EUTC Organised Workshop on Radio Spectrum: 21 March 2011 in Brussels

This workshop follows EUTC's involvement in the last 18 months with the Spectrum Policy Group at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Information Society in an attempt to understand the position for utility companies to access additional radio spectrum. Companies responsible for the transformation of existing energy grids into the future Smart Grids believe wireless services will play a major role in meeting the increased requirements for communications services. 

Peter Moray, Director of EUTC introduced the workshop by recounting the work done so far by EUTC aimed at getting some coordinated views on the needs for Smart Grids and that the workshop was organised in order to have some views on future radio spectrum requirements.

The event commenced with a set of presentations and was followed by a round table discussion involving representatives from the European Commission, utility companies (ESB, Alliander and ESKOM), vendors (Silver Spring Networks and Tait) and EUTC.

The presentations were given by Daragh Moore of the Electricity Supply Board, Eric van Aken of Alliander, Paul Gwynn of Tait Radio Europe, Corrie Vermeulen of Eskom Telecoms, and Simon Dunkley of Silver Spring Networks.

The roundtable discussion was launched by a presentation from Adrian Grilli of EUTC Spectrum Group on the work to date of the spectrum group. Andreas Geiss from the Spectrum Policy Unit of the European Commissionaddressed the issue of unified spectrum for utility companies. Daragh Moore of the Electricity Supply Board, Eric van Aken of Alliander, Paul Gwynn of Tait Radio and Simon Dunkleyof Silver Spring Networks then joined for a panel discussion.

During the discussion, the Commission mentioned that if EUTC is making a request for frequency bands there will be a need to define the requirements and a  rationale as to why they are important for utility companies. Moreover, utility companies need to be aware that the process is quite long as, for example, the standardisation mandate lasts one year.

Adrian Grilli stressed that utility companies may be interested in the 700MHz ‘digital dividend’ band as it is already identified in the USA for public safety. Andreas Geiss, expressing the Commission’s views, said that broadband companies are already interested in this frequency band although a decision is not expected for several years. He added that there are a lot of challenges associated with this band, and consequently he advised utilities to look at other bands where progress can be made.

Moreover, Mr Geiss said that utility companies will have to explain the added value of a harmonised frequency band for smart grids. Some elements such as the technical efficiency, the economical efficiency or the social benefits will have to be put forward. He said that all these elements have to be considered when a decision is taken and that the distribution of electricity could be put forward as a public goal.

Mr Geiss also pointed out that the Commission will favour the shared use of a frequency band. In some countries utilities share the same frequency band with emergency services for voice communications. Consequently, utility companies will have to look at all the options.

The Commission wondered how utility companies would like to proceed. Will they work first on technology or will they apply first for a frequency band and then decide what technology to use? According to the Commission, there is a need for all public safety services to go in same direction.

Finally, the European Commission stressed that the next step is the adoption of the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme. The programme currently only has draft status, and the consultation will last between 6 and 12 months. According to the Commission, it is important to point out to members of the European Parliament that radio spectrum is not only related to broadband or to broadcasters. It is a message that utility companies need to put forward urgently because the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme is discussed presently.

The workshop agreed therefore that as well as engaging with the Commission, EUTC should seek an urgent meeting with Gunnar Hökmark, the European Parliament’s Raporteur for the Spectrum Policy Programme.

Please click here to have access to the presentations.