Spectrum for M2M/IoT Applications – an Overview

Bitkom AK Frequenzen, 30.10.2015, Muenchen

Thomas Weber, ECO, Spectrum ManagementThomas.weber@eco.cept.org

Overview

• Principle

• M2M/ IoT identified key requirements

• Standardisation

• Frequency Options

• 700 MHz

• M2M Exemption Model

• 870-876 MHz, 915-921 MHz

• PMR

• 400 MHz

• Other options (Fixed Service, Satellite)

• 1900-1920 MHz (under discussions)

• Conclusions & Announcement CEPT M2M Workshop

Principles

• In principle, M2M communications could be realised in any mobile band, but also other radio applications may be suitable for some scenarios, e.g. Short Range Devices or even PMR.

• New BEREC (Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications) Report published

• Wide area low power technologies: A number of bespoke technologies are being developed and are optimised specifically for certain M2M services. When deployed using sub-1GHz spectrum, these technologies are capable of providing relatively wide area coverage. In addition, their protocols enable them to use either licensed or license-exempt spectrum; and

• Mobile technologies: Existing mobile networks, such as GSM, have been used for several years to provide wireless point of sale applications. Various technical enhancements are being proposed which will enable mobile networks to support a wider range of M2M services more efficiently and allowing connectivity service providers to support these services using much of their existing infrastructure. These enhancements include an air interface capable of efficiently supporting M2M services within a 200kHz channel bandwidth and M2M-optimised variants of the LTE standard used for 4G services. In the longer term, 5G networks will emerge that will efficiently support a range of services, including M2M.

Principles (II)

• Widely interpreted M2M may contain ITS, RFID, IoT, Smart metering and Smart grids to some extent. Since most M2M applications existing today or foreseen can be carried over SRD (non-specific applications), RLAN, PMR or MFCN (commercial mobile broadband networks), frequency bands can be made available for, but not limited to, M2M through license-exempt or designation for PMR or MFCN.

• The predicted growth of M2M applications will put pressure on the use of existing frequency bands for SRD, especially below 1 GHz. Future spectrum designations for SRD, RLAN and PMR could ease that pressure. The need for a predictable sharing environment and also the need to find more efficient spectrum sharing solutions for some M2M applications has already led to investigations within CEPT on more sophisticated technology and application neutral spectrum access and mitigation techniques. Any evolutions of SRD, RLAN or PMR regulation should carefully consider results of sharing and compatibility studies.

• All licensing models may be applicable – depending on the scenario and balance in a frequency band:

• Individually licensed, exclusive access to spectrum

• Individually licensed, shared spectrum

• General authorisation with or without notification/registration

Common Key Requirements

Common key requirements for M2M applications today include:

• Often low power/low duty cycle (due to battery consumption constraints);• Various radio access components are needed to address the demands of several sectors;• Several applications require frequencies below 1 GHz due to propagation characteristics (e.g.

penetration through building walls);• Often the usage of commercial networks (responding to various needs);• Moderate requirements on robustness and latency;• Very high density in urban environments;• Low per-device cost solutions;• Often installed for a long period of time.

Standardisation

ETSI has published a number of related documents that give an initial overview of M2M

• Requirements in ETSI TS 102 689

• Functional architecture in ETSI TS 102 690

• Interface descriptions in ETSI TS 102 921

• LTE MTC, (evolved Machine Type Communication) will address the requirements of many M2M applications. LTE MTC is part of the LTE-Advanced evolution and is planned to be part of 3GPP Release 13, expected to be completed by 2016. An important dimension of LTE MTC is that it allows the coexistence between M2M applications and adjacent mobile services in the same band, leading to considerable economies of scale. This is to be combined with enhanced security elements, extended coverage and up to ten years battery power. On the other side an enhancement to the technology used in 2G mobile networks (i.e. bandwidth of approximately 200 kHz) to support very low data rates while using the MFCN spectrum allocations as mobile networks (so-called GERAN Release 13); is also under development. In the longer term, 5G mobile networks may be designed to efficiently support a range of services, including M2M.

