The CEPT, an internationally recognised regional cooperation structure, groups together the administrations of 46 countries in the European geographical area which work together, in particular on frequency issues.
The Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) of the CEPT, in which the ANFR defends the French position, groups together European frequency expertise. It has three main objectives:
- To harmonise the spectrum use conditions in Europe within the boundaries defined by the ITU Radio Regulations (RR). This harmonisation is materialised by Decisions and Recommendations of which the application is not mandatory. However, France and its neighbours implement them with very rare exceptions. The ECC also covers mandates from the Commission in the framework of the Radio Spectrum Decision (Decision 676/2002/EC). The Commissions bases itself on the results of this work to draw up mandatory European Union harmonisation decisions.
- To coordinate the European positions for the ITU world or regional conferences on frequencies. This coordination results in the drafting of European Common Proposals (ECP) which are submitted to the WRCs and by the definition of common positions and strategies in the world radiocommunications conferences in which the CEPT is internationally recognised. Consult the CEPT position for the next world conference (CMR -23).
- To contribute through these studies to the provisions applicable to radio equipment under the RTTE Directive (and the future Radio Equipment Directive). This activity is conducted in close collaboration with the ETSI which draws up relevant draft harmonised standards. https://www.etsi.org/standards/supporting-european-regulation. The ANFR contributes to the work of the ETSI standardisation committee, of which it is vice-chair
The ECC bases itself on many cooperation agreements that facilitate interaction with European standardisation bodies (ETSI, CENELEC), European sector-based representations, regional organisations.
To find out more: the ECC regularly publishes a newsletter.
The ECO is a permanent structure based in Denmark supplying the CEPT works with expertise and organisational assistance. The ECO regularly organises workshops in which future activities are initiated.
It develops and makes available a coexistence condition simulation tool (SEAMCAT).
It develops and makes available a European frequency use database which is updated by the administrations.
Thus, in response to spectrum access requests made by the European standardisation institute (ETSI) or by direct contributions, the administrations, alongside the electronic communications sector industrials and the different spectrum users, draw up the harmonised spectrum use conditions made necessary by changes in technology and the search for better harmonisation. While facilitating harmonisation beyond the boundaries of the European Union and by covering fields that are not considered strategic at a Community level, the work of the CEPT is strongly structured by community mandates and the answers to requests from the ETSI. Furthermore, industrial players contribute to the work to prepare the CEPT positions for the ITU conferences.
The ECC is structured around 4 components for frequency work:
- European harmonisation (WG Frequency Management)
- Compatibility studies (WG Spectrum engineering)
- Mobile frequency harmonisation (ECC PT1 )
- World conference preparation (Conference Preparatory Group - CPG)
As a rule, the work documents are publicly accessible.
The work programme makes it possible to view ongoing studies and harmonisation actions.
The French positions defended in these organisations are prepared by:
- the European affairs concertation committee for other frequency subjects;
- the assembly and conference preparation committee (CPAC) for the special case of the conference preparation group (CPG).
The ANFR represents and defends French interests in CEPT ECC meetings.