Events

Introduction

The aviation industry relies on various information and communications technologies (ICT) to enable its continued growth in terms of flights and passenger numbers as well as support the demand for ever increasing passenger connectivity. With the advance in technology new and novel uses of airspace such as:

have placed further demand on ICT to allow access to airspace for these new and novel uses which has inevitably placed increased demands on the available radio spectrum.

ETSI is responsible for the standards for many of them. In addition, within Europe, the Single European Sky (SES) initiative has added legislative pressure to replace the traditional, highly-fragmented air traffic control structures by more harmonized systems with interoperability being ensured through standardization where ETSI's expertise is being put to good use.

The Single European Sky (SES) is an initiative launched by the European Commission in 1999 to reform the architecture of European air traffic control to meet future capacity and safety needs, organizing airspace and air navigation at a European rather than national level.

The expected benefit (upon completion around 2030-2035) are the following:

The initiative is based on a harmonized regulatory framework, in which the proposed technical regulation is based on Essential Requirements, Implementing Rules and standards that are complementary and consistent. In addition, great emphasis is placed on interoperability.

The modernization of the European Air Traffic Management (ATM) Network will be driven by the European ATM Masterplan maintained by the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU), whilst the fragmentation of the European airspace will be reduced by the so-called functional airspace blocks defined in the SES II legislative package.

Our Role & Activities

ETSI works with other organizations, notably CEN, CENELEC, the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE), the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as well as SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) to develop standards for ground-based equipment that supports ATM including the Single European Sky Initiative. Additionally, as new and novel airspace uses such as drones and urban air mobility are integrated into the airspace, ETSI will need to develop standards to support these systems.

ETSI has developed European Standards under EC standardization requests in order to support the widespread use of solutions like "Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (A-SMGCS)", "Data Link Services (DLS)" and procedures like "Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM)" in support of SES and in accordance with the European ATM Masterplan.

DLS is based on VDL Mode 2 Link 2000 and ETSI has produced standards for the physical and upper layers for the ground radios that use this format which are constantly updated in order to align them with the latest development in the technology. VDL Mode 2 ETSI standards are available as EN 301 841 series (ground part).

ETSI has also developed standards for VDL Mode 4. VDL Mode 4 is a high-capacity data link that provides a range of communications services that support numerous functions and applications in the ICAO CNS/ATM concept. One of the VDL Mode 4 functions is ADS-B, where a surveillance element is embedded in the system design which regularly transmits the user’s position. This information is used to manage the data link, but also enables a host of communications, navigation and surveillance applications to be realized in support of co-operative air traffic management from the departure gate to the arrival gate. VDL Mode 4 ETSI standards are available as EN 302 842 series (airborne part) and EN 301 842 series (ground part).

Ground-based aeronautical equipment (such as ATC radars) are covered by the Radio Equipment Directive (RED). This also applies to unmanned aircraft operating in conformity with spectrum allocations defined by the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunications Union not specifically identified for aeronautical use.

The Directive relies on 'Harmonised Standards' developed by recognized European standards bodies such as ETSI which can be used to demonstrate compliance with the essential requirements of the Directive.

The RED, in its basic form, has the following essential requirements:

The European Commission has also the power to introduce, by adopting delegated acts, additional requirements for particular classes of equipment, for instance to ensure access to emergency services (article 3.3(g) of the RED).

The current work under this European directive includes Harmonised Standards (article 3.1b and 3.2) for:

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Standards

A full list of related standards in the public domain is accessible via the ETSI standards search.

Introduction

Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) technologies provide high-speed communication access by wireless means to consumer and business markets.

License exempt Wireless Access Systems including Radio Local Area Networks (WAS/RLANs) represent the primary BWA technologies used for wireless internet access. With billions of devices already in operation, and the rapid growth expected to continue for the foreseeable future, and the demand for greater throughput to support Gigabit internet access and advanced wireless applications, the current spectrum allocations are insufficient to maintain an acceptable level of performance users are accustomed to.