Frequency Options

• For M2M services using mobile technologies, any frequency band harmonised for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services can be used. These bands include the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1452-1492 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2 GHz, 2.6 GHz and 3.4 – 3.8 GHz bands and in the future also the 400 MHz band as well as the 700 MHz band (under discussions).

• Furthermore, many of the unlicensed frequency bands used by M2M services are harmonized by the latest update of Commission Decision 2006/771/EC for SRD (short-range devices) and by CEPT ERC Recommendation 70-03 (SRD). It is the case for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth bands, and frequencies at 868 MHz used by M2M / Wide area low power. A regular update of this EC SRD Decision is anticipated based on a permanent Mandate to CEPT as a regular review (next one is expected in 2016) based on the updates to ERC Recommendation 70-03. In future, also 870-876 MHz, 915-921 MHz, 1900-1920 MHz (under discussions).

• Within Europe there are also many PMR/PAMR frequency bands that could be used for M2M services. These bands have a harmonization through ECC Decisions and ECC Recommendations. The M2M usage in these bands is normally provided by bespoke networks optimised for a specific application and that do not need interoperability outside their own network. VHF 146-174 MHz (with 169 MHz fully harmonised under SRD license-exemption), UHF 400 MHz ranges (mostly 410-420 MHz/420-430 MHz and 450-460MHz/ 460-470 MHz).

ECC Report 242 - 700 Mhz

This report provides the coexistence analysis between machine-to-machine communication (M2M) applications in 733-736 / 788-791 MHz and services in adjacent bands. CEPT Report 53 and ECC Decision (15)01 consider Machine to Machine (M2M) as a national option in the 733-736 MHz and 788-791 MHz.

The ECC/DEC/(15)01 specifies the MFCN harmonised frequency arrangement in the band 694-790 MHz as a paired frequency arrangement (FDD 2x30 MHz) and an optional unpaired frequency arrangement (SDL), zero or up to four block(s) of 5 MHz for SDL. In order to address national needs, alternative options for PMSE, PPDR and M2M within the given channelling arrangement for MFCN in the 700 MHz band are also considered. These alternatives are still under consideration. For Broadband-PPDR, there is ECC Report 218.

M2M Exemption Model

• ECC received from ETSI several ETSI system reference documents which fall under this category of the exemption model:

• Smart Meters and Smart Grids, TR 102 886• Metropolitan Mesh Machine Networks (M3N) applications, TR 103 055• Wideband SRDs with advanced spectrum sharing capability, TR 103 245• DECT when operating in the 1900-1920 MHz band, TR 103 149

• This has resulted in ECC in ECC Report 189 and ECC Report 200 as well as new entries in ERC Recommendation 70-03 Annexes 1&2 for the frequency ranges 870-876 MHz/915-921 MHz. For a possible DECT expansion band under generic regulation for license-exempt usage in 1900-1920 MHz, this is described in CEPT Report 52. There is also an on-going review in SRD/MG and SE PT24 with regard to wideband SRD applications such as 802.11ah. Taking into account that no allocation is required, SRD/DECT are subject to a soft harmonisation in the ERC/REC 70-03 and therefore, it is not proposed to introduce a Commission implementing decision in this part of the spectrum for DECT/SRD.

870-876 MHz

25mW 1% DC ≤600 kHz (ERC/REC 70-03 Annex 1)25mW 1% DC ≤600 kHz (ERC/REC 70-03 Annex 1)

25mW 0.1% DC ≤200 kHz (ERC/REC 70-03 Annex 1) 25mW 0.1% DC ≤200 kHz (ERC/REC 70-03 Annex 1)

  

           

870MHz

875.6MHz

875.8 MHz

876 MHZ

ER-GSM 873-876 MHzER-GSM 873-876 MHzSRDSRD R-GSMR-GSM

500 mW (with APC), ≤200 kHz Up to 2.5% DC Metropolitan/Rural Area Networks.Up to 10% DC for Network Relay Points

