Eurocontrol lays out spectrum-efficiency strategies in wake of ‘5G’ concerns

Eurocontrol has outlined three strategies to improve efficient use of electromagnetic spectrum as it ponders whether increasing spectrum demand from the mobile connectivity sector could affect aviation safety. Eurocontrol has examined the situation following the conflict caused in the USA by roll-out of ‘5G’ technology, potential interference from which has forced revision of operational procedures for various aircraft types. The US issue has focused on possible adverse effects on the aircraft radio-altimeters, data from which is used by certain flight-control systems. Radio-altimeters use the 4.2-4.4GHz frequency band, and the US allocation for 5G spectrum, covering 3.7-3.98GHz, lies close to this region. Eurocontrol says the European band allocation is more distance, at 3.4-3.8GHz, which means the situation is “not considered to be a problem requiring immediate safety mitigations” within Europe. It also points out that “higher levels” of radiated power in the USA potentially create a greater interference risk. But with spectrum bands a scarce resource, the organisation warns that aviation remains at risk from spectrum inefficiency. Loss of low-visibility approach landing capability to spectrum interference, combined with knock-on delays from diversions, could generate costs to European airlines of E180m over the course of a year and affect 1.2m passengers. “While aviation has no difficulty to innovate in other areas, current business models inherently fail at creating incentives for improving aviation spectrum efficiency,” argues Eurocontrol. It has identified improvement to adjacent band filtering as one of three strategies which could contribute to raising this efficiency. <br/>