Our Role & Activities

Broadband Wireless Access includes a large variety of radio technologies and corresponding services therefore several ETSI technical committees are active in this area:

ETSI technical committee BRAN prepares and maintains Harmonised Standards for RLANs operating in the 5 GHz frequency band (EN 301 893), for fixed WAS operating in the 5,8 GHz band (EN 302 502), for White Space Devices (WSD) operating in the TV broadcast band (EN 301 598), for Multiple-Gigabit/s systems operating in the 60 GHz frequency band (EN 302 567), for WAS/RLANs operating in the band 5 945 MHz to 6 425 MHz (EN 303 687), for Wideband Data Transmission Systems (WDTS) for fixed network radio equipment operating in the 57 GHz to 71 GHz band (EN 303 722) and for WDTS for Mobile and Fixed Radio Equipment operating in the 57 GHz to 71 GHz band (EN 303 753). If new frequency bands are allocated to BWA communications, then ETSI TC BRAN will most probably work on corresponding Harmonised Standards.

ETSI technical committee ERM with its Technical Group ERM TG11 is responsible for the Harmonised Standard covering 'Wideband Data Links operating in the 2,4 GHz band', i.e. Radio LANs or Wireless LANs (EN 300 328). This standard is very widely used for demonstrating the conformity of Wi-Fi^TM, and similar licence-exempt data communications equipment with Directive 2014/53/EU. ERM TGMARINE is responsible for the Harmonised Standard covering Broadband communication radio link for ships and off-shore installations in the band 5 852 MHz - 5 872 MHz and 5 880 MHz - 5 900 MHz.

The Working Group TM 4 of ETSI technical committee ATTM is responsible for specifications for point-to-point and multipoint radio systems, in the fixed service used in core and access networks (including mobile service backhauling); all equipment aspects including antenna parameters are covered. These specifications address many frequency bands within the range 1,3 GHz to 174,8 GHz for point-to-point radio systems (EN 302 217-2) and 3,5 GHz, 10 GHz, 26 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz and 42 GHz for multipoint radio systems (EN 302 326‑2). Consideration for the introduction of other bands, newly allocated or made available to fixed service use, is routinely carried on, as appropriate.

The following ETSI technical committees also work on specifications that can be used for Broadband Wireless Access:

Standards

A full list of related standards in the public domain is accessible via the ETSI standards search.

Introduction

ETSI is playing a leading role in the delivery of specifications for technologies that are used globally for radio, television and data broadcast. The specifications cover services delivered via cable, satellite and terrestrial transmitters, as well as by the Internet and mobile communication systems. Related topics such as Ultra High Definition (UHD) TV and interactive television are also included.

Our Role & Activities

For many of the broadcast technologies, ETSI addresses two aspects: system and equipment specifications, and 'Harmonised Standards' to assist equipment to be placed on the market in line with European legislation. In addition, for systems that use the radio frequency spectrum, ETSI works with the relevant European organizations in order to secure appropriate frequency allocations that are common throughout Europe.

ETSI works in collaboration with other partners in the broadcast domain, mainly EBU (European Broadcasting Union), DVB Project, WorldDAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale), RadioDNS Hybrid Radio, HbbTV (Hybrid broadcast broadband TV).

A Joint ETSI/EBU/CENELEC Technical Committee, JTC Broadcast, co-ordinates the drafting of standards in the field of broadcasting and related fields. The Committee assesses the work performed within organizations such as e.g. DVB, WorldDAB, DRM, HbbTV, RadioDNS hybrid Radio, and is responsible for coordinating the drafting of standards for broadcast systems (emission-reception combination) for television, radio, data and other services via satellite, cable and terrestrial transmitters. It includes interactive TV, terrestrial TV, radio (including hybrid radio), satellite TV, fixed line TV, mobile TV and audio technologies.

CENELEC is responsible for the EMC standardization of operational aspects of radio and television receivers (TC 209 and TC 100X).

Harmonised Standards are a key component of current European legislation, and ETSI is the place where most of the Harmonised Standards for Information and Communication Technologies are developed. It is important to note that the Radio Equipment Directive (RED), implemented in June 2016, covers Broadcast receivers. Harmonised Standards for radio spectrum aspects of broadcast equipment are defined in ETSI TC ERM TG 17.

Safety Harmonised Standards are available from CENELEC. CENELEC is also responsible for the EMC standardization of radio and television receivers.

ETSI contributes to the identification of radio spectrum needs for many technologies, including broadcasting. The Institute therefore works closely with the European Conference of Posts and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) and the European Commission to define radio spectrum requirements for Europe. This work in turn is carried to the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU's) Regional and World Radio Conferences. Detailed information on that topic is available on the ETSI Radio technology page.

ETSI and the EBU recognize the need to explore the opportunities of converged networks and to include all interested parties. The EBU is committed to continue their contribution to ETSI and 3GPP activities to foster collaboration with the mobile industry and realise win-win scenarios wherever possible.

