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Understanding Modern Spectrum Management
The key engineering, legal and policy issues
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Glossary
EECC
The Electronic Communications Code is a set of rules on electronic communications in the EU. The Code entered into force on December 21, 2018. The EECC is a comprehensive set of rules for the telecommunications sector in the EU and the European Economic Area. The EECC promotes effective and coordinated spectrum use within the region’s internal market.
The Code is an EU Directive, which means it is up to individual EU countries to choose how to implement it and transpose it into law. Most EU members have implemented the EECC into their national legislation, but there have been delays in some countries.
The EECC provides guidelines on spectrum management in the EU. For example, Article 13 advises regulators that conditions imposed on spectrum licences should be “non-discriminatory, proportionate and transparent”. The EECC has also recommended that mobile spectrum licences should be assigned for at least 20 years to guarantee regulatory predictability and promote investment.
The EECC also advances spectrum harmonisation and coordination in the EU. Article 4 establishes that member states should cooperate with each other on strategic planning, coordination and harmonisation of spectrum. Article 28 establishes guidelines on coordination among EU member states. The directive also advises on solving disputes relating to spectrum coordination.
One part of the code’s original purpose was to promote rapid 5G rollout in the EU. Article 54 outlines the regulatory framework for the rollout of the three so-called harmonised 5G pioneer bandsThe 5G pioneer bands are a set of spectrum... in the EU (700 MHz, 3.6 GHz and 26 GHz).
Article 4 of the code also establishes how the EU member states, EU bodies, RSPGRSPG stands for the Radio Spectrum Policy ... and BERECBEREC stands for the Body of European Regu... can cooperate on the development of harmonised spectrum conditions and best practices of radio spectrum use.