(subject to individual license)(ERC Rec 70-03 Annex 2)

500 mW (with APC), ≤200 kHz Up to 2.5% DC Metropolitan/Rural Area Networks.Up to 10% DC for Network Relay Points

(subject to individual license)(ERC Rec 70-03 Annex 2)

500 mW (with APC), ≤500 kHz, 0.1 % DC TTT Vehicle to Vehicle only (ERC/REC 70-03 Annex 5)

100 mW (with APC) 0.1% DC TTT in vehicle only (ERC Rec 70-03 Annex 5)

500 mW (with APC), ≤500 kHz, 0.1 % DC TTT Vehicle to Vehicle only (ERC/REC 70-03 Annex 5)

100 mW (with APC) 0.1% DC TTT in vehicle only (ERC Rec 70-03 Annex 5)

870-876 MHz band plan

915-921 MHz

RFID

@ 4

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25 mW 1% DC Per 600 kHz channel. Channel bandwidth ≤ 600 kHz25 mW 1% DC Per 600 kHz channel. Channel bandwidth ≤ 600 kHz

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25 mW 0.1% DC Per 200 kHz channel. Channel bandwidth ≤ 200 kHz25 mW 0.1% DC Per 200 kHz channel. Channel bandwidth ≤ 200 kHz

  

                                   

915MHz

915.3 MHz

916.1 MHz

916.5 MHz

917.3 MHz

917.7 MHz

918.5 MHz

918.9 MHz

919.7 MHz

920.1 MHz

920.9 MHz

921 MHz

ER-GSM (base stations)918-921 MHz

ER-GSM (base stations)918-921 MHz

GSM mobileGSM

mobile R-GSMR-GSM

200 kHz of low DC safe haven

200 kHz Low DC safe haven

CF 916.3 MHz CF 917.5 MHz CF 918.7 MHz CF 919.9 MHz

RFID tag returnRFID tag return

RFID tag return RFID tag return

RFID tag returnRFID tag return

RFID tag returnRFID tag return

RFID tag returnRFID tag return

915-921 MHz band plan

PMR

Overall bandwidths available range mostly from between 6.25 kHz and 25 kHz today (DMR, TETRA) This bandwidth would tend to relate data speeds lower than where wider bandwidths are used. However some M2M usage might well data rates at a lower level than general IP traffic.

FM PT54 was already approached by smart grids proponents to use PMR/PAMR frequencies in the 400 MHz range (EUTC and also 450 MHz Alliance). It is expected that ETSI is going to make available a new ETSI system reference document for spectrum demand in the order of 2x3 MHz (used by n narrowband/wideband channels in the 400 MHz band (the originating technical Committee in ETSI is ERM TG DMR).

It is worth noting, however, that some CEPT administrations do permit the aggregation of the bandwidths quoted above, thereby offering potentially higher data speeds. The use of the PMR/PAMR regulatory model networks would appear to be predominately bespoke M2M services that offer some mobility and have a variety of access methods, with some likely to be proprietary. There are however severe challenges concerning cross-border co-ordination needs which may need to be addressed for the 400 MHz frequency range with regard to the use of wider band air interfaces.

A WGFM questionnaire in 2014, a total of around 120 000 narrowband individual PMR/PAMR licenses is currently awarded throughout the CEPT by the national authorities. There are big differences in the usage density amongst CEPT countries in these bands. In some metropolitan areas as well as border areas, some capacity shortage has already been observed.

400 MHz

FM 54 continues the development of the draft ECC Report on ‘Current Use, Future Opportunities and Guidance to Administrations for the 400MHz PMR/PAMR frequencies’. A number of input documents focussed on sharing of PMR/PAMR and on the consideration of spectrum access protocol for this purpose. The task is also to develop harmonised technical conditions for LTE in the 400 MHz bands without changing the previous balance with the requirements for other radio applications, especially for PMR/PAMR.  FM 54 initiated the first required modifications of related ECC deliverables: ECC Decision (04)06 (wideband PMR/PAMR), ECC Decision (06)06 (narrowband PMR/PAMR) and ERC Recommendation T/R 25-08 (Planning criteria and coordination of frequencies in the Land Mobile Service in the range 29.7-921 MHz). 