Standards

A full list of related standards in the public domain is accessible via the Broadcast committee page.

Introduction

DECT^TM technologies are designed for local area wireless communications, which can be adapted for many applications and can be used over licence exempt frequency allocations as well as over licensed International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) frequencies.

The DECT-2020 New Radio (NR) standard series is part of the IMT-2020 technology family and the classic DECT standards series is part of the IMT-2000 technology family.

DECT-2020 NR is developed to address the future digitalization needs and it is optimized for local area wireless applications, which can be deployed anywhere by anyone at any time. These technologies can be adapted for many applications supporting digitalization such as industry 4.0, utility and public services, audio and media industry use. Autonomous operation and device to device direct communication enable reliable communication networks. DECT-2020 NR supports a wide range of applications which could operate below 6 GHz frequencies in unlicensed and licensed spectrum.

Classic DECT supports applications such as home and enterprise voice applications, low latency professional audio and Smart Home applications.

DECT technologies are developed as European standards and they are also adopted by many other countries, including the US and many countries in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. This has made classic DECT the worldwide de-facto standard for cordless telephony application

The commonly used spectrum allocation in Europe is 1 880 MHz to 1 900 MHz. This spectrum is licence exempt and technology exclusive, which ensures an interference free operation, and contributes to the very high spectral efficiency of the technology.

The bands 1 900 MHz to 1 920 MHz and 1 910 MHz to 1 930 MHz are also very common in many countries outside Europe. In the US the frequency allocation is 1 920 MHz to 1 930 MHz, known as UPCS (Unlicensed Personal Communications Service) band. In this case, the allocation is not technology exclusive, but is in practice "clean" enough to achieve similar interference-free operation.

Our Role & Activities

Within ETSI, Technical Committee DECT (TC DECT) is responsible for developing and maintaining the portfolio of DECT standards. Today there are two groups of standards, one group is for the original or “classic” DECT technology and the other one is the recently-added DECT-2020 NR (New Radio).

Most of the activities within TC DECT are on the new standard DECT-2020 NR but the classic DECT standards are also maintained and improved on an ongoing basis.

DECT-2020 NR standards (TS 103 636 parts 1 to 5) are developed to address the future digitization needs optimized for local area wireless applications, which can be deployed anywhere by anyone at any time. These technologies can be adapted for many applications supporting digitization such as industry 4.0, utility and public services, audio and media industry use. They support a wide range of applications which could operate below 6 GHz frequencies in unlicensed and licensed spectrum.

DECT-2020 NR technology is part of the IMT-2020 technology family in the ITU (International Telecommunication Union). It is the latest development in ETSI DECT, providing very reliable and low latency radio communication for massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) and for Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communication for local networks. DECT-2020 NR is designed to support various Industry and Utility applications as well as supporting PMSE (Program Making and Special Events) and voice use cases.

DECT-2020 NR is a Radio Interface Technology (RIT) designed to provide a slim but powerful technology foundation for wireless applications deployed in various use cases and markets. This radio technology is a component RIT of the ITU recommendation ITU-R M.2150, which contains technologies fulfilling IMT-2020 requirements.

This radio technology supports all kinds of applications including, but not limited to, Cordless Telephony, Audio Streaming Applications, Professional Audio Applications, consumer and industrial applications of Internet of Things (IoT) such as industry and building automation and monitoring, and in general solutions for local area deployments indoors and outdoors for Ultra-Reliable Low Latency (URLLC) and massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) as envisioned by ITU-R for IMT-2020.

In general, DECT-2020 NR as a technology foundation is targeted at local area wireless applications, which can be deployed anywhere by anyone at any time. The technology supports autonomous and automatic operation with minimal maintenance effort. Where applicable, interworking functions to Wide Area Networks (WAN). e.g. PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network), satellite, fibre, and internet protocols foster the vision of a network of networks.

DECT-2020 NR can be used as a foundation for:

DECT-2020 NR applies similar design principles as in classic DECT and DECT ULE. Especially, the inherent feature of automatic interference management allows deployments without extensive frequency planning. The Mesh networking capability of DECT-2020 NR enables application-driven network topologies and deployments in e.g. IoT and mMTC scenarios such that the link budget of classic cellular base-station to user equipment constellations is no longer a limiting factor.

