The present document specifies technical characteristics and methods of measurement for the following equipment types (which are parts of a Mobile Communication On Board Aircraft system):
1) The Onboard Base Transceiver Station (OBTS) supporting GSM and/or UMTS, and/or LTE, and/or NR communication protocols including specific functions for restricting the transmit power of the MSs or UEs, associated with the OBTS.
2) The Network Control Unit (NCU) preventing direct connection of the onboard mobile terminals with mobile networks on the ground by raising the noise floor in the cabin.
The OBTSs are capable of operating in all or any part of the frequency bands given in table 1-1.
Table 1-1: Base Station operating bands
RAT Band; Direction of transmission Base Station operating bands
UTRA 1; BS Transmit 2 110 MHz to 2 170 MHz (UMTS); BS Receive 1 920 MHz to 1 980 MHz (UMTS)
E-UTRA 3; BS Transmit 1 805 MHz to 1 880 MHz (LTE); BS Receive 1 710 MHz to 1 785 MHz (LTE)
GSM 3; BS Transmit 1 805 MHz to 1 880 MHz (GSM); BS Receive 1 710 MHz to 1 785 MHz (GSM)
NR n3; BS Transmit 1 805 MHz to 1 880 MHz (NR); BS Receive 1 710 MHz to 1 785 MHz (NR)
The NCU is capable of operating in the frequency bands given in table 1-2.
Table 1-2: NCU operating bands
NCU operating bands; Comment
460 MHz to 470 MHz (see note);
791 MHz to 821 MHz (see note); LTE
925 MHz to 960 MHz; GSM
1 805 MHz to 1 880 MHz (see note); GSM/LTE
2 110 MHz to 2 170 MHz; UMTS
2 570 MHz to 2 620 MHz (see note); LTE
2 620 MHz to 2 690 MHz (see note); LTE
NOTE: Implementation of this operating band in an NCU is not mandatory according to the EC Decision 2016/2317/EU.
The present document applies only to radio equipment using a transmitting antenna that forms part of the MCOBA system.
It applies to equipment for continuous and discontinuous transmission of data and digital speech.
Within the European Union, the Commission Decisions determine the operational requirements and applicability of the OBTS and NCU. This includes EC Decision 2013/654, EC Decision 2016/2317/EU, which was updated for UMTS, LTE and changed NCU frequency bands, and EC Decision 2022/2324/EU, updated for 5G NR and further changes to NCU requirements.
The present document contains requirements to ensure that such Radio equipment both effectively uses and supports the efficient use of radio spectrum in order to avoid harmful interference.
The present document does not cover equipment compliance with relevant civil aviation regulations. In this respect, a MCOBA system, for its installation and operation on board an aircraft, is subject to additional national or international civil aviation airworthiness certification requirements, for example, to EUROCAE ED-14G.
NOTE: The relationship between the present document and the essential requirements of article 3.2 of Directive 2014/53/EU is given in annex A.
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