Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2324 of 23 November 2022 amending Decision 2008/294/EC, to include additional access technologies and measures for the operation of mobile communications services on aircraft (MCA services) in the Union (notified under document C(2022) 8321) (Text with EEA relevance)

Article 1

The Annex to Decision 2008/294/EC is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

As early as possible, and in any case by 30 June 2023, the Member States shall make the frequency bands for 5G non-AAS indicated in Table 1 in the Annex available for MCA services on a non-interference and non-protected basis, provided such services meet the conditions set out in the Annex.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

ANNEX

ANNEX
1.    Frequency bands and systems allowed for MCA Services
Table 1
Type
Frequency
System
GSM 1 800
1 710 -1 785 MHz (uplink) 1 805 -1 880 MHz (downlink)
GSM complying with the GSM standards as published by ETSI, in particular EN 301 502, EN 301 511 and EN 302 480, or equivalent specifications.
UMTS 2 100 (FDD)
1 920 -1 980 MHz (uplink) 2 110 -2 170 MHz (downlink)
UMTS complying with the UMTS standards as published by ETSI, in particular EN 301 908-1 EN 301 908-2, EN 301 908-3 and EN 301 908-11, or equivalent specifications.
LTE 1 800 (FDD)
1 710 -1 785 MHz (uplink) 1 805 -1 880 MHz (downlink)
LTE complying with LTE standards, as published by ETSI, in particular EN 301 908-1, EN 301 908-13, EN 301 908-14, and EN 301 908-15, or equivalent specifications.
5G NR non-AAS
1 710 -1 785 MHz (uplink)1 805 -1 880 MHz (downlink)
5G NR non-AAS complying with the 5G NR standards as published by ETSI, in particular EN 301 908-24 and EN 301 908-25, or equivalent specifications.
2.    Prevention of connection of mobile terminals to ground networks
(a)
Until 1 January 2026, mobile terminals receiving within the frequency bands and systems listed in Table 2 must be prevented from attempting to register with UMTS mobile networks on the ground:
—
by the inclusion, in the MCA system, of a network control unit (NCU), which raises the noise floor inside the cabin in mobile receive bands, and/or
—
by aircraft fuselage shielding to further attenuate the signal entering and leaving the fuselage.
Table 2
Frequency bands (MHz)
Systems on the ground
925 -960 MHz
UMTS
2 110 -2 170 MHz
UMTS
After this date, MCA operators may decide to continue implementing an NCU in the frequency bands and systems listed in Table 2.
(b)
In addition to the provisions in paragraph a), MCA operators may decide to implement an NCU for terrestrial systems providing electronic communications services in the frequency bands listed in Table 3.
Table 3
Frequency bands (MHz)
460 -470 MHz
791 -821 MHz
925 -960 MHz
1 805 -1 880 MHz
2 110 -2 170 MHz
2 620 -2 690 MHz
2 570 -2 620 MHz
3.    Technical parameters
(a)
Equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) limits, outside the aircraft, resulting from the NCU/aircraft Base Station (BS)
Table 4
Height above ground (m)
Maximum EIRP outside the aircraft in dBm/(channel bandwidth)
NCU  ( 1 )
Aircraft GSM and LTE BS
Aircraft 5G NR non-AAS BS
Aircraft UMTS BS and NCU
Band: 900 MHz
Band: 1 800 MHz
Band: 1 800 MHz
Band: 2 100 MHz
Channel Bandwidth = 3,84 MHz
Channel Bandwidth = 200 kHz  ( 2 )
Channel Bandwidth = 5 MHz  ( 3 )
Channel Bandwidth = 3,84 MHz
3 000
-6,2
-13,0
10
1,0
4 000
-3,7
-10,5
13
3,5
5 000
-1,7
-8,5
15
5,4
6 000
-0,1
-6,9
16
7,0
7 000
1,2
-5,6
18
8,3
8 000
2,3
-4,4
19
9,5
(b)
EIRP limits outside the aircraft, resulting from the mobile terminal operating on board
