Spectrum Management

What is Spectrum Management?

Management of the radio spectrum is the combination of administrative, regulatory and technical procedures necessary to ensure the efficient operation of radiocommunication equipment and services. Simply stated, spectrum management is the overall process of regulating and administering access to and use of the radio frequency spectrum. A primary goal of spectrum management is to ensure optimal use of the radio spectrum, in social, economic and technical terms.

From the regulator’s perspective managing the radio spectrum involves weighing up a range of competing factors to ensure the optimal use of all frequency bands. These factors include:

ensuring that the requirements of all radio services are met in an appropriate manner and that there is a balance between the public policy requirements;
maximising social benefits arising from radio use, for example in relation to public safety, national security and health care; and
enhancing Ireland’s competitiveness by ensuring that adequate spectrum is allocated and assigned to uses that derive the highest economic value from it.

In addition, there is a need to ensure the efficient use of the spectrum within the bounds of spectrum constraints and technology developments. Clearly, the regulatory process of ensuring the optimal use of the spectrum needs to be flexible and responsive in order to adapt to changes in technologies, demand, markets and public policy. Efficiencies may have to be compromised in order to safeguard the provision of certain public services such as safety, defence and public broadcasting. Technical and economic efficiencies may sometimes be constrained by international obligations related to spectrum use.

ComReg’s spectrum management activities embrace four main areas, namely deciding at a strategic level, in consultation with interested parties, how the spectrum should be used, developing and implementing the regulatory framework for such use, making the relevant frequencies available through competitions, authorisation, etc., and maintaining an interference-free environment.

The process of allocating frequencies to radio services and the regulatory framework are largely determined by external factors such as public policy, legislation and international agreements or regulations. ComReg plays an active role in international fora, along with other relevant government departments, to ensure that as far as possible the international allocation and regulatory framework accommodates Ireland’s specific requirements. ComReg also participates in international technical studies to support more efficient and flexible use of the spectrum.

Spectrum Management in an International Context

Below is a list of links to international committees and bodies that are relevant to spectrum management:

European commission: radio spectrum activities including the Radio Spectrum Policy Group and the Radio Spectrum Committee at http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/radio_spectrum/index_en.htm
The CEPT European Radiocommunications Office (ERO) is a significant source of European regulatory documentation including CEPT Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) decisions, recommendations and reports. Comreg attends a number of CEPT meetings including the ECC, Working Group on Frequency Management (WG FM), Working Group on Spectrum Engineering (WG SE), Working Group on Regulatory Affairs (WG RA). most of the documentation for these groups is publicly available through the ERO website: http://www.ero.dk/
ComReg plays a role in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) which take place every two to three years. WRC's update the ITU Radio Regulations which have the status of an international treaty on the use of the radio spectrum. More information is available at http://www.itu.int/itu-r/

Current Use of Spectrum

Under Section 35 of the Communications Regulation Act, 2002, ComReg is responsible for formulating, revising, implementing and publishing the national Radio Frequency Plan detailing the frequency allocations of ireland. Comreg publishes a table of frequency allocations for ireland every two to three years, describing current and planned use of the radio spectrum. The current version is ComReg Document 08/90R1

This publication continues ComReg’s commitment to ensuring that consumers are fully informed on developments that have either taken place or are planned and is once again is aimed at current users, potential users and investors in telecommunication services in Ireland. The tables outline the types of radiocommunication services allocated to each frequency band, the standards that apply, together with some notes on future developments were applicable.