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BRAN Activity Report 2008
Chairman: Bernd Friedrichs (Ericsson GmbH)
Responsible for
the standardisation of Broadband Radio Access Networks
ETSI’s Broadband Radio Access Networks Technical Committee
produces standards and specifications for various Broadband Wireless Access
(BWA) technologies in various frequency ranges. The main focus in 2008 was on
new spectrum demand (System Reference Documents), Harmonised Standards produced
under a mandate from the European Commission, as well as conformance testing
(radio and protocol testing).
TC BRAN has been very successful in the development of HiperMAN technical
specifications for interoperable systems (to enable communication between
equipment from different vendors), where there is a particular emphasis on the
lower layers (physical and data link control).
The Technical Specifications for the air interface of HiperMAN systems have been
continuously harmonised with the IEEE 802.16 Working Group specifications. In
co-operation with the WiMAX Forum, TC BRAN is developing protocol and network
conformance test specifications for HiperMAN to be used for the certification of
WiMAX Forum-compliant devices. (The certification scheme and all related aspects
are under the full control of the industry forum.) The work on test cases and
their validation is expected to continue for several years in order to achieve
good test coverage and to take into account the latest IEEE 802.16
specifications.
ETSI and the WiMAX Forum share a common interest in performing and promoting
standardisation to enable global markets, which is embodied in a formal
Co-operation Agreement.
TC BRAN has made extensive use of ETSI Specialist Task Forces (STFs) for the
production of Protocol Conformance Test Specifications, covering in particular
the BRAN HiperMAN technology. The TC is indebted to the efforts of the STFs and
the support of ETSI’s Centre for Testing and Interoperability (CTI) for their
invaluable assistance with the production of its numerous deliverables.
The work on System Reference Documents, Harmonised Standards and other
regulatory issues is undertaken within TC BRAN’s Regulatory Competence Working
Group (RCWG). In 2008, the RCWG produced several new Harmonised Standards as
well as a revision of the Harmonised Standard for 5 GHz Radio Local Area
Networks (RLANs).
This revision of the Harmonised Standard for 5 GHz RLANs was a difficult
exercise which was required to improve the Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS)
mechanism which RLANs have to employ in order to protect other primary services
within the 5 GHz band, notably civil and military radar systems. The work was
completed in close co-operation with the Telecommunication Conformity Assessment
and Market Surveillance Committee (TCAM) of the European Commission and
EUMETNET, the network of European Meteorological Services. These changes will
have a serious impact on the RLAN industry as it means new chip sets will have
to be used and, in most cases, the re-designing of products will be unavoidable.
RCWG has also virtually completed the development of Harmonised Standards for
Personal Broadband data transmission systems in the 2.500 MHz to 2.690 MHz
frequency range. It has taken almost three years, but agreement has finally been
reached between all the stakeholders, and a first set of standards for Time
Division Duplex (TDD) systems has been delivered. This work was co-ordinated
with other ETSI technical bodies including the joint Task Force for European
Standards for IMT-2000 (TFES) of ETSI’s Electromagnetic Compatibility and Radio
Spectrum Matters (TC ERM) and Mobile Standards Group (TC MSG) Technical
Committees and with Project Team 1 (PT1) of the Electronic Communications
Committee (ECC) of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications
Administrations (CEPT).
Work on a Harmonised Standard for Personal Area Networks (PAN) in the 60 GHz
frequency range began in 2007, based on a previously developed System Reference
Document for Wireless Gigabit Systems. This standard was also finished by the
end of 2008.
The Harmonised Standard for Broadband Wireless Access Mobile Terminal Stations
in the 3.400 MHz to 3.800 MHz frequency band was also completed and new work
began to produce a Harmonised Standard for Broadband Wireless Access Base
Stations in the same frequency band.
Prof. Dr. Bernd Friedrichs was Chairman of TC BRAN for six years, during which
time he guided the Committee successfully through a difficult period full of
challenges. However, in 2008 he announced that he was taking on a new challenge
within a new company, and therefore tendered his resignation as Chairman of TC
BRAN. His hard work within the Committee is greatly appreciated.
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