| 3.1 | Technical characteristics of the equipment used in potential emerging applications such as broadband PPDR and IoT and digital public trunking systems shall conform to all applicable South African standards, international standards, International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and its radio regulations as agreed and adopted by South Africa. |
| 3.2 | All installations must comply with safety rules as specified in applicable standards. |
| 3.3 | The equipment used shall be certified under South African law and regulations. |
| 3.4 | The allocation of this frequency band and the information in this RFSAP are subject to review. |
| 3.5 | Use of this band will be for potential emerging applications such as broadband PPDR, PAMR, PMR and IoT, in addition to digital public trunking services. |
| 3.6 | The 2021 Implementation document4 discusses LTE and associated technologies in the context of PPDR and IoT. The LTE can be equally expanded on the next, fifth generation (5G) of the mobile networks, including New Radio (NR). |
| 3.7 | In line with the development of land mobile PMR/PAMR, the need for high-speed data and other additional services increases. Already now, there is an expressed requirement for services that cannot be delivered over traditional narrowband technology. In response, industry has already developed a number of systems, including for example TETRA TEDS using 25 kHz, 50 kHz, 100 kHz and 150 kHz bandwidth, systems using 200 kHz channel bandwidth based on GSM technology, M2M/IoT based on NB-IoT and LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) technologies, CDMA-PAMR using 1.25 MHz channel bandwidth or LTE (Long-Term Evolution) based technologies using 200 kHz, 1.4 MHz, 3 MHz, and 5 MHz channel bandwidth. |
| 3.8 | As highlighted by “Implementation of the Radio Frequency Migration Plan and the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) Roadmap” 100, 3GPP has standardised two FDD band plans (see Figure 1) for the 410 – 430 MHz band 5, namely bands 87 for PMR in APT (410 – 415 MHz for uplink and 420 – 425 MHz for downlink) and 88 for PMR in EU (412 – 417 MHz for uplink and 422 – 427 MHz for downlink). In particular, the band 88 matches ITU Region 1, where South Africa belongs. |
| 3.9 | ECC/DEC/ (19)026 suggests the following options for the land mobile systems with channel bandwidth of 1.25 MHz, 1.4 MHz, 3 MHz, and 5 MHz: |
| 3.9.1 | 410-415 MHz (uplink) / 420-425 MHz (downlink), similar to 3GPP’s LTE band 87; |
| 3.9.2 | 411-416 MHz (uplink) / 421-426 MHz (downlink); and |
| 3.9.3 | 412-417 MHz (uplink) / 422-427 MHz (downlink), similar to 3GPP’s LTE band 88. |
| 3.9.4 | Considering the mismatch to the 3GPP’s for option 3.9.2, it is likely that only the other two options will receive industry support. For this reason, option 3.9.2 is not included in the proposed Channelling Plan shown in section 34. |
| 3.10 | Public Protection Disaster Relief (PPDR) |
| 3.10.1 | Resolution 646 (Rev. WRC-15) 7 defines the purpose of a PPDR radio system. Such a system includes two different uses. The first one is for Public Protection (PP) which covers radiocommunications used by responsible agencies and organisations dealing with maintenance of law and order, protection of life and property, and emergency situations. The second one is for Disaster Relief (DR) which covers radiocommunications used by agencies and organisations dealing with a serious disruption of the functioning of society, posing a significant, widespread threat to human life, health, property or the environment, whether caused by accident, nature or human activity, and whether developing suddenly or as a result of complex, long-term processes {the precise definitions are also included and explained in ECC Report 102 (5)}. |
| 3.10.2 | BB-PPDR services can be provided by means of three infrastructure models; through mobile broadband networks dedicated to providing service to BB-PPDR users to meet their specific requirements, through commercial mobile networks providing both PPDR and commercial service or through hybrid solutions with partly dedicated and partly commercial network infrastructure. |
| 3.10.3 | As per ECC/DEC/ (16)02 8, the 400 MHz range does not provide enough available spectrum to provide a stand-alone solution for broadband PPDR as calculated in ECC Report 199 9, even though it can offer national flexibility, e.g., in the context of additional spectrum beside the 700 MHz range. In addition, the 400 MHz range has the advantage of very good propagation characteristics, potentially reducing the number of base station sites needed to provide the necessary coverage (rural areas). |
As per ECC/DEC/ (16)0210, introduction of additional spectrum for BB-PPDR in parts of the 400 MHz range shall apply the Least Restrictive Technical Conditions (LRTC) for BB-PPDR (intended to ensure coexistence with other services), with channelling arrangements 1.4 MHz, 3 MHz, or 5 MHz within the following paired frequency ranges:
| 3.10.3.1 | 410.0-415.0 MHz (uplink) / 420.0-425.0 MHz (downlink); |
| 3.10.3.2 | 411.0-416.0 MHz (uplink) / 421.0-426.0 MHz (downlink); or |
| 3.10.3.3 | 412.0-417.0 MHz (uplink) / 422.0-427.0 MHz (downlink). |
| 3.11 | The following documents may also be useful when considering the 410 – 430 MHz band: |
| 3.11.1 | ECC/DEC/ (19)02, ECC Decision of 8 March 2019 on Land mobile systems in the frequency ranges 68-87.5 MHz, 146-174 MHz, 406.1-410 MHz, 410-430 MHz, 440- 450 MHz, and 450-470 MHz, 8 March 2019. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/9680) |
