 EN 300 440 Movement Detection (100 mW eirp)

c) The use of the frequency bands is not formally harmonized. You are required to inform the relevant Member State of your intention to market the equipment, and inform the user of national usage restrictions. National Administrations co-operate via CEPT, which may have adopted Decisions or Recommendations which can be used for guidance. However, they may not have been fully implemented in all Member States. You should check with the relevant Administration. A list of CEPT Deliverables and contact points in the CEPT Administrations are available from the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO).

ETSI Technical Report TR 102 137 lists ETSI standards ordered by the frequency band which they use. This is currently under revision.

Information on spectrum availability in different countries can be found using the European Frequency Information System.

Q2. How does frequency harmonization happen?

A. National Administrations co-operate via the European Conference of Post and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), and in particular its Electronic Communications Committee (ECC), which is administered by the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO). The ERO publishes Decisions and Recommendations to be followed by National Regulatory Administrations in making their national frequency regulations. Recommendations and Decisions of CEPT are normally not mandatory on Administrations, but they can become so (in European Union Member States) by a Decision of the European Commission.

Work within CEPT may be initiated by

  • any National Administration, or
  • by a request (mandate) from the European Commission, or
  • by a request from ETSI (usually accompanied by a System Reference Document (SRDoc).

ETSI members may take part in the work of the CEPT under the Memorandum of Understanding. ETSI's Technical Committee ERM (in particular, its Radio Matters working group) is responsible for co-ordinating ETSI interaction with CEPT/ECC. ETSI has a Memorandum of Understanding with CEPT, which allows ETSI members to provide direct input to most of the drafting groups (project teams and task groups) of the ECC. ETSI may additionally appoint Reporters who have the role of:

  • Gathering information in these meetings and forward it to ETSI
  • Introducing ETSI documents (e. g. Liaison Statements) if any, in such meetings (on ad-hoc basis).

ETSI appoints a Liaison Officer to speak on behalf of ETSI and to give an indication of the balance of views among ETSI members to the Working Groups. This ETSI Liaison Officer is an official of the Radio Matters working group of ETSI Technical Committee ERM.

Q3. How can ETSI initiate frequency harmonization measures?

A. ETSI makes its request for CEPT/ECC action (usually an allocation of radio spectrum) by a System Reference Document.

A System Reference Document is an ETSI Technical Report which is drafted by the member or ETSI technical committee which is initiating the request for spectrum. As the System Reference Document will ultimately be published as a document reflecting the co-ordinated views of ETSI (not only of the originators) the work item is placed under the work programme of the Radio Matters working group, and is finally approved for publication by ETSI Technical Committee ERM.

The System Reference Document contains:

  • a basic description of the radio application, and a simple technical description. Any ETSI standards which apply, or are being drafted, are indicated;
  • an indication of the spectrum required by the radio application (for example how much bandwidth & power are necessary, if specific frequency bands are preferred, if particular licensing conditions are needed). Almost all radio frequencies are in use by some application, and the System Reference Document should indicate how compatibility with existing services can be ensured;
  • market forecasts. Administrations have the responsibility to ensure that the radio spectrum is used efficiently, with a maximum economic and social benefit. The System Reference Document should give sufficient material of this nature to CEPT Administrations to justify an allocation of spectrum.

Detailed guidance on the drafting of System Reference Documents (EG 201 788) is available for download.

Once drafted, the System Reference Document is submitted to the Radio Matters working group, which will invite comments from other affected ETSI committees (normally over 28 days), and indicate the level of consensus achieved to CEPT.

Where diverging views are reported, the Radio Matters working group will convene a meeting including members of the committees affected to try to find a resolution. Where resolution is not possible, the working group will normally indicate the opposing views to CEPT and request them to take a decision. In particular cases, the matter may be referred to ETSI Technical Committee ERM for a formal vote.

The current status of ETSI System Reference Documents can be found in the work programme of the Radio Matters working group.

Q4. How can pan-European frequencies be designated with legal certainty?

A. Where a Community policy exists which is dependent on radio spectrum use, the European Commission can adopt technical implementing measures with the assistance of its Radio Spectrum Committee (RSCOM). These are based on proposals of the CEPT/ECC, produced under mandate, and take the form of Commission Decisions. These Commission Decisions have legal force in all EU Member States.

RSCOM is composed of Member States, with CEPT, ETSI and the European Parliament as permanent observers. ETSI is represented as an observer on RSCOM by the ETSI Secretariat and the Chairman of the Radio Matters working group.

An overview of the current work of RSCOM is available from the website of the European Commission.

Q5. How are long-term frequency policy matters treated?

A. The European Commission's Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) assists and advises the Commission on radio spectrum policy issues, on co-ordination of policy approaches and, where appropriate, on harmonized conditions with regard to the availability and efficient use of radio spectrum necessary for the establishment and functioning of the internal market.

The members of the Group are representatives of the Member States and of the Commission. Representatives of the EEA countries, European Union candidate countries, the European Parliament, the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) and the European Telecommunications Standardisation Institute (ETSI) attend as observers. ETSI is represented as an observer on the Radio Spectrum Policy Group by the ETSI Secretariat and the Chairman of the Radio Matters working group.

The RSPG produces opinions delivered in response to requests from the European Commission.

The RSPG has adopted opinions in the following areas:

Further information on the activities of the RSPG can be found on the RSPG web site.