The DECT-2020 NR physical layer is in principle suited to addressing frequency bands below 6 GHz. The physical layer employs Cyclic Prefix Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (CP-OFDM) combined with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) in a Time Division Duplex (TDD) communication manner. The physical layer employs multiple numerologies, with different subcarrier spacings and corresponding Cyclic Prefix lengths and FFT sizes, allowing operation with different channel bandwidths, and optimizing operations in different frequency bands and propagation environments. The physical layer supports advanced channel coding (Turbo coding) for both control and physical channels and Hybrid ARQ (Admission ReQuest) with incremental redundancy, which enables fast re-transmission. Advanced channel coding together with Hybrid ARQ ensures very reliable communication.

Additionally, the physical layer supports fast link adaptation and transmitter and receiver diversity, as well as MIMO operations up to 8 streams.

DECT-2020 NR (i.e. Physical layer numerology and Medium Access Control algorithms) is designed to enable coexistence with classic DECT and DECT evolution in the frequency bands currently allocated to DECT.

An evaluation of ETSI DECT-2020 NR technology can be found in TR 103 810.

The original or “classic” DECT standard was developed with a focus on voice, messaging and networking applications. It offers a range up to 500 metres and is used in dedicated licence-exempt frequency allocations in many countries around the world.

DECT dominates the cordless residential market and the enterprise PBX (Private Branch eXchange) market. The capability of the standard for telephony applications is unrivalled by any other technology. In addition to a complete repertoire of signalling and procedures for PSTN and ISDN scenarios, TC DECT has developed (as part of New Generation DECT) a complete set of signalling procedures for VoIP telephony. This makes the achievement of real interoperability from an end user perspective possible.

The classic DECT standard was first developed in the era of PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) and made to be compatible with the standards and protocols relevant at that time. Over the many years of its existence DECT has been enhanced and adapted to answer to new market developments such as the migration to VoIP and the advent of Home Gateways (giving rise to New Generation DECT), the need for Smart Home solutions (leading to the DECT Ultra Low Energy standard) and DECT Evolution to address low-latency applications in Professional Audio.

On top of this, DECT has developed regional variants such as DECT 6.0 for the US, J-DECT for Japan and K-DECT for the South Korean market.

New Generation DECT (NG-DECT) is the name given to the development of the DECT standard primarily targeted on VoIP applications. NG-DECT is implemented by the addition of new functions to the DECT base standard (EN 300 175, parts 1 to 8, keeping backwards-compatibility with all previous developments) and the creation of a dedicated set of Application Profiles defining new types of products.

New Generation DECT includes the following features:

More information on New Generation DECT can be found in TS 102 527 parts1-5.

DECT Ultra Low Energy (ULE) is a new technology based on DECT and intended for Machine-to-Machine communications such as Home and Industrial automation. The main characteristics of the technology are ultra-low power consumption (much lower than IEEE 802.11) and wider coverage (much wider than IEEE 802.15 and Bluetooth Low Energy).

The technology is suitable for sensors, alarms, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) applications and industrial automation. The ULE technology may also be applied to utility meters and related devices and therefore has implications for the operation of smart grids.

The maximum radio coverage range of DECT ULE will be as wide as standard DECT technology. Smaller coverage may be defined for specific applications due to power consumption and spectrum use considerations.

DECT ULE is based on the DECT base standard (EN 300 175, parts 1 to 8) and it has been designed to be coexistent with other DECT applications (including GAP or NG-DECT). Different types of DECT devices may be used over the same spectrum, and mixed devices supporting DECT ULE and other DECT applications can be built. DECT ULE is specified in TS 102 939-1 and TS 102 939-2.

DECT Evolution is a mid-term evolution program intended to enhance DECT by the implementation of a number of technical enhancements, whilst still based on the classic DECT base standards (EN 300 175, parts 1 to 8):

One of the main application areas is high-end and professional audio systems, such as those used by the PMSE industry, where audio streaming with higher data rates and very low latency is essential. Related specifications are TS 103 634 (LC3plus) and TS 103 706 (Advanced Audio Profile).

Three regional variants of the DECT technology have been developed to address the slightly different radio regulation requirements of US, Japan and South Korea:

DECT registration for the industry

DECT Codes are assigned by ETSI for manufacturers, installers and operators providing for portable parts and fixed parts for DECT.

ETSI keeps the following registrations on behalf of the DECT Industry:

DECT^TM is a registered trademark of ETSI in Europe for the benefit of ETSI members.