| 3.11.2 | ECC/DEC/ (16)02, ECC Decision of 17 June 2016 on harmonised technical conditions and frequency bands for the implementation of Broadband Public Protection and Disaster Relief (BB-PPDR) systems. Amended on 8 March 2019. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/941) |
| 3.11.3 | ECC Report 292, Current Use, Future Opportunities and Guidance to Administrations for the 400 MHz PMR/PAMR frequencies, 8 February 2019. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/9556) |
| 3.11.4 | T/R 25-08, Recommendation T/R of 30 May 2008 on Planning criteria and cross-border coordination of frequencies for land mobile systems in the range 29.7-470 MHz. Latest amended on 28 September 2018. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/909) |
| 3.11.5 | ECC Report 283, Compatibility and sharing studies related to the introduction of broadband and narrowband systems in the bands 410-430 MHz and 450-470 MHz, 14 September 2018. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/6033) |
| 3.11.6 | ECC Report 276, Thresholds for the coordination of CDMA and LTE broadband systems in the 400 MHz band, 27 April 2018. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/2014) |
| 3.11.7 | Decision (EU) 2017/1483, Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1483 of 8 August 2017 amending Decision 2006/771/EC on harmonisation of the radio spectrum for use by short-range devices and repealing Decision 2006/804/EC, 8 August 2017. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/1004) |
| 3.11.8 | ECC Report 218, Harmonised conditions and spectrum bands for the implementation of future European Broadband Public Protection and Disaster Relief (BB-PPDR) systems, 2 October 2015. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/325) |
| 3.11.9 | ECC Report 240, Compatibility studies regarding Broadband PPDR and other radio applications in 410-430 and 450-470 MHz and adjacent bands, 30 September 2015. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/346) |
| 3.11.10 | ECC Report 199, User requirements and spectrum needs for future European broadband PPDR systems (Wide Area Networks), 30 May 2013. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/306) |
| 3.11.11 | ECC Report 108, Border Code Coordination between CDMA-PAMR Systems, 16 October 2007. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/216) |
| 3.11.12 | ECC Report 099, TETRA Enhanced Data Services (TEDS): Impact on existing PMR/PAMR and Air Ground Air (AGA) systems in the 400 MHz band, 20 September 2007. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/207) |
3.11.13 ECC Report 097, Cross Border Interference for Land Mobile Technologies, 20 February 2007. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/205)
| 3.11.14 | ECC Report 102, Public protection and disaster relief spectrum requirements, 6 February 2007. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/210) |
| 3.11.15 | CEPT Report 011, Report from CEPT to the European Commission in response to the Mandate on: EFIS (ECO Frequency Information System), 27 September 2006. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/11) |
| 3.11.16 | ECC Report 039, The technical impact of introducing CDMA-PAMR on 12.5 / 25 kHz PMR/PAMR technologies in the 410-430 and 450-470 MHz bands, 23 February 2004. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/149) |
| 3.11.17 | ECC Report 042, Spectrum efficiency of CDMA-PAMR and other wideband systems for PMR/PAMR, 20 February 2004. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/152) |
| 3.11.18 | ECC Report 025, Strategies for the European use of frequency spectrum for PMR/PAMR applications, 12 June 2003. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/135) |
| 3.11.19 | ECC Report 022, The technical impact of introducing TAPS on 12.5 / 25 kHz PMR/PAMR technologies in the 380-400, 410-430 and 450-470 MHz bands, 22 May 2003. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/132) |
| 3.11.20 | ERC Report 104, Adjacent band compatibility of 400 MHz TETRA and analogue FM PMR - an analysis completed using a Monte Carlo based simulation tool, 1 June 2000. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/671) |
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| 4 | https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202112/45690gen739.pdf |
| 5 | 450 Alliance, https://450alliance.org/ |
| 6 | ECC/DEC/ (19)02, ECC Decision of 8 March 2019 on Land mobile systems in the frequency ranges 68-87.5 MHz, 146- 174 MHz, 406.1-410 MHz, 410-430 MHz, 440-450 MHz, and 450-470 MHz, 8 March 2019. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/9680 |
| 7 | Resolution 646 (Rev. WRC-15): “Public Protection and Disaster Relief” recommends to use regionally harmonised bands for BB-PPDR radio systems to the maximum extent possible, taking into account the national and regional requirements and also having regard to any needed consultation and cooperation with other concerned countries/regions. |
| 8 | ECC/DEC/ (16)02, ECC Decision of 17 June 2016 on harmonised technical conditions and frequency bands for the implementation of Broadband Public Protection and Disaster Relief (BB-PPDR) systems. Amended on 8 March 2019. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/941) |
| 9 | ECC Report 199, User requirements and spectrum needs for future European broadband PPDR systems (Wide Area Networks), 30 May 2013. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/306) |
| 10 | ECC/DEC/ (16)02, ECC Decision of 17 June 2016 on harmonised technical conditions and frequency bands for the implementation of Broadband Public Protection and Disaster Relief (BB-PPDR) systems. Amended on 8 March 2019. (https://docdb.cept.org/document/941) |