Table 5
Height above ground
Maximum EIRP, outside the aircraft, from the GSM mobile terminal in dBm/200 kHz
Maximum EIRP, outside the aircraft, from the LTE mobile terminal in dBm/5 MHz  ( 4 )
Maximum EIRP, outside the aircraft, from the LTE and 5G NR mobile terminal in dBm/5 MHz  ( 5 )
( 6 )
( 7 )
Maximum EIRP, outside the aircraft, from the UMTS mobile terminal in dBm/3,84 MHz
(m)
GSM 1 800 MHz
LTE 1 800 MHz
LTE and 5G NR 1 800 MHz
UMTS 2 100 MHz
3 000
-3,3
1,7
0
3,1
4 000
-1,1
3,9
2
5,6
5 000
0,5
5
4
7
6 000
1,8
5
6
7
7 000
2,9
5
7
7
8 000
3,8
5
8
7
(c)
EIRP limits outside the aircraft, resulting from the NCU, in other relevant frequency bands
When MCA operators decide to use an NCU to prevent mobile terminals from attempting to register with non UMTS mobile networks on the ground in the frequency bands listed in Table 3, the maximum values indicated in Table 6 apply for the total EIRP outside the aircraft, resulting from the NCU, in conjunction with the values mentioned in Table 4.
Table 6
Height above ground (m)
Maximum EIRP outside the aircraft, resulting from the NCU
460 -470 MHz
791 -821 MHz
1 805 -1 880 MHz
2 570 -2 690 MHz
dBm/1,25 MHz
dBm/10 MHz
dBm/200 kHz
dBm/4,75 MHz
3 000
-17,0
-0,87
-13,0
1,9
4 000
-14,5
1,63
-10,5
4,4
5 000
-12,6
3,57
-8,5
6,3
6 000
-11,0
5,15
-6,9
7,9
7 000
-9,6
6,49
-5,6
9,3
8 000
-8,5
7,65
-4,4
10,4
(d)
Operational requirements
(1)
The minimum height above ground for any transmission from an MCA system in operation must be 3 000 metres.
(2)
The aircraft Base Station, while in operation, must limit the transmit power of all GSM mobile terminals transmitting in the 1 800 MHz band to a nominal value of 0 dBm/200 kHz at all stages of communication, including initial access.
(3)
The aircraft Base Station, while in operation, must limit the transmit power of all LTE mobile terminals transmitting in the 1 800 MHz band to a nominal value of 5 dBm/5 MHz at all stages of communication.
(4)
The aircraft Base Station, while in operation, must limit the transmit power of all UMTS mobile terminals transmitting in the 2 100 MHz band to a nominal value of -6 dBm/3,84 MHz at all stages of communication and the maximum number of users should not exceed 20.
(5)
The aircraft Base Station, during operation, must limit the transmit power of all 5G NR mobile terminals transmitting in the 1 800 MHz band to a nominal value of 5 dBm/channel at all stages of communication, including initial access.
( 1 )   The aircraft BS is not in operation at 900 MHz, however, an NCU is needed to prevent terminals using other MCA channels from connecting to the 900 MHz UMTS terrestrial networks.
( 2 )   For channel bandwidth other than 200 kHz, a correction, calculated by the formula 10 × log10 (channel bandwidth/(200 kHz)) dB, shall be added to the EIRP values.
( 3 )   For channel bandwidth other than 5 MHz, a correction, calculated by the formula 10 × log10 (channel bandwidth/(5 MHz)) dB, shall be added to the EIRP values.
( 4 )   These conditions apply to the operation of MCA systems installed until 31 December 2022.
( 5 )   These conditions apply to the operation of MCA systems installed after 31 December 2022.
( 6 )   For channel bandwidth other than 5 MHz, a correction, calculated by the formula 10 × log10 (channel bandwidth/5 MHz) dB, shall be added to the EIRP values.
( 7 )   The EIRP is specified per channel regardless of the used channel bandwidth due to the fact that multiple mobile terminals could be operated.

Schedules & Appendices

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