Standards

A full list of related standards in the public domain is accessible via the DECT committee page.

DECT algorithms are available via ETSI algorithms.

Introduction

Changes to the professional environment have meant that the operational requirements placed on communication equipment have evolved, and the traditional analogue service is no longer able to meet the users' needs completely. A demand for more sophisticated services has raised a need for a technology enhancement and inevitably this has led to a redefinition of PMR based on digital technology.

Analogue Private Mobile Radio (PMR) has enjoyed great success in Europe for many years, and serves a very broad community of users. Available for both licensed and unlicensed spectrum use, PMR applications extend from low-cost walkie-talkies aimed at the consumer market through to public safety and mission-critical systems. A comparable technology known as Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) exists in the United States.

Private Mobile Radio (PMR) - sometimes called Professional Mobile Radio - was developed for business users who need to keep in contact over relatively short distances with a central base station / dispatcher - a typical example is a taxi company. PMR is also widely used by emergency services. PMR networks consist of one or more base stations and a number of mobile terminals. Such a system serves a closed user group and that is normally owned and operated by the same organization as its users.

From their early designs, PMR systems have developed into 'trunked' systems, the most notable of which is TETRA, Terrestrial Trunked Radio. Trunking is a technique where the resources of the communications network are shared, thus providing both flexibility and economy in the allocation of network resources. Typically, a communication channel is allocated for the duration of a call and then automatically released to allow it to be used for another call, perhaps between different users on the same system. The technique also enables multiple base stations to be connected and to provide coverage across a wider area than with a single base station.

PMR systems generally provide facilities for closed user groups, group call and push-to-talk, and have call set-up times which are generally short compared with cellular systems. Many PMR systems allow Direct Mode Operation in which terminals can communicate with one another directly when they are out of the coverage area of a network.

PMR systems may also be developed to allow public access (by subscription), and they are then known as Public Access Mobile Radio (PAMR). The users of PAMR systems are usually not the same as the system's owner and operator. Traditionally, PMR systems have usually been based on European standards for the equipment, but operated under licence and subject to National frequency management plans. An exception is PMR 446, a consumer 'walkie-talkie' which has six analogue channels allocated in most European countries for use without a licence.

Our Role & Activities

Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) is a European standard, produced by ETSI, defining a direct digital replacement for analogue PMR. The PMR/DMR markets can be roughly divided into three broad categories. DMR has the capability to serve them all:

DMR is a scaleable system that can be used in unlicensed mode (in a 446.1 to 446.2 MHz band), and in licensed mode, subject to national frequency planning. It is developed in three 'tiers':

The technology promises improved range, higher data rates, more efficient use of spectrum, and improved battery. Significantly, DMR has been designed to fit into existing licensed PMR bands, meaning that there is no need for rebanding or relicensing, thus aiding the transition from analogue to digital. The new standard imposes no fundamental changes in the architecture of either conventional or trunked systems - the focus is on a change in the over-the-air protocol that will facilitate the use of applications that are beyond the capability of analogue schemes.

Features supported include fast call set-up, calls to groups and individuals, short data and packet data calls. The communications modes include individual calls, group calls, broadcast calls and, of course, a direct communication mode among the mobiles. Other important DMR functions such as emergency calls, priority calls, full duplex communications, short data messages and IP-packet data transmissions are supported.

For business users, DMR may be seen as a commercially attractive alternative to TETRA, particularly for those users who do not need (or cannot afford) the complexity of this highly-successful digital technology. Many existing digital radio protocols suffer reduced radio coverage so a swap-out from analogue FM to digital is not possible. DMR has been specifically designed to offer at least the same range as 12.5kHz channel analogue FM so a direct replacement or upgrade from analogue to DMR is a practical proposition.

DMR tier 1 equipment on the market is often combined with analogue PMR 446, to provide 16 digital and 8 analogue physical channels at 446 MHz and, with privacy coding, even more logical channels. A new harmonized 446.1 - 446.2 MHz licence-exempt band is being opened up by several European countries over the next few years.

In order to help maximize the capacity of that allocation, ETSI has defined a narrow-band digital radio protocol for this band: 'digital PMR' which utilizes 6.25 kHz channel FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access). This protocol provides for consumer and low-power commercial applications using a maximum of 500mW e.r.p (effective radiated power).