BB-PPDR: ECC Report 218 (also LTE use in the 400 MHz – Possibility for synergies?? Some M2M/IoT und PPDR are all in the public interest. However, compatibility studies cannot be re-used!!)

Other options (Fixed Service and Satellite)

Although these options do not have a key-role nowadays in M2M/IoT, they may play some role in niches:

Point to Point systems In some administrations Utility Operations also use Resilient Machine to Machine (RM2M) Point-to-Point (PtP) systems. UHF is typically used for 9.6kbit/s, in 12.5 kHz, systems whereas 1.4 GHz and microwave bands may be used for higher data rates. Like the PtP links, the UHF links can be 30km or more in length. ECC Report 215 (Assessment of the technical feasibility of introducing very narrow channel spacing in some existing plans, in guard bands and centre gaps of FWS channel arrangement at 6 GHz and 10 GHz) identifies additional, licensable, spectrum that may be suitable for low / medium data rate machine to machine systems. SatelliteIt is quite likely that satellite platforms could also play a role in M2M applications, recognising that within the CEPT regulatory framework these could operate under either an exempt model or a licensed model in a variety of frequency bands available for satellite use. Also: Advent of NGSO systems (OneWeb, Spaxe X etc.) which have already received considerable funding, technology seems now much more advanced than 15 years ago (remember Teledesic, SkyBridge), likely to lead to some new work in CEPT (one ETSI SRDoc on its way).

Band in 1900-1920 MHz for MFCN – licensed in total in more than 30 CEPT countries – but unsused

Concept 1900-1920 MHz under discussion

1. Take into account the existing Incumbent Authorisations

2. Enable new Priority Authorisations for commercial broadband use, subject to geographic restrictions and based on national sharing agreement with the Incumbent Authorisations, where necessary.

3. Share the spectrum with Unlicensed Applications (DECT/SRD). See CEPT Report 52.

Individually authorised services (1. and 2.) receive protection from harmful interference. This is implemented e.g. by using databases (similar to USA FCC SAS concept in 3.55-3.7 GHz) or by a benign technology spectrum access (e.g. Low duty cycle).

This is a variation/combination of Europe’s LSA concept, and also to Europe’s existing license-exempt environment. New Priority Services and Unlicensed Applications should be for the widest possible group of potential users.

Incumbent Authorisations

e.g. UMTS, IMT - not used normally

New Individually Authorised Services

with or w/o sharing agreement

typically smaller cells

Applications under general authorisation

DECT

SRD

Benign DECT/SRD technology option

1. Predictable shared spectrum access can also be defined based on a so-called benign technology approach, i.e. using Ultra-Low-Power (ULP) and/or Low Duty Cycle (LDC) spectrum access.

2. Alternatively or complementary, an application restriction could be considered (though this would not be in line with the proposal for application neutrality/concept) in CEPT Report 52 for DECT/SRDs.

3. ULP/LDC specifications - future priority services in 1900-1920 MHz can be designed to be compatible with this approach (i.e. their protocol is robust against such SRD transmission behaviour). Under discussion.

Conclusions

1. There does not seem to be a strong case for the specific designation of specific frequency bands for M2M, since most M2M applications existing today or foreseen can be carried over SRD, RLAN, PMR or MFCN (commercial mobile broadband networks). Frequency bands can be made available for, but not limited to, M2M through license-exempt or designation for PMR/PAMR, Fixed Service, Satellite or MFCN.

2. Finally, it is therefore is illustrated that that M2M can be used in a number of frequency bands, using a number of services and radio applications, under both a licensing and exempt framework. This provides a number of options and that no single frequency band defines M2M (i.e. no single frequency band should be viewed in isolation) per se.

3. CEPT Workshop M2M:

http://www.cept.org/ecc/cept-workshop-on-machine-to-machine-communications-(m2m)