ETSI Technical Report TR 102 398 provides a useful introduction to DMR. Technical Specification TS 102 362 parts 1 to 3 covers DMR protocol conformance testing and test suites, and Technical Specification TS 102 490 defines the narrow-band or 'digital PMR' protocol.

TETRA, Terrestrial Trunked Radio, is a PMR/PAMR system developed by ETSI to respond to the requirements of commercial services and emergency services, and to give the possibility for cross-border networks in Europe.

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) requirements for PMR/PAMR are covered by EN 301 489 part 1 and part 5.

Spectrum requirements for PMR/PAMR - ETSI works with the relevant European organizations to ensure that appropriate spectrum is available for ETSI radio standards. We have produced a series of System Reference Documents that define the spectrum requirements for various PMR implementations, and a range of Harmonised Standards that may be used to demonstrate compliance of equipment and components with the European Commission's Radio Equipment Directive.

Standards

A full list of related standards in the public domain is accessible via the ETSI standards search.

Introduction

ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is a characteristic of electrical and electronic equipment that permits it to operate as intended in the presence of other electrical and electronic equipment, and not to adversely interfere with that other equipment. All such equipment emits electrical energy, and some of that emitted energy may interact and interfere with other equipment. Equally, equipment may be susceptible to receiving energy emitted from other sources. Obviously, radio transmitters and receivers are intended to emit and receive electrical energy, but other equipment may not be intended to do so.

Even transmitters and receivers may emit and receive unwanted energy that may prevent those devices, or others, from functioning as intended. It is part of the EMC 'art' to design and operate equipment so that it is both prevented from emitting spurious energy that can cause interference and is immune to the adverse effects of any spurious energy that it may receive.

As the effects of interference have severe consequences, EMC is frequently a subject of national and international regulation. Within Europe, EMC regulation is managed mainly through the European Commission's EMC Directive (2014/30/EU) and for Radio equipment through Directive 2014/53/EU. However, there are many types of equipment that are excluded from the EMC Directive, although EMC requirements for most of them are included in other Directives and regulations. Here are some examples:

The EMC Directive and many of the other relevant Directives are 'New Approach' Directives. As such, they rely for their operation on Harmonised Standards developed by recognized European standards bodies, such as ETSI. Harmonised Standards define technical characteristics which can be used to demonstrate compliance with the essential requirements of the Directive.

In the case of the EMC Directive, the essential requirements are that equipment shall be designed and manufactured such that:

Equipment which meets Harmonised Standards is presumed to comply with the essential requirements, and a manufacturer may declare conformity with the Directive. Alternatively, manufacturers may choose to request certification of equipment by a recognized third party, known as a 'Notified Body'.

Electrical equipment (including telecommunications equipment) intended to be fitted to a motor vehicle are considered to be 'Electronic Sub Assemblies (ESA)' and are required to meet Automotive EMC requirements. These requirements are set out in Directive 2004/104/EC, a specific Directive which forms part of European legislation for automotive type approval. The annexes of this Directive contain all the technical requirements necessary to demonstrate conformance which allows the ESA to be placed on the market.

The Directive covers two categories of after market equipment ESAs:

a) After market equipment intended for installation in a motor vehicle, and which are not related to immunity related functions of the motor vehicle. As a general rule these are ESAs which are not related to an immunity-related function of the motor vehicle, are connected directly to the vehicle's dc supply, and are not involved/related with any of the vehicle functions (described in Annex 1, clause 2.1.12 of the Directive).

b) After market equipment intended for installation in a motor vehicle, and which is related to immunity related functions of the motor vehicle, as set out in Annex 1, clause 2.1.12 of the Directive, is subject to full type approval requirements of the Directive.

The Automotive EMC Directive recognizes conformity according to the procedures of the EMC Directive and the Radio Equipment Directive (RED). This includes the CE marking for after market ESAs described in category a) above, but additionally requires that the limits of the clauses referenced in Annex 1, clause 3.2.9 of the Automotive EMC Directive are fulfilled.

Our Role & Activities

ETSI has accepted the standardization request for Harmonised Standards under the revised EMC Directive and communicated its initial work programme, consisting of Harmonised Standards addressing radio equipment and telecommunications network equipment, to the Commission.

Most EMC standards covering radio equipment are addressed under the Radio Equipment Directive.

A summary of ETSI’s work programme related to the EMC Directive (and the RED) can be downloaded from this website. 

The following EMC directive Harmonised Standards are referenced in the Official Journal:

Other EMC Harmonised Standards are developed by CENELEC. Close co-operation is maintained with CENELEC to ensure consistency and avoid gaps or overlaps in the work programmes.

ETSI has a cooperation agreement with CENELEC for the production of EMC standards, under which:

ETSI has the following EMC standards for Telecommunications Network Equipment:

ETSI has created a multi-part EMC standard (EN 301 489) for EMC for radio equipment, in accordance with the Radio Equipment Directive.

Part 1 of EN 301 489 covers EMC requirements that are common to all radio equipment. The subsequent parts specify additional requirements that are specific to a particular radio service. These include mobile and aeronautical communications, TV broadcasting, satellite services, medical devices and radars.

Marine radio is treated separately. Equipment subject to carriage requirements under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) are covered by the Marine Equipment Directive, and the related ETSI standards for this purpose contain EMC, radio and environmental requirements in one document.

Other marine equipment is subject to the Radio Equipment Directive. The EMC requirements are included in EN 301 843, which follows a similar structure to EN 301 489 for land-based equipment.

The EN 301 489 series of standards specifies relevant EMC requirements for radio communications equipment, and several parts of this series have been updated to take account of the additional technical requirements of the Automotive EMC Directive. Of particular note:

ETSI is an international member of CISPR, the International Special Committee on Radio Interference. This Steering Committee makes the strategic and policy decisions for CISPR. ETSI members are very active in CISPR sub-committee I which writes the global EMC standards for Information Technology equipment and telecom terminal equipment. CISPR I determines the radio-frequency emission limits for all telecommunications equipment which are then incorporated into the ETSI EMC product standards. ETSI also participates in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Advisory Committee on Electromagnetic Compatibility (ACEC), which co-ordinates EMC standardization in IEC.

Standards

A full list of related standards in the public domain is accessible via the ETSI standards search.

Introduction

Originally, access to the public telecommunication networks over the local loop (subscriber line) was by analogue technology over twisted pair copper wires to support voice and low rate data (e.g. fax) and later ISDN which enabled improved data rates and other digital services. Thanks to technological developments, those twisted pairs are now being used to carry digital signals as in the variants of Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL).

Other technologies also offer the customer a telecommunications 'pipe' to and from the home. These include:

Our Role & Activities

TC ATTM and TC CABLE are responsible for fixed lines access at ETSI:

Technical committee for Access, Terminals, Transmission and Multiplexing (ATTM) is the home for access technologies such as narrow band (Integrated Services Digital Network, ISDN, and Public Switched Telephone Service, PSTN), broadband (Digital Subscriber Line, DSL) and fibre optics. More information can be found in the TC ATTM Activity Report.

Technical committee for Integrated Broadband Cable Telecommunication Networks (CABLE) produces standards for integrated broadband cable telecommunication network technologies. More information can be found in the TC CABLE Activity Report.

Standards

A full list of related standards in the public domain is accessible via the ETSI standards search.

Introduction

Human Factors is the scientific application of knowledge about the capacities and limitations of users with the aim of making products, systems, services and environments safe, efficient and easy to use.

The growing complexity of telecommunications services and equipment makes the human element more and more important. Human Factors is a key factor for the commercial success of any telecommunications product or service. However, currently a large portion of the population does not benefit from all information society’s opportunities. It follows that technology barriers need to be removed to ensure the access to products and services for the largest possible population.

ETSI is helping to achieve this objective in technical committee Human Factors (HF) by producing ETSI Standards, Guides and Reports to promote e-accessibility. Accessibility can be promoted by Design for All approach where products are designed to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for specialized adaptation. For example, security aspects and personalization of the way users connect with products are critical in achieving eInclusion and eAccessibility. The goal is to enter a new era of ICT where services and devices can be personalized to meet the needs of every user, and not only those of the majority. 

Our Role & Activities

Our Technical Committee Human Factors (TC HF) champions the importance of ensuring that developments in technology are usable and accessible to all people in society, including the elderly, the young and those with disabilities.

Adopting a ‘Design for All’ approach in product and standards development helps ensure that everyone has effective access to devices, systems and services. By widening access, it also enables companies to meet the needs of many more users, thus improving their competitive position in global markets.

One major goal is to identify emerging user interaction technologies, to look for factors that could cause problems for certain users in some situations, and to identify solutions. More detail of our standardisation activities is provided on the HF committee page.

Standards

A full list of related standards in the public domain is accessible via the HF committee page.